A -No.
PAPERS RELATING TO ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY SESSION 1863.
PRESENTED TO BOTO HOUSES OF THE GENEKAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OF HIS iLXCBU^ENCY.
AUCKLAND .
1864.
A.—No. I
No. 1.
Memorandum.
His Excellency the Governor, —
Ministers forward to His Excellency the Governor, for transmission to the Eight Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, three authenticated copies, under the Seal of the Colony, of Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand during its late Session, and of Bills which hare passed through both Houses, and have been reserved by His Excellency for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon. Ministers also transmit three Memoranda on the object and nature of all these enactments one specially respecting " The Suppression of Ecbellion Act, .1863," and "The New Zealand Settlements Act, IS63"—the other relating to " The New Zealand Loan Act, 1863," and " The Loan Appropriation Act' ISG3," and the third respecting the remainder. The undermentioned Bills have been reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, and His Excellency is respectfully requested to recommend the same for the Royal assent: — "The Provincial Council Powers Extension Act, 1863." " The Provincial Compulsory Land Taking Act, 1863." "Wellington and Hawke's Bay Naval and Military Settlers' Act, 1863."
" Otago Waste Lands Act (No. 1), 1863." " Otago Waste Lands Act (No. 2) 1863." " Civil List Act, 1863."
" Marlborough WViste Lands Regulations Amendment " Auckland Waste Lands Act Amendment Act 1863." " The Nelson Waste Lands Act, 1863."
Act, 1863."
" Southland Waste Lands Act, 1863."
Frederick Whitakeb.
Auckland, 4th January, 1861.
No. 2.
No. 7. —"The Suppression of Rebellion Act, 1863." No. 8. —" The New Zealand Settlements Act, 1563."
The object of these Acts is to deal with the present Native Rebellion. The first is directed at its= •uppression; and the second is intended to establish a permanent security against future rebellions ; or, at all events, to place within the disturbed districts a population which, if it does not actually deter,' will, with little assistance, be enabled to put down outbreaks by the ill-disposed of the native population. 1. There is no doubt that the Suppression of Rebellion Act is a strong measure, but not stronger than the occasion justifies and requires. The Act is similar to that passed in 1708 for suppressionsot the Irish Rebellion, with such alterations and modifications as render it suitable to New Zealand. The grounds upon which the passing of such a measure is justified, fully appear in the papers transmitted herewith, and which render a repetition of the facts and reasons unnecessary. It was obvious to all that the ordinary course of law was unsuited to the emergency; that the hands of the Government were tied; and that occurrences were daily taking place which special legislation was required to meet. The Legislature was almost, if not quite, unanimous that some strong and exceptional measure was essential; but differences of opinion existed as to what that measure should be. The second reading, however, of the Suppression of Rebellion Bill was carried in the House of Representatives, in which Branch of the Legislature it was first introduced, by a majority of 26 to 10. The only views which were put forward in a tangible form by those who opposed the Bill, are contained in the resolutions of which a copy is sent herewith.* These resolutions were proposed by Mr. Sewell as an amendment to the second reading of the Bill, and the original motion was carried by a majority of 13 to 4. In both Houses the Bill passed the stages subsequent to the second reading without serious opposition. 2. The complete defeat of the rebels would have but little effect in permanently securing the peace of the Colony, unless some ulterior measures are adopted for that object. In former wars in New Zealand, the natives have been permitted to leave off fighting whon they thought fit; to keep all the plunder they had obtained; and they have not been subjected to any kind of punishment for disturbing the peace of the country, killing Her Majesty's subjects, and destroying their property. If native wars are to be prevented for the future, some more effective mode of dealing with those who create them must be adopted. The question then is, in what way, for the future, can the peace of the Colony be maintained, and the peaceable inhabitants of both races best secured against the aggression of lawless men ? Tor the most part, the natives of New Zealand possess but little personal property, and therefore suffer but little from losing temporary possession of their settlements. What they have most dreaded
"Journals: Legislative Council, 13th Nov., 18<j;{
PAPERS KBLATIVI TO ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLYSESSION 1863.
A.—No. 1
In their own wars lias been slavery and the permanent loss of their landed possessions. There is no <loubt that the native lands afford the most effectual means of .securing the object the Government has in view. They may be made, by affording a striking example, the means of deterring other tribes for the future from engaging in rebellion, and at the same time of securing the rebellious districts against future outbreaks.
The object of the Settlements Act is to give effect to these views. Already 3,000 men have taken military service under conditions, copies of which are Included in the papers herewith, and it is intended to increase that number to 20,000. The provisions of the Act are framed with the intention of enabling the Government to fulfil the promises made to those who have already been enlisted in the service, and to meet future engagements of a similar kind. The mode by which effect is proposed to be given to the intentions of the Government is by authorising the Governor in Council to proclaim districts, of which the native inhabitants have been engaged in the rebellion, to come within provisions of the Act, and then to authorise the taking of land within such districts for the establishment of settlements.
It will be observed that the provisions of the Act may be made to include lauds belonging to persons who have not justly forfeited their rights by rebellion. In order to carry out the scheme, this is absolutely necessary. The principal difficulty which would arise from the want of such a power would be in those cases in which portions of a tribe have joined in the rebellion, leaving a few behind them, in some instances, with the avowed object of preserving the tribal land from forfeiture. The NewZealand native tenure of land is for the most part, iv fact, with little or perhaps no exception, tribal; and if the principle were admitted that the loyalty or neutrality of a few individuals would preserve the lands of the tribe, the Act would for the most part be a dead letter, and that in districts in which it is most required, and in which its operation would be perfectly just. Care has been taken on the one hand that satisfactory provision is made for granting compensation to those who may be entitled to it, and on the other hand those are excluded who have fairly forfeited .all claim to consideration. It is a recognised principle that, when the public interests require it, the property of individuals, on fair compensation, may be taken as available for the purposes of the State. A great public object, essential to the peace and security of the country, is to be gained in this instance, fully justifying the practical application of the principle. Again, it is undoubted natural justice that those who violate the fundamental principles of the Government under which they live, justly forfeit their right to the advantages which they derive from that Government. The rebellious natives have placed themselves in that position, and fairly subjected themselves to the penalty duo to their offences. It is proper to observe that the principal objections made against these two measures—the Suppression Act and the Settlements Act—were that they wire, ultra vires, beyond the powers of the New Zealand Legislature. It was urged that the New Zealand Parliament could not enact such provisions as those contained in the former Act, and that it could not pass such a law, affecting native lands, as the New Zealand Settlements Act. It is submitted .that neither of these objections has any solid foundation.
The last-mentioned Act is open to a wore plausible objection, viz., that it contravenes an Act of the Imperial Parliament (20 & 21 Viet. c. 51), the Loan' Guarantee Act. Section 3 of that Act provides that no Act passed by the Legislature of New Zealand in anywise discharging or varying the security shall be valid, unless it contain such a clause, suspending its operations. The Settlements Act does not contain such a. clause This objection has been often discussed in reference to other legislation, but no satisfactory conclusion arrived at. The main question turns upon the meaning of the word " security." Is that word in the 3rd section used in a different sense from that in wi used in all the other clauses of the Act? Does it not mean only the Act of the Assembly constituting the lien upon the revenue, and Hot that out of which the revenue arises? Au affirmative reply to the latter question would appear to be the better opinion. Tin's objection was pointed out to His Excellency the Governor before his assent was given to the Bill, but it was deemed of so much importance to give immediate operation to the Act, that His Excellency's assent was advised and given, in the hope and expectation that the Imperial Parliament would remove this technical objection, if it existed. These two Acts are, iv the present state of New Zealand, of vital importance ; in fact, absolutely essential to the safety and security of the Colony, and they are therefore strongly recommended to the favourable consideration of Her Majesty's Imperial Government.
FItKDEHIC'K WniTAKKIi. Auckland, lth January, 1864.
No. 3.
No. 11. —" New Zealand Loan Act ;" and
No. 12.—"Loan Aithomiatio* Act, 1863."
The object of these Acts is to enable the Government of the Colony to raise the sum of threo million pounds (£3,000,000) for the following purposes :— For defraying the cost of suppressing the present rebellion. For the introduction iuto the Northern Island of settlers from Australia, Great Britain and elsewhere.
For the cost of surveys and other expenses incident to the location of settlers. For the purposes specified in the " Loan Act, 18G2." For other public purposes. _ In the speech with which the Governor opened the late Session of the Assembly, the policy indicated, and that which has been carried out by the Legislature, has two great objects in view
4
PAPERS RELATIVE TO ACTS
A..—No. I
1. The suppression of the existing rebellion.
To provide a material guarantee for the preseAtion of peace, and to render future insurrections latives impossible.
The first of these objects, not yet attained, has d to the utmost the colony. At the first outbreak of the i > el'ore any reinforcement of troops had ■; ■■'■■■ ■''■;. >■■'■' \<\ M.-i!'! ■■.. !o whole male population of the between the ages of 16and 55, were in arms : mcatted forces were organised, and t!ie niiii.i: culled out in every province of the Northern Island. Th_Kl: i Hilarys wher ■ iroduced, armed and drilled a! \\-. i he colon;.. The measures, taken for the purposes of defence generally are set forth in d^Bl in Mr. Kuril's meniorandum* on that subject, wjiich accompanies thii minute. Nor is the colony Ax sing its efforts. Arrangements are !■■ ' ■■;■■:>'■ ;•.):: :-,■,,,' ■, i ,[ i: ;:;■;, .'.] cc to 5.000 men, and the whole of the militia is ' ■ •,.•'■:■■ - .' . ■.:'■■ !■■:.■ lieipniod ill 'lint can for some time be reduced, and the sum of £1,000,000, uion the lowest calculation, has been estimated as the <, 1" 'lie <''.'l.)ii\ ni' :'• • ■ ;: .:-'■■ i will :■:■:!.!,»r 'ds military operations alone in suppressing the rebellion.
