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vested in common by one general act of the Assembly, with such executive powers as may enable them to act promptly and efficiently, without the delay of a reference to the Governor of the colony. Such, I believe, gentlemen, should be the guiding policy of the Government of New Zealand.

The present condition and circumstances of New Zealand are happily favorable to the introduction of the representative principle into the government of the country. Peace prevails—friendly relations continue to subsist between the two races of Her Majesty's subjects; and all classes are in the enjoyment of material prosperity. The difficulties experienced by the early founders of the colony, have long ceased to exist, the great demand for every description of farm produce in the Australian colonies has had the effect of demonstrating the agricultural capabilities of the country, and of stimulating the enterprise of the people, and a hopeful anticipation of future prosperity has been expressed by the Superintendents of its various provinces.

Notwithstanding the attractions of the neighbouring gold fields, the population of New Zealand has continued to increase. During the last three years the revenue has steadily improved, and the exports of the colony for the same period have increased with an unexampled rapidity.

For the year 1853 the Population, Customs, Exports, and Shipping, were, for the Provinces of

Thus it will appear that, in addition to their native inhabitants, (estimated to amount to 100,000 souls,) these islands have now a European population of upwards of 30,000,—that their Customs Revenue amounted for the past year to nearly £70,000; and that the exports for the same period arising, too in no small proportion from the proceeds of productive industry applied to the cultivation of the soil, amounted in value to upwards of a quarter of a million sterling.

The description which has already been given of a single Province, may also be applied to the Colony at large; and of New Zealand it may with equal truth be said, that "actively engaged as are its inhabitants in productive industry—raising already a large excess of food—with a ready market close at hand for all their surplus produce—with no rivalry between the races, but the pursuit of peaceful industry—with an improving revenue and rapidly increasing trade; it may be doubted whether any portion of Her Majesty's subjects, enjoy in more abundant measure the blessings of peace and plenty, or have before them a more certain prospect of a prosperous career."

No recent measure of the Imperial Parliament has probably given more general satisfaction to Her Majesty's colonial subjects, or has tended more powerfully to cement the bond of union between Great Britain and her colonies, than that provision of the Constitution which enacts that it shall be lawful for the General Assembly of the colony to make laws for regulating the sale, letting, disposal and occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown.

With a single exception, almost every method of administering this national property has within the last few years been made the subject of experiment;—and the experiment is now to be tried of

entrusting the Waste Lands of New Zealand to the disposal and management of those who possess local knowledge and experience, and who have a permanent interest in the country itself;—and the problem of the most advantageous disposal of the Demesne Lands of the Crown will never probably receive a more satisfactory solution, in the judgment of the British colonist, than that which, like the Constitution Act of New Zealand, shall leave them to be dealt with by the colonists themselves.

The system of disposing of the waste lands of the colony, already established under the authority of the Act, has now been upwards of twelve months in operation.

Seeing that the reduction in their upset price called forth, from a large body of the colonists, the expression of their approval—and that after having been subjected to the test of experiment, the opinion of the public in favour of the altered system appears to have remained unchanged; it would be difficult to devise any general uniform mode of disposing of the Demesne Lands of the Crown, better suited in its main features to this country, or which should be more satisfactory to the colonists themselves—and the system established under the Proclamation of the 4th March, 1853.

But no general system can be equally well adapted, or can long remain suited to the changing circumstances, and to the various and varying conditions of a country like New Zealand.

As the maintenance of uniformity in the mode of disposing of the Waste Lands of the colony would not seem to be of essential importance, it may be a question for the consideration of the Assembly whether it would be a wise delegation of their power to authorise the Provincial Councils to make laws for regulating the sale, letting, disposal, and occupation of the Waste Lands of their respective Provinces.

Such a measure, however, altering as it would do, the powers of the Provincial Councils would need, under the provisions of the Constitution Act, to be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure.

It will be competent, however, for the Assembly by an Act, which will not require to be reserved for the Royal assent, to vest the Executive into immediate operation, to vest in the Executive Government of each Province, the administration of its Waste Lands and of the proceeds arising therefrom, subject to the charges imposed on the Land Fund by the Constitution Act, and on the terms and conditions now in force for their sale, letting, disposal, and occupation.

Under the existing state of the law, the Governor or the Officer administering the Government of the colony alone can execute valid conveyances of the waste Lands of the Crown—the delay which must necessarily take place between the sale of Land in the distant Provinces, and the execution of a Deed of Grant by the Governor, cannot fail to be productive of great public inconvenience. I believe that no measure would be of more immediate and general utility than an Act of the Assembly enabling the Superintendent or some other authority in each Province, to execute a deed of conveyance of its Waste Lands which should operate as effectually as if such conveyance were a valid grant of the Demesne; and I am further assured, that whatever legislative action may be taken by the Assembly upon so important a subject as the disposal and management of the Public Demesne, will be the result of mature deliberation, and of a comprehensive consideration of the questions, in its various bearings on the future progress and the permanent interest of the colony at large.

Although the control of the public lands has been given to the Colonial Legislature, yet it has at the same time been enacted that "in respect of