OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7863, 19 May 1886, Page 3 (Supplement)

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH,

[By Telegraph.]

WELLINGTON. May 13. The third session of the ninth Parliament -of New Zealand was opened this afternoon by His Excellency the Governor. Sir William Jervois was accompanied by Major Jervois, Private Secretary, and Captain Medley (A.D.C.) The Captain of the Tsukuba and nine officers of the Japanese warship were also present, besides the Hon Sir George Whitmore, Colonel Brett, and the Danish, Portuguese and French Consuls. Notwithstanding the pouring rain, there was a fair attendance of the public, especially ladies." The Wellington Navals and the Garrison Band formed the guard of honour, and the D Batteryfired a salute. The Permanent Artillery also paraded at the Parliament Buildings. Fifteen Legislative Councillors were present when His Excellency entered, and at the summons of the Clerk thirty-five members of the Lower House put in an appearance to hear the Speech. The Ministers present were the Premier, the Hons Larnach, Buckley, Ballanco and Tole. Sir Julius Vogel was present in the Lower House, but be did not present himself before the Governor. The Speaker of the Council took the chair at five minutes to two, and two minutes after the hour His Excellency entered the Chamber and read the following Speech to the Council: — Honorahle Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— It affords me much pleasure to meet you thus early in Parliament assembled. The year which is now passing will be memorable throughout the British dominions, as that on which our Gracious Sovereign enters on the fiftieth year of her reign. You will, I feel assured, desire to prove that the subjects »f this, the most distant portion of Her Majesty’s possessions, share equally with Her Majesty’s subjects in other parts of the world, the highest appreciation of the great' results of her long and beneficent reign. You will be asked to consider the most suitable way of showing, on behalf of ' the people of New Zealand, their affection and duty to the person of the Sovereign, their love and loyalty to the Crown, their sense of gratification at belonging to a realm enjoying a sway so benignant, and their desire to see the bonds which unite every portion of Her Majesty’s vast Empire confirmed and strengthened. It is particularly appropriate to such a year, that I am able to announce to you that, in the opinion of my Ministers, there has never been a time when the relations between Her Majesty’s European and Maori subjects, have been of so friendly a character. The Maoris are evincing an intelligent interest in colonising operations, and a cordial recognition of the laws of the Colony. They show this excellent disposition by the readiness with which they are seeking Crown titles for large areas of country through which the Northern Trunk Hallway will pass, and their willingness to part with land to the Government for the purpose of settlement along that lino of railway. Negotiations for such lands are, in the opiniot ' c -sjy advisers, proceeding satisfactorily due regard to the necessity of a quantity being retained by the for their own use. You will be asked to amend’the laws relating to the disposal of Native Lands, in the direction which appears to my Ministers best adapted to do justice to the Maoris, and to hasten the occupation and settlement of the country. Public works have been proceeded with as rapidly as the means placed at the disposal of Government permitted. Proposals will be laid before you for continuing Railways and other Public Works •n a scale consistent with the circumstances of the Colony/and in the manner most calculated to secure sound economical results. New Zealand is suffering from a depression that appears to prevail throughout the world, but which is affecting this Colony much less than other countries, because of its great resources. My advisers are of opinion that this depression, rather than tending to discourage the energies of the people, should lead them to additional exertions, anl that if, concurrently with the progress of Railways, abundant opportunity be offered to settlers to occupy and cultivate land in farms of reasonable size, farmers from other countries will he attracted to the Colony, and will materially aid its progress. In calling your attention to the gracious compliment which Her Majesty paid to all the Colonies and India by opening the Exhibition devoted to their products, an* 5 to the gratitude the Colonies and India owe to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the untiring exertions which have led to the success of the Exhibition, I am glad to be able to say that my Ministers have used their utmost endeavours to secure for this , Colony an adequate representation. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives — The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year will be laid before you. My advisers fully recognise the importance of keeping down the expenditure to the lowest limit consistent with meeting the requirements of the public service and the wants of the country. The Finances of the Colony are in a sound condition, and gratifying progress is being made with the conversion of the loans. The San Francisco Mail Service has been re-established at a cost within the authority which you gave by resolution. It is gratifying that the contract should have been taken by a New Zealand Company, on behalf of itself and a powerful American steamship organisation. It is equally gratifying that New South Wales joins in the arrangement, and that assistance is received from the Government of the United States. Honorable Gentlemen op the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen op the House op Representatives—

