The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883. The Governor's Speech.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 970, 15 June 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883. The Governor's Speech.

The speech which it is customary for the Governor to deliver when opening the New Zealand Parliament was looked forward to this session with more than common interest. Not only is this the first time that Sir William Jervois has been called upon to preside upon such an occasion, but his recent tour of the colony, and the careful manner in which he examined into local questions wherever he stayed gave to the more personal portions of the address a special importance. The Governor declared himself much impressed

with; the signs ot eyer' he went, and the vast capabilities for development possessed by New Zeaiand. This, we feel suro, is no mere fason de parler, but the deliberate and intelligent opinion of one well able to judge, and it is gratifying to know that Sir William Jervois thinks as highly of the people of this colony as we think of him. What there is of a retrospective nature in these opening speeches generally errs on the side of enthusiastic exaggeration, but in this instance the Ministry is justified in pointing with pride to the work they have done in the past, although something of what is said concerning this must be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. It was travelling bn safe ground, however, when the improved relations now existing between the Native and European populations was descanted on, as everybody recognises the good work that has been done in that direction si ace Parliament rose. Mr Bryce is at the present time probably the most popular member of the Government, and nobody can deny that he thoroughly deserves the kudos he has gained. But it should not be forgotten that another politician, who is not now, unfortunately for the colony, a member of the House, deserves to share equally with 7the Native Minister the honor of having virtuallyput an end to the Maori difficulty. We refer to Sir- William Fox, whose 'services on the West Coast Commission have been none the less important because they have been carried out unostentatiously, and the graceful tribute paid to him in the Governor’s speech was truly merited. So much for the Native question. But when the Ministry congratulates itself on the success of the perpetual leasing system experiment we think it is rather premature We have firm faith in the ultimate success of this method of dealing with the land, but that it will be some time before the people of the colony become reconciled to the new order of things was shown the other day in Dunedin. The only other subject for self-gratula-tion by the Government is the renewal of the San Francisco mail service, which has been effected at less cost than was prescribed by Parliament, and we have to set against this the ignominious failure of the direct steam communication proposals, a subject that will be again brought up during this session, turning from the past to the future, we find that the only definite promises of the Government are that measures will be brought down to reform the land laws, so as to promote the “ distribution of the land amongst a numerous and industrious population,” and to make the Upper House an elective body. As these things are referred to only in general terms, it is impossible for us to know in what particular shape these reforms will be presented to Parliament, but it must be confessed that the recent nominations of the Government to the Legislative Council have gone far to convince the people of the evils of the present system of forming an Upper Chamber. Of topics not exclusively of moment to this colony, the Governor referred to the project initiated by Victoria to annex the New Hebrides, and the suggestion to hold a Colonial Exhibition in London, As to the former, it appears that Lord Derby is not averse to the annexation, provided that the expenses of governing the new colony are satisfactorily guaranteed, a condition that we fancy will be rather difficult to fulfil, unless all the colonies of Australasia take united action in the matter. This, however, together with the question as to the advisability of establishing a permanent exhibition in London, instead of a merely temporary one as suggested by Mr Twopeny, will form the subject of serious discussion during the session, as they are both matters of importance to the colony. The speech is on the whole as good as we had a right to expect, and we certainly do not think the worse of it because it does not contain lavish pro. mises.