THE OPENING OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

Marlborough Press, Volume II, Issue 77, 22 June 1861, Page 3

THE OPENING OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND

[From the New Zealander , June B.] On Monday last, shortly after 2 o’clock, the third session of the General Assembly was opened by commission. The members of the House of Representatives having proceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber, the Speaker read the Commission, with an additional instrument, intimatingthat as a preliminary measure it was necessary for the House to elect their Speaker ; that done, liis Excellency the Governor would come down to the Assembly on the following day, and deliver his Address. The Representatives then withdrew. On their return to their own house, Mr. Justice Johnston was introduced having been appointed by the Governor’s Commission to administer the oath of allegiance. The Clerk of the House having read the several proclamations —called the members severally by name, according to the Elec-, toral District, to come forward and take the oath.

The following members being present were duly sworn by his Honor, and recorded their names immediately afterwards : Messrs. Butler, Carleton, Munro, Henderson, J. O’Neill, Russel, Firth, Williamson, Wood, G. Graham, Mason, o‘Rorke, Hickson, 11. Graham, C. W. Richmond, J. C. Richmond, A. F. Richmond, Taylor, Curtis, Stafford, Domett, Eyes, Dr. Monro, Weld, Cookson, Hall, Crekyc, Wilson, Jollie, White, Fraser, Kettle, Dick, McGlashcn and Bell.

This ceremony having been concluded, after a short interval,

Mr. Dillon Bell rose and said: Captain Campbell, the Constitution Act imposes on this House, as its first duty ou the meeting of a new Parliament, the election of a Speaker. I trust I shall not be considered guilty of presumption if, at the request of several honourable members, I take upon myself the task of inviting the house to the fulfilment of that duty. It seems to me but yesterday that the first adventurous band, who more than 22 years ago associated themselves in the enterprise of planting an English Colony in Now Zealand, and of whom I am the only one now in this House, were engaged in that memorable struggle : and yet to day, we are to exercise, under free institutions, the high privilege of choosing the Speaker of an Assembly representing 80,000 souls in that Colony which they, through good and evil report, laboured so long and earnestly so found. [Applause.] I am Surel express the sentimon of every one here, in regretting our inability to place once more in that chair the first Speaker, whose dignified occupation of it during five eventful sessions will not easily be forgotten by members of the House of Representatives, At the same time, I feel confident that the unanimous voice of the House will approve, as the successor of Sir Charles Clifford, the gentleman whom I shall propose to you for election. One of of the earliest settlers in the Colony; thoroughly conversant with its history and public affairs; hearing an unblemished character among his fellow colonists; endowed with ample fortune, and possessing a large stake in the country; blessed with a naturally amiable disposition, to which are added the gifts of a cultivated mind; distinguished for moderate opinions in the political questions that have occupied this House. Dr. Monro unites qualifieationswhich singularly fit him to fill the Speaker’s chair with dignity and grace, and to command the respect and attachment of those over whom he is called to preside. I have a special pleasure in proposing him, when I remember that for eighteen years we have been united by ties of the sincerest friendship and regard, undisturbed by any serious disagreement in political opinion ; and I feel quite assured that, if you confer on him the honourable office of Speaker, he will uphold the privileges of this House, guard the freedom of speech so precious to us all, and conduct our deliberations alike with urbanity, with fairness, and impartiality. I now move that David Monro, Esq ~

