OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 3609, 20 June 1895, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The Governor'!* Speech

Wellington, June 20 The second session of the twelfth Parliament of New Zealand was this day opened by the Governor, when His Excellency was pleased to make the following speech : —

Hon Gbvixemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Represent aiives, It gives me great pleasure again to meet you in Parliament assembled. J was able during the recess to visit the Snares, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty and Chatham Islands. In connection with my visit to these interesting but little known isles, I must express my regret at the almost complete disappearance from them of the fur seals, once so numerous there I invite your attention to this undoubted national loss. I am able very gladly to congratulate you upon more than J

one aspect of the present state and future prospects of the colony. The depression which was so universally felt during the spring and summer began to pass away before the end of autumn, and has now unquestionably given place to a general rise in the prices of our staple products. Notably wheat. The improvement in the market for kauri gum has been a matter ■of congratulation, chiefly of course for the province of Auckland. The better demand for timber has affected many districts. With the recent pai tial recoveiy inthepriceof frozen mutton may be coupled the success of the important experiment lately made of exporting . sheep, live stock, and chilled beef to London. The revival of quartz mining, ■o noteworthy for months past in the Auckland goldfields, appears likely to have a counterpart on the West Coast of the South Island. There is solid reason for anticipating that mining ■will for some time to come employ more labour and yield more gold than tor years paat. Useful as the cyanide process of extracting gold has been, it

is oot to be gainsaid that the royalty enacted under the patent rights of the Cassels Company has been a heavy burden on the back of mining enterprise. Therefore, as the English Courts have upset the patent, my Ministers have taken steps to have it Bet aside in this colony. The state of the public finances of New Zealand continues to be fair ground for almost unmixed national satisfaction. Once more, I am able to say that the provision made during last session for carrying on the public service has proved more than sufficient. The public accounts show a surplus of revenue over expenditures a surplus of a thoroughly sound kicd, able to challenge any honest . and reasonable critic. Though during the recess persistent efforts have been made to combine the Maori tribes in a league against further sales of land, my advisers are glad to be able to assure you that the attempt has failed. Indeed, signatures to deeds of sale are being affixed in numbers, and the work of the acquisition by the State of native land i 3 in no danger of being arrested. From causes which will be made known to you, the work cf surveying the territory of the Tuhoe tribe was some months ago suddenly interrupted. A display of armed force, and negotiations conducted for the Government by the member of the Executive representing the natives, quickly led to a peaceful understanding, but my advisers deeming it best to guard against any further disturbance or obstruction in that part of the colony, have decided to insure, by pushing roads through the length and breadth of the Uriwera country, that in future it shall be at peace and open to all. The inability of the Midland Railway 'Company to complete its contract has long been notorious. Three years ago the Company's New Zealand representatives frankly admitted this inability. Though valuable concessions were more than once granted, the Company had twice subsequently to ask Parliament to modify its contract |n order to prevent a collapse of the undertaking Ihe second application was decisively refused. Though the time for the pontract's completion expired in January last, only about onefifth of the moneys required for the line's construction have yet been laid out, and for months past little or no work has been done, The arbitration demanded by the Company was post' poncd t»y the arbitrators until next year. The inexcusable delay by the Company in completing its work, and the consequent blocking up of five millions of acres of Crown lands, impelled my advisers to take possession of both the completed and uncompleted portionsof the line. This gtep was taken in accordance with law, and under the best advice to be obtained. The opened portion of the Midland Kailway is now worked by the Government, and authority will be asked to + fcxtend it. The cost of such extension the Company will be requested to refund.