• Appendix to Journals, 18631 A-.—No. 6. ,
The second object, that of providing a maf^H guarantee <<> prevent, if possible, similar insurrections in future, and to maintain and secure ihe peace and prosperity of the colony, is sought to be obtained in the manner pointed out by the GaMnor in his Despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies of 29th August, 1863, as the only pflrt whir io him for securing the nent peace of the country, namely, the introduction of large bodies of European settlers, strong enough ■ : ■: ■! mi v! .' • ■ !,;■ i-, | 1,, -i; i,,iis which will give us the entire comi he country, and convince the badly disposed natives that it is hopeless to attempt either to drive the Europeans . > ~ ru le and laws of a Maori king. For this to be done ■ ■■'■■■ ' ■,:'-:.. ''>;■■ ■ ■ ,■■ . 'n\ incurred, no I only in introducing the settlors in Iho first instance, bufin providing, to some extent at least, means for their employment : surveys must be be executed, roads made, and other public work der the proposed settlements accessible.
The plan which lias suggested itself to MinM. osl likely to be attended with success is to lay oft" settlements in those natural positions rewMr ■• for the location '• ■■ . ■■'■■■■ ■■■- ■■ iV.-c :;v;i!iis ii! land, ai rms tor : lediate neighbourhood of the settlements, in order thai, at the same time the Government is introducing • •■'■■■■..:. ■ ;. • ■■'". • "i-i\ .1., in as v, ell : and tlius. instead of having pauper communities -■'■-.■■■!:, •;,. ill,';: v. ii! N-<■. throughout tlie country s< 'ting settlements, wiiich will lay the foundation of future prospern™»and be tlie means of securing permanent
teace.
'!' ;: : ■■'■' ::r.: ).>•■■■:■ i ~,.; ,7 , 7 7;:. i :: , ~ , ■ ;'-i ' ■ sum of £900,000 for the expenses incident to their locatiom including the cosi of surveys and' the construction of public works; the sum of £200,000 has be. ; appropriati of lighthouses aud tbe construction of electric telegraphs ; the sum of £100000 is Ii • of compehsati loyal natives fof land which may bo required for settlement ; and the sum of £500,000 is appropriated to the purposes set forth in the " Loan Act, 1862." The two ma_l objects of the Act of 1862 were to* provide the means to pay tbe Imperial Government the amount v. a from the Colony for .expenses incurred in the Taranaki war, aud the sum of £200,000 n. • at ion io tne _ ..ra.i.-.ki settlers for losses suffered by them during that war. To this loan of £5 Of.ooo _• I_ npl iod I. >r i! >. Imperial goarantee ; for some mouths no answer was returned to this applmi.io: a proposition was made to Mr. Ward, the representative of the New Zealandwothat tbe guarantee would be given on condition that he would agree to pay the sifflHf <;_ of all demands to 30th September, ISG2. This proposition Ministers think should __ye I and they are willing to agree to it if the offer be again renewed. The whole of this loan of £3,000,000, with the exception of the sum of £200,000 for Hgn. hou ■ and electric telegraphs, has been forced upon the Colony for the settlement of difficulties arising oi__ra^ the native question. It is quite needless now to refer to past questions of controversy. The Legislature has accepted full responsibility to native affairs, and it has affirmed a policy which will no doubt have the effect, iv conjunction with the aid afforded by England, of completely putting a stop to these native difficulties for the future.
The Legislature has authorised the Government to raise this loan, bearing 5 per cent, interest at once, on the security of the ordinary revenue of the Colony, and it has appropriated thereout for tlie public sen ice during the next 15 months the sum of £2,305,000. At tlie same time it will be seen, from the 4th section of the Loan Act, that provision is made for a reduction in the rate of interest on the loan, or on so much thereof as shall be guaranteed by the Imperial Government. Ministers confidently leave the consideration of this question to Her Majesty's Government. The assistance which they seek cannot possibly involve the Home Government in any expense whatever. They simply ask that the burden the Colony has undertaken to bear may be lightened, without attempting to shift it in the least, and in no way can this be done better than by granting the Imperial guarantee to the loan which it has become necessary to raise. Tlie saving to the Colony of 1 per cent, interest at least on so large a sum would of course greatly relieve its finances, and be felt by the Government as a very material assistance in meeting the difficulties by which they are surrounded. A full statement of the present financial position of the Colony is forwarded herewith, and the Colonial Treasurer, who is proceeding to England by the January mail on business connected with the Colony, will communicate with Her Majesty's Government, and "furnish the Secretary of State with any further particulars upon this subject.
Eeadeb Wood.
Treasury, Auckland, 23rd December, 18G3.
5
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
A.—Kb. 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT or me. eeadee cjii.son wood, colonial theasurek of _ew ZEALAND, IN COMMITTEE OE WAYS AND MEANS ... Til.. HOUSE O_F REPRESENTATIVES ON TUESDAY 10th NOVEMBER, 1863. '
The ] louse having, according to order, resolved itself' into ('ommii tec of Ways and Means, Mr. Header Wood spoke as follows :—Mr. O'Ke^ke, tho arrangement which I propose to adopt «i making thia statement to-night is—■ First, to give the position of the various Land, Loan, Special, and Miscellaneous accounts Secondly, a statement of the revenue and expenditure for the financial rear, which closed on the <"Oth June last. Thirdly, a statement of the extraordinary c- v on account of the war, which has been incurred since the Ist of July last. Fourthly, an estimate of revenue and expenditure for the current year. Fifthly, the proposals of the Government with reference to the financial arrangements which will be necessary in consequence of the present disturbed state of affairs. In doing this, sir, I shall use large figures, and endeavour, by grouping into masses estimates receipts, and expenditure, to occupy as little of the time of the Committee as possible consistently with the object I have in view—that of making a clear state.meni of the financial position of the Colony The first account to which I shall refer is the loan <>f toUO.OOO of 1856. It will bo recollected,sir. that of the two first divisions of that loan, i.e., tin a ! appropriated for the payment of the New Zealand Company's debt, and tho amount: appropriated for the payment of the old debts of the Colony tho balance was consolidated into one sum, which was last year slated to be ,£1,105 2s. lid. This sum has been operated upon very little during the past year, £r> 10s. only having been charged upon it; this was a refund oi land purchase-money paid in error in 15.",]., leaving therefore still" a balance of .-€1,158 12s. lid., which I propose should remain in the Treasury to meet any small charges of a similar kind which will from time to time, most probably, be made, and"to tauc up 'any stray notes of tho old Bank of Issue which may be occasionally presented for payment. This is a very proper and convenient fund for the purpose, which it is better to use than to encumber the ordinary estimates with small charges of the kind. Probably in another year or two they will cease to be made, when any remaining balance can be carried to the credit of the revenue account, and thus finally get rid of all remains of the two first divisions of this loan. The third division of that loan, namely,"the £180,000, set apart for land purchases, at the present time stands as follows :—
1. Auckland.—Amount appropriated, £90,000. £ s. d. £ s. d. Expended to 30th June, 1863 - v - - (;7,486 U 7 Balance unexpended - - 22.513 19 5 90,000 0 0 2. \\ ellington. —Amount appropriated .C 27.000. Expended to 30th June, 1863 - - - 25,527 11 7 n: unexpended - - - - 1,472 8 5 27,000' 0 0 3. ILwke's Bay. Am n-opriated, £27,000 endad "to 30th June, lM5;i - . - 27,000 0 0 27,000 0 0 4. Taranaki.- I approiiriaicd, £00,000 VM\ Jiiiic, ls{;:i . . . 4,017 13 10 '.'■•■!- - - - 81,982 6 2 . 36,000 0 0 - 124,031 G 0 180,000 0 0 Balance of 3rd division unexpended - - 55,968 14 0 £180.000 0 0 Total amount of loan raised - - - , - - 450,000 0 0 Amount disbursed, Ist and 2nd division - - 318,841 7 1 Amount disbursed, 3rd division - 121,031 (i 0 442.872 13 1 Balance held by the Treasury - £7,127 611
The Committee will see, with reference to the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay, that the" Land Purchase Fund may be said to be completely exhausted; but as the Land Fund is appropriated altogether for Provincial purposes, it is very right, 1 think, and proper for the Provincial Governments to provide the necessary funds for the further purchase of land. Sir, the next account to which I shall refer is the loan of £150,000, generally known as the War Loan of 1860. There has been expended on that account—on the relief of the inhabitants of Taranaki, £25,000 : repairs to Britomart Barracks, &c., £752 6s. Id.; expenses of Native conference, £4,021 Us. Id.;'* on other miscellaneous matters, the details of which have been laid before the House, £117,846; so that of the total amount of that loan there has been expended £148,220 os. 7d. leaving unexpended a balance of £1,779 19s. sd. That balance, however, will be all required to meet some little outstanding matters with reference to expenditure incurred at Nelson on account of the Taranaki refugees. Last session a loan of £500,000 was sanctioned, subject to the Imperial guarantee, for certain-
