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widow shall not be entitled to dower except of lands and tenements of which her husband was actually seized at the time of his decease, would materially facilitate the transfer of real property in New Zealand, and simplify the law relating thereto.

The unsatisfactory state of the Law for regulating Marriages in New Zealand, will probably be brought under your notice with a view to its amendment: The Ordinance passed by the Colonial Legislature in the Session of 1851, may not have been sufficiently stringent in its provisions for securing due publicity. It will be fortunate however for the colony, if the Assembly shall succeed in devising a measure with that object, which shall less disturb the good feeling which has hitherto subsisted in this country between the various religious denominations—which shall be less open to objection as creating invidious distinctions between them—which shall interfere less with existing usages, and which at the same time, shall be more efficient in its provision than the disallowed Ordinance of 1851.

The difficulty which has recently arisen in carrying into effect the punishment of transportation owing to the want of some convenient Penal Settlement, to which convicted felons may now be sent, will render it necessary that some other system of secondary punishments should be devised in the place of transportation. If the Assembly should not be able, during the present Session, to mature a measure of a permanent character for the amendment of the criminal code, I would recommend that a temporary Act should be passed, providing that the convicts, who now are, and who hereafter may be under sentence of transportation, and be kept in penal servitude, and employed at hard labour on the roads, or other useful public works, within the limits of the colony itself.

Other subjects may not unprobably be brought under your consideration in the course of the ensuing Session. To decide, however, upon the most advantageous apportionment of Legislative power between the Supreme Legislature and the subordinate local Councils, and to mature the necessary subsidiary measures for securing its practical adjustment may be expected to occupy a large portion of the First Session of the General Assembly. I have for that reason occupied myself for the most part in endeavouring to demonstrate the necessity for the adoption by the Assembly of some well considered course of policy; and in suggesting a general outline of what I believe that policy should be; and I have directed your attention only to those special measures of immediate importance which appear to be needed for effecting that object. It will be competent however for any member of the Assembly to originate and introduce any Legislative measure of a practical character which may appear to him to be required for the alteration or amendment of the Law, and I shall be prepared cordially to cooperate with the Assembly in any measure for that object, which the interest of the Public may be found to require.

A great work then, gentlemen, now lies before you. To confirm by your prudence and moderation, the fitness of our countrymen for Representative Self government and Free Institutions,—to preserve and to advance in the scale of civilization the Native Inhabitants of these Islands—to preserve the resources of a country rich in all the elements of future national greatness—to be the pioneers for its colonization by the Anglo Saxon Race—to lay the foundation of its religious, political, and social institutions—to give laws to the present and to influence the character of a future generation, will be the rare privilege, and the noble duty of the new formed Parliament of New Zealand. Entering then, as we are about to do, on the discharge of important and responsible duties, believing that our example and that the character of our proceedings will be influential in after times, and on those who shall succeed us—and seeing in this Assemblage the germ of what will one day be the Great Council of a Great Nation, I cannot conclude my address on opening the first session of the General Assembly of these Islands, without the expression of an earnest prayer, that the Divine Blessing may direct and prosper all our consultations—that all things may be so ordered and settled upon the best and surest foundation—that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion and piety, may be established amongst us for all generations.

(Signed) R. H. WYNYARD,

Officer Administering the Government.

Council Chambers,
27th May, 1854.

Printed and Published by G. W. Woon for the Provincial Government.