THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2102, 27 July 1878, Page 2

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR' B SPEECH,

(By Telegraph.)

Wellington, July 26.

Parliamont was opened by tho Governor at 2.30 p.m. The pluce was crowded, about 220 ladios being presnnt. About seventeen members of the Council took their seats, including the newly created lords — Martin and Buckley. In the House of Representatives some fifty members attended, and all the members of tho Ministry wore present, except tho Premier, who is reported to be ill. His Excellency's speech was as follows : —

" Hon. Legislative Cottncillobs and Gentlemen or the Hottse of RePBE3ENTATIVES.

" It affords mo much pleasure again to have recourse to your advice and assistance ; and I confidently anticipate that your deliberations will tend to promote tlie prosperity and good government of the colony. . Since the last session I havo been uniformly received by the colonists with the utmost loyalty and cordiality as the Queen's representative whero 1 ever 1 have beeu able to visit. It has been with the greatest gratification that I have observed the marked progress iv material prosperity which is everywhere taking place, and which testifies so manifestly to the industry of the people of this colony. I congratulate you 'on the fact that peaceful relations have at last been established with the Waikato and Ngatimaniopoto tribes. Complying with the pressing and frequently received invitations of the leading chiefs of these tribes, the Premier and the Native Minister visited them on several occasions m their districts, and met them also at the Waittira. Papers on this subject will be laid before you. They ■will bliow that the long period of serious difficulties with the Native race may be reasonably considered to be approaching a termination. There is now a fair prospect that before long European enterprise and settlement will bo welcomed by those great tribes, and that they will gladly avail thomselves of the advantages which roads, railways and telegraphs will bring to their magnificent territory, by which its value, and consequently the wealth and happiness of that portion of the Native race so long estranged from us, must be largely increased. Iv consequence of the disposition thus recently manifested on the part of the Natives, you will be asked to consider the question of extending the North Island trunk railway from Auckland to Tamil aki. It is probable that blocks of land of great value will be acquired upon reasonable termß along tho line. While negotiations with these tribes have not been neglected, many of the principal native settlements havo daring the recess been visited by the Premier or the Native Minister. Several long pending questions, out of which more or less ill-feeling has arisen, have been finally and satisfactorily se'tled. The question of the survey of these settlements on the West Coast of this Island has been firmly taken m hand. One large block has been surveyed, and will shortly be opened for sale, and the immediate survey of the Waimate Plains has been ordered. Whilst tho utmost consideration ' to former Native owners will be shown m dealing with these lands, a large extent of valuable country will be made available for sale and settlement. My Advisera found k the position of the Government Native land purchases to be very unsatisfactory, and, but for the legislation of last seasion, which enabled the Government temporarily to protect lands under negotiation by the Crown, many blocks, upon which large sums of public money have been spent, would have passed into the hands of private speculators. This is a question with which youwill be called upon to deal, and information, sufficient, it is hoped, to enable jou to conserve the interests of the country m this respect., will be afforded you. Measures for simplifying the procedure of investigations of titles to native lands, as well as their alienation, will be submitted to you. The principles of those measures have been discutsed with many sections of tho native people, and it is believed that tho effect of them will be to place upon an eqnal footing all the Queen's subjects who may desire to purchase Native lauds. The threatening aspect of European affairs caused tho Imperial Government, to assemble m London a Committee of scientific, officers, to consider the question of colonial defence. Those officers made a •recommendation for the defence of the chief harbors of New Zealand, and the substance of these recommendations was telegraphed to

