PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3314, 3 October 1873, Page 2

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

[By Electric Telegraph.] The following is the speech delivered by his Excellency the Governor in proroguing Parliament at noon to day . Honorable Legislative Councillors and Members of the House of .Representatives,— In releasing yon from further attendance, [ thank you for the manner in which you have devoted yourselves to the discharge of your onerous duties. Although of short duration, the labors of the session have been more than usually important. 1 trust that the {Acts you have passed authorising arrangements to be made for a telegraph cable will lead to the establishment of communication between New Zealand and the rest of the world. Although during the first few years the undertaking may involve some loss the advantages which will accrue to the Colony from telegraphic communication with other countries will justify the pecuniary sacrifice. The provision which you have made for the purchase at the cost of the Colony of a landed estate for the Provinces of the North Island evinces your desire to preserve the unity of the Colony, and is a step which, while it will place the North island in a position to contribute more largely to the revenue, is calculated to advance New Zealand to the first rank of British Colonies. The Native Land Act meets a great want. It will enable the Natives, at less cost than hitherto, to have their lands surveyed and their rights more clearly and equitably defined and recorded. By the Life Assurance Act you will afford protection to those who, for the purpose of providing for their families, have recourse to assurance associations. Such securities can only be ®f a partial nature ; but it will be gratifying to you that you have done all you can to give assurance associations an opportunity of placing themselves in a position to command public confidence. The Act by which you will have constituted Westland a Province, will place that part of the Colony in the condition in which it was intended by the Constitution Act all parts should occupy; and it will be satisfactory to the people of Westland to be no longer excluded from the ordinary form of Government.

Gentlemen of,the House of Representatives, —

I gratefully acknowledge the disposition which.you have shown to make efficient provision for meeting the various charges of the public service. Considering the importance of maintaining a large and constant supply of immigrants, I thank you for the liberal provision you have made for the purpose, including, as it does, not only a vote of money, but also for the Act under which immigrants who are approved of by the Agent-general, and who pay their own passages, will be assured in obtaining free grants of laud, conditional only upon occupation and cultivation. Honorable Legisl ative Councillors and Members of the.House op Representatives : I am glad that the mission of Mr Russell to England has secured to this Colony a packet service via California. - I regret that 1 the measure to place upon a mere satisfactory footing the laws relating to the Civil Service, and a measure to regulate for the future the mode of providing for necessary public works in various Provinces, have not become law. I anticipate favorable results to the commerce and manufactures of the country from the amended Tariff Act, which will, for the future, more fairly regulate the incidence of the Customs duties. The further provision you have made for carrying out the public works of the Colony, and the authority you have given to extend the various points of railway hitherto authorised into trunk lines throughout the two Islands, evidence your determination to give effect to the Public Works policy. The cheap railways which are being constructed through each island will powerfully stimulate settlement of the country. It gives me pleasure to observe the continued prosperity of the Colony, and 1 express the hope that under the blessing of Divine providence your labors will greatly aid the social and material advancement of New Zealand.