6
PAPERS RELATIVE TO ACTS
specific purposes. The schedule of that Loan Act is divided into two parts; the first division, for the re-instatement of Taranaki, was £200,000, ami the second division of £300,000 was for the purpose of repaying Imperial demands for road*, public works, and other purposes. The Imperial guarantee to that loan has not yet been obtained. As all the correspondence that has taken place with reference to it has been laid before Hie I! misc. it is unnecessary for me to enter iuto minute details. The guarantee, however, was not obtained. First of nil, there was considerable delay on the part of the Imperial Government in sta! im; to Mr. "Ward—who waa sent home to make arrangements with reference to that guarantee—what they would do and what they would not do ; however, they ultimately proposed certain terms to Mr. "Ward, subjed to which they were willing to grant it. Mr. Ward declined to accede to those terms. His reasons for taking this course have been given fully in the papers before the House. The Bill which the Government bad introduced into the House of Commons was then withdrawn, and it became impossible to take any further action in the matter. No payment therefore has been made to the Imperial Government on account of their demands, and in fact the Colonial Government has had no portion of the loan at its disposal, with the exception of £100,000, which they were authorised to raise by Exchequer bills, until the Imperial guarantee could be obtained. 'These Exchequer bills have been neu'w'iated to the amount of £100,000, and I will now state to the Committee the manner in which these funds nave hoen expended. On account of the first division of that loan, namely, £200,000 for Taranaki reinstatement, the following sums have been expended to 30th June' 1863 :—
£ c. d. Payment to Taranaki Relief Commissioners ... 37,934 7 9 Passages to Refugees - *l " " " " 75 10 0 Expenses of Governor and Suite ai Uaranaki ... Bgg 7 2 Transport of Captain Mercer's Mounted Corps - - - 800 0 0 Military buildings at Tataraimaka and Stables for Mounted Corps 1,007 7 8 Saddlery, pay, arms, &c, of Mounted iJorps ... 397 7 4 Militia pay .... ... 9^oB 12 10 Expenses connected with German Immrga! ion Agency - - 287 15 0
£51,509 7 8
Sir, I am perfectly aware that opinions will differ materially as to the exact meaning and interpretation to be put on the first division of the Loan" Act. I suppose there° will scarcely be two members in this House who will agree a* to the exact meaning of the Legislature when they passed that Act. But, sir, jt has always appeared to me That there are two things which the Legislature required to be done out of this fund; first, it was necessary to restore the peace and security of Ihc Province; and, secondly, by the distribution of a certain amount of capital to the settlers after the security of' tlie settlement had been restored, to enable them not only to re-occupy their land if they chose, but to give them a fresh start in life; not so much to restore the settlement to its former state, as to "ive it "a new start altogether. Sir, at the time that that Loan Act was passed, there wore considerable expenses still going on in the' Province of Taranaki with reference to the milii ia. There was a large militia force then embodied and they had to be paid, and it was impossible to disband them. It was also necessary, before the peace and security of that settlement could be restored, that possession should be regained "by the Crown of the Tataraimaka block. Now, as the House voted no funds specially for Taranaki, or for the continuance of that military expenditure, except the sum of £200.000, I considered, and consider still that the military charges which I have just detailed were a fair charge upon that reinstatement fund.' But, sir, I am aware that this view of the question is disputed by those who are most concerned and most interested in the matter, and, if it is possible to do so, an arrangement will be conio to between the Government on the one side and the Representatives of file Province of Taranaki on the other with reference to the appropriation of the reinstatement fund, if such can be done in accordance with th< Attorney-General's interpretation of that portion of the schedule to the Loan Act. If that cannot be done, the Government propose again to appeal to this House upon the question, and to request the House definitely to state what it does mean by that vote. Then, sir, with regard to the second dirision of the Loan Act, the £:>OO,OOO for repaying Imperial demands, public works, or other purposes the following sums have been expended :— '
. £ s. <i. Roads, Province of Auckland ----- 11 982 16 1 Stockade at Raglan --._-_ 722 13 ° lioads, Taranaki -•-.__. 19 052 18 1 Arms (7.JJ2 2 8 37,870 9 7
Thus the total of the 100,0007. that has been expended is 59.439 Z. 17s. 3d. Sir, the legislation of last Session renders it unnecessary for me to say anything with reference to an account that has been frequently debated in this House, the account known as the Reserved Sixths Fund. By that legislation it became my duty to refund the amounts which the Treasury held on that account to the different PAvinees. That has been done, with the exception of the Province of Hawke's Bay. The Treasury now holds 2,000 Z. of this fund, sold/ for the purpose of meeting engagements which the Land Purchase Commissioner had entered into, bul has not yet completed. Then, Sir, there are certain special accounts which it is necessary 1 should refer to, the main item of which is the Bay of Islands Settlement Act and 1 will state to the House what we propose to do with reference to the expenditure which has been incurred on that account. I will, first, however, give the items advanced under Acts of Assembly :
7
A.—No. I
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A.—No. 1.
■ w. Accovms IS(i2-3. On the 30th Juno. 1863. Acts of General Assembly. Acts of General Assembly. To the credit of £ s. d. on account of £ s. d. Bank of Issue "Winding-up Act 574 12 0 A Auckland Reserves Act - 2,505 8 2 Gold Duty Act - - - 1,389 Oil B Bay of Islands Settlement Act 6,025 12 6 • •Gold Fields, Coromandel - 1,980 610 1,963 12 11 Balance - 8,547 11 7 £10,511 7 6 £10,5.11 7 6 With reference to the Bay of Islands Settlement __ct,B>e]ieve it is the last time that this Committee will be troubled with any statement in reference to expeSjiture on that account, as we propose that the land should lie handed over to the Superintendent of t|ue!.!u!id. sui ]• i m • charges wbich have been incurred for surveys, and ! my hon. friend see- 7s v. o |.: '.■:.. .■■.!■' ; _■ expected very shortly to arrive at tlie Bay of oßhat land. Sir, I will now state to the Committee the amounts which the Treasury was liable jfl^Haiid the way in which it accounted for its liabilities on the 30th dune last: — State.ment oi' Financial L'o.iti. '. Treasury liable for— £ _ d. lance of all Revenue Accounts - - W - - - 92,192 12 0.. „ of Loan of 500,000.. of 1^5(1 WBBm " 7- 1-7 6 H „of Loan of 150,000/. of 1860 -j - - - 1,779 19 5 ~ of advances from Commissar ,v 7 7i - -15 9 7 „ of Deposit Accounts mmW 18,448 13 91 W £119,591 1 9 —— Accounted for— JJf £ .?. d. By payments under Loan Act, 1862, in eJ War . . . . Under sundry Acts of Assembly - 8,547 14 7 urer. ' - - ' - 79,123 2 8 £119,594 1 9 Having thus picked the dn iunirv ,7.V. ■i , ; ; . ' , . , . ~,.., ~;•;',;, statement, namely, the revenue and ex; . ::o'u:v iVom 1-1 July, 1862, to 30th June, 1803, an account, I nk, which will be fo; more interesting than those which I have just gone through. Sir, lasi year we 1 the customs'revenue at 413,000/. It has realised 489,150/. ; and I think it will ' iinglo ascertain how the estimates which my hon. friend, in his financial statevarious amounts of customs revenue which it was expected to obtain from the Pro. nßrvat. The customs revenue of the Province of Auckland was estimated at 92,000/., aud i 92,880/.; the estimate for Taranaki was 8,000?., actual yield 7,289/.; the timatdWor Wellington 40,000/., actual yield 41,737/.; the estimate for Napier 9^000?., actual yield jBBBml; the estimate for Nelson 22,500/., actual yield 22,185/.; the estimate for Marlborough 2,000/., actual yield 3,099/.; the estimate for Canterbury 50,000/., actual yield 60,364/.; the estimate for Otago, which at that time was considered a remarkably high estimate, and one that it was supposed would scarcely be realised, was 180,000/., actual yield 215,623..; but the most extraordinary rise of all was that of Southland, the estimate for which was 9,500?., and actual yield 36,714/.; a small sum of 114?. was also received from the Chatham Islands, making a total actually received of 489,150?. —an increase of 18 per cent, beyond the amount estimated. Sir, I think that ft is a very sal isfactory statement indeed of the customs revenue of the country. The revenue statement, then, will stand thus :—
8
PAPERS BELATIVtf TO ACTS
Receipts. Actual. Estimate. Customs -_.___ Postal - - - Judicial - - Registration of Deeds - Fees for Register of Births, Deaths, aud Marriages - On issue of Crown Grants - * r Miscellaneous - £ 489,150 26,861 19,177 6,769 1,722 1,690 4,594 £ 413,000 20,000 14,000 7,000 1,500 1,500 1,000 | £ 549,963 458,000 flaking a total of 549,963?. received, as against 458,000?. estimated, being an increase of 20 per cent.
