OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2157, 27 June 1895, Page 19

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

i Wellington, June 20. The second aes sion of the twelfth Parliament of New Zealand wag opeucd at 2.30 this afternoon by his Excellency the Governor in person. The we&tfcer was bright, bub there was an extremely chilly wind blowing frcm the south. Notwithstanding, there was, if auytbing, a larger attendance of the public tban usual, and the galleries of the Council Chamber were crowded with ladies, though there were fewer on tho floor than is sometimes the c.we. BeVides the consuls in regulation uniform or evening attire, the buliiou-coverecl uniforms of the officers belonging to tho men-of-war in harbovir added co'our to the scene in the chamber. Lady Glasgow, accompanied by two of her daughters *nd Miss Goring and Miss Grace, were prcatnt. His Excellency, who wore a raval uniform, had in his suite Mnjor Elliott, Captain Campbell Preston, Lieutenant Clayton, and the Hon. Guthorne Hardy. There were 20 members of the Upper and 57 of the Lower House pivsent in the Council Chamber when his Excellency was phased to make the following Speech :—: — HONOURABIE GKNTtEMEN OF THE ,£kGISLATIVE Council and Gentlkmrn of the House OF REPiiIiSKNTATIVKS, — It giveß me g>eat pl« a?ure again to meet you in Parliament aist-uiljled. I was able during the recess to visit the Snwres, Au.-.kland, Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty, and Chatham Inlands. In connection with my vit-ifc to thees interesting but little known isba I nra%t express my regret at the almost com pit te dieappcara' cc from them of the fur seals once so numerous there. I invite yo-ir attention to tuis undoubted national loss. I am able very gladly to congratulate you upon more thau one aspect of the pre«ent state and future proepecls of the colony. The depreßsion which waa so universally felt during tbe spiing and Eummer began to pasj awAy before the end of autumu, nnd has now ucqu 'gtlonably given place to renewed hope. Several of our 6taple prcdui U — notably wheat— have risen in prio ; the improvement in tbe market for kauri gum has been a matter for congratulation, chiefly, of course, for the province of Auckland ; the better demand for timber has affected many districts ', v-hile tbe recent partial recovery in the price of frozen mutton m\y be coupled with the success of the important experimeat lately made in shipping live stock and chilled beef to London. The revival of quaitz mining so noteworthy for nxnths past in th*» Auckland goldfie'ds appears likely to have a c unterpart on the West Coast of the South Is'aud. There is solid reason for anticipsting tbat mining will ftr some tiice to come both employ more labour and yield more g,,ld than for years past. Useful as the cyanide process of exti acting god has been, it is not to be gainaaid that the royalty exacted under the patent rights of Cassel's Company has beon a heavy burden on the back of mining enterprise. Therefore, a* ihe E> glish courts have upset the patent, my Minis' era have taken steps to have it. set aside in this colony. The state of the public finances of New Zealand continue* to be fair ground for almost unnvxed national Batistaclion. Once more I am able to fay that the provision made during Ust &ei sion for carrying on the public services has proved more than suilii'ieot. The public be ounts show a eurplus or. revenue over expenditure—* surplus of a thoroughly soutid kind, ablt* to challenge any hjnest and reasonable criticism. s Though during the recefs persistent efforts have been made to combine the Maori tubes in a league against further sales of land, my Advisers are glad to be able to assure you that the attempt has failed. Indeed, signatures to deeds of sale are being affixed in cumbers, and the work of the acquisition by the State of Native land is in no danger of being arrested. From causes which will be made known to you, the work of surveying the territory of the Tuhoe tribe was some months ago suddenly interrupted. A displiy of armed force and negotiations cDiiducted for the Government by the member of the ExecuUve representing the Native race quickly led to a peaceful understanding ; but my Advisers, deeming it befct to guard against any further disturbance or ob.'tmctioo in that) part of the colony, have decided to ensure this by pushing roads through the length and breadth of the Uriwera country, so that in future it fchall be at peace and open to all. The inability of the Midland Railway Company to complete its contract has long been notorious. Three years ago the company's New Zealand representatives frankly admitted this inability, and, though valuable concessions were more than once granted, the company has had twice eubsequently to ask Parliament to modify the contract in order to prevent the colUpae of the undertaking. The second application was decisively refused. Though the time for tbe contract's completion expited in January last, only about one-fifth of the moneys required for the line's construction have yet beeu laid out, and for months past little or no work has been done. The arbitration demanded by the company wrs postponed by the arbitrators until next year. The luexcusnblc delay by the company in comple'ing iU