Opening of Parliament.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3104, 9 June 1881, Page 3

Opening of Parliament.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH,

[BY TEIiE&EAPH.j Wellington, June 9. The third session of the seventh Parliament of New Zealand was opened by the Governor in person at two o'clock. Eighteen members of the Council and twenty-four of the House were present, and a large number of ladies. The Governor wore the collar and robes of a Knight of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. His Excellency the Governor, delivered the following speech : — Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the Mouse of Representatives, — It affords me much satisfaction, on meeting yoa for the first time, to be able to congratulate you upon the steady progress of the colony during the past year, the revival of its prosperity, and the increased confidence in the future which animates all classes of the community. The course presci'ibed by Parliament to bring to a termination the unsatisfactory state of affairs existing on a part of the West Coast of this Island has been steadily pursued, and has up to the present time been attended with, marked success. Effect is being given to the recommendations of the Boyal Commission appointed to enquire into the grievances which were alleged to exist among the natives of that locality, and the determination on the one liand to assert the supremacy of the Queen and repress any lawless action, and on the other hand to redress all real grievances, will apparently effect a peaceful solution of the question which a short time ago wore a threatening aspect. The lands which, have been appropriated for European occupation on the Waimate Plains hare been for the most part sold, and are now being occupied by settlers. The prisoners, whose detention up to the present time lias been deemed necessary in the interest of both natives and Europeans, have been released, and have returned to their homes, with the exception of a small number whom it is proposed to set free in a few days. Nor do my responsible advisers apprehend that it will be necessary again to have recourse to extraordinary measures for the preservation of peace and good order in the district in question.

Papers will be laid before you concerning the minutes of the proceedings of an intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in the month of January last, at which a member of my Government was present. You will learn from these papers that several measures of considerable interest to the Australasian Colonies were considered by the Conference, and in accordance with one of the conclusions arrived at a bill will be placed before you for the regulation and restriction of the influx of Chinese into the colony. The recognition of a community of interests and mutual inteitlependence among the Australasian * Colonies evinced by this Conference may be atbended by results of considerable importance.

The railways and other public worts authorised by you have been proceeded with as rapidly as expedient in the present circumstances of the colony. In view of the necessity for maintaining the progressive work of colonization, proposals will come under your consideration for giving assistance to companies prepared to construct oi , continue main lines of railway.

The termination of existing ] eases of land in the Middle Island held «for pastoral purposes affords an opportunity -which has not been overlooked by my advisers for rendering those lands more generally useful to the State, and carefully considered plans for effecting that object will be laid before you. The systematic laying out of roads in anticipation of the sale of waste lands has in a, very marked manner promoted their occupation during the past year. You will bo asked to sanction further expenditure to enable the Lands Department to give effect to plans which, if carried out, will practically enlarge the area available for settlement, and invite a more extended employ of labor and capital. The revenue received from the sale of waste land during the past year lias exceeded the estimate, and the increasing demand for land for actual occupation, together with the statistical information recently obtained, affords convinc> ing proof that a fresh impulse is being given to the work of settlement, while the expansion of local industries promises to provide profitable employ for a rapidly increasing population. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — Large reductions have already been made in the cost of tho service without impairing its oflk-iency, and the estimates of receipts and oxpondituve for the current year, which will shortly be laid before you, have been prepared with strict regard to the most riged economy. The revenue for the past year must on the whole be considered satisfactory. The excess of receipts over expenditure upon the railways amounts to a return of 3£ per cenb upon the outlay incurred upon theiv construction. Honorable Leqislat've Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — Bills will be submitted to you for the redistribution of the representation of the people, and for the regulation of elections, which, in view of the approaching termination of the present Parliament, I recommend to your early and most attentive consideration. The Commissioners appointed List year fpr the- purpose of inquiring into the constitution, practice, and procedure of the Supremo Court und other Courts of the colony, and of ascertaining by what means the administration of justice therein m.iy be rendered more speedy on effiicicacious, and at the same time less costly, have made an ad interim report, a copy of which wiU be laid before you. lam glad to be able to inform you that the Commissioners have proceeded so far with the work entrusted to them as to enable them to anticipate the close o'i tlieir labors in the courss of the month of duly. The measures necessary to give effect to their recommendations may therefore be submitted to you during the present session.

A bill will bo laid before you which will htiTo for its object tho abolition of the

restraints in the alienation of law, while guarding the interests which may arise out of any truste to which it has been made subject.

Bills will also be laid before you for the regulation of the administration of charitable aid, for the consolidation and amendment of the licensing laws, for the amendment of the existing law in respect of the admistration of native reserves, fsr rating Crown lands, and for providing for the grants of assistance to local public works. I have recently visited many different districts of the colony. During these journeys I have had repeated opportunities of observing signs of increasing wealth, the spread of settlement, and the energy and activity engaged in industrial pursuits throughout the colony. The impressions which I hud thus been led to form are strengthened by the result of the recent census, and by a perusal of reports and returns which will be placed before you, showing the revival of trade, the growth of new and important local industries, and the satisfactory condition of the ordinary and territorial revenue for the past year. In the discharge of the high functions committed to me by the Queen, it will always be my aim to manifest the same scrupulous and local regard to constitutional practice and usage, not only in the letter, but in the spirit, which has ever distinguished the Sovereign whom I represent among yon. You may rely with confidence on my hearty co-operation in giving effect to the deliberate decision of the Legislature, and it is my earnost hope and desire that your labors may be so directed as by God's blessing not only to promote the material welfare of the colony but to secure the stability of its institutions, the development of its great resources, and the permanent happiness of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects within" its bounds.

The busiaess in each House was purely formal, and then adjourned till tomorrow,