317

the bulk of our Statute Book be materially decreased, but each Enactment being complete in itself, the administration of the laws would be rendered more certain, simple, and economical.

Having these ends in view, I do not propose during the present Session to ask you to devote a large proportion of your time to the purposes of direct legislation. Some few measures, however, which appear to be of immediate importance, have been framed, and will be submitted for your consideration.

A comprehensive and detailed report upon our gold fields will be laid before you. From this report you will have the satisfaction to learn that the sources of mineral wealth which Otago possesses, and which it was at one time feared might be speedily exhausted, are only in course of gradual development.

A new Gold Fields Act, which it is intended to bring before the General Assembly of New Zealand at its next session, is in course of preparation, and will be submitted for your approval. This measure has for its object the amendment of the present Act in all those particulars in which experience has proved it to be defective: and in its special provision will be made by permitting the sale of land within proclaimed gold fields, to facilitate and encourage the permanent settlement of the country.

It affords me much pleasure in recommending to your favorable consideration the proposal which has been made, to hold a New Zealand Industrial Exhibition at Dunedin in the year 1865, and which now only requires your sanction in order to its becoming an established reality. The General Government of New Zealand, and His Excellency the Governor, have given assurances of their cordial support, and it is believed that the special patronage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will be obtained. I feel confident that you will join with me in viewing this undertaking as one of no ordinary importance to the Colony, and that you will enable me to adopt measures to secure its success.

I desire to inform you of the measures taken by me in furtherance of the views of the General Assembly of New Zealand, as expressed in their Resolution adopted at Wellington, on the 11th day of September, 1862, on the subject of Telegraphic Communication through the Colony. By that Resolution a main line only, connecting the various Provinces with each other, and with the seat of the General Government, seems to have been contemplated. For an efficient construction of a main line from the Waikato to the Mataura, I have, under the advice of competent Engineers, made the necessary arrangements; as also for a branch line running from a convenient point in the Tokomairiro District through the various gold fields to Lake Wakatipu, from whence, as occasion may require, it can be extended to any available outlet on the West Coast. All the necessary material for this work, with the exception of posts, has been ordered from Great Britain, and may be expected to arrive in the Province in the month of November of the present year.

The growing importance of our Port, as a resort of shipping from all parts of the world, and our rapidly increasing commercial wealth, render the question of Member Defences one of considerable moment.

The establishment and effective maintenance of Volunteer Corps appears to be equally deserving the support of the country. Upon these subjects Resolutions will be prepared by the Government, and submitted to you.

Returns from the various departments of the Public Service will be laid upon your table, from which you will be informed of the nature and extent of the operations of the Government since your last Session.

The Estimates, which will shortly be presented, have been framed on a scale commensurate with the constantly increasing requirements of the Province, and I have to express the hope that the provisions which you will find made for the various Public Works, now in progress, and those proposed to be carried on during the current year, will meet with your best consideration and cordial approval.

In conclusion, I would offer you my sincere congratulations upon the evidences of continuous prosperity by which we are surrounded, and I have further to express my earnest desire that the Supreme Governor of the world will so order your counsels, and so direct me in the performance of duty, that our combined efforts to securely promote the best interests and advancement of the Province may be crowned with success.

I now declare this Council open for the dispatch of business.

JOHN HYDE HARRIS,
Superintendent.

REPLY TO ADDRESS.

WE thank your Honor for having, under the peculiar circumstances referred to in the Address, decided on calling the Council together as early as possible, and concur in the propriety of legislating to avoid the possibility of a future Superintendent being placed in the same difficult position.

We shall be ready to give our earnest consideration to any measures for improving the means of communication with the interior, and for the efficient conduct of the department under whose management they are placed.

We agree with your Honor in the opinion that immediate steps should be taken to settle definitely the terms upon which the Waste Lands of the Crown within the Province should be alienated.

We shall be glad to co-operate with your Honor in a revision of the Provincial Ordinances, and will support any measure by which the bulk of our Statute Book may, without impairing its utility, be decreased.

The necessity of amending the Gold-fields Act, and of making special provision for permitting the sale of land within proclaimed Gold-fields is obvious, and we shall cordially welcome any measures which may foster the important industries connected with the Gold-fields, and encourage the permanent settlement of the country.

We are prepared to give our favorable consideration to the proposal for holding a New Zealand Industrial Exhibition in Dunedin in the year 1865, such an Exhibition being calculated to make better known, both in the Province and beyond it, not only our own resources and capabilities, but those of the whole Colony.

The subject of Telegraphic Communication we regard as one of the greatest importance, and shall be ready to assist in carrying out