work, and the consequent blocking up of 5,000,000 acres of Crown lands, impelled my Advisers to take posstssion of both the completed and ur completed portions of the line. This step was taken in accordance with tbe law, and under tbe best advice to be obtained. Tho opened portion of the Midland ! railway is now being worked by tbe Government, and authority will be asked to extend it. ! The cost of such extension the company will t be requested to refund. The visit of the Colonial Treasurer to London has bepn followed by much direct advantage to the colony. At the Po6tal Conference at Hobart new cable rates were fiiced, under which New Zealand will save £3000 a year. In London the Treasurer has obtained for the colony amended terms with the Bank of England whereby the colony will benefit to the exteut of £3000 per annum. Above all, New Zealand has led the way in successfully floating a 3 per cent, loan in the English money market, thereby strengthening her public credit and securing the success of the scheme for giving financial aid under the Advances to Settlers Act. Many of our settlers have alleged that their applications for loans have not received tbat consideration which their merits djserve. The responsibility, however, of administering the law rests with the board, and the circumstances complained of are beyond the control of my Miuibters. Tbis matter will, I trust, receive your careful cons-ideration. With the view of opening a fresh market for our products, my Minihteis have provisionally arranged reciprocal treaties with Canada and South Australia. Thesa treaties will be submitted to you, and you will be asked to ratify them. There will »Ls» be laid before you the report

of the delegate who last year represented this colony at the Ottawa. Conference— a meet/ing memorable for tho action of the Imperial Government in despatching to the gatheriug Ihe Earl of Jersey oa behalf of the mother country. The report above-nientioaed deals with proposals as to tbe establishment of a mail service by way of Vancouver and the Inying of an ocean cable across the PaciSc to connect New Zealcnd with British North America. The world-wide problem of providing work for the workle3s has once more been a causa of anxiety. During tho recess one of my Ministers has visited and inspected a number of the village settlements and labour colonies in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. His report has led to the trial of an important exi-emneut in combiuiug settlement with tho employment of labour, l'ur! her, an expei ienced officer has been duppatched to Australia to make au elaborate survey of the village settlements there. Ou hi t return his report will bo laid before you. The settlement tf the w&6te lands of tho Ciown ui.dcr th ? general land laws of the colony has continued to go on Svt'ißfacborily during the past year. Tbe extension of dairy farming iv so many parts of the colony mikes it a sourca of satisfaction that the systematic grading and storage of dairy produce are now bsing carried out by the Department of Agriculfcuro with the best result?. Fa : rly alive to the permanent n o ceßi?ifcy for stimulating the trade both in timber and frozen mutton, my Ministers have endeavoured to aid the export of the former by guaranteeing half of the freight of cargoes, and they propose to call together a conference in Wellington to discuss step? for improving the distribution of our meat iv Great Britain. The messuves recommended in the report on the colouy's defences are being steadily carried on. The advice of Ufct year's Military Conference is being acted on, and before next year the whole of our forces will be armed with the Martini-Henry rifle. The requisite ammunition will henceforth be manufactured within New Zealand. Tho time has, in my opinion, arrived for increasing the numbsr of my Ministers. The growth of population, the advance of settlement, aud the extension of tbe functions of the Stite have so addtd to the duties of my Advisers as to made this charjge needful in tho bust interests of the colony. Gentlemen of the House of Rephesentatives, — The Estimates of revenue and expenditure of the year will be laid before you. The EMfimati s of expenditure have been framed with due regard to economy. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — For the third year in succession you will be asked fca pass a bill extending to local bodies tho right of levying rates upon laud values. By it such bodies will be allowed to apply the principle upon which direct taxation has for years been assessed by the Government. A Fair Rent Bill will be introduced, and also a measure to effect needful amendments in the Land for Settlements Act. You will be Rsked to deal with the electoral law, and to aßsent to a change designed to prevent foo frequent and inconvenient changes of the bouudarie3 of electorates. Public opinion demands that the difficult problems of local government and charitable aid reform should bs faced,* and, if possible, solved without further d<)lay. A measure which, it is hepsd, will reduce the number of our too numerous local councils, while at the same time concentrating their functions and strengthening their financial position, will shortly be laid before you. I trust that you will this session ccc your way to