A.—No. 1
Now, Sir, I come to the other side of the account—the expenditure. And I will follow, with reference to the expenditure, the same plan I have adopted with reference to the receipts. I will'show the amounts estimated and the amounts expended. Mt
_ Ihus, then, after paying all the appropriations and the three-eighths to the Provinces, a surplus is left of 76,0162. The surplus estimated last year was something unde*'lo,ooo£ It will be seen from this statement that upon the sum voted last year there has been a savin's* of about 0,000?.; but there has been expended, without appropriation, about 12,000/.; this, however, is practically only 6,000 I. over the votes of last year. "When we consider that the revenue hns increased at the rate of 20 /. per cent., whilst the unauthorised expenditure does not amount to quite 1 /. per cent:., and while a great deal of this is nothing more than an excess of some matters, such as printing, siatiouerv. and things of that kind, over the amount estimated as sufficient to provide for them, I think I may say that for the year ending 30th June last, there has been no excessive expenditure beyond the amount voted by this Mouse. Now, Sir, with reference to the surplus of 75,016 /,, I propose to charge upon thai the sum of 167^^ supplementary for the year 1861-62, still unprovided for ; also, the supplementary expenditure for the past year of 12,700 I. ; and I also propose to charge upon it the cost of erecting the new Custom House at .Dunedin, 11,600 I. In the first instance it was understood that the cost of that Custom House would be defrayed from one of the Otago loans; but the Superintendent of that Province seemed to have larger demands upon his loans than he could very well satisfy, and requested me when I was there to propose to the House that the amount expended on the new Custom House should be charged rather upon the surplus revenue than upon the loan. There is a sum which has been outstanding for some time, and wmch has been the cause of a great deal of correspondence with the Post Office authorities. It is an accumulation of arrears for the last five or six years, and they arose in this way : By the Treasury Minute of November, 1855, the Colony understood that it was not liable to contribute to the mam line before the branch service from Sydney was established, but the Post Office authorities from. the very commencement have charged the Colony with its contribution to that main line. The Colony also understood that it was to pay for that line in proportion to the number of letters which it despatched, but the Post Office authorities from the first have called upon the Colony to pay in a combined ratio, according to the number of letters despatched and the distance from Galle ; and, thirdly, the Colony understood that it was to be credited with all the postal revenue which was paid within the Colony, all letbeing prepaid, whilst the Post Office authorities have demanded that we should accountto them for a sum of fourpence upon every letter despatched from New Zealand to Australia. The annual estimates have also proved insufficient to meet the legitimate charges on account of the ocean line. Well, sir, these various items have been resisted time after time, and despatch.es have been written and minutes have been written, of which information will be found in the Blue Books before the House, and the arguments have been very good and remarkably convincing, but the Post Office authorities stick to their point, and tfell us that if we don't forward the amount due, they won't send our letters. When Mr.
9
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Expenditure, 1S62-63. Actual. Estimate. Civil List - Permanent Charges Appropriations— General — Executive - Legislative - - - Judicial Registration Customs Postal Militia Miscellaneous Provincial — Auckland Taranaki Wellington Hawke's Bay Nelson - Marlborough Canterbury - Otago - - - Southland - £ 4,000 15,000 000 2,800 675 47,100 9,581 i 2,156 £ 25,000 79,000 £ 25,000 82,796 r 91,912 ■ . 4,275 15,050 600 2,890 675 47,100 9,581 12,156 18,111 2,300 10,200 3,355 6,647 2,170 14,624 29,343 3,580 1S,6S4 2,300 10,275 • 3,876 7,002 2,915 15,004 29,343 3,830 Refunds 286,242 4,425 »ths Customs Revenue to Provinces Balance - 290,667 ] 83.280 \ 76,016 J 164,648 £ 549,963 458,000
A.—No. 1.
Crosbic Ward went to England, he was authorised to settle these matters with them, and he found them as stiif as possible upon the first two points, but ultimately they agreed to a commuted charge of 300 /. a year instead of the claim of fourpence on iAtoreolonial letters." Now, sir, the total amount of these arrears is 26,300 1., half of which, or 13,300 ,'., I propose io charge upon the supplementary expenditure of this year, mid to make provision for the |):ivnicMi. .il' : ;; , , , ,■, . the current year. The surplus account will stand in this w:».y if this proposal is adopted :—■ Taking 76.010 I. as the surplus, we propo: ■ ■■'
Supplementary expenditure. 1861-1862 Ditto " ditto ' 1802-1863 Cost of Custom House. Dunedin - Half of postal arrears
in all 39,272 1., which being deducted from
£ *. d.
1,672 0 0 12,700 0 0 11,1500 0 0 13,300 0 O
76,016 I. leave- stiii .i surplus for distribution of 36,7
Sir, with reference to the supplementary expenditure !Vr.' ■ .; ~■ vial year ended 30th of June, 1563, amounting to 12,716/. as I have already stated, it is ! > n;.- n.> ■ '■'.• ~:,> i.-. ':■ ■>;'[., n\- oi'ihis !<!;, ■.[ : - First, there lias been a payment of 267 I. I s. (id. travelling expenses on account of the Governor's establishment; a clerk bus been supplied to the Chief Jusi ice. and the travelling expenses of the judges exceeded the estimate of 600 1. by 150 I; there are some !Vt Oilice contingenc-iex, and the amount voted for the Marine Board was not sufficient to pay lie expenses of that Board ; then there was an error of addition in the miscellaneous items on the estimates last year to the extent of 1000 /., which is also included in the supplementary expenditure; for print::., ! . . . .... : 1619 /. was required for military allowances in Otago : the iviim'; ;.. - , ■.■ i::.,!, -. m : 228 I. ; 273 I 10*. lOrf. was incurred in the relief of the crew of H.M Js.S. ■' Orpheus" at the time of the. wreck, on the 7th February last; then there is an item, which really amounts to something considerable year after year, for the apprehension of deserters. The Imperial iiuthoj ive.< are ;;.:■ . c using the Colonial authorities of not providing sufficient establishments ; I hey have accused us of not apprehending these deserters, not taking sufficient care to prevent desert i<.n, :>r ~■,.■.■■ , ~,....,:;,., 900 I. was paid last year for the apprehension of deserters. Tho military authorities regard it as a matter of police with us, and we regard it. Wf they should look after themselves ; and it appears in this case, as in many others, when the Colonial Bud Imperial authorities disagree, the Colony has to pay. Then, sir, for the Province of Auckland, tht' elect oral printing expenses were not sufficient by 250 7.; at Tarauaki a bailiff was wanted for the t\;'si'!en{ .M.'-isin;teV court, and there are a variety of other little matters of this kind. At Southland the extension of population had caused considerable increase of expenditure ; the Post Office alone requiring as much as 1,000 I. These, with other items of a similar description, mala' up the whole t-f. 12,716 1.; details of which will be laid on the table of the House in full. Now, .Sir, that ci t^ statement of revenue and expenditure for last year.
1 will now turn to a mailer which Tiast excited some little interest in this country, namely, a statement of the expenditure arising outjn the native insurrection, from the Ist July to "the 13th October, and supplement it up io tlie first oft!'' ■ 7< f STATEMENT 01 ;•: arising out of the native insurrkction, sat _._>.. Ls_ july to 13th OCTOBER, 1563.
£ s. ,L - £ .v. i. Saiidfly," &c. - - - 5471 o 0 First and second instalment for jjj^^ " Pioneer'" or" Waikato" - - 4,000 0 01 . — 9,171 3 0 Removal of settlers from Baglan and Wairoa - - - 548 18 0 Blockhouses ----.._ 2,398 12 G Native Forces, Guides and Interpreters - ... 40;> 1 5 Pay of Forces ....... 49.221 19 11 Pasaages of Volunteers, Cost of Stores, Arms, &c., &c. - - 42,590 13 0 Horses -------- 5,094 14 0 Miscellaneous ....... 2,350 4 ,'{ Soad clearing and Bridge at Maungatawhiri - - - 2,700 0 0 114,891. 6 1 Eeinittances for similar purposes to Sub-Treasurers at New Plymouth, Wellington, Whanganui, and Napier, and Agent in London - - - ... . . 31,300 0 0 £146,194 6 1
There ia a great point in this 13th October, because it happened to be exactly three months from the date when General Cameron crossed the Maungatawhiri, and thus it gives you the best way you can obtain tho expenditure running over a period of three months, and it enables you to calculate tho probable annual expenditure on account of the war more accurately than it can be done in any other way. Sir, from July Ist to the first of this month, including in the account all further expenditure, and including all liabilities, the sum of 200,000 1. will cover the whole (hear, hear), the whole expense for a period of four months. Now, Sir. considering all that has been written upon this question, the extra-
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PAPERS RELATIVE TO ACTS
A.—No. 1.
Yagant and extraordinary estimates that have been m:ufe of the sums we were spending, considering all the difficulties that the Government has been placed in, and the demands made upon them at a moment's notice for the security of the country, I think, notwithstanding all that has been said, it will be generally considered that a great economy has been exercised in what we have done in this matter, for which we have not received credit. (Cheers.) Sir, before I proceed to the estimate of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year, and as I shall afterwards have to cuter into the question of raising a loan of very considerable amount. I wish to draw the attention of this Committee to some few points, which, to my mind, show in a very clear and striking manner the extraordinary progress in wealth and prosperity, made within a very short period by this Colony. Sir, in the year 1860-61 the Customs' revenue was 205,000 1., which was an increase of 15 J per cent, on that of the previous yftir. In 1861-62 it was* 839,393 1., or an increase of 65 per cent, on the previous year; and in 1862-63 it was 489,000.'. an increase of 44 per cent.
