THE PROROGATION SPEECH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 71, 5 September 1874, Page 9

THE PROROGATION SPEECH.

"" HONOBABLB LEGISLATIVE CoUNCILtOBS ANT) GENTLEMEN OF THE House op Repiiesektatives, !'• I , have t0 thank you for the attention which you have paid to the discharge of your onerous duties during the short but very arduous •session which lam about to terminate. This is the last occasion upon which I shall have the honour of addressing you from this place. I desire to assure you that, in resigning the high office which I have field but for a snort tune, I am deeply sensible of the constant courtesy -and consideration which have been shown by all with whom I have been brought into contact, whether officially or in any private relations. In returning to my private station at home, I shall retain v deep •interest in the welfare of this most promising community. I shall deem it not less a privilege than a duty to serve its interests in so far as my humble means and opportunities may enable me. I anticipate great benefit to the colony from the State Forest Acts which you have passed, providing, as it does, for setting apart forests wliich will not •only be of use in maintaining the future industries of the colony, but which may be .expected to have a beneficial effect, on the climate and upon the productiveness of its lands, providing, as the Act does, the machinery for the establishment of State forests. I am not disposed to regret the short delay in determining the actual position of forests. You have umistakably committed the colony to the estahlisment of State forests, and it will be your duty to see that adequate lands are provided for them, from which sufficient revenue will be obtainable to do justice to your .intentions. You have passed many measures tkis session which will materially aid in carrying on the public service of the colony, and in remedying the defects which experience has- proved to exist. I regret that the length of tne session did not enable you to deal with the question of promoting commercial intercourse with Polynesia. It is one which I hope will have your careful consideration ; and it will be the duty of my advisers to bearir miud the large interest which New Zealand has in the subject, with the view of bringing it before you on a future occasion. The intention of my advisers will be -earnestly given to further continuing public works, and promoting immigration. The re-establishment of the Californian mail packet service iv conjunction with New South Wales, and the giving effect to provisions already agreed to for the establishment of cable communication with other parts of the world, will also have the zealous attention of my advisers. " GENTLEMEN OB THE HOUSE OP RePBESENTATIYeS. " I acknowledge with pleasure the provisions you have made for the public service, and it will be the care of my advisers to administer them with the utmost economy consistent with, efficiency. " HoNOUBABLB LEGISLATIVE COTJNCILLGB3 AND GENTLEMEN OE the House of Refbesextatives, " This session will be memorable for the decisive steps which has been taken in the direction of abolishing the form of Provincial Government in the North Island. The opinion of the House of Representatives has been expressed by a large majority, which voted in favour -of the resolutions, whilst debates in the Legislative Council left no room to doubt that that Chamber is also favourable to the proposed policy. For some years past there has grown up a belief that the provincial system in this island does not really afford that amount of local government which the people desire. The decision arrived at is memorable also for the desire which the Legislature manifests that the land fund of the colony should be applied to suitable purposes, and as far as possible localised. That decision must effectually do away with Apprehensions in any part of the country that the change in the proviuciai system would mean the absorption of the land fund, in opposito opinions upon thfi subject" which have been confirmed during a long course of years. I hope the Provincial Governments of the North Island, in loyally recognising the decision of the House, of Representatives, will during the recess exert themselves to the utmost to so manage the affairs' of the provinces as to enable the projected change to be effected next year with the least possible inconvenience. I am glad to be able to remind you of the increasing prosperity of the colony, and hope the 3uece6s which has attended your paat efforts will under the blessing of Divine providence continue to make itself manifest in the future, and that you will live to see the result in New -Zealand becoming the home of a large, a prosperous, and a contented population."

A telegram from Rome to the ' Gazzettad' Italia,' dated the 26tn nimouueed the immediate despatch, by order of the Minister of IS' ■• cons ] derable supplies of provisions for the army in the Island -of Sicily, and more particularly at Palermo. Among these supplies were twenty-four thousand boxes of preserved meats. This imnlies the expectation on the part of Government of some fresh attempts at disturbances in consequence of the introduction into Sicily of thp tobacco monopoly. It will be easy for the Goverament to crush any popular rising in Sicily, provided the other parts of United Italy -remain quiet. xwu^ The Russian charge de affaires, accredited to the Vatican, Sienor €apmst, has lately returned from St. Petersburg after a brief absence having failed m his attempts to ameliorate the relations between the' Holy bee and Russia in the matter of the Polish provinces. Russian statesmen seem to entertain an irremovable notion that Polish Catholics must be fierce and irreconcilable enemies of the Government of St and therefore must be crushed out and destroyed As .long as thia prejudice prevails, it is impessible that friendly relations can be maintained between the Emperor and Pius IX., in BP i te of th g courtesy of individual members of the Russian Court and Embassy and in spite of the patient endurance and moderation of the Holy Jcuther. | . *

The Hon. and Bey. William Joseph Petre, eldest son of Lord i"etre, naid his first Mass a short time since at the church of the Im maculate Conceptioa, Farm Street, in the presence of many members -of his family, * ut "