Whilst giving attention to the undertakings which it is desirable the Colony should carry out, it is not to be forgotten that the works constructed by local bodies are of essential importance towards promoting and extending the settlement of the lands. A measure will be placed before you, dealing with the Finance of Xiocal Bodies, and enlarging their power of directly managing their own affairs. My Ministers view with satisfaction the disposition which is being shown to develop the local resources of the Colony, including those of the mines, the forests, and the fisheries. It is of infinite importance to recognise and take advantage of the natural wealth of New Zealand, and to encourage the prosecution of industries of a varied character. My advisers place great faith in the operation of a,policy •which embraces the points of prosecuting* local industries, and thus affording abundant occupation to the population; promoting settlement by liberal land laws; constructing railways with a view to opening the country, aiding the progress of settlement, and speedily securing satisfactory and economical results; placing local bodies in a position to open roads and do .ysAer useful work; giving the mining liberal facility, and the friendly relations with the Maoris. arrangement for the construction* of the Midland Sailway, under authority conceded by Parliament, is, in the opinion'- of ihy advisers, a matter of hearth rejoicing. Some points of

a not material nature will have to be submitted for the ratification of Parliament. The attention of my Ministers has been constantly directed to questions relating to the South Sea Islands. Whilst recognising the important interest New Zealand has in these matters, they have carefully avoided exceeding the authority with which Parliament has endowed them. Papers on the subject will presented. Bills will be submitted to you to consolidate the laws relating to Crimes, to Municipalities, to Volunteers, and to Mines; to establish a Parcels Post system, and to amend the Charitable Aid and Hospitals Act. I commend to your attention the business that will come before you, and earnestly hope that your labours will, under the blessing of God, be attended with good to the Colony. [from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, May 13. Parliament was opened to-day with tho usual formalities, but the interest of the ceremony was slacked by a heavy and continuous downpour of rain, which fell, in fact, in a perfect sheet for hours before and during the proceedings. I have never seen so small a gathering of the public at an opening ceremony; but I must say I hav(f never known Parliament to be opened in such unfavourable weather. The whole affair wore a very sombre aspect. There were only thirteen Colonial Lords and about thirty-five “ gentlemen of the House of Representatives” present, most of whom appeared to be suffering from climatic influences, and some looked like drowned rats. The Governor did not appear at his best either, for the Council Chamber was too dark to permit him to read the Speech without a good deal of hesitation, which naturally marred tho impressiveness of his delivery. No one was sorry when the whole business was over. It will be seen that my forecast of the Speech was very full, there being no material difference between my telegram and the Speech itself. How that Speech has been received I am not yet in a position to state. It certainly does not contain as much in the way of promises as former Vice-Regal utterances; but if the programme therein indicated is earned through, it will afford work for an average session. It is clear Government do not this year intend to over-burden the House with Bills as was done last year, and if no side issues are raised some good legislation ought to result. The Speech does not afford much scope for any hostile amendment, and I do not think that any will be proposed, and there is no reason to doubt that the Address-in-Reply, of which Mr Bevan gave notice this afternoon, will be disposed of early on Tuesday evening. If there is to be any Want-of-Confidence motion it will probably be brought forward when the question of finances is before the House; but it is too early at the present time to speculate on probabilities. THE OAMARU MANOEUVRES’ The first detachment of the North Canterbury Volunteers who were to take part in the