CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, 21 February 1901, Page 20

CABLE NEWS.

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. ; ■ OPENING CEREMONY. SPEECH By'tHE KING. LONDON. February 14. . King Edward has opened the session 0-5 Parliament. The Speech from the Throne expressed regret at the war in South Africa being prolonged, thus delaying the 'establishment of the institution of equal rights for all white people in the annexed colonies, The visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Australia was arranged,* the Speech stated, in accordance with the late Queen’s wishes, and would not he. abandoned, but extended to New Zealand and Canada.

The Speech. recognised the patriotism and devotion of Canada and Australasia in connection with the South African war, referred to the Ashanti campaign, and the Indian drought, and asked the Commons to renew the CivilTisc. The proposed legislation announced included changes id the Filial Appeal Court, owing to the expansion of the Empire. '. LONDON- February Id, The„ opening of Parliament was a pageaiit. / There was a great military display. The King and Queen wore their crowns, and the Princesses and Princes were grouped oh either, side of the throne.

The Commons, oii being summoned, came with a rush, but few could be accommodated in the C number.

The Speaker, in his State robes, and Lord Haisbury (the Lord Chancellor) administered the oath of adjuration to the King, who signed the declaration against transubstantiation. Then, donning Ins hat, he, while all were standing, in a clear, firm voioe, read the speech a.s follows :

• ; My_ beloved mother during her glorious reign set an example of what monarch.? should be. My earnest desire is to walk in her footsteps. ‘•The relations of Great Britain with the Powers are friendly. •T greatly regret, the loss of life and treasure due to the {fruitless guerilla warfare maintained by Boer partisans in. South Africa.

“An early submission of the . enemy is much to be desired in their interests, as until submission is made it will be impossible to establish in those colonies institutions fotr securing equal rights t-e all whites and protection arid pjustice to the natives.

‘‘TH© war has involved an inestimable increase in' the Estimates. .. "J-Ue demise of the Crown renders it necessary that renewed provision be made for the Civil List.

“I replace Unreservedly at your disposal the hereditary revenues so placed by my predecessor. ‘•The proclamation of the Commonwealth of Australia was made amidst manifestations of popular enthusiasm and rejoicing. * l My mother assented to the Duke of York opening the first Parliament, and though separation from my son at present cannot be otherwise than deeply painful, I still desire to give effect'to the Queen’s wishes.

“As evincing her interest and my own in all that concerns the welfare of my subjects beyond the seas, I decided that the visit should not be abandoned, hut extended to New Zealand and Canada. “The Indian troops and naval forces largely contributed to release the Legations at Pekin and to the submission of Ohfoa.

“The prolongation rof the war has led me to make a further call on the patriotism and devotion of Canada and Australasia, and I rejoice that the request has met with prompt and loyal responses.” "

The King then referred to the signal success of the Ashanti campaign, and said that the suffering and mortality through drought in India had been greatly alleviated, but was still serious in Bombay province. Proposals, he said, to be submitted to Parliament would include measures for increasing the efficiency of the military, an amendment of the education regulations, voluntary sale by Irish landlords to occupying tenants. amendments and consolidation of the Factory and Workshops Act, the better administration of the lunacy laws, amendment of the Health Act and Acts regarding water supply, the prevention of drunkenness, and an amendment of the law regarding literary copyrightThe King and Queen resumed their seats amid complete silence, and then left. A slight ohill prevented) the presence of the Duke of York and the Princess Victoria at the opening. LONDON, February 15, The ceremony was brilliant and picturesque. Immense crowds gathered in Pall Mall. Lord Stratheona’s Horse guarded the route near Buckingham Palace. Invalided colonials from South Africa were assigned a place on the route. . The King and Queen rode in the great State ooacb, which had been unused for forty years, and was drawn by eight cream horses. The King wore a Field-Marshal’s uniform, the Riband of the Garter and a plumed hat. The Queen was clad in an ermine cloak, with a small diamond

crown, the Riband of the Garter and veil. Immense enthusiasm was shown, and the Royal couple bowed continually. There was a stately procession from the robing room to the House of Lords, the in a magnificent ermine and crimson robe, leading the Queen by the hand.

Every inch of the House of Lords was crowded. There was an immeu-e concourse of black-clad, black-feathered peeresses, including! the Countess of Ranfurly. The centre of the Chamber was a mass of ermine and scarlet.

The Agents - General occupied the Royal gallery. The Queen’s throne was a little lower than the King’s. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Right Hon. Sir H. Campbell-Ban-nerman, leadeir of the Opposition, blamed the remissness of the Government in the manner in which it sent re- -s infcrcements to South Africa.

The political conduct oi the war was not conducive to an early and honourable settlement. He implored the Government to offer more generous terms to the Boers than the one of unconditional surrender. He complained of the Government’s poverty-stricken political programme, and said the Opposition would cheerfully provide an adequate Civil list-

He referred to the happy inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth, and said the Duke and Duchess of York would fulfil a patriotic duty by visiting the colonies.

The Right Hon A. J. Balfour, referring to the Civil List, stated that there, were no debts to make good. The reinforcements sent to South Africa exceeded Lord Kitchener’s demands. He believed Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman would he willing, immediately hostilities had ceased, to confer full representative institutions on the annexed colonies. This the Government considered unsafe. Unconditional surrender meant an abandonment of the idea of independence, but not a surrender of individual’independence. The struggle mu,st end in an absolute and complete eon quest - In the House of Lords, Lord Kimberley, leader of the Opposition, expressed dissatisfaction at the conduct of the war. Lord Salisbury, in reply, said guerilla bands were always difficult to quell when backed by great enthusiasm. There was no hope of an abiding peace unless the British were masters and conquerors. Anything short of a complete triumph would be a danger to the colonial Empire. The Address-in-Reply was agreed to. Thirty Roman Catholic peers have protested to Lord Salisbury against the declaration signed by the King Sgainst transubstantiation. LONDON, February 17. Speaking in the House of Commons. Mr Balfour said it was not intended to introduce a Bill altering the coronation oaths.- -