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Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1928, Page 2

Pci.mcs. with other things had to have a beginning in New Zealand. In the course of a search of facts relating to the birth of politics in New Zealand, a well-known press writer has unearthed the first speech of the Administrator at the. lirst session of the General Assembly when addressing forty members of the first Parliament of New Zealand. A passage or two are worth reproducing to give an idea of the vision’of those days: “Looking to the physical aspect of those islands, to the irregular and isolated manner in which they have been colonised, and to tho existence of n numerous and intelligent race, advancing in the scale of civilisation, but not accustomed to the exercise of political power, it must be admitted to be no easy task." bis Excellency said, “to devise a ("institution for New Zealand, which shall be adapted to the condition and cireiimstanes of the country, and which shall confer upon its inhabitants, as one people, and without distinction of race, a liberal measure of representative self-government. . .Seeing that the colony is composed of a minder >f detached settlements, each from another more than 100 miles apart, with no facilities of inter-eoinmiinieal inn. planted bv various founders, on dilferent systems, and each independent of the other, with little intercourse between them either social or commercial, with no common svmpatliy. and heretofore without the slightest, bond of union; seeing, too, that ciuli of its several provinces has been invested with large powers of local legislation, it will rest with the General Assembly of these islands whether New Zealand shall become one great nation, exercising a commanding influence in tbo Southern Seas, or a collection of insignificant. divided and powerless petty States.” Appropriately enough. Ibis eloquent oration is followed in the records by a table showing the populations of tho six provinces, with some particulars of their progress and prospects Auckland in 1853 had a population of n,nnn, Taranaki 2009. Wellington 7100, Nelson 5148. Canterbury 3895 and Otago 1800. a total of 31,213. Retvveen them they had exported £280.422 in produce and had. managed ti live. Of what stuff the hearts of this handful of people must have been made.