On the 31st December 1860, tin; population of the Colony was 83,91.1? l-ouls ; on the 31st December 1862, it was 133,114 souls, being an increase of 49,195, or nearly 60 per cent. In the year IS6O, 140,276 tons of shipping entered inwards at the various ports of New Zealand ; in 1862 the'tonnage entered was 301.000, thawing an increase of 160,72 {■ tois, or 114 per cent. In 1860 the value of the imports was 1,518,333 7. : in 1862 the value was 4,626,082 /. In 1860 the exports amounted to 588,000 1., and in 1862 to 2,422,734 7. Up to the 31st December 1860, the total value of gold exported from the Colony was 138,89S 7. 2s. 3(7. On the 31st December 1862 the total value of gold exported was 4,377,708 7. of which 4,130,174 7., was the produce of Otago. In 1860 the value of won! exported was 114,802 /. : in 1862 it was 074,226 7. In 1860 the ordijian and territorial revenue amounted to 164,739 /.. and in 1862 to 1,186.009/. The Bank returns also show the most extraordinary advance within the short period of three years. In 1860 the total deposits in the various banks in the Colony (then only two in number) were 660,0007,. ; and in 1863, up to the 30th September, they amounted to 2,171,165 7. The total assets on the 31st of December 1860, were 1,009.425/., and on the 30th September 1863, 4,038.178 7. On the 31st December 1860, the total liabilities were 52A.669 7.. and on the 30th September 1863, 3,026,184 7 There is nothing in my mind which shows so strongly the very rapid advancement in wealth and prosperity of this Colony than a comparison of these returns. Its revenues, its population, its shipping, its imports, its exports, its mineral resources, its trade and commerce, are extending and increasing with almost unexampled rapidity.
Sir, before I proceed to an estimate of fhe. Customs' Revenue for the current year. I wish to say a Few words about the tariff. My hon. friend t lie Member of the Gold Fields, proposes to-morrow to put a question to the Government with reference to the tariff; and I think it is very advisable that he and this Committee should be in possession of some information with reference to that subject which I have now to give, and which may perhaps modify his opinion very considerably as to the necessity for making any very material alterations. Sir, the value of the imports for the six months ended June 30th last, was 2,979,502 /., of which 1.428,252 7. entered uul \ free, ami the remainder, to the value of 1,551.250 7. paid duty. We all know what the duty is upon spirits, wine, sugar and tea, and on all articles paying a fixed duty ; but duty is levied upon a variety of articles at Is. per cubic foot, and upon others at 3*. per hundredweight ; and it is not so easy to ascertain the ad valorca rate upon these. I have never yet seen any statement exhibiting the per-centage that is paid upon the value of these imports, and very exaggerated notions are abroad of the amount of taxation paid by the people of this Colony. A'ow,. Sir, the duty which is paid upon spades and shovels is 2-j percent, ad rain,'' m ■. total value imported during the last six months being 12,785 7., and the duty upon them 294 7. 1 ,v. 1,1. Upon boots and shoes, which were imported to the value of 96,489 7., the duty levied was 5,36s /. or a\k r-centage of 5-J. Upon candles the duty amounted to 2\ per cent.; upon cotton goods, 5| per cent. (hear, hear) ; upon silk, 3.'. percent.; upon slop clothing, 6|-per cent, (hear, h=ar); upon woollen clothing (>'. per ,-ent.; and upon other goods of a similar description, (i:l per cent. (Hear, hear.) Upon dried fru'is. ;n :■ •■:! Vof great luxurj '■ should s;;; , the dutj comes to 17 and L-lOtli per cent.; upon bottled fruit, I'll per ceutTirPH hardware and cutlery, 2|- per cent.; upon holloware, 5-f per cent.; on ironmongery, 2\ per cent.; on oilman's stores, nearly 14 per cent ; and iTpou soap, nearly 7 pep cent. With the exception of some few articles, which may be classed as those of considerable luxury, consumed only by persons who can very well afford it, I consider that the amount of duty which is levied under this tariff does not press hardly upon the people of the Colony. Sir, for the current year upon which we have entered, we estimate the total Customs' Eevenue at 603,600 7., and it is made up in this way:—■
11
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Estimated B_ venue. Customs —. £. _ d. Auckland Tarauaki Wellington Hawke's Bay Nelson Marlborough Canterbury Otago Southland Chatham Islands ' 105,000 0 0 7,500 0 0 42.000 0 0 10,000 0 0 25,000 0 0 4,000 0 0 80,000 0 0 270,000 0 0 60.000 0 0 100 0 0 Total Customs - : 603.600 0 0
A.—No. 1.
Post Office Judicial
Registration Fees (Land and Deeds) Fees—Registration, Births, Deaths, ike, „ Crown Grants
Miscellaneous
•10,000 0 0 25,000 0 0 12,000 0 0 2,500 0 0 :J,OOO 0 0 5,500 0 O
£091,600 0 0
There is, Sir, one consideration which, I think, must be felt to be a source of satisfaction to every one, that from Hie very commencement of representative; institutions in this Colony there has been no single instance of speculative inance ; no single instance, however much pressed the Finance Minister has been, in which ho has over-estimated the resources of the Colony, no single instance in which the ordinary revenue has been estimated in excess of the amount which "has been realized; but instances ' are innumerable where it has been estimated at considerably less than it has realised. And I may Bay in this case there is no speculative finance. These items "which 1 have read to you are- actually now being received by the various collectors of revenue in this Colony, and there cannot be any reasonable doubt of the sum of 691,600 1. being realized during the current financial year. The Estimates will be laid on the table immediately, and you will there wee the details in full. " 1 will simply content myself with a resume of the "whole :— "
Expenditube for current "Financial Year. £. t. d. Civil List - - - ... 25,000 0 0 Permanent Charges - .... 130,490 0 0 Executive ..... 4,825 0 0 Legislative - - . . . . 12,310 0 0 Judicial - - - W. . . 1,950 0 0 Registration - - . f . . . (j^eo 0 0 Customs - ... 1,375 0 0 Postal - - ... 80,430 0 0 Militia .... 25,000 0 0 Miscellaneous - ... 10,000 0 0 Total Guiu-nl Charges - - 297.5A0 0 0 £. »•. d. Auckland - . 21,633 0 0 Taranaki - . 2,334 0 0 Wellington - - - 10,992 0 0 Hawke's Bay - - - 4,537 0 0 \clson . . . 7,539 0 0 !boroi'ul: - - . 3,489 I 0 0 Ca.ntP'-hiirv ... 22.072 0 0 ()<n.i,'o '- - - - 50,510 0 0 Wfuutlil.-md - - - 17,215 0 0 P^^Total Provincial!}' charged .... 146,314 0 0 Three-eighths Customs .... 220,350 0 0 Surplus - . . - . . • 21,096 0 0 £091,600 0 0
There will then be three-eighths of the customs revenue to be handed over to the provinces, amounting to 226,350 /.; thus leaving a surplus of 21,096/. to balance the estimated revenue. Sir, I now proceed to the last subject on which I propose to occupy your attention to-night, namely, to the financial proposals of the Government in reference to the existing state of affairs in this country.." My lion, friend, the Colonial Secretary, when he addressed the House the other day, stating the policy of the Government. told you that we intended to provide for the extraordinary expenditure on account of the war by means of a large loan. Sir, the Government have two objects in view: first of all, the suppression of the present rebellion ; and secondly, if possible, the rendering it impossible that there should be any rebellion in future. The rebellion can be suppressed at the present time only by one means, by the use of force—force against force. The exact amount that it will cost the Colony to suppress the rebellion it is, of course, impossible for me to say, unless I can bo told the length of "time the war will last, and the demands which the General will make upon the Government of the Colony for men and means'. Sir. I am not one of those who think that by any one great battle the natives in this country will be subdued, and that we shall all of a sndden pass from a period of war and trouble and anxiety to a period of serenity and peace. Nor am J one of those who think that this war will be interminable or lasting for many years. lam very much of the opinion of my hon. friend the Member for Southland, who said that these natives were simply men and women like ourselves ; and I believe that when they see, as they soon will see, that all their eflbrts against us are practically unavailing—when they see, as they soon will see, that we are by far the superior power, they will then do that which we want them to do. namely, submit
12
PAPEES RELATIVE TO ACTS
A.—No. 1
to the sovereignty of the Queen, and to the law. Bofore peace is secured to this country, however, there must necessarily be a considerable amount of expense incurred in the suppression of the rebellion! Exactly what that amount will be, it is impossible either for me or any one else to say; but what the Government is anxious to do in the matter is to ask the House to vote a sum which they believe in itself is not more than we may reasonably expect will bo required to be expended for this purpose. Sir, we ask the House to vote a sum, to be raised by loan, for the purpose of war expenditure in connexion with the suppression of the present rebellion, of a million of money. Then, supposing the war over, or supposing that it is driven far from our doors, we propose to commence a system of immigration, a system of colonization by which a population will occupy the waste lands of the rebel districts, and prevent the possibility at any future time of these natives again rising in insurrection against us; and for the introduction of this population, the exact time in which it will be possible to introduce it, I cannot say, nor can I tell the exact number which it will be necessary to introduce ; but we think that it is advisable that steps should be taken immediately to commence that immigration ; we ask then, for the purpose of immigration the sum of 300,000 I. This population which we propose to introduce, and in point of fact, the whole population of the Colony, ought to be armed, and we propose to ask the House to appropriate 100,000 1. to be expended in arms. There will be a variety of expenses incurred in the location of these immigrants, and it will be necessary for their employment, and for the proper colonization of the country, that public works to a considerable extent should be commenced. Exactly what those works will be, it is of course impossible to say ; and the amount that will be required to be expended upon them, it is equally impossible to say. But, sir, we desire, as much as possible, to make use of the natural resources of this country. The settlements of Baglan and Tauranga can be approached by the great highway