along this tract of rich neglected wilderness. Produce cannot be conveyed through it to your port, and the difficulty of travelling (but for the maintenance of ferries by the Provincial Government), would be little less than it was thirty years ago. The Native title to this territory is not yet extinguished. I have done my utmost during the last four years to urge the importance of completing this purchase. A considerable sum of money has been placed at the disposal of the General Government for the purchase of Native land in this Province; were this district in the possession of the Provincial Government, surveys would be made, townships formed, roads and bridges constructed, and a considerable population located, within the next two or three years; and the intercourse with Wanganui and the West Coast would be materially improved. Instead of being hemmed in on the west side, the Port of Wellington would have free and easy access with the interior in that direction. I last year referred in my speech to the acquisition of a very important block of 62,000 acres situated on the south side of the Manawatu Gorge. A definite statement was then made: we are to-day in the same position as we were a year ago. I have only not referred to other blocks of Native land in the interior which are of large extent, almost untenanted by human beings and of great future importance to the peopling of this part of the Colony, because I consider the acquisition of the blocks at your threshold, to which I have specially referred, to be of greater immediate urgency.

I have thus placed the subject of the state of the communications between the Port of Wellington and the interior plainly before you; because I am of opinion that it is of vital importance to the maintenance and consolidation of your prosperity that no more time should be lost in removing the obstructions to which I have referred to your inland communications with the East and West Coasts.

I have directed your attention to the results of the administration of the Public Works Policy of 1870, so far as this part of the Colony is concerned. If it be urged that, in the due course of development of administration, the inequalities noticed will be redressed; then—we may expect that a very good time indeed awaits us in this part of the Colony. In the meantime we are pursuing the usual course of business adopted for the protection of neglected interests; we protest, and point out plainly the state of affairs, and await results.

I have rendered you as full and faithful an account as I am able, of the state of the Province during the past year; and now ask your attention to the proposals for the future, which will be submitted for your consideration.

The Bills which will be introduced are few in number, and chiefly of a practical character; and, with the exception of the Bill authorising the Superintendent to sell certain lands in course of reclamation to the Corporation of the City of Wellington, to which I have already referred, do not involve any principle requiring comment or explanation from me.

They are as follows, viz.:

1. "The Wellington Harbour Reserves Sale Act, 1875."
2. "The Wellington Land Sale Act, 1875."
3. "The Local Districts Impounding Act, 1875."
4. "The Wanganui Reserves Management Act 1874 Amendment Act, 1875."
5. "The Municipal Corporations Waterworks Act (Wellington) Adoption Act, 1875."
6. "The Wellington Church of England Site Sale Act, 1875."
7. "The Sandon Public Park Management Act, 1875."

The estimates of income and expenditure for the year 1875-76, will be presented to you without delay. I may state in regard to these estimates, that I place the receipts from ordinary income at £32,750. The Territorial Receipts are estimated to realise