OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1542, 26 April 1887, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

+. . . Wellington, April ?6 The fourth session of the ninth Parlia- i ment of Now Z 'aland waa this day ! ope; ed by the Governor, when His Exr cfl"eney m«de tho following apoec x :— > Hon Gbntnembn < v tji«s Lfgislvtivb Con VIU Mil) OF THE WOUSB OF liEVUKKEN rAMVES, — 1 have sg>in to exprosn thi pleasure I ff el m meet ng you m P;irli»!- ent aest'tnbled. You will jofn mo m regret ing that oinoo list b a?ion co many members of b;th Housen have been summoned by tho hand of death. The loss of Mr Macaodrew is widely mourned, It is nni necessary th*t I bhould dwell — you knew him bo wjll— on his great qualities as a fttuteßinan and a patriot. The proper manner of celebrating the jjbilee of onr most gracloaa Sovereign hue beon considered by Her Majesty and she has intimated that the founding of an Institute that will remain a permanent exhibition of the wealth and industries of her wide dominiotiß will be moat ploaßlng to her. Steps have been taken m England tooarry this prrjeot to a aucceeßful issue, and the colonlf-a have been Invited to join m this mode .of celebrating her jubilee. My advlßere, m accordance with the wish of His Royal Highneeß the Prince of Walea, have asked the local bodies to invite assistance from private individual?, and it will bo for you to consider wr at further Btepß should be taken to testify, m the way de&ired by our sovereign, or m ouch other manner aa you may approve, the love and loyalty of the people of this colony to the Grow*. A conference convened to discuss important subjects affecting all purta of tho Empire is now being held m London This is tho firnt meeting ofe the kind m the history cf our country, and it marks v now era m the great work of •olonisntion 1 have no doubt that even should its results appear to be meagre, the very fact of Buch a Conference will help forward that cloao union of the Frupire which tho citizens of a great State mv t desire to see maintained and developed. The more firmly the bonds of relationship between English apoaking people are drawn together Ihe better it must be for every colony and dependency ( f the Empire. Tho question of caval e'efenco has necessarily been diaousßed by the delegateH. lam gad to be able to inform you there seem every prospect that a reasonable and fair Arrangement will be con--0 0 led between the motrxr oountry and her colonies, A proposal has baenmpdc, which will be duly submitted to you, by whioh nt a comparatively email coat to the colony the fleet m the Australian waters will be increased and due rr -visions made m time of war for |the proteotion of our ooasta and shipping. Per haps however, the moat gratifying announcement that will be made In reference to this subject isthat the n'rmnessof ray edvisßra m urging the claims of Ni w Zealand to be regarded to Borne extent bb a distinct noval station has been crowned with success. New Zealand, subject to your approval of the proposed arrangements, m henceforth to be the bead quarters of a portion of the fleet with a peace establish* ment of 2 vessels of war. Such a recognition of her mttrltime position oannot fail to be of service to her commercially, and my Mln'ntora desire to express their eonee of the generosity with which all the other colonies supported this proposal. So far as tho Conference has proceeded all may reji'ce at the harmony that has characterised i(a proceedings, and at the evident feeling In favor of the union that has boen displayed by Her Majesty's subjects m all parti of the Empire. intimately related to naval. protection is the defence of tho principal ports which are also the chit f centres of the wealth of the country. I am glad to be able (o state that the defeme works are gradually approaching completion, and thut the Government is now m a position to entrust their oxecution to the permanent forces of the colony. When the forts and batteries are finished the harbor defences of New Zealand will redound to tho credit of* tho colony, and will be of tho utmost service to her should war unhappily arise. The cultivation of friendly feelings amongut the colonies cannot bo too strongly urged: Tho colony of Victoria is about to celebrate the Australian centennry by holding 1 on International Exhibition, and you will be asked to consider whether Now Zealand shall be represented oo suoh nn important occasion. An exhibition of this character cannot fail to