✨ Government Notices and Address
NEW ZEALAND
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
FOR THE
PROVINCE OF NEW PLYMOUTH.
Published by Authority.
VOL. II.] NEW PLYMOUTH, SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1854. [NO. 14.
Superintendent's Office,
New Plymouth, 3rd June, 1854.
THE following is re-published from the New Zealand Gazette for general information.
CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
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SATURDAY, 27TH MAY, 1854,
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The Officer Administering the Government opened the General Assembly at the Council Chamber, at 2 o'clock p. m., when His Excellency delivered the following
ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Assembly,—
On the departure of His Excellency Sir George Grey, and during his absence from the colony, it became my duty as the Senior Military Officer in this country, and in obedience to Her Majesty's command, to assume the powers and duties of Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and to administer the Government of these Islands in conformity with the regulations prescribed for my guidance by the Royal Letters Patent and Instructions now in force in that behalf. When I entered upon the duties of office as the head of the Civil Government of the country, the crowning act for giving effect to the measure for granting a Representative Constitution to the colony was still to be performed.
Holding office but temporarily;—feeling myself bound not to embark in any measure which may embarrass the policy or effect the duties of the permanent Governor of the country; and believing that statesman-like qualities of a high order are needful for conducting to a successful issue the experiment in Constitutional Government about to be attempted in New Zealand, I might well have shrunk from the responsibility of calling together the first and most momentous meeting of the General Assembly. But possessing the necessary legal authority, and seeing that Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand have a right to the exercise of the powers conferred upon them by the British Parliament, I felt that I ought not to allow considerations personal to myself to disappoint their expectations and to delay them indefinitely in the enjoyment of their constitutional privileges; and trusting that under the circumstances under which the Government of the country has devolved upon myself, I may rely upon your friendly co-operation and cordial support, I determined to summon, and I have this day been allowed the memorable privilege of opening the First Parliament of New Zealand.
Looking to the physical aspect of these Islands, to the irregular and isolated manner in which they have been colonized and to the existence of a numerous and intelligent Native Race, advancing in the scale of civilization, but not yet accustomed to the exercise of political power, it must be admitted to be no easy task to devise a constitution for New Zealand which shall be adopted to the condition and circumstances of the country, and which shall confer upon its inhabitants, as one
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Taranaki Provincial Gazette 1854, No 14
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️ Republication of notice from New Zealand Gazette
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration3 June 1854
Superintendent, New Plymouth, Government Gazette
- Charles Brown, Superintendent
🏛️ Address by the Officer Administering the Government to the General Assembly
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration27 May 1854
General Assembly, Parliament, Constitutional Government, Address, Governor
- George Grey (Sir), Departing Governor
- The Officer Administering the Government