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ral interests and improved means of communication in the colony.

With reference to the Waste Lands, His Excellency observes that "In the meanwhile regulations will be issued, as soon as possible, for the purpose of setting apart, in every district of each Province, a considerable proportion, but not less than one third, of the Waste lands, in such manner as to afford the greatest encouragement and facilities to bona fide occupying settlers." I would remark that a vote of a large majority of the House of Representatives had previously been recorded adverse to such an arrangement. The arrangement may, indeed, appear necessary in the Province of Auckland, where breaches of the Land Regulations proclaimed by Sir G. Grey have occurred since his departure from the colony, and the most valuable portions of the Waste Lands have fallen into the hands of speculators (including high Military and Civil Officers of the colony) to the exclusion of "occupying settlers"—as a scanty measure of protection (of little avail seeing the extent of mischief already done,) it may be advisable to define that the speculators, after taking the best of the land, shall not have more than two thirds of what is left, and that the remaining third shall be offered on such terms as may be an inducement to working settlers to occupy it. But the necessity for such lines of demarcation and class legislation has not arisen here. A very slight modification of Sir G. Grey's Land Regulations will place the best land in any district that may be thrown open, equally within the reach of all classes, and I can truly say that in this Province all classes include the occupying working settlers.

I shall be happy to receive any suggestions from Members of Council, individually, or collectively, for the introduction of Bills on any subject within our legislation, and for the alteration of existing laws of the colony to meet the requirements and interests of the Province; the information in my office, and my views on the subject, will be at their disposal—such a course will, I think, tend to diminish minor points of difference between us; general principles, I think, we nearly agree upon.

As some further security to the Council and the Province of the principle of Responsibility under which I consider I hold office, I beg to state that when I cease to retain the confidence of a majority of the Council, I shall be prepared to resign, on the Speaker informing me of the grounds on which my resignation is required, the names of the members forming the majority, and that they will be prepared to resign in the event of my re-election.

CHARLES BROWN,
Superintendent.
New Plymouth, Oct. 2, 1854.

NOTICE.

Harbour Master's Department,
4th October, 1854.

THE following scale of charges will be in force from and after this date, until further notice.

Hire of large or small boats
depend on destination and
expense incurred.
Passenger in cargo boat (one way) 0 1 0
Cargo, landing or shipping per ton—
Outer anchorage.......... 1 0 0
Near do ................. 0 15 0
Horses, per head .......... 0 10 0
Neat Cattle ditto ......... 0 8 0
Sheep and Pigs ditto....... 0 0 8

J. WATSON,
Harbour Master.