SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4098, 9 June 1881, Page 3

SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

[Bx Tbibgbaph.] WELLINGTON, Junb 9. At the oponing of Parliament to-day, His Excellency the Governor spoke as follows : — honobable legislative counoll-obs and Gbntlbubn of thb House op Rbpbe-shnta-ivbs. It affords me much satisfaction, in meeting you for the tffst time, to be able to congratulate you upou tho steady progress of the Ooiony during the past year, the revival of its prosperity, and the increased confidence in the future which animates all classes of the community. The course prescribed by Parliament to bring to a termination the unsatisfactory state of affairs existing on a part of the West Coast of this Island has been steadily pursued, and has, up to the present time, been attended with marked success. Effect is be ing given to the recommendations of the Royal Commissions appointed to enquire into the grievances which were alleged to exist among the Natives ef that locality, and the determination on the one hand to assert the supremacy of the Queen and repress any lawless action, and on the other hand to redress all real grievances, will apparently effect a peaceful solution of the questions which, a short time ago, wore a threatening aspect. The lands which have been appropriated for European occupation on the Waimate Plains, have been for the most part Bold and are now being occupied by settlers. The prisoners whose detention up to the present time has been deemed necessary in the interests of both Natives and Europeans, have been released and returned to their homes, with the exception of a small number whom it is proposed to set free in a few days. Nor do my responsible advisers apprehend that it will be necessary again to have recourse to extraordinary measures for the "preservation of peace and good order in the district in question. Papers will be laid before you containing the minutes of the proceedings of an Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in the month of January last, at which a member of my Government was present. You will learn from these papers that several measures of considerable interest to the Australian Colonies were considered by the Conference ; and in accordance with one of the conclusions arrived at, a Bill will be placed before you for the regulation and restriction of the influx of Chinese into the Colony. The recognition of a community of interests and mutual interdependence among the Australasian Colonies evinced by this Conference, may hereafter be attended by results of considerable importance. The Railways and other public works authorised by you have been proceeded with as rapidly as was expedient in the present circumstances of the Colony. In view of the necessity for maintaining the progressive work of colonization, proposals will come ' under your consideration for giving assistance to Companies prepared to constructor continue main lines of railway. The termination of existing leases of lands in the Middle Island, and held for pastoral purposes, affords an opportunity which haß not been overlooked by my advisors for rendering those lands more generally useful to the State. Carefully considered plans for effecting that object will be laid before you. The systematic laying out of roads in anticipation of the sale of waste lands has, in a very marked manner, promoted their occupation during the past year. You will be asked to sanction further expenditure to enable the Lands Department to give effect to plans which, if carried out, will practically enlarge the area available for settlement, and invite a more extended employment of labour and capital. The revenue received from the sale of waste lands during the paßt year has exceeded the estimate, and the increasing demand for land for actual occupation, together with statistical information recently obtained, affords convincing proof that a fresh impulse ia being given to the work of settlement, while the expansion of local industries promises to provide profitable employment for a rapidly increasing population. Gbntlbmbn op the Housb op Repbesbntatives, — Large redactions have already been made in the cost of the public service without impairing its efficiency ; and the estimates of receipts and the expenditure for the current year, whioh will shortly be laid before you, have been prepared with strict regard to the moßt rigid economy. The revenue for the past year must, on the whole, be considered satisfactory. The exceßs of receipts over expenditure upon the railways amounts to a return of i [?3iJ per cent upon the outlay inourrod upon their construction. Hon ob able Legislative CounoiiiLobs and Gbntlbmbn op thb House op Hbpeh6bntativbs — Bills will be submitted to you for the Redistribution of the representatives of the people, and for the Regulation of Elections, which, in view of the approaching termination of the presont Parliament, I recommend to your early and most attentive consideration. The Commissioners appointed last year for the purpose of enquiring into tho constitution, practice and procedure of the Supreme, Court and other Courts of the Colony, and of ascertaining hy what means the administration of justice therein may be rendered more speedy and efficacious, and at tho same time leas costly, have made an ad interim report, a copy of which will be laid before you. I am glad to be able to inform you that the Commissioners have proceeded bo far with the work entrusted to them as to onablo them to anticipate the close of thoir labours in tho course of tho month of July. The meaßureß necessary to give effect to their recommendations may therefore be submitted to you during the present session. , A Bill will be laid beforo you which will ' have for its object the abolition of restraints on the alienation of land, while guarding the interests which may arise out of any trusts to which it hus been made subject. Billa will also bo laid bofore you for the ' regulation of the administration of charitable aid j for the consolidation and amendment of tho licensing laws ; for tho amendment of , tho existing law in respect of adminstration j of Nativo reserves ; for rating Orown lands j and for providing for the grant of assistance to local public works. I havo rocently visited many difforent districts of tho Colony. During theso journeys I have had repeated opportunities of observ--8 ing signs of increasing wealth, the spread of settlement, and tho energy and activity of those engaged in industrial pursuits throughout tho country. Tho impressions which I had thus boon led to form ar«

strengthened by the results of the recent census, and by a perusal of reports and returns, whioh will bo placed before you, showing the reriral of trade, the growth of new and important local industries, and tho satisfactory condition of the ordinary and territorial revenue for the past year. In the discharge of the high functions committed to me by tho Queen, it will always be my aim to mauifest the same scrupulous and ' loyal regard to constitutional practice and usage, not only in the letter, but in the spirit, which has ever distinguished the sovereign whom I represent among you. You may rely with confidence on my hearty co-operation in giving effect to the deliberate decisions of the Legislature, and it is my earnest hope and desire that your labours may be so directed as by God's blessing not only to promote the material welfare of the Colony, but to secure tho stability of its institutions, tho development of its great resources, and the permaneut happineßß of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects within its bounds. ====== j