OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 513, 5 June 1869, Page 3

OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. The following was the speech from his Excellency the Governor, as read by Commission at the opening of the General Assembly:— Honorable Legislative Councillors— Gentlemen of tiie House op Representatives — The fulfilment of a promise to that effect given last session, no less than the disturbed state of the country, require that I should have recourse to your advice and assistance earlier than usual this year. That assistance you will, no doubt, freely give, for you will recognise that the colony can no longer endure those evils under which, with but temporary intermission, it has long suffered from the detsrmined hostility of the turbulent portions of the native race. Since the close of last session, that hostility has displayed itself in an aggravated form. Murders and other atrocities, entirely unprovoked, have been committed in cold blood on unarmed persons, and another missionary, whose life had been devoted to their service, has fallen a victim. Neither age, sex, nor race have been spared. Every means at the disposal of the colony have been employed in prosecuting the war thus forced upon us, and which had to be encountered on both sides of the No/th Island at the same time. Large numbers of men have been raised, trained, and engaged in active operations in the field, and defensive works have been erected for the protection of places exposed to the attacks of the enemy. It will be your duty to consider how the efforts hitherto made may be sustained and strengthened. The thanks of the colony are due to Colonel Whitmore and the officers and men of the colonial forces, both European and native, for the conspicuous courage with which they have encountered the enemy wherever he has presented himself, arid the indomitable zeal and energy with which they have tracked and dispersed his retreating forces. The arduous and harassing duties, in the course of which they have penetrated the forests and inhospitable wilds hitherto unvisited by Europeans, and inaccessible to ordinary means of transport, and the difficulties they have surmounted are without parallel in the military history of this country. No troops could have displayed more gallant spirit, and no officers could have conducted a campaign with more enterprise and skilled prudence. The great difficulty of the country must be grappled with, and a permanent remedy applied to a state of things which is paralyzing industry, and in every way reshicting the progress and settlement of the country, and tending to disaster which, spreading far beyond the scenes of conflict, is felt by all sections of the community throughout New Zealand. Such a policy demands a highly organised force, embodied for different periods, and established in the best strategical positions that can be occupied for perfecting communication.

Copies of correspondence between the Governor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the retention of Imperial trooj's in New Zealand, and especially to the resolution passed by both Houses last session, will be laid before you. The question cannot be further pressed by the Legislature with any dignity, self-respect, or beneficial result to the people of New Zealand. A bill of a temporary character will be submitted to you propounding summary means for dealing with persons taken in arms against the Queen, who may have been concerned in exceptional barbarities on the part i of the rebels. I

The establishment of permanent peace will require an exceptional expenditure beyond what is advisable to levy in the shape of annual revenue, and a portion should be provided by loan. Application for a guarantee of such loan has been made to the British Government. You will probably believe that the condition of the country requires a renewal of such application, and justifies the hope that the last prayer of the colony to the mother-coun-try will not be rejected. Gentlemen or the House of Repeesentatives — The Estimates of Expenditure for the ensuing financial year will be laid before you. While providing for the efficiency of the services, they exhibit, with the exception of requirements of defence purposes, a reduction in the expenditure of the country. The results of the operations under the " Consolidated Loan Act" up to the most recent date will be laid before you. You will gladly recognise that, owing to the able manner in which the operations have been conducted, a considerable dimi ution in the annual charges on the revenue has been effected.

HONOBABLE GeXTLEIIEN, AND GENTLEMEN— Tho electric telegraph 13 in course of extension to "Wanganui on one side, and towards Taupo and Auckland on the other. The cessation of active warfare -will be immediately followed by the completion of the latter line to the capital of tho Northern Goldfields. These singularly rich fields continue to increase in importance, and reliable authorities prognosticate the extension of discoveries of like deposits throughout many parts of the North Island, which will give profitable emplo3"incnt to a large population. The bearing this will have on the early pacification and security of the country is important. The approaching termination of the present Parliament calls for legislation and the readjustment of the representation of the people, in conformity with the altered condition of the several districts. You will be invited to consider a measure for making undevised real estate distributable amongst next of kin, in tho same manner as personal property. Although the native question will largely engage your attention, other matters of public interest and importance will doubtless not be neglected. In the special circumstances under which you are assembled, I pray that the spirit of wisdom may so guide your counsels as to promote the welfare of the people of New Zealand.

