OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 370, 17 March 1871, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

London, February 9.— [ World cable] —The Q.ueon preeee.led by the Horse Guards, in passing through Whitehall, to open Parliament to-day, was greeted with mingled cheers and hisstos, the latter predominating. The cheers were chiefly given by the Germans. Extraordinary police precautions prevented disorder. The Queen opened the sessions of the Houses of Parliament in person. The Lords and Commons mustered in full force, and there was a large attendance of spectators. The usual military and civil display was made. The weather was fine, and great crowds witnessed the procession and the display outside ; within the House ladies crowded the galleries, and many were on the floor. The Duke of Argyle, who appeared, early in the session, was the great object of undisguised curiosity; he was followed by the Lord Chancellor and members of the Foreign Legations. An Oriental Princess next appeared ; she was magnificently arrayed in jewels and fine robes, and attracted universal attention. The Queen arrived at two o'clock, with her children ; she wore black velvet. On the entrance of the royal family the. House rose ; as soon as the Queen had taken her seat on the throne, the Commons were summoned to the bar of the House, and came in with their usual unseemly scramble. The Lord Chancellor read her Majesty's speech. At the conclusion of the reading the Queen departed, and the sitting was suspended. On the return of the members to the House of Commons, Gladstone rose and gave notice of a bill altering the religious tests. Card well gave notice of a bill providing for the re-organisation of the army. The House of Lords met again at 5 o'clock. The Marquis of Westminster moved the address to the Queen. The Earl Roseberry seconded the motion. The Duke of Richmond hoped their lordships would be unanimous in voting the address. House of Lords adjourned. In the House of Commons the address was moved by Major Hamilton, the member from South Lanarkshire, and seconded by the member from Bristol.

Disraeli made some remarks on the address, in the course of which he criticised the policy of the Government. He advocated armed neutrality, and final pacification, which would exclude all the germs of hostility. He lamented the inertia of the Government last July, when it was able to-influence the belligerents ; the value of its efforts to procure the withdrawal of Prince Leopold from the canoidacy for the Spanish throne could not be admitted, but it was then possible for the Government to withhold France from war by hinting at armed neutrality, and employing it 3 acknowledged influence to Prussia to induce her to forbenr. Mr. Disraeli was equally severe in his comments, in the course which England was made to take in the Blaoli Sea question.

Eeferring to American topics, lie denounced the hostile attitude of Senator Sunnier and others towards England, unlike the attitude assumed towards the other powers, and recommended that it should be encountered with forbearance and contempt; yet a passion might be aroused which could not easily be allayed, therefore ho hoped for the resumption of negotiations for the settlement of all questions between England and America. c, meantime, in view of the relations of England with foreign countries, opposed the proposed increase of the military forces of the kingdom. Gladstone made an able speech in support of the addres3, and replied to the criticisms of Disraeli. He denied that there was any need of armed neutrality last year ; to advise Prussia against the Hohenzollem candidacy was going to the extreme limit of the international right to interfere ; the neutralization of the Black Sea had lost its importance to England since the Crimean war, and ito maintenance had been abandoned by France. He believed that England's true policy was non-intervention abroad, the study of domestic questions, anl the observation of neutral rights and obligations. He begged the House would not fetter the Government in liberty of action, or doubt for a moment its aim to secure peace with honor and safety to the country. The address was agreed to, and the House adjourned.