PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4146, 4 July 1874, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, July 3. The Council met at 2 p.m. Shortly afterwards his Excellency the Governor entered tho Council Chamber and took the chair. A message was forwarded, by the Aide-de-Camp, to the House of Representatives summoning attendance in the Council Chamber, who came with their Speaker. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. His Excellency was then pleased to deliver the following speech ; Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen op the House op Representatives, — I have recourse with pleasure to your advice and assistance. The marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh with Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia seems to me an occasion upon which you will be glad to express to Her Majesty your congratulations, and my advisers will submit to you addresses for the purpose. Since the prorogation of the General Assembly I have visited most of the Provinces, and have taken every opportunity in my power of acquainting myself with the circumstances of the whole country. lam glad, in the course of my tours and visits, to have become known to great numbers of the inhabitants, and I have had the pleasure of viewing the great natural resources of New Zealand, and the considerable progress already made in their development. Everywhere are evidences of comfort and contentment among the Colonists ; while in those districts in which Europeans and Natives are mingled, there are gratifyingsigns of mutual confidence, and even of regard. The Public Works sanctioned by you have been prosecuted with the utmost vigour the resources at the command of the Public Works Department permitted. Tho number of immigrants introduced into the country has largely increased. Papers will be laid before you, from which you will gather all the circumstances in connection with the selection and passages of the immigrants, and the views of the Government thereon. You will also learn with pleasure that, without impairing their own responsibility to Parliament, my advisers have made arrangements with the Provincial Governments to aid in locating and settling the immigrants on their arrival in the Colony. The contract, ably negotiated by Mr. Russell on behalf of the Colony, by which New Zealand, in conjunction with New South Wales, has again established a mail-packet service with the mother country by way of the United States, will be laid before yon.

Owing to delay in obtaining the ratification of the Parliament of New South Wales, no effect has yet been given to the agreement approved by you last year between the Colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand, for establishing telegraphic communication between New Zealand and Australia, and between Queensland and Singapore. The approval of the Parliament of New South Wales, which has recently reached this Government, will, it is hoped, enable measures to be shortly taken to promote a communication so important to this Colony. The general prosperity which prevails throughout tho country will be a gratifying proof to you of the wisdom of the provisions which you have made for at the same time increasing the population and enlarging and putting to profitable uses the resources of the Colony. The continued peaceful relations with the Native race, and the disposition which the Maoris evince to recognise in your policy a desire to promote the interests of both races, are subjects calculated to afford you the utmost gratification. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — Estimates framed with a due regard to economy, but which necessarily indicate the largely increased work of administration, nail be laid before you. The very considerable increase in the Revenue will give you confidence in continuing the great public works of the Colony, and in expending money upon Immigration. Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gent.lemen of the House of Representatives, —

I am pleased to assure you of the continued success of the Government system of Life Assurance and Annuities. The time has come when it is desirable you should stamp upon this institution tho unselfish nature of the motives which called it into existence, by deciding to relinquish to those who, by using it, have responded to your desire to cultivate provident habits, the profits which may arise from it. My advisers will submit to you a measure which will contain provision for periodically allotting to the policy-holders such profits as may be considered safely divisible. Papers ■will be presented to you which will enable you to judge that my advisers consider that the Polynesian Islands, their civilization, settlement, commerce, and forms of government, present problems of great interest and importance to this Colony. Measures will be submitted to provide an additional electoral qualification ; to create and conserve State Forests as a colonial property ; to provide a means for guarding against difficulties which may arise in consequence of continued differences of opinion between the two branches of tho Legislature ; and to make

provision for various requirements of a more or less pressing nature. _ Tie urgent demands upon their administrative attention consequent on the rapid progress of the Colony, and the many matters to which that progress makes prompt attention desirable, lead my advisers to think it expedient npt to invite legislation upon questions which do not press for immediate solution.

The responsible duties you are about to dis'oharge will, I hope, under the blessing of Divine Providence, further add to the welfare of the Colony, and the happiness of its people of both races.