be of immense set vice to the cojonios m bringing before visitors from all parts of the world the products and resources of these vast territories • that only require capital and labor for their further development of tho colony will be self-ad justing. The reform of the Legislative Council has been frequently before Parliament. My advisurs believe that It may be fitly considered when a measure for tho representation of the people 1b being dlacuaeed. A Bill on the subject will bo brought before you. The Loans to Looal Bodies and Government Loans to Looal Bodies Acts which were pat Bed by Parliament last year have given general satisfaction throughont the oolony, Experlenoe, howevor, has shown that some amendments may be necessary m order more effect Daily to carry out their provisions. These will be inbmlttcd to you. My advisers believe that one of the main aids to the progress of the colony 1b tho production of agricultural settlement, Muoh has already been done In this direction, It will be for you to oonslder whether exceptional legislation Is not desirable to establish email farm settlements where theTo are no Grown Lands available. My advisers believe that together with agricultural and pastoral settlement it is of the utmott importance that other Industries should be encouraged. You will be invited to consider how this object can beit be accomplished. The good feeling that Is being exhibited by the Maoris towards the Government has been evidenced In marked manner by tho generous offer to the colony of the Ruv pehu, Tongariro ar»d Ngoruahoo mountains by the Ngahuwharctoa tdbo, who deßlro that a large area of land should he Bet aside as a national park. You will bo ploaaed to legislate on tho subject m order that effect may be given to their wish- a. . „ Gentl'emejj op hie House op Beprusentativjss,— ; : The estimates of the revenue for the current financial yenr \vill bo brought boforo you at an early doto Tho revenuo lias beon diminished to a considerable extent, partly by the fall m the price of goods, and partly also by the happi'y increased Inbit* of ternperanco among tho peoplo. My advisers recognise tho neces-, sity of limiting tho expenditure of tho colony ns far as circumstances will permit, , and I have no doubt whop the financial ppsition and requirements of the Ministry are placed before you they will receive your ny b\ onroful consideration. . Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, 'and Gentlemen ov the House of Hepkebenta'.pivks,— - The JReproien'tation Bill will be brought before you. I»s p^ pose will be so to deal with the Subjoot that after every census the rer:re?ehtation will be self-adjusting. The increase In the price of wool and. "the bountiful grain hamat thßt has jußt been reapel must have a benffioisl e|feot on all the industrka of the colony,, thopgh the'price of agricultural produce has been low. The work of .BetUerooit has l^ade groat progress and you will be pleaaed to learn that largo uuu\bero of fan-jlleß hav-i been attached to Tuo soil duriug the past year under the various schemes of land settle ment that are piovlded for m the Land Act >Vhoq the large «re»a that have

betn recant'y acquired' from Native] , owuora on the rnnte of tho No th liUnd | Main Trunk railway have been made [ availablo for occupation by the 0^"r.1.v.. tion of tho line, the'o wiil no doubt, bo I further pxiewsim of netilement m the j interior of the N-rh Island; Tho diffi- ; cu'tica m the past tuianUtig with Native? fur ob'ainin^ land a od»:!y b. ing lessened Efforts have been made to further aid develop the miulv-g- industrien |of thn o-ilony. 'f tie profiling want felt a" present is . o o mode cf treating Ih? rich and varied ones that ate to be found m many dartß < i the of iho oolony. It ia hoped that now nitthods may be applied which will torn to account the valuable mlr)e'ral reicurca of the goldlields than are now left unproductive, the' question ns to the nssiftinca that can be properly devoted to such a purpoee will no doubt receive your close attention You will be naked to consider Bill providing for amendmeets In the electoral laws, the Government Insurance Act, the Criminal L«w and the Guardianship of Infapta and for th«> constitution of Railway Boards of a 'vice. Various other Bills will ba submitted for you consideration. I commend to your attention thu important pueetions that will be brought (before you and I hope that under the blessing of God your labors may prove of great service to the colony