The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1875.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 54, 22 July 1875, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1875.

Thb Colonial Parliament was opened "by His Excellency the Governor on Tuesday. The members of the Government have of late been very reticent "regarding the nature of the measures t nich it was intended to be brought Wore parliament during the present -session, and His Excellency's opening speech was therefore looked forward to with additional interest, because it was expected.it would throw some light upon this subject. Those who entertained nigh hopes in this respect will feel disappointed, for the great part of "the speech is simply a statement of that -of which we all were well aware. "We previously knew that His Excellency bad paid a visit to the four centres of population ;. that he received a cordial Teception, arid expressed himself as satisfied with the progress made with -the public works of the colony. We 3cnew that tbe colony had incurred a large debt for the construction of railwuvs, arid that our relations with the native race were gradually becoming more friendly. We were well aware that another San Francisco Mail Service had been entered into, and hoped "that it would he found to give more satisfaction than any of our former services by that route. We had previously heard that Sir Julius had entered into a contract for laying a telegraph cable between this country and New South Wales, and in addition to the information supplied by His Excellency \re may mention that the sum to be paid forthis luxury is 'L50,0Q0 a year. This is an element in the affair with •which the ratepayers of the colony may 3Z&d&blSa highly gratified as His Exseems to imagine. That Sir Julius had succeeded in negotiating a •new loan, we knew long ago. but considerable difference of opinion prevails Tegarding the. success 'of that negotia- : •tion. His Excellency, however, does inform ns that measures for the abolition of the provincial form of Go•verriment, and the establishment of a more thorough form of local Governanent In -tte". North Island have been preparedj and will be aubmitted tb our Tepresentatives. This is just what we -expected, but we think a copy of these •measures might have been published •before now, so that the people and their tepresentatives could have fully con--sidered them, and thus obviate the v* usual results of hasty legislation. His excellency also informs us that Ministers will ask our representatives to 'consider whether the provinces of the Middle Island should not also be included in the abolition resolutions. This is something new, as at the close 'of last -session Ministers felt highly in-

when it was -even hinted that \ they intended any -such thing*. We •are also informed that Bills wiil be introduced to amend the law relative to *the qualification of electors, and for a "readjustment -of the representation. Improvement in this respect certainly is desirable, and we only hope that the promised measures will not make •matters worse than they are at present A Bill "relating to insolvency is -also promised, and His Excellency concludes hj expressing the hope that the Divine "Wisdom will guide onr representatives in their efforts to faithfully discharge their onerous duties. We say — Amen. The following is His Excellency's -address •*: —

HONOBABLE LEGISLATIVE CoTJNCITL£,oxts and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives *■ j T have great pleasure in now, for the /srst time, meeting the Parliament of taf-Kew Zealand, and T trust your deliduring the present session, HBay tend to advance the well being ■Hud good of tbe government of the HBolony. Since my assumption of GoI have had the satisfaction of -visiting the four great centres of population, -and becoming personally -ac-' -quainted with some portions of the Middle Island, and I must congratulate yon upon the -great -energy which bas been evinced, and "die rapid strides "* -which have been made towards the -development of tbe -resources of this rich tmd rfertfle -country. The recep- ; tion "which I everywhere received as JTar Majeaty'B Representative has been m^ cordial and loyal, and it wM^ I 3P|>ssure you, be my anxious desire

to extend my visite with as little delay as possible to all portions of the oolony, in order that I may become personally acquainted with its resources and requirements, and as far as possible with the inhabitants of the various districts.'

I have observed with the utmost satisfaction the progress of th,ose great public works which have been undertaken by the Government under your authority, and I trust the time is not far distant when the industry of the colony will receive fresh impetus from their completion. The debt incurred in the formation of the railways has indeed been large, but at the same time the returns reoeived from those sections already opened are most encouraging, and tend greatly to prove the wisdom ot the policy adopted by you. Our relations with that section of the Native people of the colony which have been so long estranged from us, continue to improve. The recent meeting of Tawhaio with the Native Minister; a meeting sought for and arranged by Tawhaio himself: gives promise that the isolation in which the immediate adherents of the Maori King have hitherto held themselves is about to terminate.

I The renewed desire of the Natives io j I provide aa English education for their , children, as shown by the large increase in the number of schools in Native districts, and the general resumption of ! industrial pursuits, give assurance of the [ maintenance of peace, and of the desire on their part to participate with European colonists in the general prosperity | A communication by telegraph has ' been received, intimating that the new contract for the mail steam service to and from San Francisco has been made < by Sir Daniel Cooper, as representing I the Government of New South Wales, and Mr Russell, as representing the , Government of New Zealand, subject to ratifications by the Legislatures of j the respective colonies. The contract and papers will be laid before you when . received. '-■•, '■'.."' You will be gratified to learn that a ' contract has been made by Sir Julius Yogel, acting on behalf of the Government, for the laying of a telegraph cable between New South Wales and New ( Zealand, upon terms much more advantageous than were believed to be attainable when the undertaking waa first j .authorised; ahd that Government ' (N.S.W.) has become a party to the con L tract, and has agreed to contribute onethird (£25,000) of the annual subsidy (75,000). Gentlemen op. the House of Representatives : Tlie Estimates and expenditure for the current financial year will be laid before you. Whilst providing for the requirements of the Public Service, these estimates have been so. framed, as to secure the utmost economy found to be consistent with the complete efficiency of the several departments. The Immigration and Public Works Loan of ■ four millions, authorised by , Act last • session, has been successfully negotiated, : Papers relating to this operation will! be laid beforo you without delay. It" will afford you satisfaction to- be in- ! formed that the public revenues con- ■ tinue to increase, and that tfae actual receipts for the past financial year have been considerably in excess of the estimates. Honorable Legislative Council-] lors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : .

In accordance with resolutions udopted by the House of Representatives last session the necessary measures for the abolition of the Provincial form of Government, and for the establishment ofa more, thorough form of local Government in the North Island, have been prepared, and will be immediately laid before you. You will be invited to decide whether, taking the circumstances of the colony into consideration, as well as the present financial condition and future prospects of some of the Provincial Governments in the Middle Island, the operation of tbe proposed measures may not at once with general advantage be so extended as to include the whole of the provinceSi In view of the proposed Constitutional changes, and of the approaching teiv mination of the existence of the present Parliament, a re-adjustment of representation of the people to meet the altered circumstances of electoral divisions has become necessary. Bills will accordingly be submitted for your consideration amending the law relative to the qualification of electors, and for a readjustment of representation; A Bill to consolidate and amend laws relating to the Stamp Duties ; and a Bill to amend the law relating to insolvency will also be laid before you. I confide to your earnest attention this and other measures to be brought before you, in the faope'that the Divine wisdom will guide you faithfully to discharge your onerous duties.