The Council then adjourned for ten minutes, after which the Speaker, the Hon. Major Richardson, took the chair and read prayers, the following Councillors being present in their seats ; —Hon. Capt. W. D. H. Baillie, Hon. Col. De Renzie Brett, Hon. N. Edwards, Hon. Capt. T. Eraser, Hon. R. Hart, Hon. John Johnston, Hon. Col. W. H. Kenny, Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, Hon. Wi Tako Ngatata, Hon, 0. Pharazyn, Hon. Dr. Pollen, Hon. Major Richmond, C. 8., Hon. G, M. Waterhouse. The Hon. the Speaker stated that his Excellency had been pleased to deliver to him a copy of his speech. MESSAGE NO. 1 FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. The Hon. Dr. Pollen brought up a message from his Excellency notifying that seats formerly occupied by the following members of the Council were rendered vacant—Hon. Henry Sewell (resigned), Hon. T. H. Partly (absent two sessions), Hon. A. Buchanan (resigned), Hon. Alfred Domett (absent two sessions). PAPERS. The Hon. Dr. Pollen laid on the table the following papers ; —lmmigration to Hew Zealand, letters to and from the Agent-General— Provincial administration of Immigration— Reports upon Immigrant ships which have arrived in the Colony sent to the AgentGeneral—lmportation of Stock Prohibition— General Report on the Lunatic Asylums of the Colony by Dr. Raley—Reports from offices in Native Districts—Boiler accident at the Kurunui Battery, Thames; Report of the Royal Commission of Enquiry Salmon ova—Chancellor’s Annual Report on the New Zealand University—The Vienna Exhibition—Post-Office Savings’ Banks—Payment of Balances of the Wairarapa five per cents.—Public Accounts of the Government of New Zealand for the financial year 1872-73 Despatches from the Governor of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for the Colonies — From the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of New Zealand. CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. The Hon. Dr. Pollen gave notice that he would move on the next sitting day that the Hon. Major Richmond, C. 8., he appointed Chairman of Committees of the Council. ADDRESS IN REPLY. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved, without notice, that a Select Committee be appointed to prepare the address in reply to His Excellency’s speech, to consist of the Hon. Major Richmond, the Hon. R. Hart, the Hon. Capt. Baillie, the Hon. R. Campbell, the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, and the mover. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. On the motion of the Hon. Major Richardson, C. 8., the following Committees were proposed, to report from time to time : Standing Orders. —The Hon. the Speakpr, Hon. Dr. Pollen, Hon. Col. Kenny, Hon. Capt. Baillie, Hon. G. Waterhouse, Hon. Capt. Fraser, and the mover. Printing. —Hon. the Speaker, Hon. Dr. Pollen, Hon. John Johnston, Hon. Ernest Gray, Hon. W. Mantell, Hon. Randall Johnston, and the mover. Reporting Debates. —Hon. the Speaker, Hon. W. Mantell, Hon. Dr. Renwick, Hon. Col. Brett, Hon, J. Acland, Hon. R. Hart, and the mover.

On the motion of the Hon. Capt. Baillib, House Committee. —Hon. Dr. Reuwick, Hon. Col. Brett, Hon. W. Mantell, Hon. 'Randall Johnston, Hon. G. Waterhouse, Hon. Capt. Fraser, and the mover. Petitions.— Hon. Col. Brett, Hon. N. Edwards, • Hon. W. Mantell, Hon. Capt. Fraser, Hon. E. McLean, Hon. J. Paterson, and the mover. On the motion of Hon. G. Waterhouse, Library Committee. —Hon. the Speaker, Hon. C, J. Pharazyn, Hon. W. Mantell, Hon. Dr. Pollen, Hon, Major Kichmond, C. 8., Hon. Capt. Baillie, and the mover. On the motion of the Hon. Hr. Pollen, TFdslc Lands. —Hon. G. Waterhouse, Hon. 11. Stokes, Hon. Dr. Menzies, Hon. Captain Baillie, Hon. Captain Fraser, Hon. 11. Campbell, Hon. H. Scotland, Hon. Major Kichmond, C.B , and the mover. QUESTION. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE gave notice of his intention to ask the Colonial Secretary whether it be true that the Government have agreed, or are about to agree, to lease large tracts of Native land, and if so, on what authority such leases are or are about to be made 2 LEAVE TO INTRODUCE BILLS. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE moved for leave to introduce a Bill for amending the law relating to the Descent of Real Estate ; and also for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law relating to Marriage. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved for leave to introduce a Bill for the Inspection and Regulation of Certain ICinds of Machinery in the Colony ; a Bill for amending the Justices of the Peace Act, 1860 ; a Bill for amending the Offences against the Person Act, 1867, and repealing the Act of 1868, with a view to making other provisions in lieu thereof. NOTICE ON MOTION. The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse gave notice of his intention to move on Thursday next, the 9th day of July, That in the opinion of this Council the mode of selling and disposing of lands under the New Zealand Settlements Act should be regulated by Act of the General Assembly, and not as at present by regulations made at the will of the Government of the day, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded by address to His Excellency the Governor. HAND-BOOK OP NEW ZEALAND. The Hon. Dr. Pollen laid on the table copies of a pamphlet entitled a “Hand-book of New Zealand, being a collection of papers by experienced colonists on the Colony as a whole, and on the several Provinces, edited by the Hon. Julius Vogel, C.M.G. The Council then adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next, the Bth July.