member for Picton, do take the chair as Speaker of this House, Mr. Carleton rose, saying that as father of the House, he having been the first to be elected a representative in New Zealand, he claimed ihe privilege of seconding the motion, at the same time expressing his cordial concurrence in the choice that had been made. Mr. o‘Rorke rose and said he could not refrain from expressing his astonishment that such an important question as the election of the Speaker should be submitted to the House to-day when it was notorious that a very considerab’e number of the members had not yet balan opportunity of arriving./»He trussed that honourable gentlemen would pause and not consent to initiate the proceedings of the house by an act which, to say the least, appeared deficient in that courtesy which should characterize their proceedings. He felt that it would be peculiarly unjust to the hon. gentleman, proposed as Speaker that his election should be carried when so many members were absent. He yielded to no man in that house in his desire to see the chair filled by the hon. gentleman now proposed, but lie could not consent to defraud others of a participation in the privilege of placing him in that position. He would especially address himself to the Auckland members, and would ask them what would have been their feelings if the General Assembly had met at Wellington, as was atone time rumoured, and they on their arrival there had found themselves debarred from taking a part in the election of a Speaker to preside over them ? He trusted Ministers would not lend their sanction now to this proceeding, but would agree to postpone the election, so that j the absent members, though coming from j what had been termed “ the strong-hold of Opposition,”, might take a part in such an important proceeding as the election of the Speaker. Mr. OTiorke then concluded by moving that the debate be adjourned. After a pause, the motion not having been seconded, Dr. Monro, in answer to several calls, said he rose to express his deep sense of the honour proposed to be conferred upon him ! —an honour attended with distinction, but I combined with serious responsibilities, and ; the discharge of important duties. On the ■ conduct of their Speaker must depend in a I great measure the character of their pro- I ceedings, the tone of their debates, the com- i fort of members of the house, and to a great i extent the dispatch ' of the business with which the house would have to contend. He trusted he would not be considered guilty of affectation in disclaiming those qualifications which his hon. friend on his left hand generously ascribed to him. It was not without considerable diffidence that he had consented to accept the very high honour which they proposed to confer upon him, and he should have been as well satisfied if they had elected some more worthy person When he looked back on the mariner in which Sir Charles Clifford discharged the duties of the Speakership, when he reflected on his uniform courtesy, urbanity and dignity of manner, and the assistance which he rendered to young members, together with his knowledge of the forms of the house, and generally on the excellent manner in which lie presided over their proceedings, he [Dr. Monro] felt that his successor had a most- difficult task to perform, more especially as his conduct would be referred to as a standard, which it woald be difficult indeed to match. But having been proposed and seconded, fin'd no other member having been nominated, it was liis duty to submit himself to the wishes of the house, and if it were their wish that lie should take the chair he would do so, and he would endeavour to discharge the duties of the office conferred upon him in the best manner he possibly could [applause]. The Speaker elect was then led to the chair by his proposer and seconder. The hon. gentleman then said, that before sitting down in that chair, he again desired to express his thanks for the honour conferred on him, He would not seek to repay them in the ready coin of promises, which iveie as easy to make as to forget, but he would wish to come to this understanding with them—that so long as they saw him anxious to discharge his duty they would extend to him their generous confidence and support [cheers]. He expected to receive much assistance from the Clerk of the House, to whose accurate knowledge and excellent manner of discharging his duty in past sessions he could himself bear testimony. With their confidence and support lie trusted that, together, they would preserve the high tone of debate and statesmanlike manner of carrying on their proceedings which had throughout characterised their debates in former sessions. He again begged to return them his most sincere thanks [applause], Mr. Stafford desired to offer hissincere congratulations to Dr, Monro, on his having been called by the unanimous vote of the house to the high office of Speaker. The proposer of the hon. gentleman had referred to a knowledge of him for.lß years.; while his [Mr. Stafford’s] knowledge was of still

longer date. It had begun on the other side of the globe more than twenty years since, and had ripened on this side into the most intimate friendship. He had been thus afforded sufficient means of becoming acquainted with the character and qualifications which he notoriously possessed. He believed the house had made an excellent choice in calling him [Dr. Monro] to the chair, and be believed lie was not saying too much when he added that the house would accord him the confidence and support which he had asked at their hands [hear, hear]. Mr. Bell said that in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution Act the election of thC Speaker must receive the confirmation of Her Majesty’s Representative in the Colony. He begged leave to move that the Speaker and as many lion, members as wished to accompany him, do proceed to wait upon His Excellency the (governor, and fequest his confirmation.

Seconded by Mr. Williamson, and ear•l J 1 rieu nem con . Mr. Speaker wished to know whether they would proceed with any other business.. Mr. Stafford observed that the Speaker could' be presented to His Excellency on the following day, and moved that the House adjourn till Tuesday at 2 o’elock. House adjourned. ; y .;,

HOUSE OF RE PRE SE NTA’MVES. TUESDAY JUNE 4th, if 1. The House assembled at 2 o’cloo .i- \ governor’s confirmation 'oe\ speaker. Mr. Speaker announced that;' in accordance with a previous order of the House, lie had waited on His Excellency the Governor, aud laid before him the following Address, which he would now read to the house : ADDRESS. “May it please your Excellency.—The House of Representative have elected me to be Speaker. It is now my duty to solicit from your Excellency your confirmation of the choice of the house; and at the same time, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to their Queen and country, I am humbly to claim on their behalf all their undoubted privileges; especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to your Excellency’s person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from your Excellency the most favourable interpretation.” ms excellency’s reply thereto “Mr. Speaker—l congratulate the House of Representatives on the choice which, in your instance, they have made of a Speaker, and heartily confirm their choice. I freely confide in the duty and attachment of the House of Representatives to her Majesty’s person and Government, and not doubting that their proceedings will be conducted with reason, temper, and prudence, I grant, and on all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional privileges. I also assure you that the House of Representatives shall have ready access to me upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from me the most favourable construction.” [applause].* Mr. Stafford moved that the address and reply just read be entered on the journals of the house—Agreed to. MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR. The usual summons to attend the Governor in the Legislative Council was then delivered by F. G. Steward, Esq., Private Secretary. When the members returned to their Chamber, the Sneaker read to the house a copy of His Excellency’s speech. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, Gentlemen of tiie House of Representatives.

