GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7994, 12 October 1887, Page 2

GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Honorable Gkntlkmkn op the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of TUX HOUSS OF BhTRKSENTA'IIVES, — I have great pleasure in meeting you as Parliament assembles. It affords me much gratification to be able to announce to you that the ceremonies on the occasion of the fiftieth year of Her Most Gracious Majesty's reign were celebrated with a splendour unsurpassed in the aanals of our country, and evoked the most . cordial feelings of loyalty, enthusiasm, and public reverence and respect in all parts of Her Majesty's dominions. > The Imperial Conference held in London to discuss subjeots relating to the prosperity, advancement, and protection of all interests affecting Her Majesty's Colonial possessions, concluded its sittings on the 9th May last. The results of its deliberations are regarded by the Imperial authorities and by the Colonial representatives as being of a satisfactory nature. The most important point of the agreement is the determination to provide for the more efficient defence of Her Majesty's distant possessions against external attack. Papers relating to the subject will be laid before you. In its results the general election just concluded points to a firm resolve on tho part of the people of New Zealand to ensure effective and substantial retrenchment in the coat of the public service. My Ministers feel that it is their first duty, and it is their intention to propose to Parliament large reductions in the public expenditure of the colony. These reducductions will be made in the manner least calculated to produce inconvenience and hardship. To the subject of land administration my Ministers attach great importance. I am assured that they will make all necessary efforts to secure the location of a prosperous class of settles. )n the lands of the colony, it has been well said, that New Zealand stands unrivalled among the British possessions as a. field of settlement, and the aim of all, of whatever political cieed, should be to promote the establishment of a numerouß and prosperous agriculturalcommunity, whose industry cannot fail to add to the material progress of the colony. As a first step,' and as aoon as practicable, proposals will be submitted to you to render the land system less complicated, and to make the lands of the colony more easy of acquirement in small holdings, and upon such tenure as electors may prefer. My Ministers also recognise the difficulties undei which some holders of land from the Crown struggling, and they will consider what can be done to afford them reasonable relief. ; , In regard to our railways it is the opinion of many competent to judge, that the system under which the railways are worked is unsatisf ac ory, and it is believed that judicious changes can be made whereby the public convenience may be rrore consulted and a better revenue obtained. My Ministers recognise that alterations in the tariff are required to remove tho anomatics which have been brought into existence by the altered condition of things. There were anxious to have laid before you proposals for a readjustment of duties, but until you give your opinion apon their measuies for effecting retrenchment in the public service, they feel that alterations ot a tho o >gh and satisfactory nati' 'c ca'inot be made. They will, however, during the coming recess give the matter their careful consideration, and will bring before you measures dealing with this important subject. As the recess will necessarily be a short one, the time lost will, in the opinioa of my Ministers, be more than compensated for by the subject being dealt with deliberately and thoroughly. My Ministers have under consideration the necessity of amending the laws relatiag to native lands, and it will probably be necesßary, during tbe present session, to pass some measure of a temporary character to allow the feeling of dissatisfaction -which at present exists. After ascertaining, during the recess, the views and wishes of the native people, and after weighing the subject carefully in all its bearings, comprehensive measures will be submitted for your consideration. Gentlemen of the Hodse of Representatives, — The estimates of revenue and expenditure will show in detail the reductions to which I have already referred. I regret to say that at tbe present time our principal source of revenue, the Customs, shows no signs of improvement, but my advisers trust that by limiting the public expenditure it will be possible to avoid placing further burdens upon the people. Hon. Gentlemen op the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — This, the second session of the year, being necessarily held at an inconvenient period and under extraordinary circumstances, it is proposed to submit for your consideration only such measures as may be urgently required. Negotations relative to tho construction of the Midland Railway are still pending, and you will be required to express your opinion upon certain important points, which yet remain to be settled. Consistently with their duty to the colony, my ministers will use every effort to enable Parliament to arrive at a fair and reasonable solution of existing difficulties in coinection with this important work. My Government view with satisfaction the strong feeling manifested by the people of the colony generally in favor of our educational system, and desire to convey an assurance thut whilst its expense will be curtailed wberover practicable, no etep will be tuken by them which would have tbe effect of irt pairing its efficiency. I commend to your attention tlio important questions that will bo brought before you, and ]jope that under the bletbing of God your 1 bors rmiy prove o great strvice to the colony.

Mrs. Greenwood am) her family Lt<n<l visiting New PI) mouth next week, lien the muoicul public will havo uu op^.iLunity of hearing these talented artists. Tho Auckland papers speak in the most glowing terms of their performances. We underatftfi'l that a New Zealand war rnerliil is laying «-vt the Militia and Volunteer Office for a pornnn, tho n-..rnc o ( It kiu'!iK>in, No. 3.M4, lair. C3lh Homier, i. At 1 o'clock on Wedneaday morning the east-end nrobell rung out an alarm,

giving the situation of the fire in that locality. The central aud west-end bells aleo took the alarm up, and between the throe, the Fire Brigade and several hundrod peoplo were induced to leave thoir homes only to find that some individual was seemingly having a joke. According to recent statistics, it appears that thero is as great a stagnation in the Royal matrimonial market in Europe as there is said to be in humbler circles. There are 168 prinoea and 6G princesses o£ marriageable ago in a state of singleblessedness. Of this number, however, six are betrothed. ' A polished rod granite sarcophagus, which is to contain the remains of the late Prince Louis Napoleon, has just beeu placed in the beautiful chapel which the Emproßs Eugenic has erected at Farnhorough Hill. The late Emperor J Napoleon lll.'s sarcophagus is now being removed from Chislehurst to tho same building.