AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 294, 25 August 1855, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

(From the " Southem»Cross.") On Wednesday, Aug. Bth, His Excellency the Officer administering the Government opened the third Session of the General Assembly. The attendance of members was thiu—there being only six members of the Legislative Council present, and nineteen of the House of Representatives. His Excellency read the following address : — Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Coun- i cil and Gentlemen of the House of Represen~ ( tatives. \L When I prorogued the General Assembly -.'i

New Zealand in the month of September lust, I did not then entertain an-expectation that it would become my duty to be present, in the same capacity, at tbe opening of another session. . It is, however, a source of great satisfaction to me that it has pleased Her Majesty to permit me to continue in the Government of (his Colony sufficiently long to see the.accomplishment of that ample measure of self-government, which this Assembly, and I believe the colonists in.general, have so ardently desired. Whatever may have been the differences of opinion during the former Sessions of this Assembly, as to the time or the manner of introducing without reserve, ." Ministerial -Responsibility" in the conduct of .the Legislative and Executive proceedings of the Government, we were a)l, I feel assured, sincerely anxious that the Colonists of New Zealand should.have conferred on them, without unnecessary delay, the advantages of that form of Government in its integrity. At the close of the session it became my duty to transmit to the Secretary, of State the representations which I. had received praying for the establishment of Responsible Government, and it afforded me much gratification to add my earnest recommendation in favour of granting that which I believe will be highly condu"cive.to the welfare and advancement of the Colony. 'On its being communicated to me that Her Majesty's Imperial Government had complied with our wishes, I took the earliest opportunity of making known that fact to the Colony, by the publication in the," Government Gazette" of an extract from the Secretary of State's Despatch, and since then I have placed in your hands a "copy of that Despatch, in order that you might he made aware of the preliminary measures which are required to be taken by the General Assembly, and of the views of Her Majesty's Government on the subject. Gentlemen of the Assembly,— . It now rests with you to take the next-step: on my part I can assure you that whatever remains to be done by me for the complete and satisfactory establishment of Responsible Government, will, without hesitation, be most cheerfully performed. The influence of that mighty struggle which is agitating Europe, and especially our native ■country, has as yet been but little felt in these islands, and I any happy to be able to congratulate you that, while we have, suffered nothing from foreign enemies, our domestic peace has not been seriously disturbed. Our relations with the Aborigines for the most part continue to be of the most friendly character ; indeed I am not aware that with the exception of New Plymouth, there exists, anywhere, at the present moment, any cause for anxiety in this respect. It is true, that in that Province, a serious feud has arisen amongst.the Natives themselves, but although there are two powerful parties arrayed in hostility against each other, yet both have hitherto been upon the most friendly terms with the settlers and profess au anxiety to continue so. A few months ago, [ thought it my duty to visit New Plymouth, and personally enquire into the origin and nature of the quarrel, the .means be«t adapted to bring about an amicable termination, and especially to make myself fully acquainted with the position of the European settlers. I regret that my efforts to establish friendly relations between the. contending tribes,although •proliiccive of some advantages in mitigating for a time the spirit of hostility which existed, were not. so successful as I had at one time some reas n t> hope they might have been. Loo ;i»g at the present state of the native pot ulaion in that settlement, isolated as it is and liwtanl from every oih"r, the settlers pos-se.-sii.'ir no efficient means of defence, and without tue possibility of retreat. I feel assured that a state of things exists which requires to be carefully dealt with to aroid what may otherwise lead to <li<M*tioiis consequences. Although at present all the natives profess to be, and I believe feel, most friendly disposed towards the settlers, yet the relative position of the tw<> races is such, that should either of the cmiirMirliiiu parties of natives seek shelter and protection in the town, it would expose the inhabitants to considerable danger of being dragged iiiL'.j a collision with one party or the other. Fully impressed with the belief that at this

