GENERAL. ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11006, 2 July 1901, Page 5

GENERAL. ASSEMBLY.

THE FORMAL OPENING. (phrss A-SOOuwon te___ba_:,) ' WELLINGTON, July 1. The second session of the foarteenth Parliament oTj9ned.th.is afternoon. Upon members of the Lower. House iwseinbling at"2.30 o'clock, tbey were summoned to the Legislative Council, .whetre the Speaker. Mr H. J. Miller, read tbe Comtni»ian opening Parliament. He also read,a message from tho Governor, «nnouiiciu_: the death of the Queeu, vM intimating that members would forthwith -swear allegiance to tlie new Suva. reign. He further stated that he would attend in person nest day, at 2.30 o'clock, to give reasons for calling Parliament to-

gether. T_stc was ■•• lunge attendance, of members of both H-ukm*. but only a s-prinklu_ of tho general i>ublii!. ■At the eoaolnrion of the formal proceedings . tha swearing-in ceremony took place simultaneously in both Chambers, the form of oath bdng as Jollows: —"I do sincsrely promise and swear tfiat I will be faithful, and bear true allegiance t» bis Majesty King Edward the Seventh, co help mc God.' THE LEGISLATE COUNCIL. On the Legislative Council returning tlie Speaker read a message from the Governor announcing the Quean's death. IHE QUEEN'S DEATH: Mr W. 0. WALKER moved, "That the Council presents its respectful address to his Majostv, and assures him that it deeply lament the d«ath of our late most, gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, whose name ancl reign will ever be helcj in lasting remembrance by be**- sorrowing and loving subjects. Tho Council respectfully begs to congratulate Iris Majesty on his accession to the Throne, and assures hi* Majesty of .t« loyal attachment to his person, and dcs c* to pray for his Majesty tne glory of a reign which will ba marked by peace and prosperity and general advance in the social and economic conditions of bis subject-." ,Mr Walker stated that the loss of our late 1 Queen bad been with her subjects and in their hearts even since the sad event occunred. The more they thought the more 'it camo home to them how good a Queen 1 she was, and how much we owed to her. . Some of us, no doubt, tad been horn durj ing the leignof tlie pi-oe-Mng Sovereign, but none had lived a conscious life in any reign, nrior to the late Queen's, and the change had, come as a revolution. He-knew that they would pass the motion before them, without controversy, in loving remembrance of the Queen that was gone and in full sympathy with the yeeponsibilities of tli-' liew King. Mr C. 0. BOWEN, in seconding the motion, stated that a poet had said that "Ohivalry wa« dead." Such had been foun.' pit to be the case, for hor late Majesty had revived it.

Mr W, D. H. BAILLUS, as an old soldier, spoke of the solicitude of the late Queed for her soldier subjects. Mr"S. E. SHRIMSKI also spoke to the motion, which wins earned unanimously, and ths Council adjourned till to-morrow.