MEMORANDA RELATIVE TO PROPOSITIONS SUBMITTED TO HIS EXCELLENCY BY MR. WELD, UPON HIS UNDERTAKING THE FORMATION OF A NEW MINISTRY

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1864 Session I, A-02

MEMORANDA RELATIVE TO PROPOSITIONS SUBMITTED TO HIS EXCELLENCY BY MR. WELD, UPON HIS UNDERTAKING THE FORMATION OF A NEW MINISTRY

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OP THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY COMMAND OF HIB EXCELLENCY. AUCKLAND:. 1864..

A.—No. 2

A— No. 2.

No. 1. MEMOKANDTTM for His Excellency. 1. Mr. Weld having received the Governor's commands to undertake the formation of a Ministr j, and having at an interview stated the grounds upon which alone he should feel justified in placing his services at the Governor's disposal, now submits in writing the following propositions for His Excellency's consideration. 2. Mr. Weld is of opinion that the system of double government by Governor and Ministers, has resulted in evil to both races of Her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand ; —he recognises the right of the Home Government to insist upon the maintenance of this system, so long as the Colony is receiving the aid of British troops for the suppression of internal disturbances : he is prepared to accept the alternative, and will recommend the Assembly to request the Home Government to withdraw the whole of its land force from the Colony, and to issue such instructions to the Governor as may enable him to fee guided entirely by the recommendations of his constitutional Advisers, excepting only upon such matters as may directly concern Imperial interests and the prerogatives of the Crown. 3. Mr. Weld is aware that the Governor, before taking action upon a proposition which would change the whole aspect of the relations between the Mother Country and the Colony, may probably feel it his duty to ascertain the views of Her Majesty's Home Government; he would, therefore, pending their decision, recommend to the Colonial Parliament that the Colony should undertake a reasonable liability for the services of troops actively engaged in the field, at the especial recommendation of His Excellency's Ministers, and for such troops only. 4. Mr. Weld would recommend that a small standing Colonial Force be kept on foot, armed and trained with special reference to the nature of the service required. 5. It would be his duty to advise that at least one strong Military Post should be occupied about the centre of the coast line of the Ngatiruanui country, with such force as the Lieutenant-General may deem requisite ; and that a road be made from Wanganui to the Northern part of the Taranaki Province. 6. The Colony having entered into arrangements with a large number of Military Settlers, Mr. Weld would propose that suificient land, being part of the territory belonging to the insurgents and now in military occupation, should be taken to fulfil those engagements, and that the description of such confiscated lands, and proper plans thereof, should bo made public without delay. 7. In its last Session the General Assembly resolved that the Seat of Government should be removed to some place in Cook's Straits, to be determined by a Commission specially appointed for that purpose. In accordance with the recommendation of that Commission, Mr. Weld would propose that the Seat of the General Government be at once removed to Wellington. 8. Mr. Weld thinks it right to state frankly that if the Governor should feel it his duty to differ on any material point with his Constitutional Advisers, Mr. Weld would, without hesitation, place his resignation in His Excellency's hands ; he therefore considers it essential that in such a case, the Assembly should at once be called, or other Advisers summoned. 9. Should the Governor be pleased to concur in the above proposals, and authorise Mr. Weld to make that concurrence known, Mr. Weld would feel justified in attempting to fulfil the task imposed upon him by His Excellency. Auckland, November 22,1864. Peed. A. Weld. No. 2. In reference to the propositions submitted by Mr. Weld for the Governor's consideration, he •would say that if a majority of the General Assembly concurs in them, it will be his duty to aid, to the best of his ability, in carrying them out. November 22,1864. G. Gbet.

PROPOSITIONS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR BY MR, WELD.