of the ocean, and Eaglan and Tauranga are on the flanks of the Ngatimaniapoto country. The rivers Thames, Waikato, and Waipa run up towards that very country, and we propose to locate settlers at proper positions upon those rivers ; and we propose also. in order that there should be no delay in locating the settlers at the very earliest opportunity, and maintaining communication with them, to render these rivers navigable for steamers of light draught. "We believe this could be done at a very inconsiderable expense—an expense very much less than would be required to make roads from one end of the country to the other ; and there will be this advantage connected with it, independently of the saving of money, that communication can be obtained almost immediately with the settlements that are planted, and the settlements themselves can be planted in positions where it would be impossible to place them, if thn only means of access to them were by roads. For these public works —roads, bridges, rendering rivers navigable, surveys, and general expenses of location —we propose to ask the House to appropriate 900,000 I, We think it advisable that a sum of money should be set apart for the purpose of constructing an electric telegraph, where it is possible that an electric telegraph can be constructed in this country. It can be constructed throughout the whole of the Middle Island, and carried by means of a submarine cable across Cook's Straits. "We propose that measures should be taken almost immediately to commence a work of that kind in conjunction with the Provincial Governments of the Middle Island, who have already taken steps in the matter. And though I myself have indicated a plan to continue that submarine cable from D'Urville's Island to the Manukau, yet upon further consideration, we think it better not to undertake a scheme so extensive as that at present, but rather to wait another year to see if it may not perhaps be possible to continue the telegraphic communication from Cook's Straits to other parts of this northern island. It would be impossible cf course, to do it at the present time ; but it is not perhaps too wild a supposition to suppose that it may be practicable to commence it in another year. At any rate we propose a sum of 150,000 1 to be set apart for the purpose of constructing electric telegraphs ; and a further sum of 50,000 I. for a not less useful work, the construction of lighthouses upon various parts of the coast of New Zealand. That makes a total of 2,500,000 I, which we shall ask the House to appropriate for the various purposes which I will recapitulate :—
£. s. d. War expenditure - .... 1,000,000 0 0 Immigration ..... 300,000 0 0 Public Works ..... 900,000 0 0 Arms ...... 100,000 0 0 Electric Telegraph ..... 150,000 0 0 Lighthouses - - ... 50,000 0 0 £2,500,000 0 0
With reference to the loan of 500,000/., of last year, for which we have not yet received the Imperial guarantee, we consider that if that guarantee can be now obtained upon the terms upon which it was offered to Mr. Ward it should be accepted, and that loan would then remain as it is. If, on the other hand, we find that guarantee cannot be obtained on those terms, we propose to absorb it in this loan, thus making a total of 3,000,000 1. ; and wo propose also, that, as this large sum of money is required! not only for the pacification and colonisation of the country, but also that it will have, as I believe, if the plau is successful, the most beneficial effects as regards the civilization and general welfare of the natives, that we should apply to the Imperial Government for so much assistance, if they will give it as their guarantee to this three millions will afford us. In that case, sir, the interest, of course will bo 41. per cent. But if we are unable to obtain this assistance from the Imperial Government—and we have some hopes, at any rate, of obtaining it—then, we propose that the Colony should negociate the loan upon its own account, at 51. per cent, interest, and 1 1. per cent, sinking fund, making a total charge of 61. per cent. The interest and sinking fund of this loan will be, in the first instance, of course, charged upon the geueral revenue of the whole Colony ; but when the lands in rebel districts are taken and sold the loan itself will be a first charge upon the proceeds of the sale thereof. Exactly what amount of land will be available it is difficult to say : but if we take all the land that belongs to the rebel natives
13
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A,-No. 1
in the Thames and Waikato, at Taranaki and at Wauganui, I think there will be nearly, after locating the settlers upon it, a balance of something closely approaching to 2,000,000 of acres. And we consider that although it will be impossible to realise upon that all at once, yet before very long the proceeds of those sales will repay the whole of this expenditure that we now ask the House to grant. Sir, I will not occupy the attention of the Committee any longer. I feel that the details which 1 have been obliged to enter into, have been excessively dry aud uninteresting ; and I have to thank the House for the very patient attention it has afforded mo. I will now place in the hands of the chairman of the Committee the following resolution : " That in the opinion of this Committee the expense of suppressing the present insurrection in the Northern Island, and colonising the rebel districts, should be provided for by loan."
No. 4.
No. 1. —': Stewart's Island Annexation Act 1863.'
Before the passing of this Act, Stewart's Island did not form part of any Province. An irregular settlement of the Island has been for some time progressing, and it became necessary either to form an establishment of the General Government, or to place the Island under the Government of one of the Provinces. There was nothing to justify the additional expense which the former course would have entailed, and the latter was adopted. Southland was selected as the Province, as the Government of that Province is much nearer to the Island, and the people more intimately connected with those who reside on the Island.
No. 2.—"Arms Act Continuance Act, 1863."
This is the usual Act which has been passed in each Session since 1860. The renewal of the Arms Act, IS6O, is more especially necessary now.
No. 3.—"The Nelson Tiujst Fund Act, 1854, Amendment Act, 1863."
The constitution of a new Province, Marlboro ugh, out of part of the territory comprised in the original Province of Nelson, has created doubts as to whether the new Province is entitled to participate in the benefit of the Nelson Trust Funds. It is obviously just that this should be so, and this Act has been passed to remove any doubts on the subject.
No. 4.—" Colonial Defence Force Act Amendment Act, 1863."
This Act was passed in order to comply with the wishes of Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, as expressed in his Despatch No. 23, dated 26th February, 1863. Advantage was taken of the passing of the Act to settle a difficulty which had arisen as to the relative rank of the officers of the Militia and Defence Forces.
No. s.—"The Exqviky into Wrecks Act, 1803."
This Act has been passed at the suggestion of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. See Despatch No. 41, dated 20th April, 1863. It embodies the provisions, on the same subject, contained in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, with the necessary alterations to render them suitable to the Colony. It will afford a convenient mode of enquiry into wrecks, and all the proceedings are required to be repoited to the Board of Trade in England, in order that the certificates of Masters and Mates may be dealt with if necessary.
No. 6.—"The Superintendents' Incorporation Act. 1868."
Land has from time to time been purchased with public funds for public purposes, by the Superintendents of Provinces, and conveyances have been made to them and to their successors, or to their heirs, without any uniform system. It would afford great convenience in the administration and be the means' of preserving the title to property of this description if the Superintendents were incorporated. The purpose of this Act is to effect that object.
No. 9. —" Provincial Council Powers Extension Act, 1863."
Great inconvenience has been found from the restrictions prohibiting Provincial Councils from passing any law affecting Streets, Eoads, &c. The restriction stands much in the way of legislation to carry out public improvements. The object of this Act is to extend the powers of Provincial Councils in this direction.
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PAPERS RELATIVE TO ACTS
A.—No. 1
No. 10.—'; The Provincial Compulsory Land Taking Act, 1863;" and No. 18.—"The Land Clauses Consolidation Act, 1563."
Doubts have been suggested as to the power of Provincial Legislatures to take land compulsorily for Eoads and other public purposes. The object of Act No. 10 is to remove any such doubts, and, together with Act No. 13, to place restrictions on the exercise of the power, so as to secure proper notices and fair compensation. The latter Act is an adaptation of the English Act on the same subject.
No. 14.—" Nelson College Trust Lands Act, 1863."
The object of this Act is to give to the Governors of the Nelson Trust Funds the usual powers vested in Trustees for sale and exchange.
No. 15. —"The Religious, Charitable, and Educational Trusts Act Amendment Act, 1863."
Great inconvenience has been felt in consequence of the Act, to which this is an Amendment, not extending to money invested on mortgage. This inconvenience is removed by the Amendment Act.
No. 16. —" Native Pueposes Appropriation Act Amendment Act, 1863."
This Act has been passed in compliance with the wishes of Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. (See Despatch No. 23, dated 26th February, 1863.)
No. 17.—"Miners' Representation Act Amendment j*ct, 1863."
This Act has been passed principally to remove some technical difficulties experienced in the workin" of the " Miners' Representation Act, 1862."
No. 18.—"Tut; Secondary Punishments Act Amendment Act, 1863."
The object is to alter the periods for which solitary confinement maybe inflicted, in conformity with the practice elsewhere, and to add whipping to the other punishments authorised by the " Secondary Punishments Act, 1854."
No. 19.—" The Sheriffs' Act Amendment Act, 1863."
Passed to remove doubts as to the intention of "The Sheriffs' .Act, 1858."
No. 20.—" TnE Regulation of Elections Act Amendment Act, 1863."
The illness of a Returning Officer, or his death, before this Act was passed, has deferred an election for an inconvenient length of time. To remedy this, the Governor is empowered to appoint DeputyReturning Officers in certain cases.