encampment at Oamaru, left Addington by a special train at 10 a.m on Thursday, April 22, under command of Major Slater. It consisted of a number of members of the Northern contingent of the C.Y.C., of the Mounted Rifles, and of men in charge of the horses of mounted officers. The total strength was fifty-seven officers and men. The two guns of the E. Battery were also in the train. The E Battery, the Engineers and the First Battalion Canterbury Rifles left by special train at 11 o’clock the same night. According to the return of the tickets issued by the railway authorities, the total strength was 536 of all ranks. Major Newall, as previously stated, was in command of the entire force. The Rifle Battalion was under the command of Major Tosswill, and Major Joyce and Captain and Adjutant Francis were present. Captain M'Lellan went down as commandant of the two corps of Canterbury Naval Artillery, the Lyttelton and Timaru corps: Captain Martin was in charge of the E Battery, Lieutenant M'lntyre of the N Battery, and Captain Webster of the Engineers. [from our special reporter.] OAMARU. April 23. In perhaps as thoroughly “Queen’s weather ’’ as ever it was the luck of a body of men bent on either business or pleasure in the open air to bold a gathering, the great Volunteer Encampment of the year opened. Following a warm evening and night, tho sun rose on Good Friday morning round as Norval’s shield, and every lift he took heavenward displayed indications of a “ stinging hob day.” The weatherwise who prophesied a hot time were not disappointed, and the large amount of drill done between dawn and dark had the effect of sweating off a considerable instalment of adipose tissue, the accumulation of many months’ compulsory, inertia on the part of not a few of our citizen soldiers, to whom a good honest double march is a thing that does not happen once in a blue moon. What with the publicity given to the thing by the Press of the Colony, and the talk about it at the periodical parades of the various corps in the South Island, the Easter encampment was looked forward to as a thing of more than usual importance, and great significance was attached thereto. I am personally in a position to say that very few corps, in Canterbury at least, have not strained every nerve to make a good appearance both in numbers and drill, at the Easter encampment. The following are the parade states, as completely as I have been able to procure them, thanks to the kindness of Major . Newall and other officers : Lyttelton Naval Artillery, Captain M'Lellan 42 E Battery of Artillery, Captain Martin 47 N Battery, Lyttelton, Lieutenant MTntyre ... ... ... ... 30 Canterbury Engineers, Capt. Webster 43 Christchurch City Guards, Capt. Bishop 50 Christchurch College Rifles, Lieutenant Mellish ... ... 42 Christchurch Rifles, Captain Richards 45 Sydenham Rifles, Lieutenant Linn ... 42 Canterbury Scottish, Captain Campbell 45 Richmond Rifles, Captain Bowron ... 40 Irish Rifles, Lieutenant M'Whannel... 47 Woolston Rifles, Captain Johnston ... 18 Kaiapoi Rifles, Captain Whitefoord ... 60 Garrison Band, Bandmaster Dorn ... 36 C.Y.C., Captain Oamaru Y.C., Sergeant Stronach ... 12 Canterbury Mounted Rifles, Lieutenant Acton-Adams ... ... ... 25 Dunedin Y.C., Captain Stronach ... 43 Southland Y.C., Lieutenant Finn ... 30 From South Canterbury there came the following:— Timaru Naval Artillery, Capt. Meason 54 C Battery Artillery, Major Hamersley 51 Timaru Rifles, Captain White... ... 53 Temuka Rifles, Captain Hayhurst ... 37 Ashburton Rifles, Captain Douglas ... 46 Geraldine Rifles, Lieutenant Ward ... 38 Waimate Rifles, Captain Studholme ... 25 Ashburton Guards, Captain Northey... 14 The following are the only Ejputhern returns I was able to obtain before candlelight : Dunedin, Ist Battalion, with Staff bands... ... ... ... 51 City Guards ... ... 46 North Dunedin ... 40 Waikari ... ... ... ••• 42 South Dunedin ... ... 43 Dunedin Highlanders ... ••• 63 Caversham Rifles ... ••• 41 Dunedin Irish ... ... ... ••• 57 Country corps ... ... ••• 19 EastTaieri 26 South District ... ... ... ••• 14 Kaitangata 21

A number of field pieces and howitzers are on the ground, every Artillery corps bringing its little contribution of ordnance. The following District Orders were issued to-day, which, divested of official language, may be summarised as follows: “ Rear-Admiral Scott to be Commandant of the naval force afloat. Commander Horne to be Flag-Captain, Major Porter to be Chief of the Staff; Assistant AdjutantGeneral, Captain Hume; Captain Anderson, Assistant - Quarter - Master - General; Provost Marshall, Major Goring; Brigadiers : Colonel Lean, Ist brigade; Colonel Stanley, 2nd brigade; Major Slater to command the cavalry brigade. Majors: Captain Coleman, of the Cavalry; Major Newall, Ist brigade; Major Gordon, 2nd brigade ; Major Hamersley, artillery.” In regard to the naval attack, the operations were supposed'to represent an attempt by a foreign naval power to extort contributions from the sea coast towns in ( New Zealand. Admiral Scott, with a hostile squadron, will approach April 25.

