OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 969, 14 June 1883, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

HIS EXCELLENCES SPEECH.' ’

[by TELEOHAPH.I Wellington, To-day.

! His Excellency the Governor entered the Council Chamber punctually at two o'clock this afternoon, attired in the following uniform and decorations. ' The '■ uniform of the Ist Class of the Civil Service ; Star and Ribbon of the Grand Cross of St Michael and St George ; Companion of the Bath ; South African war medal ; and war medal for Perak (Malay* - Peninsula) His Excellency then said ’ I Honorable Gentlemen op the Lkois%a-‘' TrvE Council, and Gentlemen of likf i; House of Repbhsbntatives.

It affords me great pleasure to meet you for the first time in Parliament assembled, since my assumption of the government of this colony, to which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased -to - appoint me. I have visited a portion of each Island, and have thus ; been able to obtain a personal knowledge \ of various districts, and to make the.;> acquaintance of many of the residents. X trust ere long to be able to complete my tour through the colony. I cannot but - regard the cordial manner in which I have been everywhere received as an evi- . deuce sf the loyal attachment of the people of New Zealand to the Throne and perssn of our beloved Sovereign. I have been specially gratified by the hearty welcome. , given to me by the natives whom I hare met in different parts of the country. I was much impressed wherever I went by the signs of the present prosperity, and especially by the vast capabilities of New 1 - Zealand which only need for their development a large population and more ex ..ended markets for the produce of the r colony. I feel sure that as the iuduce- r meats this country have to offer, become more fully realised in Europe, increasing numbers of suitable settlers will be at-V tracted to its shores. A few days ago the Government of Victoria telegraphed tp my advisers proposing that New Zealand join the Australasian colonies in asking the Imperial Government to establish British ' rule over the New Hebrides and other islands of the Pacific. Realising the great importance of these islands to Australasia, and the serious detriment it would be to the British' interests should they fall into .the hands of a foreign power, I have telegraphed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, expre amg my full concurrence 1 in the desirability of such action, my advisers at once acceded to the pro- : posal made to them by the Victorian. Government, and telegraphed to the Agent-General of this colony, instructing him to co-operate with the Agent-General of Victoria in urging these views on the Colonial Office. On Tuesday last a telegram was received from tbe Agent-Gene-ral to the effect that Lord Derby would be willing to promote the views of tbe colonies on this subject if some satisfactory assurance were given that they would bear the necessary expense. Since Parliament last met a marked improvement lias become apparent iu the Relatione between the Maoris on the one hand and th« Government and European «ettlpri

the other. On the West Coast of the Northern Island, where great anxiety recently prevailed, there now a general feeling of security. The native chiefs Te Whiti and Tohu have been released from custody, and permitted to return to Parihaka, where they are residing, and there is no indication that this concession will lead to the renewal of dangerous proceedings on the part of the natives. ' The labors of the West Coast Commission are now drawing to a close, and will no doubt be productive of much good to the Maoris, and will greatly promote the beneficial occupation and improvement of the country by both races. The thanks of the colony are especially due to bit W. Fox for his very valuable services towards bringing about so satisfactory a result. The natives who have for ■ so many years maintained their isolation ‘ In the district, those of the European set- • tlementa at Waikato a l , d those on the Waitara River, have now unreservedly renewed theirintcrcourse with the Govern- • ment and the European population. And ■it is-a gratifying fact that on a recent oo cation-’ an important chief of the tribe ■ which has hitherto maintained the mast exclusive attitude, ai d which occupies the 1 most' isolated part of the colony, have recognised our laws by voluntarily attend ■ ing at the Supreme Court at Auckland ’’to give evidence against a number of their people, who had committed a serious outrage nu a patty of Government surveyors. There are grounds for a reasonable hope that in the future the natives will yield ■ willing obedience to the laws of the colony. The unopposed re-open ng of the harbor of ■ Kawhai, which had been closed to Europeans for more than twenty years, the laying out of a Government township adjacent to the harbor, and the exploration ■ for railway purposes of a part of the conntry where for many years Europeans had ■notbeen pernlitted to travel, warrants the belief that the natives are realising that

