Parliamentary.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1000, 17 June 1881, Page 3

Parliamentary.

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. Parliament was opened by the Governor in person on June 9. Eighteen members of the Legislative Council and twenty-four of the House were present. A large number of ladies were also present. The Governor wore the robes of a Knight of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. The following is the Governor’s Speech ; - Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of ReereSENTATIVES, — It affords me much satisfaction, in meeting you tor the first time, to be able to oon-pr-f’-i'.afa you upon the steady progress of y '■ v during the past year, on the re*. ts prosperity, and the increased confide., in the future which animates all classes of the community. The course prescribed by Parliament to bring to a termination tho unsatisfactory state of affairs existing on a part of the west coast of this island has been steadily pursued, and up to the present time has been attended with marked success. Effect is being given to the recommendations of tho Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the grievances which were alleged to exist between the Natives of that locality ; and the determination on the one hand to assert the supremacy of the Queen, and on the other hand to redress all real grievances, will apparently effect a peaceful solution of questions which, some time ago, wore a threatening aspect. The lands which have been appropriated for European occupation on the Waimato Plains have been for the most part sold, and are now being occupied by settlers. The prisoners, whose detention up to the present time has been deemed necessary in the interest of both Natives and Europeans, have been released and have returned to their homes, with the exception of a small number whom it is proposed to set free in a few days. Nor do my responsible advisers apprehend that it will be necessary to have recourse to extraordinary measures for the preservation of peace and good order in the district in question. Papers will be laid before you containing the minutes of tho proceedings of an Intercolonial Conference held at Sydney last January, at which a member of my Government was present. You will learn from these papers that several measures of considerable importance to the colonies were considered by the conference, and, in accordance with one of the resolutions arrived at, a Bill will be placed before you for the regulation and restriction of the influx of Chinese into the Colony. The recognition of a community of interest and mutual interdependence among the colonies, evinced by this conference, may be attended by results of considerable importance.

The railways and other public works authorised by you have been proceeded with as rapidly as was expedient in the Colony’s present circumstances.

In view of the necessity for maintaining the progressive works of colonisation, proposals will come under your consideration for assisting companies prepared to construct or continue main lines of railways. The termination of existing leases of lands in the Middle Island, and held for pastoral purposes, affords an opportunity, which has not been overlooked by my Ministers, for rendering these lands more generally useful to the State. Plana for effecting that object will bo laid before you. The systematic laying-out of roads in anticipation of the sale of waste lands has in a very marked manner promoted their occupation during the past year. You will be asked to sanction further expenditure to enable the Land Department to give effect to plans which, if carried out, will enlarge the area available for settlement and invite a more extended employment of labor and capital. The revenue received from the sale of waste lands during the past year has exceeded the estimate ; and the increasing demand for land for actual occupation, together with statistical information, affords convincing proof that a fresh impulse is being given to the work of settlement ; while the expansion of local industries promises to provide profitable employment for a rapidly-increasing population.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —

Large reductions have already been made in the cost of the public service without impairing its efficiency, and the estimates of receipts and expenditure for the current year, which will early be laid fore you, have been prepared with regard to the most rigid economy.

The revenue for the past year must on the whole be considered satisfactory. The excess of receipts over expenditure upon the railways amounts to a return of 3A per cent, upon the outlay incurred upon their construction. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —

Bills will be submitted to you for the redistribution of the representation of the people, and for the regulation of elections, which, in view of the approaching termination of Parliament, I recommend to your early attention. The Commissioners appointed last year for the purpose of inquiring into the constitution, process, and procedure of the Supreme Court and otlier courts of the Colony and ascertaining the means by which the administration of justice therein may be rendered more speedy and efficacious, and at the same timeless costly, have made an interim report, a copy of which will be laid before you. lam glad to be able to inform you that the Commissioners have proceeded so far with the work entrusted to them as to enable them to anticipate the close of their labors in July. The measures necessary to give effect to their recommendations may therefore be submitted to you during the present session. A Bill will be laid before you which will have for its object the prohibition of restraint on the alienation of land, while guarding the interests which may arise out of any contracts to which it has been made subject.

Bills will also he laid before you for the regulation and administration of charitable aid, for the consolidation and amendment of the licensing laws, and for granting assistance to local public works. I have recently visited many of the districts throughout the Colony. During these journeys I have had repeated opportunities of observing signs of increasing wealth, the spread of settlement, and the energy and activity of those engaged in industrial pursuits throughout the country. The impressions which 1 had thus been led to form are strengthened by the result of the rec- nt census, and by a perusal of reports and returns which will be laid before you,showing the revival of trade, the growth of new and important local industries, and the satisfactory condition of the ordinary and territorial revenue for the past year. In the discharge of the high functions committed to me by the Queen, it will always be ray view to man test the same scrupulous regard to constitutional practice and usage, not only in the letcerbutin the spirit, which has ever distinguished the Sovereign whom 1 represent. You may rely with confidence on my hearty co-operation in giving effect to the deliberate decision of the Legislature, and also my earnest hope and desire that your labors may be so directed as by Cod’s blessing not only to promote the material welfare of the Colony, but to secure the stability of its institutions, the development of its grand resources, and the permanent happiness of all classes of Her Majesty’s subjects within its bounds.