THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 24, 11 October 1873, Page 8

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Fbidat, October 3rd. I Parliament was prorogued at noon to-day. The following is a summary of the Governor s speech :—: — Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Members cf the House of Representatives — I trust that the Act you have passed authorising arrangements to be made for .a telegraph cable will lead to the establishment of communication between New Zealand and the rest of the world. The provision which you have made for the purchase, at the cost of the colony, of a landed estate for the Provinces of the North Island evmces your sincere desire to preserve the unity of the colony and is a step which, while it will place the North Island in a position to contribute more largely to the revenue, is calculated to advance New Zealand to the first rank amongst the British colonies. The Native Lands Act meets a great want. It will enable Natives at less cost than hitherto, to have their lands surveyed, and their rights more clearly and equitably defined and recorded. By the Life Assurance Act you will afford protection go those who, for the purpose of providing for their families, have recourse to Assurance Associations. The Act by which you will ha.ye constituted Westland a Province will place that part of the colony in the condition which it was intended by the Constitution Act that all parts shonld occupy Gentlemen of the House of Representatives-— Considering the importance of maintaining a large and constant supply of immigrants, I thank you for the liberal provision you have made for the purpose, including as it does not only the vote of money, but also an Act under which immigrants who are approved of by the Agent-General, and who pay their own passages, will be assured the obtaining of free giants of land, conditional only upon occupation and enltivation. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Members of the House of Representatives — I am glad the mission of Mr Russell to England has secured to this colony a packet service via California. I regret that the measure to place upon a more satisfactory footing laws relating to the Civil fcervice, and the measure to regulate for the future mode of providing for necessary public works in various provinces have not become law Further provision you have made for carrying out the public works of the colony, and authority you have given, to extend various lines of Railway hitherto authorised into trunk lines throughout the two islands, evidence your determination to give effect to the public works policy. The cheap railways which are being constructed through each island will powerfully stimulate the settlement of the country.