GOVERNOR’S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 204, 16 August 1860, Page 3

GOVERNOR’S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY

Gentlemen of the Legislative Council

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives

In the present circumstances of the Colony, I, have. recourse, .with great satisfaction, to your advice and assistance. ; ..i ' The Province of Taranaki, which has long teen a source of anxiety, has recently become the scene ■of an insurrection, involving portions of several tribes of aboriginal natives.

The inlineJiate occasion of this disturbance of the public peace has been an attempt on the part of a native chief of the Ngatiawa tribe to forbid-the sale to the Crown, and forcibly prevent the survey, of a piece •of land to which he neither asserted nor possessed any title.

1 felt it to be my duty to repel this assumption of ati authority inconsistent alike with the maintenance of the Queen’s Sovereignty and the rights of the proprietors of-'the. land in question. In this course I have received from all parts of the'Colony assurances of sympathy and support, affording gratifying evidence of the' loyalty,‘of all classes of Her Majesty's .subjects. '

■ I anf deeply sensible of the sacrifices made by those who have been called upon to aid in the assertion of Her Majesty’s Authority, and in providing for the safety of the Colony. Her Majesty’s Land and Sea Forces have displayed their accustomed ' gallantry ; and 1 desire especially to express my admiration of the courage which the settlers of Taranaki have shewn in the field, and in the eudurance of the privations and losses to which they have been subjected. My thanks are due to the Governments of the neighbouring Colonies - fur the-efficient aid which they have rendered on this occasion, and particularly to the Government of Victotoria,' which promptly despatched to my assistance its fine armed steamer.

Having been compelled reluctantly, and with much regret, to uphold Her Majesty’s supremacy by force of arms, and believing that the future welfare of the native race, not less than that of Her Majesty’s other subjects in New Zealand, depends oh the resolute'maintenance' of her authority, I confidently' rely oh your loyal aud cordial support to aid’ me in carrying into effect such measures as. circumstances may require.

It is satisfactory to know that only a small portion of the native population has taken any part in the insurrection. A dangerous sympathy with the iusuigents has however been displayed by the Raikato 7’ribes. These have been for some years past the centre of the agitation for the establishment of an independent Maori State, under a Native Sovereign, and it is in furtherance o( this project that aid "from Waikato has been afforded to the insurgents.

To check the growth of plans fraught with so much peril to both races, and to remove doubts which extensively prevail amongst the native's AS to the ultimate objects of the British Government, I have invited a considerable number of the influential Chiefs from all parts of the Colony to meet and confer with me in Auckland. My invitation has been responded, to by a large number of leading chiefs, comprising members of almost every tribe of New Zealand. They are now assem bled in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and from the results which have already attended the meeting, I feel justified in expecting that it will remove much misconception,—-will confirm the loyal and reassure the doubting,—and will'prepare the way for measures to establish the/relations of the : Government with the aborigines on a solid and satisfactory basis: I have directed that papers reliting to all the matters to which I have alluded shall be laid before you. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives’. The Estimates for the ensuing year will foe submitted to you on an early day. They will be framed with a due attention to economy, and a careful regard to the exigencies of the public service.

Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :

I have to congratulate you on the continued increase of the Population, Exports, and Revenue of the Colony—an increase which during the past year has been unusually rapid. In anticipation of the approaching expiry of the term of duration of' the present House of you wijl be invited to consider a measure for increasing the number of the House, and for re-distributing the Representation so as fairly to adjust it to the altered s tate of the Colony. Under existing circumstances your attention will doubtless be principally directed to subjects connected with, the Native Insurrection. Measures on various matters of importance have, however, been prepared,, and will be submitted for your’consideration —comprising.a Bill to facilitate the Transfer of Real Property by. the establishment, of a Land Registry, a Bill to regulate Joint Stock Companies, with other measures for the amendment of various branches of the law. -It only remains that I should express my earnest hope that, in,the circumstances under which you are assembled, your deliberations may be.guided by,the spirit of wisdom, and may contribute to the enduring, welfare of the people of this Colony. \