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A selection from the writings and speeches of John Robert Godley

Lyttelton, September 16, 1851

Lyttelton, September 16, 1851.

I enclose a copy of a letter which I have received from His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, on the subject of the Provincial Revenues of New Munster. You will observe that His Excellency intimates that the existing Province is to be divided into four, of which Canterbury is to be one.

I confess I was not prepared for the promptitude with which Sir George Grey has acted on the recommendations sent out to him by the Colonial Secretary of State. His having done so simplifies exceedingly the course which the Canterbury Association ought, in my opinion, to adopt with reference to the disposal of the Land Fund. The Miscellaneous and Emigration Funds may at once be handed over to the local Legislature, and the Association itself may be transformed into a local body, administering the Ecclesiastical Fund until a regular ecclesiastical corporation shall be constituted. The primary duty of the Association as at present constituted (if my views on this subject be approved of), will be to fix page 214such a qualification for future membership as they may think most advisable with reference to the affairs which the body when localised will have to administer.