JUNE 11.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 903

that the earning-power of the people has improved, and, with the marked growth of our population and the advancement in the prices of our staple products, the outlook is most promising.

Returns will be laid before you showing that during the year there has been, notwithstanding the granting of large remissions encouraging our industries generally, a steady increase in the revenue from nearly all branches of traffic upon the railways, thus affording evidence of an advance in the productive capabilities of the colony.

The steps taken to open up a trade for our timber in the London market have not met with that success which was anticipated. From latest information to hand, however, there is every prospect, with care being taken to send suitable timber, of a trade being established with the Cape of Good Hope and the Johannesburg goldfields in the Transvaal. The success which has attended conferences in respect to fruit-growing, dairying, and other industries leads my Advisers to hope that a conference of persons connected with the saw-milling and timber industries would be conducive of much good, and at an early date such a conference will be convened.

My Advisers have deemed it expedient, in the public interest, to abolish the “delayed system” for telegrams which has hitherto existed, and in lieu thereof have reduced the charges for the transmission of ordinary telegrams. It is anticipated that the increase in the number of telegrams transmitted will more than cover the extra cost entailed, thus conferring a great boon on the public, without increasing the burden of the taxpayer.

In respect to the banking legislation of last session and the management of the Bank of New Zealand, circumstances have transpired which, in the opinion of my Advisers, render it necessary that steps should be taken to remedy certain defects, and to insure the interests of the colony being properly safeguarded.

For the fourth time you will be asked to give relief to ratepayers by passing a Bill authorising local authorities to levy rates upon unimproved-land values. This system, as you are aware, now obtains in respect of direct taxation for Government purposes.

Bills have been prepared to prevent usurious rates of interest being charged, and to enable local bodies to apply the co-operative system to the construction of works under their charge.

A Bill dealing with prospecting for gold and the ceding of land by the Natives for mining purposes will be placed before you.

You will be asked to consider Bills dealing with land for settlement, workmen’s villages, State labour farms, wages protection, private benefit societies, limiting the hours of labour, old-age pensions, the referendum, local government, Government fire insurance, special juries, master and apprentices, fair rents, Government valuation of land, advances to settlers, and alcoholic liquors sale control. You will be asked to consider an important change in the electoral law, dispensing with the registration of electors on account of property, also securing the representation of majorities, and dealing with the changes in the boundaries of the electorates.

I commend these important matters to your careful consideration, and earnestly beg to assure you that it is my desire and wish to co-operate with you in promoting the best interests of the colony, and I trust that, with the blessing of God, your deliberations may result in the increased happiness and prosperity of the people of New Zealand.

By Authority: JAMES BURNS, Government Printer for the time being, Wellington.