THE GOVERNORS SPEECH. Wellington, June 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 107, 20 June 1885, Page 6

THE GOVERNORS SPEECH. Wellington, June 11.

The second session of the ninth Parlia ment of New Zealand was this day opened by the Governor, when His Excellency was pleased to make the following speech —

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representives,— I have much pleasure in again having recourse to your assistance in Parliament assembled. The depression that was prevalent throughout the colony when you metl ast year shows signs of passing away in many parts. Notwithstanding the low price of wool and wheat, satisfactory evidence is apparent of renewed enterprise and of confidence in the future progress of the colony. The loyal disposition of the Maoris and the readiness they have displayed in leading the construction of fhe Northern Trunk Railway must be exceedingly gratifying to you. The ministers desire in dealing with the natives to treat them with justice and consideration, whilst at the same time the law is maintained. There are throughout the native territory many signs that the attitude of the natives is not only peaceful but friendly, tribes and hapus hitherto standing aloof from Europeans have shown an earnest desire to co-operate with the Government. My adviaers are of opinion that in order to avoid misunderstanding in future it is most important that a better mode of dealing with native lands should be devised. To accomplish this in a manner just to the Maori owners and beneficial to the colony, they proDOse to submit to you a bill to regulate the sale and other disposition of lands belonging to natives. The construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, which was happily inaugurated near Kihikihi in April last, cannot fail to have a most beneficial effect on the relations between the European and native races, and as land is provided for settlement along the line, the North Island will doubtless make great strides in permanent agricultural settlement. My Ministers have proceeded cautiously, but effectively, with the prosecution of other public works. They hope at no distant date that railways between "Wellington and Napier will be finished. Rapid progress is being made in the construction of the Otago Central Railway which, when completed, will open up the interior plains of that provincial district. No time was lost in making an agreement under the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway Act. My Ministers are in hope that in accordance with its provisions Nelson and the West Coast will before long be connected with the East Coast of the Middle Island, and that a vast area of land, which, from its nature, requires a railway to develop© it, will become available for useful purposes. The gain to the colony from the opening of these lines of communication with the West Coast, my Ministers consider, will be of immense importance, whilst the utilisation of the land, of which the colony will retain alternate blocks, must prove of great service. You will be asked to consider whether the effective working of railways opened for traffic could not be improved by the constitution of boards of commissioners to which would be entrusted the general management of the railways. In order to enable you to deal these subjects, my officers will submit a bill for yoar consideration, in accordance with authority given by Parliament in 1882, and by you last session loans of £1,000,000 and £1,500,000 have been raised and exceedingly satisfactory prices obtained. Papers on the subject will be laid before you. The Industrial Exhibition in Wellington will shortly be opened, and my advisers believe that through it an impetus will be given to manufacturing enterprise throughout the colony. You will be asked to authorise the representation of the colony at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, to be held in London next year. A great opportunity will thus be offorded of making known throughout the world the vast resources and natnral advantages of this colony. Considerable attention has been given to the promotion of agricultural settlement. The settlements formed under the regulations lately gazetted promise to prove a great Buccesa. Applications far exceeding area at present available by law have been received by the Lands Department. The constitution of the Legislative Council has often been discussed. A bill dealing with the subject of limiting appointments to a term of years will be submitted to your consideration.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. — The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year will be laid before you without delay. They have been framed withthedesire to promote the utmost economy consistent with the efficiency of the department. My ministers believe that the time has come when there should be some re-adjustment of taxation, and proposals with this object will shortly be submitted to your

Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislaeitb Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — For some time during the recess considerable apprehension existed of an outbreak of war with Russia. My Ministers therefore felt it necessary to make immediate and strenuous efforts to place the colony in a state of defence. With this object considerableexpense has been incurred in which you will no doubt readily assent. The main ports are being put in a state to resist attack, and it will be referred to you to sanctionfurtherexpendituretorender the defence of the colony still more complete. You will be invited to express your views on the subject of naval and land defences. There has been throughout the colony a desire to 1m prove the system of local Government. My Ministers consider that an$ reform attempted should interfere as little as possible ■with existing institutions so long as the objects sought can be attained They have prepared for your consideration various Bills making provisions for granting the local bodies larger powers, with a more assured local finance, thus enabling them to perform their important unctions without continually referring to the Central Government or to Parliament for aid and assistance. The attention of the Minister of Mines has been much directed to the development of the great mineral wealth of the colony. The interest and enthusiasm awakened in the miners by the lectures recently delivered on chemistry and mineralogy, and their desire for the permanent establishment of schools of mines, demonstrate the confidence these enterprising settlors have in their pursuits. You will be asked to give further facilities to the mining industries. There are other industries which require your careful attention. The forests of the colony, if properly utilised, would not only give useful employment to many colonists, but their value would be greatly pbanced. Much valuable Timber ib

now being recklessly destroyed, «nd it will be for you to consider whether for economic as well as climatic reasons, greater efforts should" not be made to conserve and utilise the forest lands of the Crown. A bill on the subject has been prepared and will be submitted to you. Thefisheries, though known to be valuable, have hitherto received very little notice. Proposals to found fishing settlements and to aid in the development of fishing industries will be laid before you, and I have no doubt they will receive your careful consideration. The relations of New Zealand to the Australian colonies and the South Sea Islands have occupied the attention of Ministers during the recess. My Ministers considsred it their duty to oppose the Federal Council Bill in the shape it was brought before the Imperial Parliament until you could have an opportunity of expressing your views on the subjeot. The new mail service to the South Sea Islands which you authorised will, ifc is hoped, strengthen the commercial connection and tend to increase trade between them and New Zealand. Correspondence with the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for theColonies, with the Premiers of the Australian colonies and with the King of Samoa will be laid before you. Dispensing aid to the poor and sick, has proved, especially since the abolition of the provinces, a difficult task. My Ministers think such, aid cannot be effectively administered by a General Government, but should be locally controlled. A bill with this object will be submitted to you. 1 commend to your careful consideration bills which will be brought before you for various purposes, amongst others for consolidating the land laws, for limiting the liabiHfcv of Insurance Company's shareholder?, for oonducting the criminal law for consolidating the various Municipal Corporation Acts, the native land laws and the Land Transfer Acts, and for establishing a system of parcel post, and for the issue of postal notes. I earnestly hope that with the blessing of God you may be enabled to discharge your arduous duties with good effect.