No. 21.—"The Commencement of Acts Act 1862 Repeal Act 1863."
The operation of " The Commncement of Acts Act 1862 " was found very inconvenient, and was repealed.
No. 22.—"Foreign Offenders Apprehension Act 1863."
The increased and rapidly increasing means of communication between New Zealand and the other Australasian Colonies enables persona accused of felonies and misdemeanours to escape from justice by removing from one colony to another. Numerous cases have occurred of known offenders having come to New Zealand, and there set at defiance warrants issued in other Colonies for their apprehension. The present Act is mainly an extension of the provisions of the Imperial Acts 6 and 7 Vie, c. 34, and 16 and 17 Vie, c. 118, to indictable misdemeanours, and making the provisions of these Acts, which apply only as between the Colonies and Great Britain, applicable also as between the Colonies themselves. There might have been a question as to whether such an Act is within the power of the New Zealand Legislature, but precisely similar Acts exist in some of the Australian Colonies, and have been in operation for many years.
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No. 23.—" Auckland Eesebves Act, 1863."
The object of this Act is to enable a Government House to be erected in a more convenient site, and the site of the present Government House to be appropriated for Government offices.
No. 24.—" The Wellington Patent Slip Act, 18G3."
The object of this Act is to enable the Provincial Government of Wellington to procure suitable land for the erection of a Patent Slip.
No. 25. —" Tue Jury Law Amendment Act, 18G3."
Is intended to remedy some hardships that have been felt, especially from the long attendance required of jurymen at some of the Sessions of the Supreme Court.
No. 26.—"Deeds Eegistration Amendment Act, 1863." The objects of this Act are set out in the preamble.
No. 27.—" Tikokino Beseete Act, 1863."
This Act is intended to prevent private individuals from suffering injury from the proceedings of the Provincial Government of Hawke's Bay. The purchase of land by the Superintendent in the manner mentioned in the preamble was disapproved of and disallowed by the General Government. The transaction is described in the preamble.
No. 23.—" Mabtxe Boabds Act, 18G3."
By an Act of Assembly of 18(32, a Marine Board was established for the Colony, and Local Marine Boards for the several Provinces. The Act was left to its operation, but attention was called to severa. of its provisions by a despatch of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle (No. 44, 20th April, 1863), and the enclosure therein from the Board of Trade. A Bill was brought in to amend the Act, in conformity with the suggestions of the Board of Trade, but the Assembly thought fit to remodel the Act in conformity with the suggestions made, including certain amendments in reference to the Local Boards which experience of the former Act had suggested. The present Act will be found to embody the suggestions of the Board of Trade, together with a substitution of the Provincial authorities for the Loeal nßoard3 appointed by the former Act.
No. 29.—""Wellington and Hawke's Bat Natal and Military Settlebs Act, 1863."
The law authorising the granting of land to Naval and Military Settlers has been in force for several years in these Provinces, but has not been found to operate beneficially. A considerable quantity of land has been taken up, but very few permanent settlers have been secured. The object of this Act is to repeal the law referred to. (Vide p. 18.)
No. 30. " TUE GOLDFJELDS ACT AMENDMENT ACT, 1863."
" The Goldfields Act, 1862" was hastily passed, and contains several imperfections. It was contemplated to repeal it, and enact a new law, but it was thought best by a Committee of the House of Eepresentatives in the past Session to amend the present Act with a view" to the consolidation at a future time, when the present law, with the amendments, has received a further trial. One of the greatest difficulties in the management of the goldfields is to provide them with proper courts for the administration of justice. This subject has received much consideration, and it has been found desirable to add to the strength of the Supreme Court by the appointment of another Judge, for whom provision has been made, with a view to Circuit Courts being held in the goldfields. As a temporary arrangement, it is intended to bring into operation the District Court, and special provision is made for this by the 11th section of the Act, authorising the Governor in Council to make special rules for that Court on the goldfields. The other provisions of the Act arc intended to meet inconveniences that have arisen in working the present law.
No. 31.—" Otago Waste Lands Act, 1863, No. 1." No. 32.—"Otago Waste Lands Act, 1863, No. 2.'
These Acts effect large alterations in the land laws of the Province of Otago, and very decided improvements. After a lengthened trial it has been found that what are called the improvement clauses iii lue existing Eegulations are unworkable. They have already created great confusion and difficulty, lhe pr.ncipal object of these Acts is to provide means for setting right the past, and to make better provision for the future.
16
PAPERS RELATIVE TO ACTS
A.—No. I,
No. 33.—"The Vaccination Act, 1868."
The importance of some provision for vaccination lias recently been forced on the Colony by the fact of ships arriving from England in which cases of small-pox had occurred. In one instance the disease was imported into the quarantine ground at Otago. The provisions of this Act are taken from the English Act on the same subject, with such modifications as will render them applicable to the Colony.
No. 34.—"Civil List Act, 1863."
The object of this Act is to increase the Civil List by the sum of £2,500. It is proposed to appropriate £1,500 of the additional amount for the salary of a Judge for the Province of Southland, which from its proximity to the gold fields of Otago, is fast becoming very populous. It is proposed to appropriate the sum of £600 for the salary of an additional Under-Secretary, who will be attached to the Department of the Minister for Defence, and the sum of £400 for Genera] Service to meet travelling expenses and other minor contingencies which constantly occur in the administration of the affairs of a Colony consisting of so many different settlements as this.
No. 35.—Aweopkiation Act, 1863."
This Act needs no explanation.
No. 86.— "The jVatttbalizatiox Act, 1863."
This is the usual Sessional Act, and requires no explanation.
No. 37. —" ILs.ri.bokoi:mi Waste Lands Reg{-latio:\s Amesdmekt Arv, 1863."
Some doubts exist as to the validity of the present land laws of Marlborough, and this Act is intended to remove them, and at the same time it repeals the Naval and Military Settlers' laws on the name grounds as the same thing had been done in "Wellington and Hawie's Bay.
No. ;!S.—"AucKUJO) Waste Lands Acts Amendment Act, 1563."
The object of this Act in to restore certain rights which the Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1862, had inadvertently taken away. By the substitution of the word "three" for " five," those who had been settlers for more than three years were deprived of any right to the land which they had selected. The only remaining provision is to give Mr. Bail what he is fully entitled to, but which the law as it stands will not authorise being granted to him.
jS"o. !39.— "The Nki.soh Waste Lauds Act, 1863."
This Act consolidates the Nelson Land Laws, and makes some, though not very, extensive improvements.
No. 40.—" Southland Waste Lands Act, 1563."
The present Southland Land Laws are the same as those of Otago. The object of the present Bill is to effect for Southland that which the Acts above referred to do for Otago. These provisions are very similar, with the exception that in this Bill there are no advantages given to actual settlers. The alterations are most decided improvements and of great importance.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL.
No. I.—"Auckland Haedoue Debentube Act, 1860, Amendment Act, 1563."
The object of this Act is to enable the Supreme Court to invest certain Trust Funds a power which the Act of 1860 omitted to give.
No. 2.—" The Auckland and Deuby Railway Act, 1563."
This Railway is of importance in a Military point of view, but its extension to the Waikato River would appear to be indispensable.
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OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A -No. 1
No. '■'>.— "The Bluff Habboub and Intebcabgill Kailway Extension Act, ISG3."
The object of this Act la to make an extension of a Eailway now nearly completed. The extension is of importance to the proper making of the Eailway already authorised.
Xo. -I.— "The Bank of Otago (Limitejj) Act, ISG3."
This Act contains the usual provisions which have been inserted in former Bank Acts passed by the General Assembly of New Zealand ; in fact, it is almost a verbatim copy of the Acts of the Banks of New Zealand ana New .South Wales. The legislature proposes, at the next session, to pass some general provisions in reference to these. Hanks, and this being so, it was thought better to put them all on the same footing at present.
Feed. Wiiitakeb. 4th January, 1864.
No. 5.
Memorandum.
His ExcELLEycT the Goyebjjob,-
With reference to that part of the Ministerial Memorandum on the Acts of the General Assembly passed during last Session which relates to the "Wellington and Ilawke's Bay Naval and Military Settlers' Act, 18G3" (No. 29), Ministers respectfully transmit to His Excellency a copy of a Memorandum by the promoter of that Bill, on the subject of its provisions, and request that such Memorandum may be brought under the consideration' of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, together with the Bill to which it refers.
Fbedk. Whitakeb. Auckland, 12th January, 1864.
Enclosure to No. 5.
MEMORANDUM of pboxioteb of " Wellington and hawke's bat naval and mujtabt
settlers' amendment act."
The following reasons are submitted for consideration, in favor of the confirmation of this Act, viz :—
1. That Clause XV. of the " Waste Lands Act, 1858," is an interference with the financial arrangements entered into by the Colony with the various Provinces, according to which, the Land Revenues of the several Provinces were handed over, as Provincial Eevenues, to the respective Provincial Legislatures for appropriation. 2. That the amount of Public Eevenue accruing to the particular Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay will bo materially impaired from year to year, if the present Act should fail to receive the confirmation of Her Majesty ; and those Provinces may "in consequence be incapacitated from meeting the demands of the public creditor. 3. That the law now sought to be repealed has failed in its prime objects, and been found in practice to be injurious to the public interests. For instance, that the regulation for residence is notoriously evaded and cannot be enforced ; that the impracticability of enforcing the Provincial laws for levying local road taxes on lands awarded to Military and Naval Settlers for a period of five years, is justly regarded as a grievous obstruction to internal improvement. That a good military character on the parchment certificate of discharge affords no sufficient guarantee that the possessor will prove to be of good character as a civilian, several awards having unavoidably been made, in obedience to the regulations, in favor of persons convicted of serious offences.
