HOUSE OF LORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 296, 24 October 1864, Page 5

HOUSE OF LORDS.

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. This day ! -luly 2!)] the session of 186 t was brought to a close, and Parliament was prorouged by royal commission until the 13th October. The attendance of peers was very limited. ISy far the larger portion of the persons present consisted of sped at ors ; ladies especially were present in some numbers, both in the strangers' gallery, fKe side galleries, and at either side of the bar. Among the peers in the boilv of the House were Lord Kedcsdalc, Lord Aveland, Lord Sent on. Lord Monson, Lord Churston, and Lord Lvveden.

At a quarter past 3 o'clock tho commissioners appointed by Her Majesty to prorogue (ho Parliament. entered in their robes of otliee, and took their scats upon the woolsack. The royal commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, Karl de Grey and liipon, tho jEarl of -St. Germans, Viscount. Sydney, and Lord Wenslcydale. Jhe Commons were immediately summoned, and the Speaker, accompanied by a few members, having appeared at the bar, the royal assent was given by commission to 101 bills. The Lord Ch.vxckm..Or then read her Majesty's Message as follows : — "My Loitlis AND CrF.NTt.r.MI'.N, "We are commanded bv her Majesty to release you from further attendance in Parliament, at (lie same time to convey to you her Majesty's acknowledgements for the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the discharge of your duties during the session of Parliament now brought to a close. " llcr Majesty commands us to inform you that she greatly regrets that the endeavours which she made in concert with the Emperor of the French, the Emperor of Ivussia, and the King of Sweden to brills about a reconciliation between the German Powers and the King of Denmark were not successful, and that the hostilities which had been suspended during the negotiation were again resumed. Her Majestv trusts, however, that the negotiations which had been opened between the belligerents may restore peace to the north of Europe. " Her Majesty having addressed herself to the Powers who were contracting parties to the treaty by which the lonian Republic was placed under the protectorate of Great -Britain, and having obtained their consent to the annexation of that Kupublic to the kingdom of Greece, and the ijtatos of the lonian Kepublic having agreed thereto, the Republic of the Seven Islands has been formally united to the kingdom of Greece ; and her Majesty trusts that the union so made will conduce to the welfare and prosperity of alt tliu subjects of his Majesty the King of the Hellenes.

" Her Maiesty's relations with tho Emperor of China continue to be friendly and the commerce of her subjects with Chinese empire is increasing. " llcr Majesty has been engaged, in concert with the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Kussiti, in an endeavour to bring the ell'ect. an amicable arrangement of differences which had arisen between the Hospodar of Moldo-Wallachia and his suzerain the Sultan. Her Majesty has the satisfaction to inform you that this endeavour has been successful. " ller Majestv deeply laments that the civil war in Xorth America has not, been brought to a close. Her Majesty will continue to observe a strict neutrality between the belligerents, and would rejoice at a friendly reconciliation between thecontcnding parties. " Gknti.kmkn or tiik Hoi'sh, or Commons, — " Her Majesty commands us to convey fo you her warm acknowledgments for the liberal supplies which vou have granted for the service of the present year, and towards the permanent defence of her Majesty's dockyards and arsenals. My Loans ami Cknti.kmkn, — " Her -Majesty has observed with satisfaction that the distress which the civil war in North America has created in some of the manufacturing districts has to a great extent abated, and her Majesty trusts that increased supplies of the raw material of industry may be extracted from countries by which it has hitherto been scantily furni-hed. " The revolt of certain tribes in Now Zealand has net yet been ipiellccl, but it is satisfactory to her Majestv to know that a large portion of the native population of these islands have taken no part in this revolt.

" It lins been ;l source of much irnit,ifie:ition lo her iTajesty to observe tlie r;ipid ilovelo[>ment of the resources' of her Frist Indian possessions, and the Keneral contentment of the people inhabiting tliose extensive regions. " Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to many measures of public usefulness, the result of your labors during the session now brought to a close. " The act for extending to women and child employed in various trades tlie regulations applicable to factories in general will tend materially to preserve the health and improve the education oi those on whoso behalf it was framed. " The act for authorising tlie grant of Government annuities will encourage habits of prudeneo among the working classes, and will allbrd them tlie means of securely investing tiie results of their industry. " The act for authorising a further advance for public works in some of the manufacturing districts will contribute to alleviate the distress in these districts, and will afford the means of completing many v.'oi'nH of marked importance for the health of the population. "The act for giving increased facilities for the construction of railways will diminish the expenses attendant upon the extension of those important channels of communication. "It has afforded to her Majesty the most heartfelt satisfaction to observe the general well being and contentment which prevail throughout her dominions and to remark the progressive increase and development of the national resources, and to liud that, after .sufficiently providing for the public service, you have been able to make a material diminution in the taxation of the country.

" On returning to your respective countios you will still have important duties to per/brui essentially connected with the linking together ol the several classes of tho community, and hut' Majesty fervently prays tli.it the Messing of Almighly God.may attend your exertions, and guide them to llic; object of her Majesty's constant solicitude the welfare and happiness of lier people." The Speaker iind members of tho House of Commons then retired, and almost immediately afterwards tlieir lordships separated.