time the settlement of New Plymouth requires the special protection and care of tlie General Government, I have made arrangements f«r stationing there, while the present necessity continues to exist, a detachment of Her Majesty's troops, of the greatest strength available under the present circumstances, and the first detachment for this service will embark in the ' Duke of Portland,' a transport hired for the purpose. The objects that I hate in contemplation in taking this step are confined to assuming a position to insist up-m the neutrality of ihe European population being" respected, and to afford the Government as opportunity lo negotiate with "leaser effect for the purpose of bringing about friendly relations between the parties now engaged in hostility. In a country where the means of transport, and even of communication, are so imperfect, the lodgments of small bodies of troops at a great distance from each other, is hiyhly objectionable ; but the present position of New Plymouth is not an ordinary one, and I hope to receive your ready co-operation in carrying out those measures which the present circumstances appear to me imperatively to require. All the correspondence ami papers affording information on this subject shall be laid before you without delay. The revenue for the past year, ended 30th June last, will, I do not doubt, exceed the estimates made at its commencement"; the amount actually received for the first two quarters, which are all that we have yet received complete accounts of, has bee:i £110,557 4s. lid., and there is reason to expect that the half year which has since closed will be equally favourable. Should such an expectation be realised, the increase over the estimated revenue.of the year will be about £21,000. There, was, during the same period, a small excess of expenditure over the sum voted by the General Assembly. I shall immediately transmit a full statement of the accounts, with an explanatory message. The great advantages derived from the steam communication which has been carried on between the Provinces for the last twelve month's, cannot but cause regret that it should have been interrupted. The engagement with the' Nelson' expired on the Ist May last; and I was anxious to retain her services for three months longer, but the owners were unwilling to enter into any charter, and would only negotiate for a sale; such a proposal I did not feel myself justified to entertain and I cannot recommend, as I very much doubt its expediency, that the Colonial Government should again become shipowners. Anxious that the communication between the Provinces should not be entirely cut off, I authorised instructions to be given to the Collector of Customs at Wellington to renew my offer of an engagement with the ' Nels m', and in the event of that being still declined by the agents of the owners, to negotiate with the owners of the ' Zingari' to secure her services, if possible, to supply the place of the former vessel. The result has been that the services of the 'Zingari'have been engaged for three mouths certain, with the view to enable Ihe' members of the General Assembly to attend the present session, and at its close to return to their homes. I have also made a conditional arrangement that the engagement may be extended to twelve months, and I shall recommend to the House of Representatives to make provision for this service. I shall transmit for your consideration a communication which I have received from the Governor-General of Australia, suggesting the heads of a plan by which the establishment of a monthly line of steam packets may be secured to keep up the postal communication between Great Britain and the Australian and New Zealand Colonies. This is a subject that demands your earnest attention, and I do not doubt tliat the great inconvenience which has been felt in New Zealand from the discontinuance of steam communication betwpen England and Australia, will tend to induce you favourably to entertain any reasonable proposition fui assisting in its reestablishment. I do not anticipate that the present session need be a protracted one. Legislation on important subjects, not at the same time urgent, will not, v appears to me, be desirable in our present slate of transition. It has been comm inicated to me by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that I may shortly expect my successor in the Government,

and it has also been intimated to me that he has been placed in possession of the views () f Her Majesty's Imperial Government on several of the most important subjects which eno-acred the attention of this Legislature during "i ts former Sessions. Not only these subjects but indeed every other involving any important question of Policy, would, I think, be more properly dealt with after the Executive Government of the country shall have passed into the hands of those -.vith whom will rest the respond sibility of administering the laws which shall be enacted.

In the present position of the affairs of the Colony, the most suitable course, as it appears to me, would be to limit the business of the Session to what is absolute necessary to be done, and that another session oi the General Assembly should be held as soon as the Constituencies shall have had an opportunity of electing those in whom they place confidence, and the ministry, which shall be formed, shall have been enabled to make due preparation for meeting- the Legislature.

