PARLIAMENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1103, 15 June 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

Parliament was opened yesterday. The following is THE G'<VERNOR‘S ADDRESS. Honourable Gentlemen >f the Legislative Council and G-ntlemen of the House of Representatives— It affords me great pleasure to meet yon for the first time in Parliament assembled since my assumption of the government of this Colony, to which Her Majes-y has been graciously pleased to appoint me. I have visited a considerable portion of each Island, and ha' r e thus been able to obtain a personal knowledge of various districts, and to make the acquaintance of many of the residents. 1 trust ere long to be able to complete my tour through the Colony. I candot but regard the cordial manner which 1 have been everywhere received as an evidence of the local attachment of the people of New Zealand to the throne and person of our beloved Sovereign, I have been speci* ally gratified by the hearty welcome given to me by the Natives whom I have met in different parts of the country. I was much impressed where I went by the signs of present prosperity, ami especially by the vast capabilities ot New Zealand, which only need for. their development a large population and more extended ma< kefs for the produce of the Colony- I feel sure that' as the in neeiuents this Colony has , to .offer become m ire fully realised in Europe, increasing numbers of suitable settlers wid he attracted to its shores. A few days ago the Government of Victoria telegraphed to mv advisers proposing that New Zealand should join the Australian Colonies in in ashing the Imperial Covenmient to establish British rule over the New Hebrides and other Islands of the Pacific, realising the gr u at importance of these Islands to Australia, and the seri us detriments it would be to B-itish in'eresls should they fall into the bauds of a fo eien power. I have teleg aphed to the S cretary of State tor the Colouies expressing my full concurrence in the desirability of such action, and my advisers at once acceding to the proposal male to them by tie Vic torfan Government, telegraphed to the Agent-Ceneral of this Colony instructing him to co operate with the Aeent General of Victoria in ur ;ing these views on the Colonial Office. On Tuesday last a teiegram was received from the Agent Gen-ral to the effect that Loid Derby would be willing to promote the views of the Colonies on this subject if some satisfactory assurance were given that they would hear the necessary expense. Since Par'iament p-orugued a marked improvement has been no iced apparent in the relations between the Alaoris on the one hand, and the Government and European settlers on the other. On the west coast of the Northern Island, where great anxiety recently prevailed, there now exists a general fe.- ing «.jf security. The Native chiefs Te Whici and Tohu have been released from custody, and permitted to retorn to Parihaka, where they are resoling There is no indication th t this concession will lead to the re newal of dangerous proceedings on the pan of th-- Natives The labours of the West Coast Commission, now drawing to a close, w.ll no doubt be productive of much giv.rl to t.be Maoris, ami will greatly promote the beneficial occupation and improvement of the count' y by both races. The thanks of the Colony are especially due to Sir W P ix for his very valuable services towards b -inging about so satisfactory a result. The Maoris who have for so many years main t fined their isolation in the district between the European setilements and Waikato and t lose 0.1 the Waitara river, have now unreservedly renewed their intercouse with t ie Government and the European pnpn ati.m, audit is a grat'fyi g fact that on a recent occasion important chiefs of the tribe which ha«l hitherto maintained the most exclusive attitude, and which occupies the most isolated part of the Colony, have recognised our laws by voluntarily attending at tbs Supremo Courts in Auckland to give evidence against a number of their own people who had committed a serious outrage on a party or Government surveyors. Tnere are grounds for a reas mable hope that in the future the Natives will yit-.ld willing obe lienee to the laws of . the Colony. The unopposed reopening of the harbour of Kawhaia, which had been closed to Europeans for more than 20 years, the laying out of a Government township adjacent to the harbour, and the explora tion for railway purposes of a part of the country where for many years Europeans had not been permitted to travel, warrant the belief that the Natives are realising that development of the resources of the country, will most effectively promote their own interest. I have issued a proclamation under the Act of last session granting an amnesty without exception, and there is every reason to believe that the amnesty has produce ! an excellent effect on the Native population. The pressing forward of surveys and the construction of roads prior to the alienation of Crown lands, have proceeded actively during the past year, and eat sfact >ry results have been attained to promotion of permanent settlement. Fuither experience in departmental administration has shown that some changes are requis te in the land laws in order to give fnlle.- eff ot to the de-ire" of the Legislature ' that the public estate should bo so disposed | of as to promote distribution ot th 1 land amonwst a number, and industrious pooulation amendments of existing Acts having that object will be submitted for your consideration; During the last cession