The visit of the Colonial Treasurer to London has been followed by much direct advantage to the colony. At the postal Conference at Hobart, new pablo rates were fixed, upd^r which New Zealand will save £3000 a- year. In London, the Treasurer has obtained for the colony amended terms with the Bank of England, whereby the colony will benefit to the extent of £8000 per annum* Above all, New Zealand hf\s led the way in successfully floatirg a 3 per cent loan in the English money market, thereby strengthening her public credit and insuring the success of the scheme for giving financial aid under the Advances to Settlers Act. Many of our settlers have alleged that their applications for loans have not received that consideration which their merits deserve. The responsibility, however, of administering the law rests with the Board, and the circumstances complained of are beyond jibe pontrpl pi my' Ministers. This matter, will, I trust, receive your careful ponsideration. With the vjew of opening fresh niarkefs for our products, my Ministers have provisionally arranged reciprocal treaties with Canada and South Australia 1 These experiments will be ju.bjj4ued toyouj and you, will be asked

to ratify them There will also be laid before you the report of the delegate who lastyoar rrpr. senbd this colony at the Ottawa conference— a meeting memorable for tbe action of the Imperial Government in despatching to the gathering the Earl of Jersey on behalf of the mother country. The report above mentioned deals with proposals as to the estiblishment of a mail service by way of Vancouver, and the laying cf an ocean cable across the Pacific to connect New Zealand with British North America. \

The world wide problem of providing work for the workless has once more been a cause of anxiety. During the recess one of my Ministers hus visited and inspected a number of the British settlements and labor colonies ! in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. His report has led to the trial of an important experiment in combining settlement with the employment of labor. Further, an experienced officer has been despatched to Australia to make an elaborate survey of the village settlements there. On his return his report will be laid before you.

The settlement of the waste lands of the Crown under the general land laws of the colony has continued to go on satisfactorily during the past year. The extension of dairy farming in so many parts of the colony makes it a source of satisfaction that the syste matic grading and cool storage of dairy produce are now being carried out by the Department of Agriculture with the best results. Fairly alive to the paramount necessity for stimulating trade both in timber and frozen meat, my Ministers have endeavored to aid the export of the former by guaran- j teeing half the freight of cargoes, and propose to call together a conference in Wellington to discuss steps for improving the distribution of our meat in Great Britain. The measures recommended in the report on the colonies' defences are being steadily carried on. The advice of. last year's Military Conference is being acted on, and before next year the whole of our forces will be armed with the MartiniHenry rifle. The requisiteammunition will henceforth be manufactured in New Zealand.

The time has in my opinion arrived for increasing the number of ray Ministers. The growth of population, the advance of settlement, and the extension of functions of the State have so added *o the duties of my advisers as to make this change needful in the best interests of the colony. HoN GfcNTLBMKN OF THE HOUSE 01? Representatives. Estimates of revenue and expenditure of the year will be laid before you, The estimates of expenditure neve been framed with due regard to economy. Hon. Gentlemen ov the Legislative Council and Hon. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives For the third year in succession you will be asked to pass a bill extending to local bodies the right of levying rates upon land values. By it such bodies will be allowed to apply the principle upon which direct taxation has for years been assessed by the Government. A Fair Rent Ii 1 will be introduced, and also a uipasure to effect needful amendments in the Land for Settlements Act You will be asked to deal with the electoral law, and to assent to a change designed to prevent too frequent and inconvenient changes of the boundaries of electorates Public opinion demands that the difficult problems of local government and charitable aid fhouH be facpd, and if possible solved without further delay A measure

which, it is hoped, will reduce the number of the too numerous local councils, while at the same time concentrating their functions and strengthening their financial position, will shortly be laid before you. I trust you will this session see your way to readjust the customs tariff. For the purpose of collecting information I I that will be of service to parliament and the government in dealing with I this complicated matter, Ministers appointed aßoyal Commission,consisting of well known gentlemen of public experience, and an exhaustive report prepared by the Commissioners will ! be submitted to you in full. I Opportunity will be afforded you for discussing the vexed and interesting question of licensing reform. Hills have been prepared designed to check excessive rates of usury, and to protect and preserve for the families of working settlers the homes which they ! have made their own. Measures are ready for your consideration dealing with the relations of masters and apprentices, with public tenders and contracts, and with the restriction of the influx of race aliens and certain persons. You will be invited to pass bills dealing with State school teachers, and matters oonnected with secondary education, and asked to amend the law concerning Juries, These proposals ! I commend to your attention. I earnestly assure you of my wish to aid your exertions for the good of the country. I pray your labors may, with God's blessing, tend to promote the welfare and prosperity of the people o? New Zealaud.