OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 144, 20 June 1895, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Wellington, This Day. Tbe-secohd session of the twelfth parliament of New Zealand was this day opened by the Governor, when His Excellency was pleased to make the following speech: — Hon Gentlemen op the Legislative Council and Gentlemen, op the House of Bemiesentatives — It gives me great pleasure again to meet you in Parliament assembled. I was able during the recess to visit the Snares, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty and Chatham Islands. In connection with my visit to these interesting but little known Isles, I must express my regret at the almost complete disappearance from them of the fur seals once so numerous there. I invite your attention to this undoubted national loss. I am able very gladly to congratulate yon upon more than one aspect of the present state and future prospects of the colony. The depression which was so universally felt during the spring and summer began to pass away before the end of autumn and has now unquestionably given place to renewed hope. Several of our staple products, notably wheat, have risen in price. The improvement in the market for Kauri gum has been a matter of congratulation, chiefly, of course, tor the Province of Auckland The better demand for timber has affected many districts, aud with the recent partial recovery in the price of frozen meat may be coupled with the success of the important experiment lately made in shipping live stock and chilled beef to London. Tho revival of quartz mining so noteworthy for months past in the Auckland goldfields appears hkely to have a counterpart on the West coast of the South Island. There is solid reason for an iuipitting that mining will for some time to come uoth employ more labQur and yield more gold than for yea-s past. Useless as the cyanide process of extracting gold has been it is not to be gainsaid that the royalty exacted under the patent rights of the Cassells Company has been a heavy burden on the back of mining enterprise. Therefore as the English Courts have upset the patent, my Ministers have taken steps to have it set aside in this colony. The state of the publio finances of New Zealand continues to be fair ground fui almost unmixed national satisfaction. Once more I am able to Bay that the provision made during last session for carrying on the publio services has proved more than sufficient. The publio accounts show a surplus of revenue over expenditure, a surplus of a thoroughly sound kind, able to challenge any honest and reasonable criticism, though during the recess persistent efforts have been made to combine the Maori tribes in a. league against further Bales of land, my advisers are'glad to be able to assure me that the attempt has failed. Indeed signatures to deeds iof sale are being affixed in numbers and the work of the acquisition by the State.of native lafi'd is iv no danger of being arrested. From causes wh oh will be made known to you the work of surveying the territory of the Tuhoe tribe was some months ago suddenly interrupted. A display of armed force and negotiations oondueted for the Government by the member of the Executive representing the Native race led to a useful Understanding, but my advisers, deeming It best to guard against any further disturbances or obstruction jn that part of the colony, have decided to insure by pushing roads through the leneth and breadth of the Uriwera country, that in future it shall he at peace aud open to all, The inability of the Midland Railway Company to complete its contract has long teen notbiious*. Three years ago the Company- knew, its New Zeaaud representatives frankly admitted, this inability. ''.Though valuable concessions were mofq thau once granted the Company) jiad twice subsequently to ask Pariianjent to modify tbe contract in order to prevent a collapse of the undertaking,' and tbe second application was !, decisively reiuted. Though the time for tbe contract's completion expired in January last only about one-fifth of the money required for the line's 'construction have yet been laid out, and for months past little or no work has been done. The arbitration demanded by the Company was postponed by the arbitrators until next year. ' The inexcusable delay by tbe Company in completing its work and the .consequent blocking up of five millions of acres of Crown iLauds impelled my advisers to take possession of both completed and uncompleted portions of (the line. This step waß taken in accordance with law and under the best advice to be obtained. The opened portion of the Midland Railway is now being worked by the Government and authority will be askea to extend it. The cost of such extension the Company will be requested to refund. The visit of the Colonial Treasurer to London has been followed by much direct advantage to the colony. At the Postal ponierence at Hobart new cable rates were fixed under which New Zealand will save £3000 a year. In London the Colonial Treasurer obtained for the colony amended' terms with the Bank of England, whereby the colony will benefit to tbe extent of £3000 per annum. Above all New Zealand has led the way in successfully floating a 3 per cent loan in the English money market, thereby strengthening her public credit, and ensuring the success of the scheme for giving financial aid under the Advances to Settlers Act. Many |of our settlers have alleg. d that their Applications for loans have not received consideration which merits deserve. Tip responsibility, however, of adminisr tering the law rests with the Board, and the circumstances complained of are beyond the control of my ministers, This matter will, I trust, receive your careful consideration. With the view of opening a fresh market our produce my Ministers have provisionally arranged^reciprocal treaties with Cauada and South Australia. These experiments will be'submitted to you and you will be asked to ratify them. There will also be laid betoie you "the report of tbe delegate who iaso year repre.-ented this colony at the Ottawa Conference, a meeting memurable for tbe action of the Imperial Government iv despatching to the gathering ihe Karl ol Jersey on behalf of the Moiher Country. The report above mentioned deals with proposals as to the establishment of a mail service by way of -Vancouver and the laying of an ocean cable across the Pacifio to connect New Zealand with British North America. (lo be Continued.)