Parliament determined to adopt within fixed limit* a ,custom of leasing agricultural lamia .with a perpetual. tenure. The initiation of the systern has been attended, wuh results which 1 may upon the whole he deemed satisfactory. The introduction of 3 ' population under tao nominated system of 1 immigration Was resumed on its being * : authorised by parliament, and has been J canied on during the leceas. Tue increasing facilities of -communication with Europe? ' the large area of land which is ue.ng opened for settlement by rua Is and railways, and the establishment of new industries offer 3 year by year greater inducements fur | introduction ot capital, and at the smne time 1 point to the necessity ot steadily continuing the assistance which is given from the public ; tuuds in aid ot immigration. With the aid of 1 money voted by Parliament, increased facilities for the development of the goldtielus have been provided, and encourage 1 meut to this important industry has been 1 thereby afforded, large sums have been ex- ' pendeu by private enterprise in opening out quartz reefs, and this branch of the mdustiy 1 is steadily assuming target proportions and becoming a permanent source ol wealth to 1 he Colony. I have been able to give effect to wishes of the Legislature, by arranging for the continuation of the Sau Francisco mail service fora perio i of two years be--1 yond the termination of the existing contract, at a cost to this Colony of something 1 less than that prescribed by the resolutions passed last session, the particulars are coutaiued in papers wnioh wid be mid betore you. Tenders fur the establishment of a direct line of steamships between Cheat Britain and the Colony were advertised hero as well as in the United Kingdom, out neither tne Agenc-Genoial nor Postmaster General had received auy offer. Your renewed attention to this suoject will be introduced during the session. Gentlemen of cue House ■if Representatives, the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current liuaucial year wnl be laid before you in tne course ot a few days. Honoraole gentlemen of the Legislative Council and gentlemen of tue House of Reprtseutatives, returns will be presented to you which will show chat notwithstanding considerable commercial depression during a part .of che.past yea", the public.revenue has been well maintained. Tue increasing receipts from the railways aie satisfactory evidence ul the general progress and well being of the country. Tue frequent applications that are made Co this Colony to calte part iu exhibitions in various parts of the world, has led my advisers to give careful consideration to this subject, and they have come to the conclusion uhal the objects sought by exhibition would be mure effectually promoted, and at less cost, by the establishment in London of a pei ma-. nent exhibition for produce of the industry , of Australasia, it is proposed to submit to , you a resolution with a view ot inviting , the corporation of the several Coo- , nies interested. It is, 1 think, ver> , generally conceded that the Legislative | Council has for the most part dischared its , functions with credit to itself and advantage , to the Colony ; but public opim m has, l i believe, come, or ig fast coming to the cun , elusion, and that the time has arrived when ( an elective should be substituted tor a , nominated Chamber. It is obvious that a a constitutional change of such magnitude , should Hot be attempied without mature { deln eration, the mure so as opinion is very , much divided as to the mode m which a f suitable constituency should be created. { The views of my advisers on this very im t portant subject will be laid before y u c durin ' the session. There are a number f of subjects in reference to which legislation t is more or less urgently required, but c which for the last two ses-dons has had to 8 give place to the several very important l measures that have been submitted r by my Government for the .consideration I: of Parliament and engrossed its at.e'a f tion, those measures having foi the muse p.irt become law, the present session ,j will, L hope, afford a convenient opp >r- - tuuity of dealing with the suhj' ots to which t I have referred with a rea«onaole expecta- n don that they may be s lis'acto i y disposed | of. The work of the consolidation of ihe a statutes of the Colony has beeu steadily 6 proceeded with during the recess, and is f now fast approaching completion. Several t consolidating Bil-s of i.nportnnoe wid be v orought before you without deliy. Ido ,> not doubt that all the business submitted t to Parliament will receive that attention , to which it may be entitled, and 1 earnestly r hope that under the blessing of God your t delibe atio s may result m promoting the t happiness and welfare of all classes of Her c vlajesty’s subjects in this portion of her f dominions. a