readjust the customs tariff. For the purpose of collecting information of service to Parliament and the Government in dealing with this complicated matter, I appointed a Koyal Commission consisting of well-known gentlemen of public experience, arid an exhaustive report preparedly the commissioners will be submitted to you. Full and fair opportunity will be afforded you for diacu tiring the vexed and interesting question of licensing lvform. Bills have been prepared designed to check excessive ra f es of usury, and to protect and preserve tor the families of working settlers the homes which they have made their own. Measures are ready for your consideration dealing with tho relatious of masters and apprentices, with public tenders and oontracts, and with the restriction of the influx of race aliens and certain persons. You will be invited to pa s s bills dealing with State school teachers and matters concerned with gecoudary educatioo, aud also to amend the law concerning juries. These proposals I commend to your attention. I earnestly assure you of my wish to aid your exertions for the good of the colony, and I pray that your labours may, with God's blessing, tend to promote the welfare and prosperity of the people of New Zealand. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tbe Legislative Council resumed after his Excellency tlia Governor had read his Speech and tho members of the House of Representatives had departed, bub ody fomiM business waa transacted. THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. | A bright fcunshiny day, though there was a j nipping and eager air, suggestive of southern suow6, ushered in the openiDg cortmonies of Parliament. The fine weather attracted the usual sightseers without, and the accustomed crush of femiuiae spectators withiu, who seemed to derive entertainment if not instruction from the display. Without there were artillerymen and guvs, real guns that were fired off, and guards and police, and cavalry and carriages, and prancing steeds and a crowd. Within a goodly array of fair women. His Excellency, in the full uniform of a post captain of Her Majesty's navy, and many other naval officers from the Pylades and Ringarooma, ablaze with gold and imposing in cocked hats and swords, while the barbaric display of some of the military members of the suite, particularly the Highlanders, provoked mingled mirth and admiration. THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS. The faithful Commons, having been summoned, came tumbling in with somtthing less than the usual disorder, aud then his Excellency proceeded to raad a Speech from the Throne that was, as to its contents, so remarkably s ; milar to the one I sent you two days ago aa even to excite my surprise. If the Premier had told ma what ib was to be about, he would have laid me under an obligation ; but he didn't, yet I anticipated the Speech notwithstanding. THE WOMEN. It may concern some of the women who were not there to know that smart toilets were not much in evidence ; the raiment of the woman's vote pre.ent was indeed almost wholly of sombre darkness, save for occasional splashes of bright crimson garniture of nats, bonnets, or other adornments, and, as is generally the

result of this experience of New Zealand femalo*, fashion was subordinated to comfort and utility. Tins, I tike it, nuans th*t these fire happily old-fashioned enough not yet to have made it; an article of belief that they have uolbJug to wear if the newest articles of their wardrobe have beei in evidence on more than two or three occasions. So much the better for their own comfort and tha well-being ot the other fellow, who has to pay the bill. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The State function being finished in the Legislative Couucil, I betook myself to that ofclur place lo liston to tho formal notice? of motion that are the real notes of preparation for the fight of the gladiitof3. S'icb. au array of busincis for the ilrat Order Paper of th? session as that of to-day is simply phenomenal, and even with tho most liberal discount will mean a five months' session, unless the massacre of the ianosents towards 1113 end prove of txtraordiuary ruthlessuess and ferocity. There is dynamite in many of the que tions and noticcß of to day. CALLS TO THE COUNCIL. The fourth nomination for the Legislative Council (I sent three names yesterday) will be, I believo, Mr Georgo Jono«, newspaper proprietor, of Oamaru. The appointments, I understand, will not be made until after tha retorn of the Tre»surer, which suggests the idea that he m*y have arrived at some understanding with the Secretary of State ou the inuca-vexed subject of new appointments to the Upper House. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. It appears that while the Advances to Settlers Board have approved of several loans to licensees with the right of purchase, the moneys have Dot been paid beaauae the district; land registrars, through an omission in the Land Act, cannot see their way to take the nece 6sary mortgage registration. The Mioist-:r for Linda to-day gave notice of the necsFsary amending bill (0 surmount the difficulty. I may mention that I havo reason to believe that over £300,000 has already been advanced under the Advances to Settlers Act.