OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3134, 2 August 1867, Page 7

OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The second session of the Fourth Parliament of New Zealand was opened by his Excellency Sir George Grey, K0.8., at Wellington, on the 9th July, at two o'clock p.m., with the following speech-: — , v - - Honourably Lbgisiattve CocnroiLtoM, Gmitlmmn or thx House of R«j»»kin*ativks, lam happy to meet yog again ia Parliament, and to recur to your assistance and adrice. It has »%^«t"nte DWKs!n»»|i«f*ctioa to Lave been able to give effect to the wish expressed by me »t tht close of the last session, to visit the Southern portion of the colony. I hare thus had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with most of its leading towns and'rising settlements, in all of which I have, M the Queen's representative, met with the most cordial reception. By the people of Auckland also, on the, occasion of my recent visit to that put of the country, I have, been most warmly and loyally received. It has- been a pleasing duty to me to report to the Secret »ry' of State that in no part of the Empire lias Her Majesty more loyal subjects than the inhabitants of the distriots through which I' have towelled. I could not but be gratified by the rapid progress which it, was evident the colony generally had mad*. While in the settlements which hare sprung into existence during the last few years in the . interior, and on the West Coast of the Middle Island, I was at once struck by their extent and importance, and gratified by the presence, notwithstanding the circumstances under which they were formed, of that regard for law and order which, is the characteristic of our race. I can say with confidence that security for life and property, and respect for the law, exist in as marked a degree in those recently populated districts as in any part of her Majesty's dominions. I congratulate you on there-establishment of peace generally throughout the North Island, in no part of which do I anticipate in future any systematic or sustained hostility to the Queen's authority. The attitude of some Hauhau fanatics, who in October last threatened the town and settlement of Napier, was such as to cause a temporary anxiety ; but by the judicious measures adopted^ by Mr. McLean,' and gallantly given effect to by lieutenantColonel Whitmore and all classes of the inhabitants of the district, the offenders were severely punished, tranquillity was speedily restored, and has not since been disturbed in that neighbourhood. On the West Coast, also, the natives who had for years been hostile to the Queen's 'authority, met with a serious check at Ptrogtrehu, from lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell and the colonial forces under his command, since which time many of them have returned to their allegiance, and others have expressed their intention of doing so. The conduct of her Majesty's colonial forces, both European and native, on these and other occasions, deserves the highest praise. During the recess I have made a journey, partly on foot; through the North Island, and have traversed satire' districts which it had, for some time past, been deemed unsafe to enter. I ererywbere found the embers of disaffection dying out; and I. was received by the Maori population, even in districts recently in rebellion, ia such a manner as to inspire confidence in the future peace of the country, A necessity baring arisen for revising existing arrangements for the transmission of ' mails between the Australasian colonies and the United Kingdom by way of Sues, it was deemed expedient that the whole question of ocean, postal communication, ' so. far as it* 'affects these colonies, should be discussed at a conference of .representatives of the several Australian Governments. I accordingly accredited 'representatives on the part of this colony- to the Conference. The result of the deliberations of that body will be laid before you, and will, I trust, meet with your approval. This result appears satisfactory, not only as providing for the , establishment of an efficient and comprehensive system of , postal communication with all parts of the, world, but also as demonstrating the great ' benefits which may be derived from cordial and united action on tbii and other subjects affecting these colonies as a whole. The Act for the establishment of ' post-office savings banks has been brought into operation during the past year, and the extent to which it has already been made use of warrants the belief that it will prove an important means, of fostering industrious and [provident habits among the population at large. The complicated and unsatisfactory state of the acoounts between the Imperial and Colonial Governments rendered imperative a carefnl examination of tnose accounts, with a view to their early and final settlement. I accordingly commissioned a member pf my Government to conduct the inquiry on behalf of the colony, in conjunction with an officer duly appointed by the Imperial Government. The