NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 946, 4 June 1880, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

(Condensed from Dunedin Papers.)

Parliament was opened on Friday last, the 28 hj nit., by the Governor (Sir Hercules Robinson) in peison, who read the opening speech to but a thin house, only 28 members of the House of representatives, and a dozen of the honourable members of the Legislative Council being present. The speech was very short. It referred to the past monetary pressure and general depression, and congratulated the country on revived confidence through the abundant harvest and the increased value of most of the staple articles of the country. Reference was made to the foiling off in almost all the principal items of revenue, and said expenditure must bo decreased, business must be curtailed, and Hie public works constructed must be made iv.oro productive. A plan is to lie considered to place the finances of the local bodies on a satisfactory basis, and will enable those bodies to carry ou their works in a self-reliant and independent manner. Bills will bo presented for consolidating and amending the licensing laws of the Colony, for placing the administration of hospitals and charitable aid on a sound and intelligible basis, for completing the changes in the electoral law which were commenced in the last session of Parliament, for readjusting the representation of the people, and for amending the laws affecting the dealing with Native lands and the constitution of the Native Lands Court. The work of opening up the waste lands of the Oown for settlement has been vigorously prosecuted, and blocks of land for occupation upon the deferred payment and village settlement systems have been set aside over a largo portion of the Colony. The desire which exists for the occupation of land in small holdings exhibits a determination on the part of the people of the Colony to devote themselves steadily to the development of its resources. After the opening ceremony, which occupied loss than a quarter of an hour, Ministers gave notice of the three Electoral Bills left over from last session, also of a Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill. Notices of other Bills were given and a large number of papers laid on the table, and the House adjourned till Tuesday, Ist Juno.