THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, July 8, 1862. THE ASSEMBLY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1738, 8 July 1862, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, July 8, 1862. THE ASSEMBLY.

The believers in omens have certainly ample grounds for drawiug a gloomy prospect in all that concerns the Assembly. The " war lately raging in the North " as an Auckland cotemporary— -imitating the bombast of the Americans, which exalts every affray between outlying pickets into a sanguinary battlo — delighted to style the Native feud at Kaipara, would probably under the late Ministry have been a sufficient excuse for again convening the Assembly at Auckland. If the feud was' to assume a warlike appearance at all, we may think it fortunate that it assumeditat the moment it did. It showed at least one thing, that the journals who delighted to accuse Mr. Fox and his colleagU9sof intending to keep the word of promise to the ear of Wellington, but to break it to the hope, kuew uothing about the matter; and that as these journals were blinded by party spirit in the one case, so we may assume they are in the various other charitable assumptions with which they have constantly soughttoimpress the public. The false start on the 30th June was another unfavourable omen, heightened by the gossips into a possibility that a dissolution might be the result. The wreck of the White Swan, saddest omen of allseemed to the fainthearted to darkeu the whole horizou ; and now, as if every link in the chain of events was doomed to be put to the severest trial, the Assembly met yesterday for the second time but was incompetent toproceed to business; the Harrier being assailed on the East Coast by Boreas, and* temporarily checked by the impetuosity of his South-eastern forces, was unable to arrive with His Excellency in time to be present at the hour fixed.

As we dou't believe in omens, we congratulate our readers that though the opening of the Assembly has been long in prospect it has at last been accomplished. The Native feud is settled after'Cobden's own heart. The false start last week was no start at all, the time for coming to the scratoh having been altered. The White Swau's wreck has deprived the Assembly of no one's counsel, and will in reality prove but little practical hinderanceeven to the most devoted research among "the archives of the Colony"; and lastly, as the South Easter has spent its fury, the good 1 ship Harrtir cannot be delayed many hours longer. Not only do we put no laith iii disagreeable omeus, but we confess to a strung leaning on the Other side. We were scarcely breeched before wb found comfort for ihe readiness with which our marbles and tops transferred themselves to others, in the knowledge how often "win first loses last". We have since observed too closely not to know how frequently it is the darkest hour which precedes the. dawn ; and surely we cannot be in auy measure singular iv arriving at the conclusion, so repeatedly forced upon the notice of every resident in New Zealand, that many a cloudy morn turns out a sunshiny day.

The proceedings in both Houses yesterday were merely formal, and will probably.coutiuue to be so until the Governor's speech is delivered, which may be to-morrow or next day; audasa fullsnp. ply of- the printed papers, laid on the table by tile various Miuisters, will arrive from Auckland on Suuday or Mon-

day, we may fairly reckon that the Assemv bly will be in full swiug ou the first siting day next week .

It may not be altogether out. of place if we attempt a sketch of ihe topics which it is generally understood will be uiluied to in His Excellency's speech. After expressing sympathy with Her Majesty on the dead) of the Prince Consort, Sir George will probably express his satisfaction at the progress which I Netv Zealand has made, under the v. orkiug of ihe New Institutions inaugurated just prior to his leaving iv 1853, and regret that amidst so much cause for congratulation so much that is unsatisfactory should have grown up in relation to the native population. In attempting to restore the friendly relations formerly exisstiug, his Excellency will probably express need for the hearty support of the Colonists, both morally and by placing adequate resources at his disposal, assuring them that he is not unmindful of the necessity for not permitting the progress of colonizatiou to be unnecessarily obstructed. The Governor will then proba&iy refer to the mas 3of printed (locumeuts to be laid upon the table, as indicating what his plans for native government are— wha 1 measures he proposes, in order to continue the attachment of the already friendly and restore the confidence of those who have been unhappily alienated — and as showing that as far as this has yet been done, it has been done undar the powers conferred by Acts passed by the Assembly in 1858. The absence of all necessity to employ the military force since his arrival, will probably form a subject of congratulation and the advantages of military roads be alluded to. Thanking the Military for what they have already done, it is probable that the Governor will propose raising £100,000 by way of loan, for the further construction of such works, chargiug the amount proportionately on the provinces iv whiob it is expended. The organization of Militia and Volunteer forces will probably be encouraged, and the Auckland Volunteers publicly thauked for their performance of garrison duties during the absence of the troops in road making. The rapid development of the middle Island will probably lead to the announcement of an intention to locate a portion of the Executive there, and to maintain rapid communication by meaus of an efficient steam postal service. Au expression of thanks to Almighty God for the preservation of the lives of the passengers per White Swan, will undoubtedly occupy a place in the speech, as also to Mr. John Moore for the hospitable caie he evinced towards them. The Estimates will pro bably occupy the next paragraph, and the House of Representatives will be referred to the correspondence with the Imperial Government, and asked to state

its views on the pecuniary question relative to the late military engagements at Taranaki. After alluding to the progress which the Census reveals, His Excellency will probably conclude his speech by invoking the Jireotion of the All-Wise on their united efforts to secure the peaoe and advancement of this Colony. ;