The Press. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1869.

Press, Volume XV, Issue 1993, 4 September 1869, Page 2

The Press. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1869.

The General Assembly was prorogued yesterday afternoon. We publish in another column His Excellency's prorogation speech, as forwarded by telegraph by our Wellington correspondent. There is little in the speech which calls for special notice. Its comments on what had taken place in the Legislature are such as were to be expected under the circumstances. His Excellency, of course, expresses his satisfaction at the detention of the 18th Regiment, at the determination of the Assembly to maintain an Imperial regiment in the colony, and generally at the measures adopted for its internal defence; which he has every hope will lead to the restoration of peace and prosperity, the return of the dispossessed settlers to their lands, the resumption of industrial pursuits, and to the final suppression of insurrection. He promises, on his part, to do all in his power to assist the Commissioners who are to be sent home on behalf of the colony, by pressing the latter views of the Assembly (the word " latter" implying, we suppose, that a great change has been brought about by the present Government) on the attention of Her Majesty's Ministers. The Assembly is congratulated on the wonderful progress of the Auckland goldfields, and remarks of no great depth or originality are made on the effect of goldfields in increasing the population of the country. The enquiries ordered by the House of Representatives to be made during the recess, as to the growth of New Zealand flax, are graciously approved of. The Lower House is, as usual, specially thanked for the supplies it has granted and assured, also, as usual, that they will be carefully administered. The flatness of the speech is relieved by a touch of humour in a paragraph which remarks on " the absence during the session of any considerable number of petitions from the inhabitants of outlying districts, suggesting changes in the constitutional machinery of the Government;" from which His Excellency infers " that the excitement on that subject, during the last year, was only superficial and of an ephemeral character, and that that dissatisfaction, with existing local institutions, which at one time appeared wide-spread is no longer felt." This, of course, is a reply to, or rather a sort of a parody on, the paragraph put into the Governor's speech at the close of the session of 1866, about the rapidly increasing dissatisfaction in the outlying districts, and a scoff at his prediction that the table of the House would groan under the petitions sent up by them. We can fancy Ministers chuckling together as they penned this parting dig at their adversary. That is one advantage which Ministers possess. He laughs best, says the proverb, who laughs last; and they can always make sure of the last word. There is no answering a prorogation speech.

Thus ends the session of 1869. To review its proceedings would occupy more space than is now at our disposal; nor indeed would it be an easy task to do so within the compass of a single article. Not that the main results might not be briefly stated ; but they were arrived at only after a series of protracted struggles, artful manoeuvres, and set or accidental crosspurposes, of which it would be difficult to give an accurate account. The Government greatly heightened the confusion by repeatedly finding it necessary to shift their ground and change their colors, in obedience to the demands of a party which they followed rather than led. However, out of the turmoil and chaos certain definite results have sprung. On one of the two great questions of New Zealand politics a decisive resolution has been taken. The Assembly has resolved on obtaining, on any conditions that may be prescribed by the Home Government, the assistance of an Imperial force, and also on raising, in addition to the constabulary, a military force j to be under the control of the colonial authorities. It has moreover agreed to maintain this state of readiness for attack for a period of five years. For the defence of the colony during the present year it has authorised an outlay of £230,000, besides whatever may be the cost of the 18th Regiment, variously estimated at from £40,000 to £80,000. Bather a em

gular conclusion to a session ».»!.• oh began amid a universal outcry against the military expenditure in the North, and appeals from Southern eonstituences to their representatives to vote no more for war purposes.