correspondence on this subject, and a report from the Colonial Commissioner, will shortly be submitted to you. Papers concerning the administration of the Otago goldfiields will be laid before you. Gentlemen of th« House of Eepbesentatives, Accounts of revenue and expenditure for the past year and Estimates for the ensuing year will be laid before you ; and I trust that you will be able to recognise in both that careful regard for economy upon which, at this juncture, the future prosperity pi the colony greatly depends. I recommend you to consider a measure of the conversion of provincial loans into colonial stock, with a view to placing the securities of New Zealand on such a footing that they may be more adranfcageously dealt with than is at present possible, And to maintaining and improving our credit in the money market. A very general belief in the necessity for some such measure has long'been entertained, and has recently increased. Such necessity is amply confirmed by the present position of many of the provincial loans. , , A bill will also be submitted to you for extending the benefits of the colonial credit to enterprises calculated to foster .and extend . the important industry of.ths goldfields by offering a guarantee of interest on capital invested (under proper restriction and supervision) in procuring supplies of water for the operations of gold-mining The very special character of the taxation and laws of the goldfields justifies and requires such provision for their interests. HONOURABLE GIHTnODHT JISD GbNTLBMBIT, This part of her Majesty's dominions will probably riaortly be visited by hi* Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. I have at the earliest moment apprised you A the probability of this visit, as I am aware that you, andall her Majesty's subjects in New Zealand, will' desire to make the best possible preparations to testify to hjs IfcoyaJ Highness the pride «md pleasure with which- they receive a prince who has made so favourable an jnipreisjon in other parts of her Majesty* dominions/ and to show by their reception of one of her Majesty's sons how sincere and earnest is tbeir attachment to that Sovereign who has established such lasting claims upon their gratitude and love. „ '.. r 'm In accordance with the intimation made you when I last released you from your duties, my Government have earnestly applied themselves to.tag preparation of a measure for the establishment of focal nelf -government; .generally throughout the country. This measure shall shortly be submitted to yon. The growing demand from all parts of the country for tbe^jtabjish'menfc of institutions so congenialtoourrace,and.whichwp < ald hare largely promoted its prosperity and developed 11$ habits of self-reliance, will secure, r f or this bill your earnest and careful consideration,' and you will discharge an important service if you meet this demand in a just and com* prehensive spirit, by providing the means whereby fna public funds shall be equitably expended on jvorks #f local improvements, under the management and in accordance' with the wishes of those immediately interested Xn their construction. Measures of tMs character fof}4> diminish the expense of goyerniug the ob'untry, to. incase the efficiency of Bach! government," to promote settlement by stimulating local .energies, to. extend and maintain $he rights of' the subject, an'd, *o 'train and encourage all classes of, the people in the performance of national The' large mining population on the West Coast goldfields justifies an increased representation in Parliament of their interests ; a bill to effect that pbjact' will consequently be introduced. '' J The jgjfablishment of .friendly societies, in New Zealand has Jjeeh productive 'of greafbenefit to large efesßes of the community,' and' their diily-increasing 1 number and important^ render it advisable to improve the existing law. ' A bjU on this subject will accordingly be submitted to you. ' , '' ' Several important bills will also be brought under yoiir notice, with* the object of consolidating and improving the. statute law, and of otherwise providing for the* growing requirements of the country, which looks to Parliament for such salutary measures as changing circumstances demand. The repeated recommendation of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and the preyed necessity of providing more effectively than at present for the custody of persons convicted of serious CJu 1168 an< *. sentenced to long periods of- imprisonment, demand attention. It is therefore my intention to appoint at an early date a Royal Commission to inquire and report on the best mode of instituting a General Penal Establishment for the colony, or such other means of matting tiw neotMfyxttend to as may

suggest itself to them in the course of tbeir inquiries. I submit to your wisdom the consideration of these various important subjects, and I pray that the blessing of God may attend your deliberations, and may guide them to the promotion of the welfare of this country.