NEW PLYMOUTH

NEW ZEALAND

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

Published by Authority.

**VOL. V.] NEW PLYMOUTH, SATURDAY, MAY 9, 1857. [No. 11.

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Wednesday, 6th May, 1857.

The Superintendent opened the Fifth Session of the Provincial Council in the Council Chamber, at 2 o’clock p.m., and delivered the following

ADDRESS.

Mr Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council;—

When I last addressed you in this Chamber I could have had no idea that an omission of a formal nature connected with the Ordinance under which you were assembled had occurred and rendered your constitution void. In my correspondence with the General Government I endeavored to avert the evil of a fresh election, but a second appeal to the different constituencies was deemed unavoidable, and I am happy to have this occasion of expressing the satisfaction I experience on finding that the Electors received the appeal as one of form, and returned the same members without a contest.

Some little delay in convening you occurred by two of your members who had accepted office resigning their seats, and the Council in terms of the Ordinance, has rendered the re-election of the same gentlemen, whom as Members of my Executive, I trust to see possess the confidence of this Council for as need not say that without confidence in the Executive, the free and responsible Government we now enjoy cannot be properly or advantageously carried on.

The difficulties already adverted to, which for a time deprived me of the aid and authority of a duly elected Council, obliged me to meet the current exigencies of the Province, since the Appropriation Act expired on the 31st March last. The exigencies of the service left me no alternative, and the expenditure incurred, I feared to be included in the Estimates which will be laid before you. They have been framed on as economical a scale as is consistent with efficiency. In regard to the Harbor Department (which has been transferred to the General Government), I have been enabled to collect, it is essential that two boats’ crews be permanently continued, particularly with regard to the due despatch of the Inter-Provincial Steamers, which we may soon look for, and I am glad to add that these boats’ crews will nearly maintain themselves; they have, therefore, only to ask for a Grant in aid of this service.

The want of land still continues so pressing, and the Natives themselves are so agitated on the subject of the sale of it, that I have placed myself in correspondence with the General Government with the view of obtaining the appointment of a Provincial Officer who shall be empowered to undertake negotiations with the Natives, feeling assured that if only as an experiment it must be a welcome change to the present system, which prevents even willing Natives from selling. More than this however I am fully persuaded that if the means and authority were forthcoming, land might be obtained, and should the Nelson Gold Fields not considerably enhance the value of land, an article produced by the Natives with greater facility than by ourselves.

I confidently rely on a considerable extension of valuable territory, the Council in terms of the Ordinance, this rendered the re-election of the same gentlemen, whom as members of my Executive, it is hoped will meet the confidence of this Council, for I need not say that without confidence in the Executive we cannot carry on the Government.

I have reason to hope that some understanding will be arrived at, which, if it do not literally amount to acquiescence in the original proposition, will serve equally to promote the object in view. I may add that a small but fine block of land was offered to the Government a few days since, but the offer is so encumbered with difficulties that it has not been considered prudent to do more than report it to his Excellency the Governor.

In this state of affairs, having regard to the scarcity of land and the possibility of the Nelson Gold Fields withdrawing labor from the 31st March last, the exigencies of the service left me no alternative; and as the expenditure incurred feared me included in the Estimates, which will be laid before you.