Entertaining these vie.vs, it is my intention to lay before you only two measures for your consideration ; the one, of the nature indicated by the Secretary of State's Despatch with a view to the complete establishment of Responsible Government; and the other for the appropriation of the Revenue for so long as may be deemed necessary to afford a Responsible Ministry time to lay their financial "policy before the Assembly.

I am not aware that there is any other business so urgent as to demand immediate attention or indeed, that would not he better left to be disposed of after the contemplated changes in the Government shall have taken place. I trust, Gentlemen of the Assembly, I need nardly assure you that, during the short time it yet remains for me to administer the Government of this Colony, I shall feel it a pleasure, as well as my duty, to afford my humble, but earnest co-operation in all measures calculated to promote the welfare and happiness of both races of her Majesty's subjects. R. H. Wtntabd, Officer administering the Government. Auckland, Bth Aug. 1855. His Excellency having retired, the Speaker (Mr. Win taker) read the document containing his appointment to that office. It was then moved, that his Excellency's Address.be printed. ' . Major Kenny moved, that Mr. D. Riclumlson, Mr. Gilh'llan, and himself be.appointed a Committee to prepare an answer to the address. Carried. Mr. Gu.fillan then moved that the H.uise should adjourn untii two o'clock on Thursday. Carried. The House then adjourned. There were present in the Ho.ise of Representatives, the hon. the Speaker; VV". T. L. Travers, E<q. ; .1. '\frichiy, Esq.; J. O'Neill, Esq.; C. J. Taylor, Esq. ; J. M. \V. Orompton, Esq.; L. O'Brien, Esq.; Li. Hart. Esq. ; J. T. \V. Baont, Esq.; \V. Lee, Esq.; J. S. Forsaith, E:=q ;H. Sewell, E-'-q.; M;;jor Greenwood ; T. W. Glediiili, Esq.; F. W. Merriman, Esq. ; M. F. Potter, Esq. : H. C'.-irletou, UNq. ; T King, Esq.; W. Brown, Esq.; and Lieut.Colonel Gray. It was moved by Mr. Skwkt.t.,, that his Excellency's speech be printed. Ordered to be printed. The Speaker read letters from the following gentlemen, resigning their seats as members of the House:—Mr. Cutteu, ?»!r. Ludlain, Mr. Weld, Hon. J. S. Won ley, Mr. Feathers tone, and Mr. Killunn. We subjoin a copy of Mr. Ciitten's letter, as likely to prove of more'than ordinary interest: — To the Honourable the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Dunedin, 23rd July, 1855. Sir, —I have the honour to forward you'my resignation of my scat in the House of -Representatives, as member for the Dniiedin Country District, i'nd in doinu; so, I desire to record my protest against the course pursued by the General Government in summoning the Gent.ral Assembly to meet at a distance of nearly 1000 miles from the Province a portion of which I have the honour to represent, thereby putting its members to extreme and unnecessary inconvenience •, and I have further to complain of the General Government, fur not Slaving made satisfactory arrangements for the eouveyance of myself, and the other .members re-

presenting this Province, to the seat of Government; and for not having given us reasonable notice of the convocation of the Assembly. I have this tiny received intimation that a passage has been secured form.; in the Zingari steamer ; and I learn from the Custom House Authorities that that vessel sails tomorrow afterinoon ; yet, I have only received at this moment !*fa summons from the General Government, to the sitting- of the Assembly. I may state that the attendance, at the last meeting of the Assembly, detained me from my home nearly seven months ; and it is most unreasonable that I should be expected to be prepared in twenty four hours to quit my residence for so lengthened a period, without previous notice, when ample time has been had by the General Assembly to. make its arrangements, nine months having- elapsed since the last Session. It is impossible that another membev of this Province can have heard of the arrival of the Zingari, or of the time of her departure. Under these circumstances 1 protest against the proceedings of the General Government, as amounting intentionally to a disfranchisement of this Province. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, W. H. GuTTEN. Mr. Sewet/l then moved for an adjournment for the consideration of His Excellency's Address. [We will publish the report, as far as it has reached us, on Wednesday.]