THE OPENING OF THE NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 324, 25 November 1864, Page 5

THE OPENING OF THE NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

His Excellency Sir George Orev yesterday opened our parliament in person, lie was attended by a small suite. The guard of honor consisted of members of the 14th ivegt.. underthe command of Major Strange. A salute was fired from Fort Britomart as his Excellency was proceeding to the House, where he arrived at two o'clock. I raving in times gone Informed a unit in the assembled thousands who lined the route from Buckingham Palace through the Park and Mall onto iler Majesty's Palace of AVestminister. when Queen A'ictoria proceeded to open the British .Houses of Parliament, we were very greatly struck by the significant contrast between the hearty reception of Queen Victoria, by her loyal affectionate and devoted subjects, and the silent manner in which Sir i:, orge Grey was received by the few people who attended to witness the procession of His b.xeellem-y. We have a vivid recollection of the cheering from thousands upon thousands of the masses as the Monarch, whose own loyaltv to the constitution, and devotion to the interests of ller people proceeded to open the British parliament. For 1 fer A'ieeroy and representive here, we tailed to catch the sound of a single cheer as b.i-passed down to the House. A very significant silence was observed, and the usual ceremony of uncovering the head even was not performed in respect to His Excellency. This ominous course of conduct reminds one of the attitude observed by foreigners towards despots, who trample their liberties under foot and show that thev have no sympathy with their people Sir George Grey is too keen a judge of outward signs not to have noticed and felt his reception yesterday. He seemed anxious to draw fort 11 an expression of respect from the people, but he failed to do so. and before he got. near the doors of the House, gave the military who formed the guard of honor his exclusive attention. Peflecting on the whole scene, we couhl not but come to the conclusion that it was infinitely preferable to follow the wise and good example of Queen A'ictoria in governing the nation entirely through 1 Ter responsible ministers, rather than the crooked, dissimulating. and treacherous p.nicy of the Second Stuart whose crooked ways led him to the scaffold before the windows of AVhitehall. The latter hail suftered a severe punishment for his unloyal conduct, and endeavoured to rule without a Parliament, the former Sovereign has ever shown an anxiety to yield even her own private opinions to the deliberately formed judgment of the ministers who had the confidence of Parliament, were they Whig or Ton*. Befleetion ought to convince the Governor thai even at the last moment it will be best for him to follow the example of his Sovereign, and govern the people of this Colony through the peti] le. that is through their representaves in Parliament, rather than persist in the crooked course lie has been pursuing. He may depend neon it that neither England nor posterity, to wliicli he professes to look so anxiously for approval. will give their verdict in bis favor unless Ik- changes most materially his policy and course of conduct.