The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881.

Western Star, Issue 452, 11 June 1881, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1881.

r* —: r "—: —7 ———-—-t "—■- »u. (tovernors’ sp'-eehes 'afc' the ()p>ni(yg‘ (if Parliament are not, as., a rule;ftheyeUißle'of - any very- exciting intelligence. Like other forms and ceremo 'have tTgradtfally ißecome associated with monarchical institutions, this one is' treated with the respect >(iunj to , an .ancient. custom, Antil doubtless in the minds of many people the Constitution Would bo in danger did np,t the annual cpudescending reference to “ My Lords and Commons” take place at the assembling of Parliament. The speech delivered by the* Q-overnor on Thursday, on the occasion of the opening of the “third’ session of the seventh Parliament, is, as might be expected,from; the present occupants of the Ministerial benches, of an pm nently practical nature, and if the programme 5 therein shadowed forth . is carried out, the session of 1881 will not be the least celebrated in the history of the colony. Af ter'con--gmtnkting the colony upon its progn as during the year and the revival of its prosperity, reference is made at.• length to the West Coast native difficulty, and the steps taken to effect a peaceful solution of that question, which are txpeded to be effective. Papers relating to the Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney in January last are promised to be laid upon the table, and- in°accordance -wilh one of the conclusions arrived at a bill will be introduced-regulating the influx of Chinese. Pail ways -and other public works have been pushed on as rapidly

,st» was expedient in the present cir<*um«tancea of the colony, and to keep ~p jhe progressive character of the colon r, a proposal wdl b' made for riving assistance to companies prepared lo ; cbitstJuctTdr<continue pnain lines of rail way*, rt The termination, shortly of pastoral leases in the Middle Island is stateVTtp afford an hpportunity- that will d)e>'taken advantage of to render -those - landß»-mone useful™to.the-.S*atp, hut the speech is silent, as to the mode in which this is to be effected-; read in ihe lipht; however; of- tho-HUCCOCKIt n g paragraph, which proposes to ask the sanction of the House to expenditure in laying out roads in anticipation of a sale of, waste lands', suppose that the runs will be classified and yuyveyed into, suitable areas, with a J view in 4heir u saTe either under the freehold or deferred pavment systems. Tt is pleasing to learn that the revenue received from the sale of waste land ff firing .the veadh has exceeded the estimate, 0 and ‘affords another proof of the falseness b£ the assertion so freely made by Opposition skirmishers that ;the ; Oovetnraeiit were •••land nnonopo-o lists, and refused to give the people an opportunity of settling upon the land; 1 With pardpnabh. pride reference, is made" to the largo reductions which have ••hefpi) effected;in. .the,public.service “ without impairing its efficiency,” and .thati.lurch, aarv—especially in connection with :;the r ( ai ! w:ay f system—is evidenced by the fact thip,t.’ the excess of 'receipts ' ovef 1 hxiienditui'e only amounted to gx per cent. Amongst the;,.lulls promised to be introduced during the session are the; lledistribution of Seats and Kegulation'of Elections. The session b ing the la-t of the present Parliament, theftjme is appropriate for the consideration of such measures, and it is to be hoped that in rhe intprests.o{~th^,colony the present, in ip.juv T unfair, bodr.daries of electoral clisti i’ ts Vll be') altered

Another, mafter- 'of-igrdat ,importance will he thevconsiderationipf thmreport of the commissioners appointed to inquire intp ttie ir W!.TkiHg of the courts of justice in the colony, with ft view to rendering the administration of justice more simple and efficacious. The frequent e-cape of- criminals through somP tf-chuiCar informality; in. the ins dictmeut is a .disgrace: to the colony, while in civil eases the vexatious delaysland ipnontfxdus expense incurred liefor© a case can be put formally, before a ■cM’f/bas also : a tendency to subvert the ends of justice. TTnforfcuuately there appears a doubt as to vihethefeuthei report hot the corpmisj, Ropers, will be,, submitted ; to.l^arlja ment early .toensure its king considered. and .passed this ses-' sion. t Bills for the Removal of the i|osfraints bn the ’alienation of native lands, regulation of the administration of charitable aid, amendment of licensing rlaws, Amendment of the law in riespect of the administration of Crown liind, and for providing for the granting of assistance to local public works, Will also .- be submitted,; At the conclusion of hip spot ch ;Hfeißxcellency states that during- bis.-tour through the colony he “:had repeated opportunities of observing signs of increasing wealth,-’I he spread of'Settl ements, and the energy and activity of those engaged;. rin findustrial iptirsuits out the,- copiitryaud. that .in, the “ discharge of the high functions committed to me . by' tne Queen it will always be iny aim to manifest the same scrupulous and loyal regard to constitutionalj•practice and usage, ; not only in the letter, but. Jn the spirit, which has ever distihgiushed the Sovereign whom I represent among you.” j Such is a concise' and fair summary of the points-Vtouched upon in the G-overnor’s speech. Unless the same vvretched dog-in-the-manger tactics are pursued in regard to these measurea as was adopted last session by the socalled Li'BtTftls—-who, rather than let the Ministry.hayo,;the credit of carrying a truly liberal enactment, opposed rfmuy measures of which they themselves approved—the statute-book will be enriched by .suckpan addition of wise laws as will tend to the prosperity and advancement of the colony.