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Press, Volume X, Issue 1142, 6 July 1866, Page 2

"We have received by telegraph from Nelson an outline of his Excellency's speech on opening the session of the General Assembly. Such addresses rarely convey any large amount of information, and the present is no exception to the general rule. It opens by mentioning the cessation of hostilities in the North, and the wish of the Government to take advantage of every indication that the Natives are beginning to recognise the benefits that will ensue from the establishment of law and order. Whether the wishes of the Government are to be manifested in any practical form does not appear. In contrast to the previous paragraph, though recent events show that it is not a superfluous caution, comes an intimation of the necessity of keeping on foot a force sufficient to repress outrages in the absence of the regular troops, who, we are glad to be assured, are leaving the colony as fast as transport can be provided. Congratulations follow on the commencement of the Panama mail service, the submarine telegraph, and the develepment of the goldfields; and the House of Eepresentatives is then specially informed in the customary phrase that rigid economy has been practised in every department of the public service and that the same spirit will be found to prevail in the forthcoming estimates. Reference is made to a proposed scheme for consolidating the outstanding liabilities— an important point, the particulars of which we shall be glad to learn —and to the sale of the debentures, which shows increased confidence in the value of New Zealand securities. Allusions to the revision of the tariff and the Civil Service Commission bring the speech to a conclusion. It will be observed that nothing is said of income tax or stamp duties, or of any increase of taxation; several other questions also which are certain to be agitated during the session are not touched upon. Mr Stafford is not disposed to spoil the effect of his Ministerial statement by any premature disclosures; or, which is more likely, he wishes to meet the House uncommitted to anything he can possibly avoid, and taking his stand upon the economy of his administration, leave himself free to advance in any direction that the majority may be inclined to follow. It is not a noble or dignified policy, but it is safe, and that to some minds is the primary consideration.