OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2060, 27 April 1887, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The fourth and final session of the ninth Parliament of New Zealand was opened with the customary formalities at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. At hallpast 1 o'clock the D Battery of Artillery paraded in review order at the Urillshed, and on the signal being given of his Excellency’s departure from Government House for the Parliamentary Buildings, the Artillery fired a salute. The guard of honour was formed at the entrance to the Legislative Council by members ol the Permanent Artillery, under the command of Major Messenger. Uis Excellency delivered the following Speech : - Honourable Gentlemen of tue Leoislative Council, and Genblemen of tue House of Retbesentativeb, — I have again to express the pleasure 1 feel iu meeting you in Parliament assembled, Yon will join with me in regretting that, since last session, so many members of both Houses have been removed by the hand ol death. The loss of Mr Maeandrew is widely mourned. It is unnecessary that to you, who knew him so well, I should dwell on bis great qualities as a statesman andd a patriot. The proper manner ol celebrating the Jubilee of our Most Gracious Sovereign hae been considered by Her Majesty, and she has intimated that the founding of an Institute that will remain a permanent exhibition ol the wealth and industries of bet wide dominions will be most pleasing to her. Steps have been taken in England to carry this project to a successful issue, and the colonies have been invited to join in this mode of celebrating her Jubilee. My Advisen in accordance with the wish ol His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, have asked the local bodies to invite assistance from private individuals, and it will he (or you to consider what further steps should be taken to testify in the way desired by our Sovereign, or in such other manner as you may approve, the love and loyalty of the people of this colony to the Crown. A Conference convened to discuss important subjects affecting all parts of the Empire is now being held in London. This is the first meeting of tbe kind iu the history of our country, and it marks a new era in the great work of colonization. I have uo doubt that, oven should its results appear to ho meagre, the very fact of such a conference will help forward that close union of the Empire, which the citizens of a great State must desire to see maintained and developed. The more firmly the bonds of relationship between English-speaking people are drawn together the better it must be lor every colony and dependency of the empire. The question of naval defence has necessarily been discussed by the delegates. 1 am glad to be able to inform you there seems every prospect that a reasonable and fair arrangement will ho concluded between the Mother Country and her colonies. A proposal has been made, which will be duly submitted to you, by which, at a comparatively small cost to the colony, the licet in the Australasian waters wilt be increased, and due provision made in time of war for the protection of coasts and shipping. Perhaps, however, the most gratifying announcement that can be made in reference to this subject is that the firmness of my advisers iu urging the claims of New Zealand to be regarded to some extent as a distinct naval station, has been crowned with success. New Zealand, subject to your approval of tbe proposed arrangements is henceforth to be the headquarters of s portion ol tbe fleet, with a peace establishment of two vessels of war. Such a recognition of her maritime position cannot fail to he ol service to her commercially ; and my Ministers desire to express their sense of the generosity with which the other colonics supported this proposal. So far as the Conference baa proceeded, all may rejaioe at the harmony that has characterised its proceedings, and at the evident feeling in favor ol union that baa been displayed by her Majesty’s subjects in all parts of the Empire.

Intimately related to naval protection are the defences of the principal ports which are also the chief centres of the wealth of the country. lam glad to be able to state that the defence works are gradually approaching completion, and that the Government it now in a position to entrust their execution to the permanent forces of the colony. When the forts and batteries are finished, the harbor defences of New Zealand will redound to the credit of the colony, and will be of the utmost service to her should war unhappily arise.

The cultivation of friendly feelings amongst the colonies cannot be too strongly urged. The colony of Victoria is about to celebrate the Australian centenary by bolding an international exhibition, and yon will be ashed to consider whether Mew Zealand shall be represented on such an important occasion. An exhibition of this character cannot fail to be of immense service to the colonies in bringing before visitors from all parts of Uie world the products and resources of these vast territories that only require capital and labor for their further development.

The increase in the price ot wool, and the bountiful grain harvest that has just been reaped, mast have a beneficial effect on ail tbe industries of tbe colon;. Though tbe price of agricultural produce has been low, the work of settlement has made great progress, and you will be pleased to learn that large numbers of families have been attached to the soil during the past year under the various schemes of land settlement that are provided for iu the Land Act. When the large areas that have been recently acquired from native owners on the route of tiie North Island Main Trunk Railway have been made available for occupation by the construction of the line, there will no doubt be lurther extension of settlement iu tbe interior of this Island. Tbe difficulties in the past in arranging with natives for obtaining suitable land are daily being lessened, and tbe recent adjudications by tbe Native Laud Courts on some millions of acres prove that the Maoris are awakening to the advantages to be derived from the profitable occupation of their lauds. Tapers will he laid before you regarding the Conference held in Sydney relating to the importation of stock into the colonies.

Gentlemen of the House of lIsrnESENiA. TIVES,— The Estimates of the revenue and ezpenditure lor the current financial year will be brought before you at an early date. The revenue has been diminished to a considerable extent, partly by the fall in the price of goods, and partly by the happily increased habits of temperance amongst the people. My Advisers recognise the necessity of limiting the expenditure as far ns the wants of the colony will permit, and 1 have no doubt that when the financial position and requirements of the country are placed before you they will receive your most careful consideralion. Honorable Gentlemen of the Leoibla« tive Council and Gentlemen of the House of Befbbseniatives, — A Representation Bill will be brought before you. Its purpose will be so to deal with the subject that after every census the representation ol the colony will be sellL'justing. The reform ol the Legislative Council has been frequently before Parliament. My alvisers belieie that it maybe fittingly cona deted when a measure for the representsti )U ol the people is being discussed. A Bill i o i the subject will be brought betore you. The Loans to Local Bodies aud Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, which were passed by Pailiameat last year, have given general saiislaotion throughout tue colony ;