4. That the liberal provisions recently made by the Legislature for the introduction of Military Settlers into the Northern Island has entirely superseded the necessity of maintaining any longer oil the statute book the laws now sought to be repealed.
William Fitzkebbebt.
No. 6.
Memorandum.
His Excellency the Goveknob, —
Ministers are very desirous that the subject of the influx of criminals from the Australian Colonies into New Zealand should be brought under the consideration of Her Majesty's Imperial Government.
In 18GI, the Provincial Council of Otago passed an Ordinance of a similar character to that which had been passed and is now in operation in the Colony of Victoria. Thia Ordinance was disallowed by
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PAPERS EEL ATI YE TO ACTS
A.—No. 1
the Governor. In 1562, a similar Bill was passed by the Provincial Legislature of Otago. The subject was referred to the Judges of the Supreme Court, and their report will be found in the accompanying papers (A. No. 2, page 2], Session Papers 1863.) This Ordinance was also disallowed by the Governor. The accompanying Bill was introduced into the General Assembly; it passed the House of Bepresentatives without a division, and through all the stages in the Legislative Council, except the third reading ; the second reading was carried by a majority of four. On the third reading, the Bill was lost in consequence of the accidental absence, just at the close of the session, of the greater part of its supporters, It was, however, understood, that the Governor should be advised to reserve the Bill, if passed, for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon, and it was so stated in both Houseswhile the Bill was before the Assembly. The object was to present to the Imperial Government the mind of the Assembly on the subject. A great repugnance is felt on all sides to the nature of the provisions of the Bill, but it is on all sides, at the same time, admitted that some measure which will effect the object—the prevention of the influx of criminals—is absolutely necessary, and rather than none, the Assembly would no doubt accept such a measure as the Criminals Influx Bill of 1863, objectionable as it is in many respects. Some such measure is rendered necessary in self-defence, in consequence of the legislation of the neighbouring Colonies, which has the effect of making New Zealand, as it were, a cesspool for the convict population. Ministers feel strongly the necessity of something being done, and earnestly request the interference of the Imperial Government, either by passing an Imperial Act to meet the evil, or by passing an Act empowering the General Assembly of New Zealand to do so, as it appears from the report of the Judges of the Supreme Court that without additional powers, the General Assembly is not able to legislate effectually on the subject. Attention is particularly requested to the correspondence contained in the accompanying papers(A. No. 2, pages 14 to 26, Sessional Papers 18G3).
FBEDK. WniTAEEU. Auckland, 11th January, 1864.
No. 7.
copy of a DESPATCH from the eight honourable the secretary of state, to governor SIB GEOBGE GKET, K.C.B.
Downing Street, Bth May, 1864.
Sin,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 11, of the 11th of January, transmitting a Bill entitled "An Act to prevent the influx of Criminals into New Zealand," together with a memerandum by your responsible advisers on this subject. As Her Majesty's Government did not advise the disallowance of the Act passed to prevent the entrance into Victoria of persons formerlj sentenced to transportation in the United Kingdom, but whose sentences had expired, so neither would they now advise the disallowance of a similar Act if passed by the New Zealand Legislature. They would, however, see the passing of such an Act with much regret, and they certainly could not advise that Parliament should be invited to pass a law for the express purpose of enabling a Colonial Legislature to enact a provision so little in accordance with Imperial policy, and which, in the opinion of their own judges, is not called for by any proved necessity.
I have, &c,
Ebwaed Cabdwell. Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., &c, &c.^ &c.
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency Sir George Geet, Knight, Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c, &c.
Whereas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is amongst other things enacted that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty m Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas a certain Bill passed by 'the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, intituled "An Act to alter the Civil List," was presented to the Governor of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent, and the said Bill was reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: _ Now, therefore, I, the Governor of New Zealand, in pursuance of the provisions of the said in part recited Act, Do by this Proclamation signify and proclaim to all whom it may concern that the said
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OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A.—No. L
Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.
Given under my hand at Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. -r> tt- t-, „ i Gr- GfKEY. ifc>y His .fejxcelleiicy s command, William Pox.
God save the Queen !
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency Sir Geouge Ghet, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colonies of New Zealand and its Dependencies, r.nd Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c, &c.
Wiieheas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, intituled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is amongst other things enacted that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification •of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, intituled " An Act to enable Provincial Councils to make laws affecting Public Roads and Watercourses," was presented to the Governor of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent, and the said Bill was reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: Now, therefore, 1, the Governor of New Zealand, in pursuance of the provisions of the said in part recited Act, do, by this Proclamation, signify and proclaim to all whom it may concern, that the said Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.
Given under my hand at Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
G. Gket. By His Excellency's command, "William Fox.
God sate the Queen !
A PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colonies of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, <fee, &c, &c.
WiiEKEAS by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is amongst other things enacted thai no l>i'.l which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same: And whereas certain Biils passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, intituled
" An Act to amend the Waste Lands Act of the Province of Auckland :"
"An Act to amend the Regulations in force in the Province of Marlborough for the sale and disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown \i ithin the said Province ;" and
"An Act to repeal Clause 16 ' Waste Lands Act, 1858,' Section VII., Clause 28 of the General Land Regulations for the Sale of Waste Lands in New Zealand, proclaimed 4th March, 1553, and the ' Hawke's Bay Naval and Military Settlers' Act, 1561,' so far as they affect the Provinces of Wellington and Hawke's Bay "
were presented to the Governor of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent, and the said Bills were reserve d for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon : Now, therefore, I the Governor of New Zealand, in pursuance of the provisions of the said in part recited Act, do, by this Proclamation, signify and proclaim to all whom it may concern, that the said
20
PAPERS RELATIVE TO ACTS
A—No. i
Bills have been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.
Given under my hand at Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. By His Excellency's Command, William Fox.
God save the Queen !
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency Sm George Geet, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Coirmander-in-CLief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c, &c.
Whereas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, entituled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony "of New Zealand," it is amongst other things enacted that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same : And whereas a certain Bill passed by'the"Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, intituled " An Act to regulate the Sale, Letting, Disposal, and Occupation of the Waste Lands of the Crown within the Province of Nelson." was presented to the Governor of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent, and the said Bill was reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: l
Now, therefore, I, the Governor of New Zealand, in pursuance of the provisions of the said in part recited Act, do by this Proclamation signify and proclaim to all whom it may concern, that the said Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.
Given under my hand, at the Government House at Auckland, and issued under the Seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
G. Geet.
By His Excellency's command, Fred. Whitaker.
God save the Queen!
PROCLAMATION.
By His Excellency Sir George Geet, Knight Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c, &c. Witereas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of New Zealand," it is amongst other things enacted that no Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same: And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of the said Colony, intituled— " An Act to amend the Laws now in force for the Sale, Letting, Occupation, and Disposal of Waste Lands of the Crown within the Province of Otago," " An Act to impose a Tax upon all Rural Lands in the Province of Otago to be sold under the ' Otago Waste Lands Act, 1863,' and to make certain provisions respecting lands heretofore sold under conditions for the improvement thereof," were presented to the Governor of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent, and. the said Bills were reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: _ Now, therefore, I, the Governor of New Zealand, in pursuance of the provisions of the said in part recited Act, do, by this Proclamation, signify and proclaim to all whom it may concern, that the said Bills have been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.
Given under my hand, and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand this twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
By His Excellency's command, Wixliam Fox.
QOD SAVE THE QtfEEX
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OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A.—No. 1
PEOCLA.MATION.
By His Excellency Sir Geoegb Geey, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c, &c, &c. Whebeas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament held in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of Her Majesty's reign, intituled " An Act to grant a Representative Constitution to the Colony of NewZealand," it is amongst other things enacted that ao Bill which shall be reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon shall have any force or authority within the Colony of New Zealand until the Governor of the said Colony shall signify by speech or message to the Legislative Council and House of Bepresentatives of the said Colony, or by Proclamation, that such Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same: And whereas a certain Bill passed by the Legislative Council and House of Bepresentatives of the said Colony, intituled " An Act to amend the Laws now in force for the Sale, Letting, Occupation, and Disposal of "Waste Lands of the Crown within the Province of Southland," was presented to the Governor of the said Colony for Her Majesty's assent, and the said Bill was reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon: Now, therefore, I, the Governor of New Zealand, iv pursuance of the provisions of the said in part recited Act, do by this Proclamation signify and proclaim to all whom it may concern, that the said Bill has been laid before Her Majesty in Council, and that Her Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.
Given under my hand and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand, thin twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
&. Gbet. By His Excellency's command, WILLLAJH FOX.
God save the Queek
22
PAPEKS RELATIVE TO ACTS
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1864-I.2.1.2.1
Bibliographic details
PAPERS RELATING TO ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY SESSION 1863., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1864 Session I, A-01
Word Count
15,447PAPERS RELATING TO ACTS OF THE ASSEMBLY SESSION 1863. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1864 Session I, A-01
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