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with the Colonists themselves to determine in what manner, and to what extent compensation shall be awarded to those who may be found to have just and unsatisfied claims to compensation on account of their losses and sufferings arising out of the unfulfilled engagemsnta of the New Zealand Company, and to which pointed reference has been made in the recent report of a Select Committee of the House of Representatives on the subject of that Company's debt. The operation of the no less important Bill to authorize the General Ussembly to empower the Provincial Councils to make laws for regulating the disposal of the Waste Lands of the Crown must necessarily be deferred until it shall have received the Royal assent. I shall not fail to urge Her Majesty's Government to take such measures as may be deemed necessary for enabling the General Assembly lawfully to delegate to the Provincial Legislatures the powers conferred upon the Assembly by the New Zealand Constitution Yet. Owing to the late period at which the Bill for regulating the Law of Marriage has been presented for n:y asseut, I have been unutle to give to its provisions that careful attention which the importance of that measure, most undoubtedly demands. Neither have I had the opportunity of offering to you any amendments which a deliberate consideration of the measure in its details might have enabled me to suggest. I have much pleasure, however, in declaring my entire approval of the principle on which the Act has been based; and I am happy to believe that the Assembly have succeeded in devising a measure which, without disturbing the good feeling which has hitherto subsisted between the various religious denominations, without creating invidious distinctions between them, and without unnecessarily interfering with existing usages, will be found more efficient in its provisions than the disallowed Ordinance of 1851. The "English Acts Act," to which 1 have also given my assent, will have the effect of extending to New Zealand the benefit of those amendments which within lhe last few years have been effected by the British Parliament in the Laws relating to the administration of Justice ; and the Provisions of the " Secondary Punishments Act," will I trust, be found to operate not less beneficially in promoting the efficiency of the Law. On the subject of the charge of £'268,000 upon the SVaste Lands of the Colony in favor of the New Zealand Company, it will no doubt be satisfactory to the Colonists to be informed that both the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives have agreed to a Resolution to the effect that the charge in favor of the New Zealand Company on the Land Fund of the Colony is an oppressive burthen on its resources, and appears to have been created by Parliament in ignorance of the real facts, and to have been obtained by that Company by means of the suppression of material circumstances. I need hardly add, that I believe a full and fair enquiry into the subject by the Imperial Government, is due to the Colonists of New Zealand. The determination evinced by both Houses of the Legislature to take effectual means to repress the spread of Intemperance in this country, will I believe be hailed by the whole community with unqualified approval.Cordially concurring in the views embodied in the Address presented to me on the subject of Education, that " the Establishment of a sound system of Education for the youth of New Zealand is a matter of public concern," and that in order to determine whether the Education of youth in New Zealand, would be extended or improved by the interposition of the State, it is desirable to ascertain the present state of Education in New Zealand. I will use my best endeavours to furnish the Assembly on the occasion of its next meeting, with the information necessary for giving effect to the wishes of the Legislative .Couucil embodied in the Resolution in question. It only now remains for me to thank you Gentlemen, on the part of the Country, for the time and attention you have given to the discharge of your public duties, and to express my earnest hope that the measures you have passed by the Divine blessing, be found to promote the progress of the Country, and the happiness and contentment of the people. R. H. Wynyard, Officer Administering the Government. Government House, Auckland, ]sth September, 1854. His Excellency then retired, and the House stood prorogued accordingly to Thursday, the sth of July, 1855. Chaui.es Ci.iffoud, Speaker.