Now, Sir, I am, prepared to state.'this to the House, that the Govern • mentlias had for some time in,'contem plation, and has been working at it as steadily as it has been able—they' have been for some months carefully consider ing a proposal1 of 'financial arrangement and adjustment which Shall consolidate the debts of the Colony, and offeir its en dorsement, to the public creditor—arid which shall also, by conciliatory and just financial proposals, remove from every part of/New Zealand, so far as it is prac ticable, all just grounds of financial com plaint. And, Sir, without going further to foreshadow the statement which by and by I shall have the honor of making, so soon as I shall have the jperfect means at,, my disposal, and should the Hduse permit' me to do so, I' may. say 'that- amongst these proposals it has been an integral and essential characteristic; that a fixed portion of there'venuea of the ColoiiyshairW given to the Provinces. And, : Sir, it is also arf essential matter, just as riiuch as in the .private affairs of life, when there is to be a dissolution of partnership, that 'there should be a prior statement of past accounts, to see how all parties stand before they wind up—l say, Sir, that in the same way.'the Government will cn r deavor to. adjust the past liabilities of the Colony, and that in no niggardly or un generous! spirit. The honorable gentle man has referred to one point, to which the attentiori of the Govern ment has been directed for some time, in regard to winding up these accounts with the Provinces, and it is that in any winding up it would be manifestly unfair that it should be done without reference to the relative position of the Provinces. The hon. gentleman has here taken up the true position, and it is the position which, the Government has for some months p4st had' its attention .directed to, viz., : that any process of ar rangement must have that for its basis, and I am: gla| ,tb find; that the ; hbri. gen i tleman agrees with /us. Now, Sir,, I have finished criticising the temarks of the hon. gentleman!. 