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vernment has been paralyzed by the powerful influences brought to bear against every proposal it has ventured to make on the subject—I cannot but refer with feelings of the greatest satisfaction, to the Act which you have passed, without a dissentient voice, for promoting the establishment of common schools on the Secular principle—a scheme of Education from which we may anticipate the happiest results. For while on the one hand, the earnest, and I have no doubt conscientious opposition offered to the scheme by the Churches of Rome and England, has had the effect of eliciting a strong and general condemnation of the Denominational system to which they adhere; on the other hand, the warm manner in which it has been supported by the ministers of the other churches, and by the large majority of the settlers, as proved by the petitions laid upon your table, affords a sufficient guarantee that the Act will not be permitted to remain a dead letter, and justifies the expectation that henceforth common schools will spring up in every district where a few families are congregated.

By the Sewerage, Burial, and Slaughter Houses Acts you have recognized the necessity of sanitary measures if we expect to escape those epidemics which commit such frightful ravages in other countries. I can only express my hope that the inhabitants of this town will exercise the power conferred upon them, and take immediate steps for the protection of the public health.

By the “Act shortening the time for the recovery of Rates” imposed on land, you have removed one of the chief impediments to the working of the “Roads” and “Fencing Acts” of last session; though it appears to me, that in as much as Absentee Proprietors have long since been made fully acquainted with the provisions of these Acts, and have had ample time to give the necessary instructions to their agents—that justice to the actual settlers will require that the period at which land may be sold for the payment of rates in arrear should be still further abridged.

Passing by the other measures to most of which I alluded in my opening address, I have to congratulate you upon the anticipations in which we then indulged in regard to Steam and Immigra-

tion being so fully realized. The Zin- gari has already commenced running between the three Provinces of Nelson, Wellington, and Canterbury, and, should no unforeseen difficulties in carrying out the Contract have occurred, we may within a week or two look for the arrival of the steamer destined to keep up a monthly communication between Cook’s Straits and Melbourne.

Judging from the Immigration Returns already furnished me, I believe that the excess of Immigration over Emigration for the last half year cannot be estimated at less than 600 souls—and that during the next six months a still more considerable addition to our population will be made, especially should I succeed in making arrangements for Immigration to Wanganui.

Nothing, however, affords such cheering evidence of the prosperous state of the Province, or of the unabated confidence of the settlers in its resources, as the rapidity with which the damages done by the recent Earthquake are being repaired.

It only remains for me to thank you for the services you have rendered—services which I feel assured will be all the more warmly appreciated from their having been rendered at a time when your own private affairs might well have claimed your sole and undivided attention. I now declare that this Council do stand prorogued.

I. E. FEATHERSTON,
SUPERINTENDENT.

PROCLAMATION.

By His Honor Isaac Earl FEATHERSTON, Esquire, Superintendent of the Province of Wellington.

THE SUPERINTENDENT of the Province of Wellington, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AND NOTIFY that the undermentioned Districts in the Wairarapa Valley, recently acquired from the natives, will be open for sale according to the Land Regulations upon Monday the 11th June, 1855, at the Crown Land Office, Wellington.

A plan of the Districts may be seen at the Crown Land Office, on and after the first day of May next.

General description of the Districts above referred to.

1.—TARATAHI PLAIN.
Bounded towards the North by the