" To thank His Excellency for informing us that the extension of the telegraph communi cation within the Colony, by means of the Electric Cable shortly to be laid across Cook Strait, will also conduce to the progress of the country and the development of its re sources ; and that measures will be taken "as early as possible for continuing this means of communication throughout the Northern Island. " To express our belief that the continued increase in the produce of the goldfields has caused a corresponding increase in the popu lation and revenue of the Colony, has largely added to its commerce and wealth, and has tended to maintain that progressive advance ment for which New Zealand has been re markable. " To thank His Excellency for informing us that we will find that a rigid economy has been exercised in the expenditure of the sup plies voted for the public service last session ; that a careful regard for economy will also re gulate the preparation of the Estimates to be submitted to us for the ensuing financial year ; and that the public accounts of the Colony will be laid before us. " To concur with His Excellency that the recent disposal of a large portion of the loan authorised to be raised for the service of the Colony is evidence of an increasing confidence in the value of the colonial securities, which had been temporarily depressed by the opera tion of a variety of causes, amongst which may especially be instanced the manner in which some of the provincial loans have been dealt with. "To assure His Excellency that we will consider how this injury to the credit, alike of the Colony and of the Provinces, may be obviated for the future ; and also, in connec tion with this subject, and as a means of im proving the financial condition of the country, the propriety of enabling the several existing debts of New Zealand to be consolidated on certain conditions. i " To assure His Excellency that proposals for a revision of the tariff, which has long been demanded, will receive our careful con sideration, as also the question of providing an additional source of revenue by means of stamp duties. 