OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 81, 10 June 1881, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

» YESTERDAY. ♦ THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. (By Telegraph). Honorable Legislaitve Cmjnciiaob* and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— It affords me much satisfacton, 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 increased 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 has up to 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 allowed to exist among the natives in 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 tiipe ago wore a threatening aspect. The lands which have been appropriated for European occupation on the Waimate Plains have been for the most part sold, and are now being occupied by settlers. The prisoners, whose detention up to present time has been deemed necessary in the interest of both natives and Europeans, have been released, and have 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 necessary 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 the 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 Australasian 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 regulation and restriction at the influx of Chinese into the Colony. The recognition of a community of interests and mutual interdependence among the Australasian colonies evinced by this conference may hereafter be attended by results of considerable importance. The railways and other public works aui thorised by you have been proceeded with as rapidly as was expedient in the present circumstances of the colony. In view of the necessity for maintaining the progressive work of colonization, 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, held for pastoral purposes, affords an opportunity which has not been overlooked by my Advisers for rendering those lands more generally nseful to the State. Carefully considered plans 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 varied 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 settle* raenfc, and invite a more extended employraent of labor and capital. -- ' . . The revenue received from the wsste lands during the past year has exceeded the estimate, and the increasing demand for land for actual occupation, together with statistical information recently obtained, affords convincing proof that a fresh impulse is being given to the work of settlement, while the expansion of local industries promises to provide profitable employment for a rapidly increasing population. Gentlemen' of the House of Repbssentativkb— L-irge reductions have already be,en made in the coat of the publio service, without impairing its efficiency, and the Estimates of receipts and expenditure for the ourrent year which wiil shortly be kid before you, have been prepared with striot regard to the moat rigid economy. Hie revenue for the past year must on the whole bo considered satisfactory. The excess of receipts over expenditure upon the railways amounts to a return of Z% per cent upon the outlay incurred upon their construction. Hon. Legislative Councillors and Gbn-TI-EMEN OF THE HoUSE OP TIEPaBSEHTATIVE8 — Bills will be submitted 'to you for the Redistribution^ the Representation of the People, and for the tteguktion of Elections, which, in view of the approaching termination of the present Parliament, I recommend to your early and most attentive con* airlf ration. The Commissioners appointedlast year for the purpose of inquiring into the constitution, practice, and procedure of the Supreme Court and other Courts of the colony aad of ascertaining by what means the adminis* tration of justice therein may be rendered more speedy and efficacious and at the srae time less costly, have made an ad interim report, a copy of which will be laid before you. lam glad to be able to inform you that the Commissioners have proceeded so far with the work entrusted to them as to anticipate the close of their labors in the course of the month of July. The measures necessary to give effect to the recommendations may therefore be submitted to you during the present session. A Bill will be laid before you which will have for its object the abolition of restraints on the alienation of land, while guarding the interests whioh may arise out of any trusts

to which it kas been made subject. Bills will also be laid before yon for the Regulation of the Administration of Charitable Aid, for the Consolidation and Amendment of the LicenaJM&aws, for the amendment of the existing law in respect of the administration of native reserves, for rating Crown lands, and for providing for the grant of assistance to local pnblio works. I have recently visited many different districts of the colony. During thes ; jourjf neys I have had repeated opportunity of observing signs of increasing wealth, the spread of settlement, and the energy and Aivity engaged in industrial pursuits throughout the colony. The impression! which I had thus bstn led to form- are strengthened by the result* of the recent census, and by a perusal of reports and retarns 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 diboharge 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. tfe.You may rely with confidence on my hearty ro-operttion in grivinir effect to the deliberate derisio s of; the Legislatt t «, and it is my earnest hope and desire that your labors may be so directed as by Goo* blessing not only to promote th» nmteiial welfare of the colony, but to seenre the stability of its institutions, the development of it* great resources and the permanent hnppi ness of all classes of her Majesty's subjeots Within its boundaries.