All the Navals in the camp were sent on board the vessels. The Christchurch Engineers were sent to the battery below the railway station. This they proceeded to entrench in the expectation that at that point it was m6st likely the enemy’s boat would attempt a lauding, sheltered as it was by the breakwater. Here the Dunedin Battalion of Rifles were stationed, while to the right of the railway station the South Canterbury Battalion took up its position, and the North Canterbury still further to the riftht. On the extreme right batteries of artillery were placed in a terraced cutting under tho hills; in fact, infantry and artillery were so placed as to command every possible point of, advantage the attacking party could make use of. At the end of one of the wharves of the harbour, and commanding its entrance, was placed a submarine mine, certain death to any light vessel that might be sent to escort a line of boats carrying men to effect a landing. Away in the outer harbour was another such mine, but of greater magnitude, and over it was anchored an old boat of some 30ft or so in length, and ample in proportion. She was jury-rigged to represent a vessel, and from the shore this oblation to Mars looked a thing of some bulk. She was supposed to represent the steamer Reynolds, and lay right in the track that vessel was hound to take in making her attempt to land troops to the left of the harbour, in a position likely to be crossed by the Hinemoa, or any other vessel in an attacking fleet, occupying the position she did. There was another mine, hut it was supposed that the Hinemoa herself, in steaming out of the harbour to take up her hostile position, had cut, with her propeller, the connecting wires, and so rendered the explosion of these mines impossible. Of course, in the event of an actual attack, no friendly vessel would think of steaming out of the harbour into the very teeth of the enemy, so that accidents of this kind could not possibly occur were a foe opposite the .entrance. Captain Fairchild was in command of the Hniomoa under the Admiral, and Major Ropata, the well-known Maori chief, was on board with many other visitors. The Hinemoa having hoisted the Admiral’s flag, while the fleet was away to the southward of the harbour, the vessels took the signal and filed into their positions astern of her, the Beautiful Star following the flagship, the Plucky next, tho Ohau just astern of her, and the Reynolds in the rear. It may he asked how did the vessels get thus near without their proximity being known to such forces for land defence as may have been in Oamaru, but this is answered in the idea of the fight supplied by Colonel Whitmore to the Press. The vessels are supposed to have “ sneaked ” up from the south in the night, sent ashore a force who at once cut the telegraph wires, and left the town outside of telegraphic communication with, as they supposed, the other parts of the Colony. The Dunedin Engineers soon rose above this difficulty, and ran up a line of posts from the camp to the main line. The Admiral, believing he had it all his own way, sent the Reynolds ahead with his ultimatum. The letter was received by Colonel Whitmore and very cavalierly dealt with. The demand for money and supplies was treated with the contempt proper to a man conscious of his own strength, and the Colonel accepted tha challenge to try conclusions. No sconer was this fact known to the Admiral than he at once steamed up to the Harbour, and began a brisk cannonade of the town, covering with his guns the attempt of his boats to effect a landing, hut his first shot was the signal for such a storm of artillery as could scarcely have been expected by any invading force. Prom the battery entrenched by the Engineers on the left, from guns planted along the lower portion of the shore, from batteries of artillery half-way along the brow of the hill on the right, and from one powerful battery on the terrace overlooking the entrance to the harbour on the extreme right, there poured out a perfect hail of shot and shell, and the hills behind Oamaru echoed hack the boom and rattle with a painful distinctness. Still the invading force sailed on and attempted the landing they purposed. As they came near the shore and within range’hf the rifles, the infantry battalions, some sheltered by