I am happy to moot you so soon after tlm late General Election, and to congratulate you on the increased Representation of the various public interests of the Colony which has been afforded bv the operation of the Act under which that Election was held.

You will unite with me in cordial acknowledgment of the prompt and efficient support I have received from the Imperial Government, which will enable me to carry into effect measures necessary for the maintenance of Her Majesty’s authority in tlicj.se Islands, and for the suppression of armed insurrection. The assistance which has been afforded to the Colony will tend to the ultimate welfare of both races of Her Majesty’s subjects, and willstrenghten the bonds of loyalty which attach the Colony to the throne and person of Her Majesty and to the mothercountry. I gladly take this opportunity of expressing the thanks which are due to the officers and men of Her Majesty’s Army and Navy, and. of her Colonial Forces, for the zeal and intrepidity with which they have at all times performed duties of a very arduous and harrassing nature. Overtures for peace having been made by tbc insurgent Natives, I felt it incumbent upon me to insist on the preliminary condition of their ceasing to act as a confederation. On their retiring to their respective districts, I proceeded to Taranaki and accepted the submission of part of the insurgent section of the Ngatiawa tribe on conditions which will be laid before you. In the policy which [ have pursued with reference to the affairs of Taranaki, my object from the first has been to secure peace by putting an end to the constantly recurring land”feuds which for years have maintained barbarism amongst the aboriginal inhabitants of that district. Having now imposed terms which will, if observed, secure this end, I have thought it right to adhere to the engagement of-the 21)th November, -850, in reference to tho land purchased at Wai-

tara, and I have consequently directed that the investigation he resumed at the point at which it was forcibly interrupted. The terms offered to the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui tribes will be laid before you. Their aggravated offences can only bo pardoned on their giving such tangible proofs of submission as will at once afford a means of reparation of their unprovoked aggressions, and be a memorial to themselves of the punishment due to lawless violence. '< The declaration which I have made to the Waikato tribes will also be laid before you. It requires, submission without reserve to the Queen’s Sovereignty and to the authority of the Lawwhilst from those who have taken up arms I have, insisted upon restitution of plunder, and upon compensation for losses sustained at. their hands by Her Majesty’s subjects, Native or European. The submission of all Her Majesty's Native Subjects to Her Authority, and obedience to the I/aw, are necessary preliminaries, but it no less behoves us to redouble our efforts to afford them the means of substituting order for lawlessnes, and to promote their moral and social advance-. - ment. And I entertain a hope that the approaching Conference of Chiefs, which I shall assemble at the earliest opportunity, may assist us in the attainment of so desirable a result.

Gentlemen of tiie House of Representatives, You will find that a due economy has been exercised in the expenditure of the supplies voted for the Public Service last Session. The same careful regard for economy will regulate the preparation of the estimates to he submitted to you for the ensuing financial year. - The system of Audit which you have already established, has maintained an effectual supervision over the public accounts of the Colony. It is further requisite that the public revenues should be guarded by the enactment,,cf Laws regulating and effectually controlling their expenditure, both- by the General ,and by the respective Provincial Executives. The accounts of the Colony, and papers relating to the payment of the interest And. invest-, ment of the Sinking Fund of the .Guaranteed Loan, will be laid before you. Honorable Gentlemen of the LegislativeCouncil, Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, The Judges of the Supreme Court, after conferring together, have made several valuable Reports containing suggestions for amendingthe Law, and for improving its practice. These. Reports will be laid before you, and measures founded on some of the recommendations contabled in them will be submitted for your consideration. The successive discoveries of Gold in largo quantities in several parts of the Colony, warrant the expectation that it will prominently rank amongst the products of New Zealand, and will stimulate the development of other sources of wealth. In conclusion, I would express my earnest hope that, in the especial circumstances of the colony, your counsels may in all things be guided by wisdom ; and that under the blessing of Divine Providence, they may conduce to the present and lasting welfare of the inhabitants of New Zealand.