DUNEDIN GOSSIP.

Some local incidents are thus related by the Dunedin correspondent of the Grey River Argus : —At the presentation to Mr Vogel, previously mentioned, a row took place. The inevitable Grant was present, and, as visual,commenced obstructing the business by putting some of his impertinent questions. Some of those standing by interfered, and farther nonsense was stopped by the appearance of a policeman, whose look seemed to be enough for Grant. Next day Grant summoned J. Maciudoe,M.P.C., for assault at the above meeting. But the offence turned out to be of the most trifling character, and the M.P.C. was only fined Is without costs. Some other police matters have been productive of a good deal of talk this week. Hughes, a bailiff, in search of a party " wanted," went to the office of Mr J. Smith, the well-known barrister, in which the wanted party was said to be. The bailiff wanted to get into a room in the office, which Smith refused to allow, and placed his back against the door; but the bailiff opened it, and then saw his man in company with another. This other man rushed to Smith's help, and the three struggled, and eventually rolled on the floor—the wanted man taking the opportunity, jumped over the three, and made his escape. Hughes brought an action against Messrs Smith and Couzens for obstructing him in the execution of his duty, and after a long heariug and consultation the Magistrate fined Smith L2O and Couzens LlO. An absconding debtor case was also productive of some excitement. They had got clear away in a small schooner, supposed for the Fijis, but had to lay windbound at the Heads. Meanwhile a warrant was got, and a waterman's boat, witb the bailiff, started in pursuit. The schooner had got underweigh, and was being swept out; but the boat caugbt her up, boarded, and found the parties, brought them back to town, when they were made to disgorge in the usual way. Another warrant against the same parties next day was not so successful; they had about an hour's start, and on the bailiff's arrival at the Port the schooner was seen to be standing down the lower harbor before a strong fair wind.

SOUTH AUSTEALIA'S SURPLUS OF FLOUR.

(From the Adelaide Observer?) The immediate effect of publishing Mr Boothby's figures a week or two ago was materially to raise the price of wheat, and if the producer has not got the advantage of the advance it is his own fault. They proved what had been long suspected, that the estimates which preceded the harvest were much too sanguine, and as a necessary result they first hardened and then gave a buoyant tendency to rates which previously had been gravitating towards a point considerably higher than would have been warranted had the first calculations as to the yield been confirmed. They not only reduced the average from 12 to a trifle under 10 bushels, but they diminished the area by some 20,000 acres,

equal to nearly 200,000 bushels. Instead, therefore, of an aggregate of six and three quarter million bushels of wheat, we have to rest content with 5,105,221. Seeing that this is just double the total of 18G7-8, there may not be much real cause of complaint, and in any event there are a few thousand tons less of flour to find a market for than would have been the ease had the reality more nearly approximated to the anticipation. In round numbers the wheat produce of 1868-9 represents 115,000 tons of flour, and to this has to be added the surplus remaining over from 1867-8 a few thousand ton?, probably not more than 5000. Our stock at the beginning of 1569, or so soon as the corn was gathered in, amounted therefore to about 120,000 tous. The first claim upon this is for the sustenance of our own population, now numbering something like 177,000 souls. On the lowest computation 1,000,000 bushels must be written off for our own wants. Provision has also to be made for seed. Something like 840,000 bushels of wheat will be absorbed in this way. The excellent quality of the grain of the past season's growth will obviate tho necessity of getting in supplies from Tasmania or any other sources; consequently our existing stock will be diminished to the full extent of 840,000 bushels. This, added to the 1,000,000 bushels already apportioned, for home consumption, will reduce the total of 120,000 tons by at least 40,000. The surplus of 80,000 tons is what will remain available for export. Of this 25,000 or 26,000 tons have already found their way out of the colony, leaving 54,000 still to be operated upon.