NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 105, 6 July 1866, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Tuesday, July 3, 1866. His Excellency Sir George Grey, delivered the following speech to Parliament, which had been opened by proclamation on Saturday: — Honorable Legislative Councillors, Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I have taken the earliest opportunity of resorting to your advice and^assistanceafter the dissolution of the late Parliament. The increase in the number of the Members of the House of Representatives, which has taken place under the Act which came into, operation on the oc- ' casionofthe recent General Election, will, I trust, give additional Aveight to the. deliberations of the Legislature, and afford' more ample means than has hitherto existed for thedue representation in Parliament bfa'll interests-ih the colony . - It is -with great satisfaction ' that I' am enabled to inform you of the all but complete cessation of disturbances in those portions of the Northern Island ' which had previously' been disaffected. By the expedition of General Chute on the West Coast important results have been attained. Our prestige has been restored, and the Maories have been convinced that the British soldier, when properly led, can follow them to their fastnesses, and is nowhere to be successfully resisted. • Recent occurrences have, however, proved that this campaign,— so ably conceived, and so gallantly, and vigorously conductea,~has not sufficed, ; 6wing toits abrupt termination, to secure the tranquility of that district;' nevertheless, a valuable-service has been rendered by the Major-Genefal to the colony -and to the empire. The unbroken success wEicli has attended the operations'on the East Coast, of Her Majesty's colonial forces; largely aided by Toy al Natives, lias' resulted in ' the surrender or capture '6f most; of the hostile Natives.. „.,., . , . ■"" • • • - My Government has eagerly' watched for, and gladly 'accepted' every indication on the part of any , of these Natives of a desire to live peaceably with' their fellow-subjects^ and with the view of removing any cause of irritation,- the 'larger' portion of those who had been taken 'in arms have been restored to '

liberty^ while at the same time,- the more .prominent ringleadeVs have been' temporarily removed" to the ; Ctiatham Islands, and those who had been guilty of wanton and'unprovpked committed in cold blood, have been dealt with by the ordinary civil tribunals. , ,'■-. i, - -, • - » - By-perseverance in a policy of kindness and consi-. deration towards the well-disposed, and of firmness towards the turbulent, her -Majesty's subjects will be assured.of the advantages to be derived from ; habits.of.orderj and,a respect for law, while they will: also, recognise that acts of violence cannot be practised with impunity: „-..■;. While congratulating you on the improved condition of a large portion of the country, which had. been the cause of much ansiety and embarrassment, itmust not be overlooked that there' yet remain districts ; with respect to which it will be necessary that you should provide, for "a time, a sufficient force to, repress outrage, and maintain her Majesty's authority. As her Majesty's regular forces have left, or are leaving the colony as fast as the means of transport . can be procured, it is imperative that no delay should take place in making this provision. ' The commencement of the mail service by way of . Panama, cannot but be.a subject of gratification and i legitimate pride to the p.eople of New Zealand, who jin common with the inhabitants. of the neighboring Colony of New South Wales, have long recognised the advantages which would result from this addition , to their means of postal communication. The extension of telegraphic communication within the colony, by means, of the electric cable" shortly to be laid across the Cook Strait, will also conduce to the progress of the country and the developement of its resources. Measures will be taken as early as possible for continuing this means of communication throughout the Northern Island., .... The continued increase in the produce of the goldfields has caused a corresponding increase in the population and revenue of the colony, has largely added to its commerce and has tended to maintain that progressive advance for which New Zealand has been remarkable. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, You will find that a rigid economy has been exercised in the expenditure of the supplies voted for the public service last Session. A careful regard for economy will also regulate the preparation of the estimates to be submitted to you for the ensuing financial year. The public accounts of the colony will be laid before you. The recent disposal of a large portion of the loan authorised to be raised for the service of the colony, is evidence of an increasing confidence in the value of the colonial securities, which had been temporarily depressed by the operation' of a variety of causes, amongst which may especially be instanced the manner in which some of the Provincial Loans have been dealt with. You will be invited to consider how this injury to the credit alike of the colony and. of the provinces, may be obviated for the future. Proposals for a revision of the tariff, which has long been demanded, will be submitted for consideration, as also* the question of providing an additional source of revenue by means of stamp duties. In connection with this subject, and as a means of improving the financial condition of the Country, the propriety of enabling the several existing debts of New Zealand to be consolidated on certain conditions, should also be considered. To maintain and improve the credit of the country will be at all times an object of solicitude to my Governmeut, in promoting which I look with confidence to your zealous co-operat:'on. Honorable Gentlemen and Gentlemen, In accordance with an intimation made last Session 1 have appointed a Commission to inquire into the position of the Civil Service, with a view to establishing a definite system, which would promote the efficiency of the service, and conduce to economy in the public expenditure. The report of this Commission will shortly be laid before you. Measures for improving the administration of justice, and on other subjects of importance, will be submitted for your approval. In these and all other matters which may claim your attention, I pray that Divine Providence may sjuide your labors, so that they , may conduce to the happiness and prosperity of the people of New Zealand.