WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1081, 7 September 1869, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

PBOROGATION" OP THE ASSEMBLY. Fridat, Sept. 3, p.m. , , Parliament was this day prorogued by his Excellency the Governor, who delivered the following ' ' SPEECH. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of ike House of Representatives,— The time for closing the present session, of the General Assembly haying arrived, I thank you for the earnest consideration which you have given to the many important topics to which your attention has been directed. The safety of the country will, I hope, be effectually provided for by the measures that have been taken. You have apted wisely in making parliamentary provision for the cost of an Imperial regiment, and in taking steps to remove grounds for misunderstanding that have arisen on the subject, and to restore those friendly relations which should ever subsist between this Colony and the Imperial Government. I cannot avoid expressing my satisfaction that General Chute was able in the meantime to detain the 18th Regiment. The presence of that regiment and part of the squadron of her Majesty's navy at once affords protection and exhibits to insurgent natives symbols of the Queen's authority and the power of the great British Empire, of which this Colony is an integral part. Your efforts to organise and render more efficient the Constabulary force, for the •■ permanent protection of the Colony, cannot ' but contribute greatly to future tran-

quillity, and will, it is to be hoped, reduce the heavy cost hitherto incurred on account of active military /operations. . Gentlemen of the House o/Representaiives, — I thank you for the supplies which you have granted for the public service for the year ; they Bhall be administered with all due care and circumspection. While you have wisely refrained at present from making any changes of a fundamental character in the financial system, the amendments effected by the several measures passed will tend to promote the better administration of finance, and secure greater economy in the public expenditure. Honorable Gentlemen, and Gentlemen,— I heartily congratulate you on the wonderful progress of the Auckland gold fields. I am confident that only national tranquillity and increased population are requisite to secure a great and. general extension of goldfields in tithsr- parts of this auriferous country. Nothing is more calculated to promote peace and immigration than the development of goldfields. The yield of the precious metal,, and the growth of the prosperity of the colony, are reciprocal powers which act and re-act on each other with most beneficial effect. While, however, you have shown yourselves sensible of the importance of developing the resources which are hidden within the earth, I am glad you have not neglected another obvious source of wealth which will be found on ; the surface,- in native flax-, and that you have directed inquiries to be made during the recess which may lead to the further advancement of the growing trade in this valuable material. The absence during the session of any considerable number of petitions from the inhabitants of outlying districts, suggesting changes in the constitutional machinery, leads me to believe that the excitement on that subject during last year was of a superficial and ephemeral character, and that the dissatisfaction with existing local institutions, which at one time appeared wide-spread, is no longer felt. I have already transmitted to the Secretary of State, for the Colonies the resolutions of both Housesand the Acts affirming the expediency of maintaining an Imperial regiment in the Colony, and making provision for its cost. I will do all in my power to assist' the Commissioners whom you have determined to send to England to communicate with the Imperial Government on the subject by accrediting them to her Majesty's Ministers, and impressing on the attention of the latter the views of the Assembly. I have every hope that, strengthened by the countenance and aid of the Imperial Government, the Colony will^ under the blessing of Divine Providence, be restored to a condition of. peace and prosperity, and that the settlers who have been molested by rebels will regain possession of their homesteads, and successfully resume industrial pursuits, and that the insurrection will be finally suppressed. I cannot conclude without recording my satisfaction' at the cordial welcome awarded by the whole Colony to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, whose visit, though occurring at a period of great depression and when the minds of the colonists were engrossed with, events of serious import, evoked all those feelings of loyalty towards the person and family of her most gracious Majesty which are everywhere entertained and expressed in the British dominions. . His Excellency assented to all the Bills passed during the session. The bill for the reunion of the provinces of Otago and Southland has been thrown out by the Legislative Council by 14 votes against 6. There has been a great fight in the House of Representatives over the Native Lands Bill. The Legislative Council struck out the amendments made by the House. The committee sat to take Mr. Whitaker's evidence to the last moment, and reported in favor of insisting on its amendments, which were the insertion of two clauses antagonistic to Mr Whitaker's wishes. The Government strongly opposed this, but on a division, 31 to 15 insisted on the retention of the new clauses. The Legislative Council then gave way, and passed the bill as amended.: It is reported that a valuable quartz reef has been discovered near Cromwell, in the province of Otago. A trial crushing gave a return of 5 ounces of gold to the ton. J •""■-'£__ ' '