OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2176, 20 June 1890, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The session was opened yesterday afternoon by the Govornor in person. The fol--1 iwing is a portion of his Excellency's

apeeuh : —

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Repkesentatives.

It givna me great pleasure again to meet you in Parliament assembled. When I drat met you, shortly after my assumption of the Government, I had had time only for a hutried journey through the North Inland. But, I expressed my gratification at what I had then seeu aud at the nuinuer in which I had been received as Her Majesty's Representative. 1 have now visited the fonr centreß, and hav-j had the advantage of residing for one month in three of the prinoipal cities. The experience which I have obtained in the course of my journey through many different parts of the colony has enabled me Lo make a more comprehensive view of its capabilities. I have been greatly pleased with the abundance of its resources, with the beauty of its scenery, and with the enterprise and industry of its inhabitant. I have also been much gratified by the mauner in which I have been welcomed in every place which I have visited, and with the loyalty exhibited by the people to Her Majesty the Queen and to the Empire. The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition proved a greater success than was anticipated by the most sanguine, while its conception, accomplishment, and management reflected special credit upon the enterprise aud ability of its originators aud of the citizens of Danedin. The manner in which it was supported by those living in other parts of the colony evidenced the power of the inhabitants to co-operate in a great undertaking. The splendid display of natural proluots, and of arts, manufactures aud miner ils, must have had a great educating influence upou the inhabitants of the colony, while at the same time it has enabled visitors to form some idea of our national wealth and of tb.a energy and industry of the people.

In the very successful deminstrationa which were held in Wellington and Auokland for the purpoae of celebrating the completion of the fiftieth year of the existence of New Zaaland as a part of the Empire, I was greatly impressed with the marvellous progress whioh the oolony had made, with the large proportion of happy and healthy

children who were prominently put forward to join in the celebration, with the orderly behaviour of the great crowds of people, consequent, without doubt, on the high standard of comfort and prosperity enjoyed by all classes, and with the patriotic love for tho colony entertained by those who have m ule it their hoims.

It affords me much pleasure to be able to congratulate you up;>u tin-, evidences which during last year wero aff>r<led of the substantial progress made in the circumstances of the colony. The provisiou made during last session for carrying ou the public services has prove>l more than sufficient-. It is satisfactory to note that while there has been an increase of revenue, it has been in item 3 which show that a further advance has been made in productive pursuits ; while the stationary condition of other items show that there has been no departure from the temperate habits of the people. The volume of exports has still further increased ; and whil«» the value of some — notably flix — has unfortunately declined, that <>f others remains fairly satis factory. My Ministera will place before you information which will show tb.it the pro ductiveness of the colony is enlarged ; hut notwithstanding the increased expenditure of capital, which must have bpen incurred in making productive the additional area of land acquired during the year by private persons, the position of the colonists, so far at his private indebtedness is conc.ruci], has greatly improved, and there has be>n a satisfactory addition to the funds h-ld by the savings banks and the insurance department. The wastelands of the Crown have during the pist year been settled ;it a satisfactory rate of progress. My Ministers have endeavored to aff>rd to eettlers as wide a choice as the nature of the laud now held by the Crown would admit. Statements will be placed before you to show you that this has resulted in the settlement of a lirg<; area of land ; and I am glad to be able to inform you that the increase in the number of the agricultural holdings was last year greatly in excess of that during any previous portion of the colony's history. While my Advisers are gratified at the substantial progress which has been made in the productions of the colony, and, with the advance of settlement, they believe that still greater progreßa can bo made if more adequate means are provided for opening up Jand in advance of setilement by means of roads, and for acquiring Native lands. They will, therefore, submit for your consideration proposals for effecting these objects.