NOTES ON PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, June 14.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4002, 20 June 1870, Page 4

NOTES ON PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, June 14.

The fifth session of the fourth Parliament wa3 opened this day, at 2 p.m., by lug Excellency the Governor. A guard of honour was furnished by the Wellington Volunteers. The attendance of members of both Houses was good ; but, owing to the accident to the p.s. 'Luna/ which was reported in the Wellington papers, and to a misunderstanding regarding the departure of the ' Airedale' from Nelson, the members for that province were not present. Several Otago and Auckland members were likewise absent. Mr. Carleton, in the absence of Sir D. Mouro, acted as Speaker. The attendance of ladies in the Legislative Council Chamber was greater than on former occasions j and, the Chamber having been refurnished duriug the recess, it presented a more brilliant appearance than usual during the opening ceremonies. We have already published all but the following portion of the upeech :—: — "Gentlemen of the House of Eepresentatives — Estimates of expenditure for the coming financial year will belaid before you. While providing for the efficiency of the public service, they will exhibit; a strict re gard to the economical adminisfrra ion of the various departments of Government. "Honorable Legislative Councillors, aud gentlemen of the llouse of Representatives — I am happy to inform you that the telegraph has made sitisfaotory progress in \arious rtapects. Communication is open with Patea an A. Tawpo, and is being vapidly extended to Tauvanga. You will be glad to learn that the New Zealand Commissioners are negotiating for the construction of a cibl'j b'ptweou New Zealand aud usfcralia. You will be asked to consider the subject." The speech is not quite in the stereotyped form. It say a something, which lloyal speeches seldom do ; and the programme of business laid befoie the Assembly is sufficiently laige to onaagp its attention for a very considci table pei tod. There is first, of course, a reference to the native qu?s,tion, and the country is very properly congratulated on the rapid procrre&s which has been made during the pasi year in its pacification. No one can question the right of the Government to take credit for this result; although it is to be expected that the Opposition will attempt to appropriate the credit to themselves. Mention is made in the speech of Mr. Ormond's services ; also of the services of the native chiefs Hopata, Topia, and Kemp. The recognition of the services of those native chiefs, in the Royal Speech, was certainly due to them ; and I believe it will have a salutary effect upon the native race, who will thus perceive that conspicuous services rendered by them in the cause of order are not overlooked by the Legislature. The establishment of the steam postal service with San Francisco, and the extension of the telegraph in the North Island, are also subjects for congratulation. The policy of the Government may be gathered from the paragraphs in the speech intimating that measures would be introduced to promote immigration and settlement ; to adjust the representation ; to provide for vote by ballot ; to reduce the duty on gold of an inferior quality ; to amend the law of bankruptcy ; to enable local rates be more raprlly recovered ;to reduce the rates on interprovmcial postage ; to facilitate the registration of titles and transfer of land ; and to reunite, at their own desire, the provinces of Otago and Southland. Many of these measures are loudly called for, and if carefully matured will remove crying abuses in the country. It is evident that the Government have not been inattentive to the voice of the country during the peeess, because several of the contemplated Acts appear to ho an answer to popular Fernanda at pnblio mestinss and in the On the Houso re-.\sembling after the formal opening of Parliament;, various notices of motion were, given of a purely formal nature j and sovoral papers, copies of which I forward, were laid on the table by Ministers. Mr. Swan gave notice of the following question :- -" To a3k the Premier, next sitting day, Whether the Government is acquainted with the fact that a cargo of South Sea Islanders has been imported into the province of Auckland, for the working of flax-fields in the province, and thia by collusion with the chiets of the islands where Btich cargo was obtained, and by the paying of douceuers to such chiefs ; also, whether the Government is prepared to place the trade in natives under proper control, or to bring down a measure to prohibit the traffic in South Sea Islanders ; likewise, whether the Government is aware that it is the intention of those engaged in the traffic to continue it?" Mr. Carrington, Superintendent of Taranaki, gave notice that he would move an address in reply to the Speech. It is likely to be seconded by Mr. Mclndoe, for Caversham. The following new members were introduced, and took the oaths : — Mr. GilLes, Mr. K. J. Wood, Mr. Carrington, and Mr. Mclndoe. Mr. Fox asked leave to introduce a bill to amend the Intestate Estates Act, 18G5. Leave was granted, and the bill read a firafc time. The House adjourned till Thursday next. The only item of gossip I am able to yive (and it ia beyond gossip now) is the call of Mr. Sewell to the Upper House, and his accession to the Ministry. The office is a new one— that of Minister of Justice. This appointment has created considerable surprise amongst she Auckland members, who, although they do not dislike Mr. Sewell personally, have a very vivid recollection of his share in certaiu by-gone transactions arising out of the Waikato immigration scheme, and the allocation of the war loan. It ia surmised that Mr. Jewell will not strengthen the hands of the viovernment; but of course they have made their calculations, and I dare say will be able to justify the act. There is no doubt Mr. Sewell is a very able debater, and that in the Legislative Council he will have no equal. The s.s. 'Airedale,' which arrived after midnight, was despatched early this morning to Nelson, for the purpose of bringing the Speaker and his colleagues to the Assembly. They are expected to arrive to-night. I understand that the liquidators of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company have sold their fleet of steamers to a local company for £19,000. It is said that Captain Trouton, on behalf of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, would have given £18,000, taking the two best boats, the proprietors of the Circular Saw Line taking over the remainder ; but the liquidators believed in "local enterprise." A company is to be formed to run the steamers. The weather is fine.

(FROM THE " WELLINGTON POST," JUNK 15.) Copies of the speech, having been presented to the Speakers by Captain Pitt, his Excellenoy retired, and the Hon. the Speaker haying taken the chair, an adjournment of ten minutes took place, during which the Chamber wag cleared of its fair occupants,, On the Council resuming, several new numbers were introduced and sworn, and his Excellency's speech having again been read, and Beveral of the usual sessional notices of motion given, the Oovmoii adjourned. On returning from the Oounoil Ohambftr, the House of Representatives proceeded to business, Mr. Oarleton being in the chair. The following new members were introduced, and took their •eats :— Mr. ReadertWood (Parnell), Mr. T. B. Gillies (Mangonui), \Mr. J. Mclndoe (Caversham), and Mr. A. Carrington (Om*ta). -

Mr. Farmer, on behalf of Mr. Carleton, gave notice of motions for the appointment of thp . following Sessional Committees ;—; — Standing Orders, Library, Joint Committee on Standing Orders, Selection, and *Joint Committee on Private Bills.

Mr. J. 0. Wilson, C.8., gave notice of the Appointment of a House Committee.

Mr. CREiGftTdH gave notice of the appointment of a Reporting Committee. The Hon. Johkt Hall gave notice of the appointment of a Joint Waste Lands Committee. Mr. Carkington gave notice of Ma intention to move a reply to the Address. The Hon. Mr. Fox gave notice of his intention to move that the House, unless otherwise ordered, meet at three of the clock each clay. The Hon. Mr. Vogel gave notice of the appointment of a Printing Committee, and the Hon. Mr. McLean of the appointment of a Public Petitions Committee. Mr. Mervyn gave notice of intention to introduce a bill to amend the Goldfields Act. Mr. Travers gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill to compel the attendance of witnesses for the defence in criminal prosecutions.