GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1352, 13 June 1885, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Wellington, June 11 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Legislative Council met at 2 o’clock on Thursday when His Excellency the Governor opened Parliameut in person. The Chamber was attended by the Members of both Houses.

His Excellency the Governor accompanied by Major Eccles, Mr Ponnefather, private secretary, and Major Pearce, and Consuls George and Toxward, opened Parliament at 2 o’clock this afternoon, and delivered the following speech ;

THE GOVERNORS SPEECH

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the

House of Representatives.—

I have much pleasure in again haying recourse to your assistance in Parliament - assembled. The depression that was prevalent throughout the colony when you met last 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 cf the colony. The loyal disposition of the Maoris and the readiness they h ive displayed in aiding the construction of the North Island Trunk Railway must ba exceedingly gratifying to you. My Ministers deain? in dealing «ith the natives to treat them with justice and consideration, whilst at the same time the haw is maiut-iinod.' Throughout the-y native tonitory signs are shown that tho>J altitude of the Maoris are not only peaceful but friendly. I'he tribes and hapus hitherto standing a'oof from Europeans have shown »n earnest desire to cooperate ho rtily with the Government My advisers are of opinion that in order to avoi 1 misunderstandings in the 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 to the country, they propose to submit to - you a B II lo regulate the sale and other disposition of lands belonging to the natives. The construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, which was happily inaugurated rear Kihikihi in April last cannot fail lo have a most beneil, ficial 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 worka. They hope that at no distant date the railway 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 hopes 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 opening these lines of communication with the West Coast, my Ministers consider, will be of immense Importance, while the utilization of the land, to 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 whom would be entrusted the general management of railways. In order to enabie you to deal with this subject my Ministers will submit a Bill for your consideration. In accordance with the authorities given by Parliament in 1882, and by you last session, the loans of £1,000,000 and £1,600,000 have been raised, and exceedingly satisfactory prices obtained. Papers on the subject will be laid before yon. 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 Loudon next year. Great opportunity will thus be afforded of making known throughout the world the vast resources and natural advantages of this colony. Considerable attention has been given to the promotion of agricultural settlement, and the special settlements, for which regulations were lately gazetted, promise to be a great success. Applications far exceeding the area at present available by law have been received by the Lands Department. The constitution of the Legislative Council has often been discussed, and a Bill dealing with the subject by limiting the appointments to a term of years, will be submitted for your consideration. Gentlemen of the House of SENTATIVES.—The Estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year will be laid before you without delay. They have been framed with the desire to promote the utmost economy consistent with the efficiency of the Departments. My Ministers believe that the time has come when there should be some readjustment of taxation, and proposals with this object will shortly be submitted to you. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative 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 defeoee. With this object considerable expense has been incurred to which you will no doubt readily assent. The main ports are being putin a state to resist attack, and it will be proposed to you to sanction further expenditure to render the defence of th 3 colony still more complete. You will be invited to express your views on the question both of naval and land defence. There has been throughout the colony a desire to improve the system of local government. My Ministers consider that any reform attempted should interfere as little as possible with existing institutions so long as the object sought can be attained. They have prepared for your consideration various Bills making provision for granting local bodies larger power with a more assured local finance, thus enabling them to perform their important functions without continually referring to the Central Government or to Parliament for aid and assistance. The attention of my Ministers has been much directed to the great miners! 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 demonstrates the confidence these enterprising settlers have in their pursuits. You will be asked to give further facilities to the mining Industries. There are other industries jvhich require you careful attention. The forests of the colony, if properly cultivated, would not full employment to many colonists, only give but their value would be greatly enhanced. Much valuable timber is now being recklessly destroyed, and it will be for you to consider whether for economic as well as climatic reasons greater efforts should not be made to utilise the forest lands of the Crowji. A Bill on the subject has been prepared, and will be submitted to you. The fisheries, though known to be valuable, have hitherto received very little notice. Proposals to found fishing settlements and to aid in the development o f fishing industries will be laid before you, and I have n« doubt they will receive your careful consideration. The relations of New to the Australian Colonies and the South Sea Islands have occupied the attention of Ministers during the recess, My Ministers considered it their duty to oppose the Federal Council Bill in the shape it was brought before the Imperial Parliment until you could have nn opportunity of expressing your views on the subject. The new mail service to the South Sea Islands, which you authorised, will, it is hoped, strengthen the commercial relations and increase the trade between them and New Zealand. Correspondence with the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, 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 that such aid cannot be effectually administered by a central Government, but should be locally controlled, A Bill with this object will be submitted to you, I command to your careful consideration the Bills which will be brought before you for various purposes, amongst others for consolidating the land laws, for limiting the liability of insurance companies’ shareholders, for

codifying the criminal laws for consolidating the various Municipal Corporations Act, the native land laws, and the Land Transfer Acts, n> d for establishing a system of parcels post and for the issue of postal notes, I earnestly hope that, with the hissing of God, you may be enable to discharge your onerous duties with good effect.

After the Governor’s speech had been read, the Members of the House of representatives returned to their own Chamber.

The Council met at 2.40, when Mr Buckley laid on the table several papers. A message was received by the Governor notifying the recent appointment to the Council.

The following new Members took the oaih and their seats ;—Messrs Robert. Pliarazyn, Shrimski, Shepherd, and Swanson.

Mr Buckley gave notice to move for the appointment of the usual sessional committees.

On the motion of Mr Buckley’, the following Committee was appointed to prepare an Address in Reply, viz., Messrs Bailie, Pharazyn, Shephard, Swanson, and the mover.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary gave notice of his intention to Introduce several Bills, and the Council adjourned at 2.45 p.m.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.' The House met shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, when a message was recsived requiring the attendance of members at the Legislative Council Chamber, in order to hear the Governor’s opening Speech. On the House reassembling Mr Hialop, the newly-elected member for Oatuaru, took the oath and his seat.

The Hon. the Speaker informed the House that he had received the resignation of Mr Grigg, member for Wakanui, The Hon. Mr Stout moved that a writ be issued, which was agreed to. Notice was given of the usual sessional Committees.

Sir George Grey gave notice of the introduction of a Bill to abolish plurality of voting at elections of members of the House of Representatives. The Hon. Mr Stout introduced a Bill to amend the Adoption of Children’s Act, which was read a first time.

Mr Pearson gave notice that he would move the Address in Reply next day. A message was received from the Governor informing the House that Sir Geo. Whitmore had been appointed to the command of, the colonial forces. The Hon. Mr Stout notified that as the appointment concerned a member of the other Chamber, the Government intended to bring in a Bill in connection with the matter.