OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7996, 29 January 1887, Page 2

OPENING OF THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

By Electric) Telegraph.—Copyright. THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. (special to united press association.) London, January 27. A forecast of the Queen’s speech promises county government fur England and Scot, land, Bills for the better allotment of tithes and the simplification of land transfer, also Bills to deal with trademarks and railway rates. (reuter’s telegrams.) London, January 27. Parliament was opened to-day by Commission. The Speech from she Throne, read by the Lord Chancellor, said that the relations between Great Britain and other Powers were of a friendly character. Referring to Bulgaria, it stated that a peaceful settlement of the difficulty is expected, and that whilst deploring ;the events which had compelled Prince Alexander to retire from the throne, it is not judged expedient to interfere in the election of a successor until the question has arrived at a stage when the assent of England is required under the Berlin Treaty. Ailnsion is made to the gratifying condition of affairs in Egypt. The task in connection with that country ia still unfinished, but a substantial advance has been made therein, and there la every assurance of external and internal quietude being maintained, and an early settlement effected. Reference is made to tbe greatly improved state of affairs in Barmah. As regards Ireland, it is remarked that the condition of affairs there demands serious attention. The relations between owners and occupiers of tbe laud had oaused serious disturbances m some districts owing to the organised attempts which had been made to excite tenants aud causa men to combine. Efforts to cope with the evil had been seriously impeded by the forms of existing statutes. The introduction of the following measures ia announced: —Bills to improve the law of local government in England and Scotland, and afterward a similar measure for Ireland, as well as one to amend the criminal law in that country ; also Bills to facilitate the holding of small allotments and the transfer of laud, to authorise the sale of glebe land, aud alter the mode of levying tithes.

LEADING SPEECHES. . (REUTER’S TELEGRAMS.) (Received January 29, 1.5 a.m.) London, January 23. In the House of Lords last night the Address-in-Reply to the Queen’s speech was voted. Lord Salisbury stated that the resignation of Lord Randolph Churchill was a loss to the Government, and was due to his patriotic desire for economy in the public expenses. The step taken by Lord Randolph appeared to his colleagues as somewhat hasty, but it was hoped that the difference would not be a lasting one. Lord Salisbury expressed pleasure in welcoming Ur Gosohen into the ranks of the Ministry, Referring to the foreign policy of the Government; ho denied that England had i sought to restore Prince Alexander to the throne of Bulgaria. Her Majesty’s Government were not opposed to the extension of Russian influence in Bulgaria, provided that this did not become dominative, which would be fatal to the interests of Europe, The vast and increasing armamentsof the Continental Powers were a source of dangerto the peaceof Europe. This danger, however, had not been lately increased, and bath Lard Lyons, British Ambassador in Paris, and Sir Edward Malet, Ambassador at Berlin, had declared that the feeling in both cities was of a pacific charaoter.

In the House of Commons the Address-in-Reply was moved by Lord Waymonth. In the course of his speech Mr Gladstone endorsed the statement made by Lord Randolph Churchill that the estimates were excessive for a genuinely peaceful policy. He attributed the plan of campaign adapted by the Irish Land League to the absence of any provision made by the Government for the distress which at present prevailed In Ireland. Mr. W. H. Smith, replying to Mr Gladstone, stated that Her Majesty’s Government were not desirous of interfering in any foreign oomplioations, bat would not in conformity with existing treaties. He invited Mr Gladstone, as head of the Nationalist party, to co-operate with the Government; in endeavoring to restore order in Ireland, with a view to the reform of tbe local government in that country. The House of Commons was shortly afterward adjourned.