f.i the development of the resources of the u country will most effectively promote their . own interests. I have issued a proclamation under the 0 Act of last session granting an amnesty without exception, and there is every reason to believe that the amnesty lias produced an excellent effect on the native population. The pressing forward of surveys and the construction of roads prior t« the alienation of Grown lands, haveproceeded actively daring the past year, and satisfactory results have been attained to the promotion of permanent settlement. . further experience in departmental administration has shown that - poiue .changes are' requisite in the land laws, in;order to give fuller effect to the jdesire of the Legislature' that the public estate .should be disposed of so as to pro- 1 mote the distribution of the land amongst iticm.i Amendments of exist ng Acts, having ;that object in view, will be subtnittedi lor your consideration. During the-last session, Parliament determined to>,a4apt? within fixed limits, a system gfJfaiMUng agricultural ! lands with a perpetual tenure. The initiation of the system has been attended with results which'may upon the whole be deemed The introduction of population/under < the nominated system of immigration was resumed on its being authorised-by Parliament, and has been Carried mn during-the recess The increasing facilities of communication with Europe, thelarge areaof land whichisbeing opened 'for settlement by roads and railways, and the establishment of new industries, cfferyear by year greater inducements foR theintroduction of capital, and at the Stumer, time point out the necessity of Steadily continuing the assistance which is givenirom the public -funds in aid of immigration. With the aid of money voted by Parliament increased facilities fir the development of • the goldfields have been provided, and encouragement to this important industry has been thereby offered. A ilarge sum-has been expended by private .enterprise in opening out quartz reefs, and this:branch of the industry is steadily aMUming larger proportions, and becoming, a .permanent source of wealth to the colony.. I have' been able to give effect to the. wishes of the Legislature, by arranging forihe continuation of the ’Frisco mail service for* a period of two years beyond the. termination of the existing; contract, at a.cost to this colony at something less than-that prescribed by the resolution passed last session. The particulars are contained- in papers' which will be laid before you.; Tenders for the establishment of-n-direct line of steamships between Great Britain'and the coluny were advertised for here, as well as in the United King-dom^-but neither the Agent-General nor the<.Postmaster-General have received any.offers. Your renewed attention to this subject will be invited during the session.- ; --

of the House of Reprb- „ inmxariTßs —' -The - estimate of revenue expenditure for the current financial year will belaid

before you in the coarse of a few days. Honorable Gentlemen, of the Legis't.sttvr Council, and Gentlemen of ' 'trius House of Representatives—- ''. I».i- .v 7 ! ■ • ,5, ■', ' 'Returns will be presented to you which willshow that notwithstanding considerable commercial depression during a part ofu'tbe-psst year, the public revenue hss been Well; maintained. The increasing receipt* from railways are a satisfactory .eridenoer<of the'general progress and weßdMing of the country: The fre■nent^applicationß that are made to - this *;colony to- .take part in : exhibitioafto in -various ■' parts of the world baff led ■oyadvisefs to give a careful con-■idnation-to this subject.- and they have eogue l fc> , tbe'->con«lusion that' the objects ■ought' by > exhibitions would be more effectually promoted and a" a less cos: by ’ thh oatablishdient in London'of a perrnan- : ■ eniexhibition for'products of the indus- - It proposed to ; . snbmitio you resolutions, with a view of I: inviting the co-operation of the several colonjw.interested. It is, I think, generally conceded that the Legislative Coun- ; cil' basyfor-the most part discharged its I -functions -with credit to itself, and advan"f ’ tsge>tothe colony, but public opinion, I believe, has come or is fast coming, to the ' } < coficTuaidn that the time has arrived when an Elective Oounoilshoold be substituted'

libvious magniirithont so as to the of. my subject session; n refer* or less 'or the e place easures 3overn lament, ost part will, 1 reason* bflls of eat will