THE Mariborough Express Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JUNE 11,1881.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 135, 11 June 1881, Page 2

THE Mariborough Express Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JUNE 11,1881.

The speech of her Majesty's representative on the opening of Colonial Legislatures is generally a very uninteresting piece of composition, so far at least as it is of a purely retrospective character, nor m fact can it well be otherwise. It rarely, if ever, exceeds a bald review of past events, with a little speculation couched m sanguine yet cautious terms as to their future effects. If there is anything at all m the speech to be found of interest, we have to turn to ttose portions of it wnich are particularly devoted to outlining the policy proposed to be followed by his Excellency's advisers. Though we cannot consider Sir Arthur Gordon's! "speech on Thursday hist has taught us anything more than we anticipated, yet a certain interest is always attached to noting the extent to which our expectations have beer, realised or exceeded. First and foremost is the matter of the Intercolonial Conference, at; which, it will be remembered, Mi' Pick attended on behalf of the Hall pajbyiet/ ( At this gathering it is well known. thatthe increasing immigration of Chinese to the Australasian colonies, tbgetjier'with the evils that invariably their advent, was the subject of long and earnest discussion. It was ultimately decided that each delegate; should' endeavor to secure the co-operation of the colony he represented m the placing of such restrictions on the influx of Celestials as would,amount almost to absolute prohibition. The presentation, therefore, of a Bill having for its object the restriction and regulation of the influx of this undesirable class of colonists is made m conformity with the undertaking entered into at the conference, and will, we sincerely trust, meet with a hearty endorsement from the representatives of the constituencies, who, with the example of San Francisco and other of the pest-ridden spofcß, must clearly affirm that prevention is better than cure. From a subsequent statement m the Governor's speech it is rery evident that the newspaper df»jfuwions started several weeks ago by

one or two of the prominent official orgrns concerning the advisability of assisting companies prepared to construct, fines of railway by grants of .land, originated from Ministers with the view of gauging public opinion. The result of this process has evidently been favorable to the scheme, for a measure having for its object the authorisation of grants-in-aid is promised. Amongst the other Rills that it is said will be laid before the House are— a Redistribution of Seats Bill, having as its basis the recent census, and; consequently differing m many important respects from the measure of last session bearing the same name ; a Regulation of Elections Bill, with, it is hoped, provision for extended hours of polling, and the holding of all elections on the same day; a Charitable Aid and Hospitals Bill ; a Bill setting forth amendments m the present Licensing Act, very probably dealing with the private club scandal carried on to such an outrageous extent m Wellington, besides other modifications and additions to the existing law ; an amendment of the Act under which native reserves are administered; a system of rating Crown lands, and providing for the assistance of local public works. Taken all round, the programme is an inviting one, but contains very few items indeed which can claim to have emanated, m the first instance, from members sitting on the Government benches. Unfortunately, ho ivever, for the good intentions of the Hall Ministry, the session promises to be one ot the stormiest that have ever marked our Legislature. Already the challenge thrown down by Mr Hall the other day at Leeston, for an inquiry into the Patetere swindle, has been taken up by Sir George Grey, and other signs of brewing trouble are not wanting. If the Government can steer between the Charybdis and Scylla of friend and foe, and avoid the premature dissolution which seems lowering m the political sky, they will have given proof of greater tact than we are inclined to credit them with at present.