OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3863, 4 July 1874, Page 4

OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. / Wellington, July 3rd. Parliament was opened at 2 o'clock by His Excellency, who delivered the following speech:— Honourable Legislative Councolloes, and j Gkhtlemek of the House of 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 yoar congratulations, and my advisers will submit to you addresses for the purpose, Since the prorogation of the General As- I sembly I have visited most of the Provinces. I I have taken every opportunity in my power lof acquainting myself with the circumstances of the whole country. . I am glad, in the course of my tours and visits, to have become known to a great number of 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 gratifying signs 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 the number of immigrants into the country to be 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 there on. 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 you. I Owing to delay in obtaining the ratification iof the Parliament of New South Wiles, 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 the country will be a gratifying proof to yon of the wisdom of the provisions which you have made for, at the same time increasing the population, and enlargement of, 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 vt T most gratification. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— Estimates, framed with a due regard to. ; economy, but which necessarily indicate tfrz' largely increased work of administration, will be laid before you. The very considerable increase in the revenue will give you confidence in continuing the great public works of t c Colony, and in expending money upon immigration. Honourable, Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen 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 up -n this institution the 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 ad visers 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 civilisation, settlement, commerce, and forms of Government, present a problem of great interest and importance to this Colony. Measures will be submitted to provide an ad litional election qualification ; to create and conserve State forests as Colonial property ; to provide a means for guarding against difficulties which may arise in consequence of con~ tinued differences of opinion between the two

branches of the Legislature; and to make provision for various requirements of a more or less pressing nature. The urgent d**. mands upon their administrative: attention*, consequent on the rapid progress of the Colony, and the many matters to whiclt that progress makes prompt attention, desirable, lead my advisers ; ',to.'. think - ife expedient not to invite legislation-, upoa questions which do not press for immediate solution. The responsible duties yoitt are about to discharge will, I hope, • under tne blessings of Divine Providence, further add to the welfare of the Colony and the happiness of its people of both.races!,