THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Auckland Times, Volume 3, Issue 113, 11 March 1845, Page 1

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Legislative Council,—March, 4th 1845 Gentlemen, In ad<lrtssi:i<; vou at the opening of thl* the fifth session of the Legislative Conn- i> of New Zealand. I mav well he supposed, under the known difficulties v( our present circumstances, to feel great anxiety. But difficult and embarrassing as out position is. a d fVi'; soiii- time to come, cannot fail to he. in t is Colony • I beiieve the most dark and trying period has a r< adv parsed, and that in due time we shall enjoy prosperity. \\ e now krow that toe Imperial Parliament has voted an annual grant in aid i f our finances ; and the knowledge if this fa<t mav relieve our minds horn a material cause ol anxiety ; because assisted b> such a grant, we may hope to cany on the public business of tne Colony. Our commercial prospects are becoming brighter, and more distiuct t an they were. We are exporting carg , ts worth t'housari 's of pi unds each "aud the number and value of such cargoes, will increase yearly.

Peace confidence, and capital, are alone necessary to ensure the commerial prosperity of New Z a ! and. Her r sources are abundant and her pro durtiveness is extraordinary.

J There is every reason to feel confi ! that the just, disinterested and I Chri tian course, ordered by Her most •iou's Majesty, to be followed by the I Local Government rf this piate, has ! already convinced the majority of the I natives.of New Zealand, of the advan- | and security which they may jenjuv under the protection of such a | Monarch, that they entertain the most kind I v and confident feelings towards Her Majesty, towards the local government, and towards the settlers generally.

Were it not for the machinations of a few persons, some of whose wicked attempts have been discovered,and may yet bring punishment upon their aut ors { were it not for such mischievous efforts as these, aided by bad example, t >is country would be undisturbed, tranqui, and prosperous. But even under ah toe excitement of the last year and a half, our criminal calender has been remarkably light, as the returns which shal be laid before you will prove. Only two cases of homi ide have occurred among the whole white population of Neiw Zealand, in neither of which was the accused pronounced guiltv,—ami no case of murder has been brought before our Courts. Among the aboriginal population, crime is wonderfully rare, considering that they are usually armed, are unaccustomed to restraint, and but a few years ago. were amongst the wildest <>f barbarians. Under such circnm stances, their for bearance, seif restraint, and general tranquillity are quite wonderful, and I cannot but feel frequently vexed and disappointed by some of my own country men who, heedless of such considerations, expect the New Zealanders to be, even now, without faults, without those f ai!ings which are inseparable i from our common nature.

VV'l i<e the natives, with the minds of children, but the passions of men, are acting according to their own usages, and perhaps unintentionally offend they are too often insu ted and irritated by words, which to us may seem trifling hut to them are gall. Sometimes mu tual ignoranee of ea**h others language causi s serious misunderstandings. Oocasiona ly some of the ruder natives, act in a manner which their warmest partisans could not justify. Yet. not* withstanding all tt»is I think we might challenge the world to show a populaiion of one hundred and twenty thousand s u 8 taken promiscuously in any country, among whom there has been a less amount of known crime than has occurred in New Zealand during the last year and a haf

IMay God grant that such a report may be made in future years. Mud* wiil depend on our conduct, and forbearam.e, and on our mutual charity of disposition towards one another. Before i turn to matters of detail, al'bwMne to remark o.i tne iruly gratif ing kindness of feeling that exists in this colony between persons of different redgious persuasions, However zealously each umy forward or defend his own opinions, which he conscientiously beiieves to be right, we see a 1 Working cordially toget* er, in the same held, for the same object. Misapprehensions may have arisen, though few, and easily remedied. The

opportunities which I have had of witnessing mutual good feedings oa these important subject 5 ?, enable me to congratulate you on the cordiality, and truly kind disposition, which are so preva'ent. To devise means, and to frame laws, which may amend our present difficulties and promote futurelstabiUty.isnow our particular d uty, and I will ask you, in. the course of this session, to give your full consideration to the following measures, namely,—

A Bill for amending the Property Rate Ordinance, A Bill for Licensing General Dealers in imported goods. A Bid for authorising rates or tolls, to be paid for the construction or maintenance of roads, or other public works. A Bill for levying a charge on deeds of lands not taken up. A Bill for appro 3t iating the disposable revenue of the colony. A Bi'l for abolishing imprisonment for debt, and Two Naturalization bill's. And now, Gentlemen, in the hope that our real endeavours to do our duty may be blessed, 1 wiii move the reading of the rules of Council. The Cleik then read the Standing Rules and Orders of Council, which were confirmed.