railway trucks, some by rising ground, but all by cover of some sort, opened fire on the boats, and volley after volley rattled out, which, considering the short range, must have been terribly effective had the affair been other than a blank cartridge one. While this was going on there shot from under the lee of the outer breastwork of the harbour the torpedo boat from Dunedin, under Commander Goldie. It was her duty to spring the submarine mines under the doomed vessels. The first one caused a great commotion near the spot of its explosion, but the second blow-up struck all with amazement. No sconer had tho connecting wires been touched than a vast mass of water was shot high up into the air, perhaps 150 or 200 ft. You could see a few black objects falling again into the sea when the pillar of water fell back to its own element, but all trace of the anchored boat was gone. Still went on the .attempt of the plucky foe to land; still the remnant of the fleet kept cannonading, firing broadside upon the town, but just as sharply was the fire returned from the shore. The small-arms men on board the boats and steamers kept up a rattling fire, and every time the torpedo boat came within range her deck was raked by rifle bullets. Throughout the whole operations, and by the result, there was one thing made very apparent, and that was, that with anything like a decent land force and a few guns, the landing of a naval hostile force of such strength as may be expected to comprise any such expedition would be the next thing to impossible. The idea of Colonel Whitmore was well within the very common probabilities of our situation if at war with a naval Power, and the combating of that “idea” by a land force brought within 12 hours from all parts of Canterbury and Otago, was shown to be a matter of comparative ease. After the war was over the vessels made for the wharves and landed their troops. Tho whole of the men were marched out to camp preceded by their bands, and the scene along the line of march was military in the extreme. At 10.30 on Sunday Canon Stanford and the Rev H. J. Freeland conducted service in the camp at the grand stand, before which the battalions were mustered in a mass of column. The Rev Canon preached an able sermon on the Resurrection of Christ. In the afternoon there was some ambulance drill, the medical staff and orderlies being well to the front. The medical officers at the camp are Drs Hacon, Maclntyre, and De Lautour, with Corporal Gardiner as the chief ambulance orderly; while at the cavalry camp Drs Irvine and Coughtrey are in charge, with Orderly Coomhes and

assistants looking after the Red-cross waggon. [Per Press Association,J OAMARU, April 25. The following hands took part in the band contest on Saturday night:—Christchurch Garrison, Invercargill Garrison, Oamaru Garrison, Timaru Garrison, Addington Workshops, Kaikorai, Stanmore, and Timaru City. Herr Benno Soherek was judge, and the following decision was given : Oamaru Garrison Band, 2 ; Stanmore Brass Band, 8. The prizes are £25, £ls and .£lO. [from our own correspondent.] OAMARU, April 26. To-day the men were aroused shortly before live, and breakfasted as soon as it could be served. At seven they were under arms, and away for a sham fight in the upper country behind the camp ground. The sham fight lasted until after mid-day. .During their absence the weather became 'cold and wet, but by the time dinner was over, there was a return again to sunshine. There has been a good deal of muttering and growling against the management of the camp, which appeared to be rather beyond the mettle of the authorities to handle, and though the men’s behaviour all through has been exemplary for men in camp, there was a palpable laxity of discipline right through. As I write, there are men on guard who will not be relieved until four o’clock, and they have been on duty since nine or ten o’clock yesterday morning. The pidce de resistance of to-day, the last of the encampment, was a review of all the trcops by Sir George Whitmore. A n Easter encampment has been held at Wanganui. We learn from a Press Association message received last night, that some 1300 men have been in camp. A most successful sham fight and review were held yesterday, and a grand military ball fitly concluded the day’s proceedings.