From the Proclamation of the Colony to the Grant of the Constitution Act.

The Colony was at first virtually under the entire control of the Governor, but in 1853 a new constitution, passed by the Imperial Parliament, was brought into force. The Constitution Act was framed according to a plan devised by Sir George Grey. It gave to the Colonists full representative powers, even to the extent of altering and amending most of the provisions of the Act itself. Reservations were, however, made concerning the control of native affairs. The most remarkable feature of the Constitution, and one which in these days of abortive attempts in the same direction must command universal admiration for the genius of its devisor, Sir George Grey, was the gift to the provinces of separate local governments, endowed with large powers, but subject to the control of the Colonial Government.