me by the Secretary of State, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the colony would carry them out. On the advice' of my Ministers, I have replied that New Zealand accepts the duty, and the necessary arnmment will shortly arrive iv the colony. Puper3 on the subject will be submitted to you. Measures have been prepare;!, and will be brought before you, dealing with electoral reform, which it is hoped will tend to place the franchise and the method of electing members of tho House of Representatives upon a satisfactory basis. Gentlemen of the Hottse ofJJßepresexTATIVES. " The estimates which will be laid before you have been prepared' so as to promote economy and effective administration m the sereral Departments. STou will find that there ia a large increase of revenue which indicates the presperity of the colony, and its progress is rendered the more certain by a marked extension of the export trade. The successful issue of the loan authorised last session i? a further proof of the opinions entertained m other couutnes of the stability of our financial position and of the general prosperity and peace -which prevails m New Z; aland. Authority has been given to the agents uuder the. Consolidated Stock Act to convert New Zealand securities of a miscellaneous character into long dated debentures, bearing a uniform rate of interest. Measures will be introduced to placo the taxation of the colony on a more equitable basis, apportioning the public burdens according to tho capacity to bear thorn, and the tariff will be submitted to a revision, tending to relieve commerce of some restrictions which retard its growth. " HoifonAßLE Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen op the House of Representatives. " The Government have fouad that m ordor to carry out any real administrative reforms, thero must be an amalgation of offices as well as a simplification m the administration. This has been specially felt m the Department of Justice. To effect v Baying of departmental expenditure, and at the Bame time to increase the efficiency of the administration of justice, a Bill extending the jurisdiction of the inferior Courts has been prepared and will bo laid befora jou. My Ministers have endeavored by this Bill to simplify the proceedings m tho local Courtß. Steps have also been taken to obtain a simplification of the Supreme Court procedure, and the Government hope that the benefit obtained m other countries from amending the proeeduro of tho higher Courts of judicature will be eecured for this colony. A report will bo laid beforo you showing the effect, so far, of the Education Act passed last session. The time that has elapsed Bince its passing has been too short to allow a fair estimate of its working to be arrived at, but the Government do not believe that any material amendments are at present expedient. The question of higher education deserves most carefu 1 consideration, but as a preliminary thereto it is necessary {that the mode of working and the effects of existing institutions should beaßCertained. Itisintended therefore, to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the report upon the operations of the New Zealand University, and its relations to the secondary'schools of the colony. The report of this Commission will, if legislation be necessary, enable Parliament to deal effectively with the subject nex' session. Arrangements have been entered into with the Government of New South Wale 3 for a modification m the San Francisco mail service contract, and as to coming within the terms of the Postal Union. In conjunction with New South Wales the Government have also negotiated with Colonel Glover, tho representative of tha Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co., for a duplication of tho cable from Port Darwin to Singapore, and tho reduction of tho tariff on the New Zealand cable; Tho present state of the negotiations will bo shown by papers that will be laid before you. Tho goldfields of the colony are still prosperous, and there can be no doubt that there are yet numerous and extensive auriferous deposits, that only require population aud enterprise for their development. You will, I have no doubt, join with me m the hope that the proposal to establish direct steam communication between New Zealand and the United Kingdom may prove successful. Tho results of the gradual extension of the railway system have been Buch as to justify tho Colony m undertaking its large indebtedness foi the prosecution of these, public works. It is gratifying to find the District Railways Act of last session ia being taken advantage of, and that the faith of the people of New Zealand m railway extenpion has been shown by many important lines m different parts of the colony being undertaken by private and local enterprise. Thia spirit of self-reliance my Ministers think should be fostered, and you will be asked to make some slight amendments with the view of offering further facilities which experience has shown to be desirable. During the recess, various changes have been introduced into the management of the Public Works and Railways Departments: changes which I venture to hope may prove benefioial to the public service. I commend to your serious consideration tho various measures and subjects that may be brought bofore you for your advice and action, and I pray that the spirit of Divine wisdom mar bd or ler your deliberations that peaco and happiness may be promoted throughout tho length and breadth of the Colony."

The following members took their oaths and seats : — Messrs Seymour George ; F. J. Moes ; B. Turnbull ; B. F. Hobbs ; G. B. Barton, and W. H. Cut ten.

Notice of the usual sessional committees was given. A number of papers were luid upon the table, and a couple of petitions prosented.

Mr Sheehan obtained leave, after some discussion, to put through all its stages a Nutivo Land Act Bill for amending thn Native Lands Act 1873. The object of the Bill he explained is to compel an unwilling witness to give evidence regirdiog certain land purchases m which the Government are largely interested. After a few slight alterations the Bill was passed through Committee. The same Bill having been similarly dealt with m the Council, and brought buck again, the House adjourned till 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.

In the courao of the proceedings, Mr Seymour George gave notice that ho would move tbe]Address m Reply. It is understood thnt Mr Hobbs will second it.