[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3988, 10 June 1881, Page 2

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Wellington, June 9. Parliament was opened to-day by His Excellency the Govarnor in person at 2 p.m. About 18 members of the Council were present, and 24 of the House of Representatives. A large number of ladies were present. The Governor wore a collar, and the robes of a Knight of the Grand Cross of St Michael and Sfc. George. Business in each House was purely of a formal character, and each chamber adjourned till to-morrow. Wellington, June 9. eonorablb legislative councillors and Gentlemen of the House op Representatives, — It affords me much satisfaction in meeting you 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 increa:ed confidence in the future which animates all classes of the community. The course prescribed 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 hag up tc the present time been attended with marked success. Effect is being given to the recommendations of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the grievances which were a'leged t5 exist among the Natives of that locality ; and the determination on the one hand 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 questions which a short time ago wore a threatening aspect. The lands which have baen appropriated for European .occupation on the Waimate Plains 'have -Hbeen for the most part sold, and are now being occupied by settlers. The prisoners, whoso detention up to the present time has been deemed necessary in the interest of both Natives and Europeans, have been released and 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 uecessary 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 containing the minutes of tho 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 Australian 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 j

regulation and restriction of the influx of Chinese into the Colony. The recognition of a community o2 interests and muUial interdependence amorg tte Australasian Colonies evinced by th ; s Conference, may hereafter be attended by results of considerable importance. The railways and other public works authorised by you have been proceeded with as rapidly as was expedient in the present circnmstances of the Colony. In view of the necessity for maintaining the progressive work ot colonisation, proposals will come under your consideration for giving assistance to companies prepared to construct or continue main lines of railway. The termination of existing leases of land in the Middle Island, and held for pastoral purposes, affords an opportunity which has not been overlooked by my advisers for rendering these lands more generally useful to the State. Carefully considered plan 3 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 be 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 employment of labor and capital. The revenue received from the sale of waste lands during the past year has ex> ceeded the estimate, and the increasing demand for land for actual occupation, together with statistical information recently obtained, affords convincing proof of the fact that a fresh impulse is bsing given to the work of settlement, while the expansion of local industries promises to provide profitable employment for a rapidly increasing population. Gentlemen" op the House of Representatives, — Large reductions have already been made in the cost of the public service without impairing its efficiency, and the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the current year, which will shortly be laid before you, have been prepared with strict regard to the most rigid economy. The revenue for the past year must, on the whole, be conaidered satisfactory. The excess of receipts over expenditure upon the railways amount to a return of three and a half per cent, upon the out lay incurred upon their construction. Hon. Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the Eouse of RepreSEhTATIVES, Bills wi 1 ! be aumbitted 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 last year for the purpose of inquiring into the constitution, practice, and procedure of the Supreme Court and other courts of the Colony ; and of ascertaining by what means the administration of justice therein may be rendered moie speedy and efficacious, and at the same time less coitly ; have made an ad interim report, a copy of which wUI be laid before you. I am glad to be Jrole to inform you that the commissioners have proceeded so far with the work entrusted to them as to enable them to anticipate the close of treir labors iv the course of the mon'.h of July. The measures necessary to give effect to their recommendations may therefore be submitted to you during the present session. A B;U wil be laid before you which wi'l have for its 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 i made subject. Bills will also b 9 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 administration of native reserves, for rating Crown lands, and for providing for the grant of assistance to local public works. I have recently visited many different districts of the Colony. During thesg journeys I have had repeated opportunity of observing signs of increasing wealth, the spread of settlement, and activity displayed in industrial pursuits throughout the country. The impressions which I hau thus been led to form are strengthened by the resultg 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 discbarge of the high functions committed to me by the Queen, it will always be my aim to manifest the same scrupulous and loyal 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 you. You may rely with confidence on my hearty co-operation in giving effect to the deliberate decisions of the legislature ; and it is my earnest hope and desire that your labors may ba so directed as by GodV blessing not only to promote the material welfare of the Colony, but to secure the stability of its institutions, the development of it 3 great resources, and the per--1 manent happiness of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects within its bounds.