OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 117, 23 July 1875, Page 13

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

- THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. WBi/Uircnoir, July 20. Hi<j Excellency the Govebnob opened Parliament at 2 o'clock to A.y, with the^usual ceremonies. The following is his inaugural speech :—: — " HoiroTJiiABLB Legislative Cottncjllobs, and Gbntlbmbn of the House of Representatives, — " I have great pleasure in now, for the first time, meeting the Parliament of New Zealand ; and I trust that your deliberations during the present session may tend to advance' the well-being and good government of the Colony. " Since my assumption of the government, I have visited the four great centres of population, and have become personally .acquainted •with some portions of the Middle Island ; and I must congratulate you upon the great onergy which has been evidenced, and the rapid strides ;which hare been made towards the development of the resources of this rich and fertile country. The reception which I hare everywhere received as Her Majesty's Representative has been most cordial. I observed with the utmost satisfaction the progress which is being made in the construction of those great public works which have been undertaken by the Government under your authority, and I trust the Lime is not far distant when the industry of the country will receive a fresh impetus by their completion. " The debt incurred in tha formation of railways has indaed boen large, but, at the same time, the returns received from those sections already opened are very encouraging, and teud greatly to prove the wisdom of the policy adopted by you. " Our relations with that section of the native people of the Colony which has been so long estranged from us" continue to improve. The recent meeting of.Tawhiao with the Native Minister — a meeting sotiglit for and arranged by Tawhiao himself — gives promise that the isolation in which the immediate adherents of the Maori King have hitherto held themselves is about to terminate. The renewed desire of the natives to provide an English education for their children, as

shown by the large increase in the number of schools in native districts, and the general resumption of industrial "pursuits give assurance of the maintenance of peace, and of a desire on their part to participate with the European colonists in the general prosperity. " A communication has been received by telegraph, .intimating that a new contract for a steam mail service to and from San Francisco has been made by Sir Daniel Cooper, as representing the Government of New South Wales, and Mr. Russell, as representing the Government of New Zealand, subject to ratification by the Legislatures of the respective Colonies. The contract and papers trill be laid before you when received. ' " You will be gratified to learn that a contract has been made by Sir Julius Yogel, acting on "behalf of this Government, for the laying of a telegraph, cable between New South Wales and^New Zealand upon terms much more advantageous than were believed,, . to be attainable when the undertaking was first authorised, and that the Government of New South Wales has become a party to the contract, and has agreed to contribute one-third (.£2,500) of !*he annual subsidy (j>7,500). " Gentlemen ob 1 the Hotjse op Representatives,— " Estimates of expenditure for the current financial year will be laid before you. Whilst providing for the requirements of the public service, these Estimates have been so framed as to secure the utmost economy found to be consistent with the complete efficiency of the several departments. " The Immigration and Public Works Loan of four millions, authorised by Act in the last session, has been successfully negotiated. The papers relating to this operation will be laid, before you without delay. " It will afford you satisfaction to be informed that the public revenue continues to increase, and that the actual receipts for the past financial year have been considerably in excess of the official estimate. " H,ONOTTBABLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOBS, AND GENTLEMEN Off the House or Repbesentativss. — "In accordance with the resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives in the last session, the necessary measures for the abolition of the Provincial form of Government, and for the establishment of a more thorough form of local government in this the North Island, have been prepared, and will be immediately laid before you. You will be invited to decide whether, taking the circumstances of the Colony into consideration, as well as the present financial condition and future prospects of some of the Provincial Governments in the Middle Island, the operation of the proposed measures may not at once, with general advantage, be so extended as to include the whole of the Provinces. - "In view of the proposed Constitutional changes, and of the approaching termination of the existence of the present Parliament, readjustment of the representation of the people to meet the altered circumstances of the electoral divisions has become necessary. Bills will accordingly be submitted for your consideration amending the law relative to the qualification of electors, and for a readjustment of the representation. " A bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to stamp duties, and a bill to amend the laws relating to insolvency, will also be laid before you. " I confide to your earnest attention these and other measures to be brought before, in the hope that the Divine Wisdom will guide your efforts faithfully to discharge your onerous duties." — ' Guardian.'