DOMINION DAY.

Pahiatua Herald, 29 September 1936, Page 3

DOMINION DAY.

WHAT IT MEANS. PROMOTION FROM COLON!'. It was 29 years on Saturday since New Zealand was elevated to the status of a Dominion of the British Empire, but for business convenience the anniversary is held on the nearest Monday. Although there is no real public obserc - ance of Dominion Day, banking houses and the legal profession celebrate the occasion by a holiday, wnich was observed on Monday. Although the occasion is not perpetuated by any public celebrabration, the day is one of particular significance as it marks the end of the colonial days in the history of the Dominion. A little more than a century ago New Zealand's first British Resident, Mr James Busby, was appointed, and made his headquarters at Kororareka, now Russell, in the Bay ol Islands—a spot that subsequently became famous historically by_ virtue ot its being the scene of the signing of the treaty of Waitangi. Authority was given the then Governor of New South Wales in 1839—sir years after Al r Kusbv s settlement in the Bay of Islands to include within the limits of his colony any territory that might be acquired for _ sovereignty by Her Majesty in New Zealand. A preliminary expedition of the New Zealand Company under Colonel Wakefield arrived at Port Nicholson in the sr me year, ad in the following year the first of the companv’s settlers reached this land. Captain William Hobson. K.X. ed at the ilav of Islands on June 29, 1840, that being a week after the arrival of the New Zealand Company’s ships in Port -Nicholson. He came empowered,, ivifh the consent ot the Maoris, to proclaim the sovereignty of Queen Victoria over New eZaland and to assume the Government! The commissions given to Captain Hobson were read by him at Kororareka on January 30, and the Treatv of Waitangi was signed on Februarv 6. L nder the treaty all rights ~ and powers of sovereignty were ceded to the Queen. On May Pi Hobson proclaimed the British sovereigntv Zealand. So far as the -North Island was concerned, sovereignty was claimed bv virtue ol the treaty, and the right of discovery was exploited insofar as the feiouth Island and Stewart Island " ere concerned. On May 3, 1841, New Zealand was created a separate colony bv Royal Charter dated November 16, 1840, so that the countrv s status became something more than a dependency. At first the colony was a diqjni stored by a Governor, who was responsible only to .he Crown, there being an Executive Council, with advisory powers, and a Legislative Council. The introduction of representative institutions was made in 1803. and three years later was followed by responsible Government. New Zealand's first intimation ot Dominion status was given on .June 26. 190.. by the late Sir Joseph A\ ard in a speech on his return from a visit to England. Shortly afterwards a resolution asking the Imperial Government to make a change was carried by a large majority in (ho House of Representatives, and the proclamation was issued on September 26.