THE The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1877.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 44, 20 July 1877, Page 2

THE The Inangahua Times. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1877.

The second session of the six'.h Parliament of New Zealand was opened yesterday. T.he inaugural speech delivered on the occasion by the G.overnor is published, below, but contains ( nothing of interest, and in this respect in nowise differs from the general run of such dignified Vice-'Eegal utterances. fl>is. Excellency said : — HONOEABLE LEGISLATIVE COTJNCILLOES and Gentlemen op the House or, Eepbesentatiyes, — In having recourse to your advice and assistance on this occasion, it gives me pleasure to be able to congratulate you upon the progress which has been made during the past year in the development of, the resources of. the Colony, upon the prosperous condition of its chief industries, agricultural, pastoral/ and mining, and upon bur continually improving relations with the Native people. During the recess I had much pleasure in visiting a large portion of the South Island, and it was gratifying to me to. witness the indications of progress arid advancement which presented themselves to me,, and. to observe the spread" of industry, energy,' and independence which was evinced by the inhabitants, who om all r sides expressed to me their loyalty and, affection towards her Majesty,' and their confident anticipation as to the future prosperity and welfare of the Colony. ' You" will, I feel assured, recognise with' me the loss which my Government and 'the Colony have sustamed in the lamented death of Sir Donald M'Lean. who for more than seven years filled the office of Native Minister. His devotion to the duties of lfis office, his knowledge uf the language and character, his generosity and large lieartedneas,' his tact and design with' individuals, as well as with themasses. RecurecUohiinan influence oyer the Maori people which he exercised unceasingly to promote their welfare and advancement, to maintain peace and bring' about that reconciliation between the two races which he so earnestly desired to accomplish. Since prorogation in October last, administrative changes caused by the coming into operation of the Abolition ,pf -Provinces Act and tho3e rendered

necessary by legislation of last session I have occupied the attention of my Go- i vernmen v , and it is subject for con- 1 gratulation that changes so large have | been e,fiected with so little public in" convenience, and without disturbance of the ordinary administrative routine throughout the Colony. ' This satisfactory result, I am advised, is greatly owing to the loyal assistance and exertion of those gentlemen, members of this Assefnbly, who in the respective Provincial districts consented to hold temporarily the honorary and responsible positions of' Executive officers. Captain Campbell Walker, of ' her Majesty's Staff Corps, and Deputy Commissioner of State Forests in Madras, who accepted for a specified period the appointment of Conservator unuer the New Zealand Forest Act, 1874, has coucluded his lab.or3 and furnished an instructive and, interesting report which, will be laid before you. Gentlemen op the House op Repebsentatives,— The Estimates for the Colonial service have been prepared, and will be laid before you. They have been carefully framed with a view to securing as much economy as is fdund. to be consistentwithcompleteefficiencyin the several departments. You will be glad to learn that experience continues to show with growing distinctness the benefits which the Colony derives, as well in the form of increasing revenue as otherwise, from its system of public works, Further papers relative to the negotiations and measures for inscription of our Colonial Stock by the Bank of England, will be presented to you. HONOEABLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS and Gentlemen or the House op Kepresentaiives, — In the working of the Counties Act, some defects have been discovered, for the remedying of which legislation will be necessary. ' Amongst the measures •proposed to be submitted for your consideration will he found, a Bill to make further and better provision for Educa* tion ill this Colony; a Landa Bill, which will to some extent, consolidate existing law, and; will afford greater facilities for acquisition of land for cultivation and settlement ; a Native Lands Bill, and a Mining Bill to consolidate and amend existing laws relating to pur goldfields. I commend to your grave consideration the business of the session, and I pray that the Almighty will so guide and order your deliberations' that they may be productive of happiness and prosperity to the people of New Zealand.