The Akaroa Mail, TUESDAY, JULY 30.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 212, 30 July 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail, TUESDAY, JULY 30.

As will be seen by a report that appears elsewhere, the General Assembly was opened on Friday last by the Governor in person. The speech from the Throne, though, like all others of its. kind, dealing largely in generalities, yet contains both more matter, and more definite information as to the measures to be submitted to the Assembly than most gubernatorial utterances. If even a fair proportion of the questions referred to in the speech are dealt with during the Session, it will be the most eventful of any that has yet taken place.

The first paragraph in the speech deals 'with the Native question. It has been the fashion in this island to ignore these matters, but for this the system by which we were divided into a number of isolated communities has been much to blame. It is time that we came to remember that we form part of one whole. We have no hesitation in "~aying that if the statements in the speech are borne out by facts, and if the Government is prepared to ask the Assembly to sanction the construction of a railway from Auckland to Taranaki that a new era has dawned for New Zealand. A magnificent tract of country will be opened for settlement. What has justly been called the " sullen isolation " of a powerful section of the Native race will have been destroyed, and the completion of grand trunk lines of communication throughout New Zealand, " from Auckland to the Bluff," will be in a fair way of accomplishment. Without wishing to detract from the merits of what has been done by former Native administrations, we still consider that the present Government will have earned a deep debt of gratitude if they can accomplish what is here foreshadowed.

Measures are also promised for simplifying the procedure in investigations of titles to Native lands as well as their alienation. This is a matter of grave importance, though space will not permit us to. dilate upon it at present,

Undoubtedly the most important part of the speech is that dealing with the questions of electoral and fiscal reform. We are not disposed to quarrel with these enunciations as being somewhat vague. The Governor's speech is not the place in which any details of the proposed measures could be given. The proper time and place for such details is to come. It is enough to know that Ministers have recognised the duty devolving upon them of putting these matters upon a satisfactory footing. The policy of the Government has been enunciated by its various members during the recess, notably in the speeches of Sir George Grey, and Messrs Ballance and Stout. We hope that Ministers will have the courage of their opinions, and insist on the passing of satisfactory measures in these particulars. There was one portion of the very able speech of Mr Stout with which we confess we were somewhat disappointed. It was to the effect that a Government could but make the attempt to obtain the reforms they thought desirable ; they might not be able to succeed. True, but if beaten on any important point of policy, they can always resign. And that is what we hope the present Government will do if they fail to carry into law the salient points of the policy which they have sketched out. If they should be driven to take this course by an obstructionist majority in the Assembly we feel convinced that they will find an immense majority outside. If, on the other hand, they vacillate," back and fill," and make unworthy concessions to their opponents, they will lose the only support that is worthy of the slightest consideration— that of the people at large.

Time and space do not permit us to do more than indicate the more salient points of the remaining portion of speech. Amalgamation of offices, and the consequent saving of departmental expenditure is promised. This promise must be taken cum grano salis. Every administration promises it; none seem to carry it out. The creation of a new office immediately before the opening of the Session, the duties of the holder of which appear to be to wear white kid gloves, and carry not a " snow white," but a black wand, and be called " Usher of the Black Rod," do not augur well for Ministers' sincerity in these professions. But time will show. We are told that a simplification of legal procedure is to be made. While so many lawyers adorn the benches of the Legislature this seems too good to be true. The District Railways Act is to be amended ; Railways, Postal, and Telegraph matters, with direct steam communication with Europe, occupy the rest of the speech.

Altogether honorable members have their work cut out for them for the Session, and we cordially join his Excellency in the concluding sentence of his speech, in hoping the result of their deliberations may be that " peace and happiness may be promoted through the length aud breadth of the colony."