PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2651, 16 August 1871, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(From our own Correspondent.) Wellington, August 15, The following is the Governor’s Speech : Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives— It is with satisfaction that I have summoned the Parliament of the Colony, and qow invite your assistance and advice. I an) glad to learn that the ballot, which has, for the first time in this Colony, been used at the late general election of members of the Home of Representatives, has been found to work well. Since I last addressed you, I have again visited the Provinces of the Middle Island and its West Coast. I was greatly pleased to see material resources developed, and social institutions established to so great an extent. I 'also observed with much satisfaction the growing prosperity of < the North |sland, and particularly the extraordinary yield of gold in the Province of Auckland. Every where in both Islands my visits elicited .expressions of loyalty, to the Queen and god wishes towards myself; and i shall always remember with gratitude the courteous and hospitable manner in which I have been received in all parts of New Zealand. I congratulate you on the progress which has been made during the year ing, under improved arrangements, a postal roufc to Great Britain by San Francisco. I hope that line will attract the co-operation of the Australian colonies, and the support of the United States. Our relations with the natives continue to improve. A Bill will be laid before you to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the Native I and Court. You will concur with me in regretting the death of the celebrated Tamati Wakanoni, who was alike distinguished for his loyalty to the Queen and his friendship with the Pakehas, and who, whether in peace or war, was ever ready with his aid in establishing the Queen’s sovereignty and promoting colonization. The Lan I Transfer Act of last session has been brought into operation, and I am g ad to state that, though so short a time has elapsed, the progress of the system, and its appreciation by owners of property, have been very marked. The successful negotiation of a large part of the Loan authorised last year, and the oontinuauce of- international tranquility, have enabled my Government to initiate and carry on the colonising policy of the late Parliament. Their endeavor has been to give effect te that policy in the spirit in which it was framed, and to apply the resources placed at their disposal for that purpose with frugality, fairness, aud a steadfast view to lasting results. .It is with grpat satisfaction tljatl observe the general wish of the native tribes in the interior of the North Island to promote the formation, of great lines of road through their, lands, and tbe-pikcticaLqu-oof they give of sincerity in that respect by themselves joining in the work. A commencement h»s been made in the Public Works authorised 'in the Middle Island, and Immigration will, iu-pursuance of instructions recently given, be secured to those Provinces which have availed themselves of the provisions of the Immigration and Public Works Act. You will, I feel

sure, concur with me that the introduction and'i-settlement of suitable Immigrants are as necessary as the construction of large Public WefksV and that both are essential to the brJper 'development of the resources and the welfare of the Colony. Gem'lrmkn of the House of Representatives— > . f The Estimates for the ensuing year will be laid bet re you. They will be framed with a strict regard to economy. I congratu'ate you on the very favourable terms on which a large part of tue loan authorised by the-A cfcs of last session has been raised in London. The arrangements, also, which have been eff.-oted with the Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury in reference to the guaranteed million loan, are of a character to enhance the credit of the colony, and facilitate its financial operations. I regret to inform yon tint there-has been a considerable falling off in the Colonial rovenueduring the year,-as there has been in some of the Australian Colonies. This, no doubt, is the consequence of the depressed Value of thc staple-articles of production, and the stagnation caused by the. great European war. The present-revival in value of those products, and the ■ restoration of peace in Europe, with the rapid 1 growth of local in"dustries, amt the progress' of' Immigration a id public-works, justify the belief that this depression is except'onal, and the hope that it will prove transitory. It rests with you to adopt measures for equalising the reve me and the expenditure. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the' House of Representatives— It is of the greatest importance that elementary instruction should be more widely diffused, and that popular education should lie raised to a higher st in lard. A Bill will be laid before you to provide both these ends. Jhe reduction in _ the Te'egraph charges has resulted in a great increase of business during the year. , A number of convicts lately arrived in Canterbury from the penal settlement of Western Australia. Steps were taken by the Government fpr their immediate removal. .among other measiires, you will be asked to give your consideration to Bills for improving the Law Of Insolvency ; for amending the Law relating to the Goldfields ; f*.r governing powers on Committees election (sic) ; for the regulation of the coasting trade; for the encouragement of fisheries ; for conferring powers en Highway Boards; for prjviding-for~the-appointment of a Public Trustee for providing laud for settlement and immigrants ; and for the better regulation of charitable trusts.;. I trust your deliherati ns may, under the guidance of Divine Pi evidence, contribuae • to the unity, peac *, and prosperity of the ; Colony., ■ ,

August 16. The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the validity of the election of Mr Williamson for Auckland City haie reported that he was elected whilst disqualified. The petition' against - the return of Sir David Mo j-o is likely to prove successful. Messrs Gillies and Creighton are coalescing with the iieid tail. New writs have been ordered: for Auck : land City West and for Hoslyn.