OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 133, 9 June 1881, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

«. Iho third and final session of the seventh Parliament of New Zealand was opened to-day by his Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon The attendance of members of both branches of the Legislature was as usual small, the bulk of the representatives and "Lords" as a rulo preferring to dolay their arrival till some few days after tho opening ceremony. In tho prosont instance, the " Speech from tho Ihrono" had been shorn somewhat of its attractions, as members wero made acquainted with its most important features in tho recent address at Lees ton of the Hon. tho Premier. Tho Artillery and Wellington Guards mustered at tho Drill Shed at 1 p in , under the command of Lient.-Colonel Pearco, in readiueßS for their respootivo duties. Tho Guards wero told off as a guard of honor to his Excellency tho Governor, and to the Artillery was allotted tho tiwk of firing tho salutes upon the entrance to and exit from the Legislative Council Chamber of Sir Arthur Gordon. Shortly boforo 2 o'clock tho Guards were drawn up in front of tho main entrance to tho Legislative Council, and at 2 p.m. hia Excellency and suito arrived and passed into tho chamber, tho band in the meanwhile striking up the strains of the "National Anthem," and tho Artillery firing a saluto from their G-poundor gnns from tho rear of the Parliamentary Buildings. At tho door of tho chambor, Sir William Fitzhcrbert, Spoakor of tho Legislative Council, received tho Governor, and escorted him to tho "Throne," from which tho opening speoch was then read. Thoro was a largo assemblage of ladies on the floor of the House, among them being the Hon. Lady Hamilton Gordon and Miss Hamilton Gordon. Tho gallorica woro also woll filled with spectators Aa soon as his Excellency hid taken his seat, ho sent for tho " .Representatives," who had assembled in their own chamber, and woro waiting for tho summons. Theso arrived nt the bar of tho Council in a few minuteß, headed by Sir Georgo Maurice O'Rorko, attended by the Sergeant-at-Arms b o aring the mace. Hi 3 Excellency was then proBentod with tho address by tho Hon. Mr. Whitaker, Attornoy-Genoral. ¦'*vk t i!4 Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of tub House ob 1 Representatives — It afford 3me much satisfaction, in meetyou for tho first time, to be ablo to congratulato you upon tho stoadv progress of the colony during tho past year, the roviva! of its prosperity, and the increased confidence in tho futnro which animates all classes of the community. Tho course prescribed by Parliament to bring to a termination tho unsatisfactory Btato of affairß existing on a part of tho the west coast of this Island, has been stoadily pursued, and has, up to the presont time, been attended with marked succoss. Effect is being givon ti the recommendations of tho Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the grievances which wero alleged to exist among tho natives of that locality; and tho determination, on tho ono hand, to assert tho supremacy of tbo Qaoen and repress any lawless action, and, on the other hand, to redress all real grievances, will apparently effect a peaceful solution of questions which a short time ago wore a threatening aspect. The lands which have been appropriated for European occupation on tho Waimato Plains havo beon for tho most part sold, and aro now being occupied by settlors. The prisoners whoao detention, up to tho present timo, has beon deemed necessary, in tho interest of both natives and Europeans, have beep released and returned to their homes, with the exception of a small number, whom it is proposed to sot free in a few days ; nor do mv responsible advisors apprehend that it will bo necessary again to havo recourse to extraordinary moasureß for tho preservation of peace and good order in tho district in question. Papers will bo laid before yon containing the minutes of the proceedings of an Intercolonial Conference hold at Sydney in tho 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 tho colony. The recognition of a community of interests and mutual interdependence among the Australasian colonies evinced by this Conference may hereafter be attended by results of considerable importanoe. The Railways and other Public Works authorized by you have been proceeded with as rapidly as was expedient in the present circumstances of the Colony. In view of tho necessity for maintaining tho progressive work of colonization, proposals will come under your consideration for Riving- assistance to companies prepared to construct or continue mam lines of railway. The termination of existing leases of lands in tho Middle Island held for pastoral purposes affordß an opportunity which has not been overlooked by my Advisers for rendering those lands more generally useful to tho btate. Carofully-consider^d plans for effecting that object will be laid before you. The systematic laying out of roads, in an* ticipation of the sale of waste lands, has in a very marked manner promoted their occupation during the past year. You will be asked to sanction further expenditure to enable tho Lands Department to give effect to plans which, if carried oub, will practically enlarge the area available for settlement, and invite a more extended employment of labor and capital. Tho revenue received from tho sale of waste lands during the post year has exceeded the estimate, and the increasing demand for land for actual occupation, together with statistical information recently obtained, affords convincing proof that a fresh impulse is being given to the work of settlement, while the expansion of local industries promises to provide profitable employment for a rapidly-increasing population. Gentlemen of the Hocse or EefreBENTAriVKS, — Large re Inctions have already been mado in the cost of the Public Service, without impairing its efficiency, and the Estimates of receipts and expenditure for th<» current year, which will shortly be laid before yon, have been prepared with strict regard to tho most rigid economy. The revenue for the past year must, on the whole, be considered satisfactory. The excess of rcjeipls over expenditure upon the railways amounts to a return of 3} per cent, upon the outlay incurred upon their construction. Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House or 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 moat attentive consideration. Tho Commissioners appointed last year for the purposo of inquiring into the constitution, practice, and procedure of tho Supreme Court and other Courts of the colony, and of ascertaining by what means tho administration of justice therein may be rendered moro speedy and efficacious, and at tlio same time less costly, havo made an ad interim report, a copy of which will be laid before you. I am glad to bo able to inform you that the Commissioners have proceeded so far with the work intrusted to them as to enable them to anticipate the close of their labours in the conrso of tho month of July. The measures necessary to give effect to their recommendations may therefore bo submitted to you during tho present session. ) A Bill will be laid before yon which will Lave for ita object the abolition of restraints on the alienation of land, while guarding the interests which may arise out of any trusts 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 administration of native reserve ', for rating Crown lands, and for providing tor the grant of assistance to local public works. I havo recently visited many different districts of tho colony. During these journeys I have had repeated opportunity of observing Bigns of increasing wealth, the spread of settlement, and tho energy and activity engaged in industrial pursuits throughout tho country. The impressions which I had thus been led to form are strengthened by the results of the recent census, and by a perusal of roports and returns which will be placed before you, showing tho revival of trade, the growth of now and important local industries, and the satisfactory condition of the ordinary and territorial rovenuo for the past year. In the discharge of the high functions committed to me by the Queen, it will always bo my aim to manifest the same scrupulous and loyal regard to constitutional practice and usage, not only in the letter but in tho spirit, which has ever distinguished •4ho Sovereign whom I represent among you. You may rely with confidence on my hoarty co-operation in giving effect to the deliberate decisions of the Legislature, and it is my earnest hope and dosiro that your labors may be bo 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.