PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4270, 21 July 1875, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

OPEXING OF THE GEXERAL ASSEMBLY. ♦ THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. [PRESS AOENCY.] Wellington-, Tuesday. Tue Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament of New Zealand was opened to-day by His Excellency the Marquis of Normanby, who came down to the House of Assembly at two p.m., and formally opened the two Houses. A guard of honor was supplied by the local Volunteers and Armed Constabulary. The following is His Excellency's speech: "Honorable Legislative Counx-illors, Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —I have great pleasure in now for the first time meeting the Parliament of New Zealand, and I trust your deliberations during the present session may tend to advance the well being and good government of the colony. Since my assumption of the Government I have had the satisfaction of visiting four great centres of population, and becoming personally acquainted with some portion of the Middle Island, and I must congratulate you upon the great energy which has been evinced, and the rapid strides which have been made towards the development of the resources of this most fertile country. Tbo reception which I everywhere received as Her Majesty's representative has been most cordial and loyal, and it will, I can assure you, be my anxious desire to extend my visits with as little delay as possible to all the portions of tho colony, in order that I may become personally acquainted with the resources, requirements, and, as far as possible, with the inhabitants of the various districts. 1 observed with the utmost satisfaction tho progress which is being made in tho construction of those great public works which havo been undertaken by the Government under your authority, and 1 trust the time is not far distant when the industry of the_ country will receive a fresh impetus by their completion. The debt incurred on the formation of railways has indeed been largo, but at the same time the returns received from thoso sections already opened are most encouraging, and tend greatly to prove the wisdom of the policy adopted by you. Our relations with that section of the native people of the colony which has been so long estranged from us, continues to improve. The recent meeting of Tawhiao with the Native Minister—a meeting sought for and arranged by Tawhiao himself—gives promiso that the isolation in which the immediate adherents of the Maori King have hitherto held themselves is about to terminate. The renewed desire of natives to provide an English education for their children, as shewn by tho large increase in the number of schools in districts, and the general resumption of industrial pursuits gives assurance of the maintenance of peace, and of a desire on their part to participate with European colonists in the general prosperity. A communication by telegraph has been received, intimating that a new contract for mail steam servico to and from San Francisco has been made by Sir Daniel Cooper, as representative of the Government of New South Wales, and

Mr. Thomas Russell, as representative of the Government of New Zealand, subject to ratification by the Legislatures of the respective colonies. The contract and papers were laid before you when received. You will bo gratified to learn that the contract has been made by Sir Julius Vogcl, acting on behalf of the Government for the laying of the telegraph cable within New South Wales and New Zealand upon terms much more advantageous than wero believed to be attainable when tho undertaking was first authorised, and that the Government of New South Wales has become party to the contract, and has agreed to contribute one-third (JC2500) of the annual subsidy of £7500. " Gentlemen ok the House of Represestatives, —The estimates of expenditure for the current financial year will bo laid before you, providing for all the requirements of the public service. These estimates have been so framed as to secure the utmost economy found to be consistent with the complete efficiency of the several departments. The Immigration and Public Works loan of four millions, authorised by the Act of last session, has been successfully negotiated. Papers relating to this operation will be laid before you without delay. It will aftbrd you satisfaction to be informed that the public revenue continues to increase, and that the actual receipts for the past financial year have been considerably in excess of the official estimate. " Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen ok tup. House of Representatives, —In accordance with the resolutions adopted last session, the necessary measures for the abolition of the Provincial form of Government, and for tho establishment of a more thorough form of local Government in the North Island, have been prepared, and will be immediately laid before you. You will be invited to decide whether, taking the circumstances of the colony into consideration, as well as the present financial position and future prospects of some of the Provincial Governments in the Middle Island, the operation of provincial measures may not at ouce with general advantage be so extended as to include tho whole of the provinces. In view of proposed Constitutional changes, and of the approaching termination of this Parliament, a readjustment of the representation of tho people to meet the altered circumstances of the electoral divisions has become necessary. Hills will accordingly bo submitted for your consideration for amending the law relative to tho qualification of electors, and for a readjustment of representation. A bill to consolidate and amend laws relating to stamp duties, and a bill to amend the law relating to insolvency will also be laid before you, 1 confide to your earnest attention therein and other measures to be brought before you, and hope that Divine wisdom will guide your efforts faithfully to discharge your onerous duties."