OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Wananga, Volume 2, Issue 13, 26 July 1875, Page 113

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The fifth session of the fifth Parliament of New Zealand was opened on Tuesday, the 20th of July, by His Excellency the Governor, in the following speech:Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House cf Represent atiyea, I have great pleasure in now, for the first time, meeting the Parliament of New Zealand, and I trmt your deliberations during the present session may tend to advance the "well-being and good Government of the colony. Since my assumption of the Government, I have hud the satisfaction of visiting the four great centres of population, and becoming personally acquainted with some portions of the Middle Island, and I congratulate you upon the great energy which lias been evinced, and the rapid "strides which have been made towards the development of this vich and fertile country. The reception which I everywhere received, as Her Majesty's representative, lias been most cordial and loyal, and it will, I can assure you, be mv anxioudesire to extend my visits, with as 'little delay as possible, to all portions of the Colony, in order that I may become personally acquainted with the resources anil requirements, and, as far as possible, with the inhabitants of the various districts. I observed with the utmost satisfaction the progress which is being made in the construction of those grent public works which have been undertaken by the Government under your authority, and I trust the time is not far distant when the industry of the colony will receive fresh impetus by their completion. The* debt incurred in the formation of railways indeed has been large, but at the same time the returns received from those sections already opened are most encouraging, and tend greatly to prove the wisdom of the policy adopted by you. Our relations with that section of the Native people of the colony which has been so long estranged from us, continue to improve. The recent meeting of Tawhiao with the Native Minister—a meeting sought for and arranged bv Tawhiao himself—gives promise that the isolation in which the immediate adherents of the Maori King kave hitherto held themselves is about to terminate! The renewed desire of the natives to provide an English education for their children, as shown by the large increase in the number of schools in Native districts, and the general resumption of industrial pursuits, give an assurance of the maintenance of peace and of a desire on their part to participate with the European Colonists in the general prosperity. A communication by telegraph has been received intimating that a new contract for a mail steam service to and from San Francisco has been made by Sir Daniel Cooper, as representing the Government of New South Wales, and Mr Russell, as representing the Government of New Zealand, subject to ratification by the Legislatures of the respective colonies. The contract and papei's will be laid before you when received. You will be gratified to learn that a contract has been made by Sir Julius Vogel, acting 011 behalf of the Government, for the laying of the telegraph cable

between New South Wales and New Zealand, upon terms more advantageous than were believed to be atandatwTi,eiVthC undertakin S was first authorised, and that the Government of New Sonth Wales his become a party to the contract, and has agreed to contribute one third [£2,500] of the annual Subsidy. GESTI.I.ME2T OF THE HOUSE OF .REPRESENTATIVES, °-\ e x P endit "i-e -for the current financial yeai will be laid before you. While providing- for the Requirements of the public service, these Estimates e , b . CCl } so frnmcd as to secure the utmost economy found to be consistent with the complete efficiencv of the several departments. 7 01 The Immigration and Public Works Loan of four millions, authorised by Act of last session, has been successfully negotiated. Papers relating to the operation will be laij before you without delay. +1 " W , ] ! affonl y° u satisfaction to be informed that nnfn l l ™ vc " ue c ?ntmues to increase, an I that the actual leceipts for the past financial year have been considerably m excess of official estimates. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Pepeesentatives, In accordance with resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives last session, the necessary measures for the abolition of tke Provincial form of Government, and tor the establishment of a more thorough form of local government in this North Island, have been prepared, and will be immediately laid before you. You will be invited to decide whether, taking the circumstances of the colony into consideration, as well as the present financial condition and future prospects of some of the Provincial Governments in the Middle Island, the operation of the proposed measures may not at once, with general advantage, be so extended as to include the whole of the Provinces. In view of the proposed constitutional changes, and ot the approaching termination of the existence of the present Parliament, and re-adjustment of the representation of the people, to meet the altered circumstances Tvn eiCC^ divisions, has become necessary. Bills will accordingly be submitted for your consideration for amending' the law relative to the qualification of electors, anil for re-adjustment of the representation. A Bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to stamp duties, and a Bill to amend the laws lel a ting to insolvency will also be laid before you. I confide to your earnest attention these and other measures to be brought before you, in the hope that .Divine wisdom will guide your efforts faithfully to discharge your onerous duties.