61

people, and without distinction of race, a liberal measure of representative self-government.

A minute examination of the Constitution which has recently been granted to this country will no doubt lead to the discovery of defects, and some of its more important provisions may also be open to objection; but looking to the spirit in which a constitution has been granted to the people of New Zealand, we have reason to believe that favourable consideration will be given to their suggestions for its amendment; and that any alteration which after experience, and on deliberate consideration, may be found to be needed for giving free scope to its development, will, so far as may be consistent with the spirit of Her Majesty's native subjects, be readily conceded by the Crown and Parliament,—seeing, however, that it confers upon the colonists, on a wide electoral basis almost unfettered powers of self-government—that it gives them the power of regulating the sale and disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown—that it empowers the General Assembly to settle the laws which may, from time to time, be enacted to the requirements of the circumstances of the country, and that it opens both to the General and to the Provincial Legislatures a wide field of practical usefulness, their newly acquired charter of Representative Government may well deserve a fair trial and grateful acceptance from the colonists of New Zealand.

Although the broad outline of the Constitution has been prescribed by Parliament, a wide field for modification and adjustment has been wisely left for local legislation.

As the power of the General Assembly extends to laws which, from time to time, be enacted to the requirements of the circumstances of the country and its people; and to provide for its harmonious operation—is a work which may well deserve attention, and exercise the wisdom and ability of the statesmen of New Zealand.

Seeing that the colony is composed of a number of detached settlements, each from another more than 100 miles apart, with no facilities of inter-communication—planted by various founders, on different systems, and each independent of the other—with little intercourse between them, either social or commercial, has led to common sympathy—and heretofore without the slightest bond of union; seeing, too, that each of its several Provinces has been invested with large powers of local legislation, it will with the General Assembly of these Islands whether New Zealand shall become one great nation exercising a commanding influence in the Southern Seas, or a collection of insignificant, divided, and powerless petty States.

To mould its various Provinces into one united people,—to create amongst them a feeling of common sympathy, and to inspire them with the pride of a common nationality, may well become the leading object of the Assembly of New Zealand; and may suggest the guiding principle on which its legislation should proceed.

In order that the New Zealand Islands may ultimately become one great country; that they may be united by a feeling of a common patriotism, be subject to one general authority, and governed by the same law, the power of the central Government will require to be strengthened and extended; while the legislative authority of the Provinces will need at the same time to be rather narrowed in its range.

To accomplish this important object, maintaining at the same time harmonious relations with the local Councils;—to exercise the overruling power of the Assembly, without unduly or prematurely interfering with their legislative authority, and in matters within their common jurisdiction, so to exercise the authority of the Assembly, that its legislative action may be viewed by the subordinate Legislatures as a welcome composition, and not as an act of uncalled-for interference, is the great practical problem to be solved by the General Assembly of New Zealand.

Under the existing difficulties of intercommunication, it would be impossible, at present to govern these Islands efficiently, and in detail, by a single central authority; and a thought it would undoubtedly be an unwise policy to seek to centre all legislative power in one General Legislature, yet it is essential to ultimate unity, that measures should be taken to render communication practicable between the inhabitants of the various Provinces. Looking at their isolated position, and to the extensive legislative authority conferred upon them, it can scarcely be doubted that if the colonists continue to be cut off from all intercourse with one another, they will tend to still further separation, rather than to national union,—that a provincial rather than a national feeling, will prevail amongst them,—that the Provincial rather than the General Legislature will be the chief object of their interest; that the views and sympathies of their patriotism and ambition, will rarely extend beyond the Province in which they may reside. To counteract this tendency to Provincial isolation, means should be taken to discover and make practicable for Postal communication, the best lines of road between the several Provinces. Post-houses and ferries should be established along the lines of route, and other similar measures should be adopted to facilitate intercourse between their inhabitants.

To the same end, also encouragement should be afforded to well considered undertakings, for establishing Steam communication between their several ports. Having the command of the revenues of the country, it is within the power of the Assembly to promote the accomplishment of these objects by appropriating towards them an adequate portion of the Public Funds. Nor is it of less importance that by a careful vigilance and timely interposition, the Assembly should endeavour to prevent the growth of an inconvenient diversity of Provincial Legislation, and to secure for that higher object of importance, a general uniformity in the Law.

In the meanwhile, however, and in the actual condition of the country, in order to secure efficient Government for the outlying districts of the Colony, to foster in their inhabitants a spirit of self-reliance, and to prepare them for the exercise of higher duties—I believe that the Provincial Councils should for the present continue to exercise the powers conferred upon them by the charter—that, subject to a general contribution towards the support of the central Government, and in aid of national public works, that the revenues raised within each province should for the present be left to local management, and that in matters of local interests the provincial authorities should be in-