A DESCRIPTION OF THE OPEN ING CEREMONY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9140, 12 June 1891, Page 2

A DESCRIPTION OF THE OPEN ING CEREMONY.

(Fhom Ooe Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Jane 11. Parliament was opened in due form to-day by his Excellency the Earl of Onslow. The weather was fine enough though cold, and there IWas a large attendance of the public on this occasion as on the previous session. The opening took place at half-past 2 instead of 2 o'clock aa formerly, and as many people were not aware of the alteration crowcU assembled more than half an hour before the appointed time, and the galleries of the Legislative Council Chamber, as well as all the available space on the floors, were densely packed; but it cannot be said that the spectacle was a brilliant .one, the chilly weather having suggested the adoption of warm cloaks and other wraps which, while doubtless comfortable, were decidedly sombre in hue. The Legislative Council was but thinlj represented,' only a dozen councillors (exclusive of the Speaker) being present—viz., Messrs Buckley, Hart, Shephard, Martin, Swanson, Dignan Taiaroa, Holmes, Johnston, Barnicoat, Pharszvn' and Sir George Whitmore. In the ladies' gallery Madame Putey was seated with the other lady members of her company, and her now familiar presence attracted a good deal of attention. A suggestion went the round of the galleries that it would have been a capital idea to entrust the National Anthem to her hands (or rather voice), instead of leaving it to be played by the Garrison Band, however, this idea was not acted upon. A few minutes before the appointed time, the Countess of Ooslow entered the chamber, escorted by the Hon. the Speaker, Sir Harry Atkinson, and attended by her daughters — the Ladies Gwendoline and Dorothy Onslow—and Mr Boscawen (acting private secretary). They occupied seats to the left of the throne, and just behind them were Mrs Ballance and Mrs W. P. Reeves—wives of the Premier and the Minister of Jnstica respectively. Precisely at 2.30 the first gun of the viceregal salute was heard, and soon his Excellency accompanied by Captain Guthrie.A.D.C, entered the Chamber, and bowiDg to those present took his seat on the throne, the Speaker of the Council occupying a chair on his right hand. The " faithful Commons " then were summoned, and speedily appeared, headed by the Hon the Speaker (Mr W. J. Steward), preceded by the sergeant-at-arms (Colonel de Qnincey) bearing the mace. Me Friend, the clerk of the House was also in attendance. All the members of the Ministry were present, and about 40 or more other members. The foreign consuls were in attendance on his Excellency. The Attorneygeneral (the Hon. P. A. Buckley) then handed his Excellency a copy of the Speech, which Lord Onslow proceeded to read. It soon became evident that the Speech was going to be one of unusual length; and this proved to be the case—indeed, so far as I can recollect, it is the longest on record, or at any rate delivered for many years past. It was a fairly general and indefinite announcement of policy and record of proceedings, all of which have long been public property. Thera were no fresh disclosures of Ministerial intentions. The Speech was evidently listened to with exceptional interest and attention, but as no demonstrations of approval were permissible, it was difficult to gather from the demeanour of the audience how far it proved favourable of acceptance. I suppose, as n matter of fact, it was just what everybody expected it to be, except as to its length, and so nobody was either agreeably or disagreeably surprised. The Speech eaded his Excellency departed, and the assemblage quietly disappeared, the centre of interest being speedily transferred to the other Chamber, where, after the customary preliminaries, the session's business at once began in earnest

KAWARAU AND FRANKTON BBACH COMPANIES. TO TIIE EDITOB.

Sic,—May I through your columns respectfully suggest to sundry anonymous shareholders that, instead of writing to tho newspapers, they should endeavour in a legitimate way to have dredging operations stopped. Individually I agree with your various correspondents that the loDger we dredge the greater our loss. As a director I cannot proceed to get a compaDy wound up iv the face of shareholders' instructions to continue dredging.—l am, &c,

Henry Rose, An unwilling director of both companies, Dunedin, June 9.

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