GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Evening Star, Issue 3596, 1 September 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[By Telegraph.] THE PROROGATION. Wellington, August 31. Twenty-four members attended the prorogation to-day. Very few of the public were present, owing to bad weather. The Speaker o* the House of Representatives said he regretted to he ir of his Excellency’s resignation. Mr Vogel announced that the‘Hen. Mr Russell would proceed to .Sydney to re arrange for the Californian mail contract. in reply to Mr Harmon, Mr Vogel said the Goverumeut .did not intend to hold a Colonial exhibition. If the matter was taken up as a private speculation, the Government might perhaps grant some subsidy. THE'GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. fn proroguing the General Assembly his Excellency . Sir James Pergusson spoke as follows Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen op the House of Representatives.— I have to thank you for the attention you have paid to the discharge of your onerous duties during the short but very arduous session which I am now about to terminate. This is the last occasion upon which I shall have the honor of addressing you from this place. [ desire to assure you that, in resigning the high office which 1 have held but for a short time, I am deeply sen. sible of the constant courtesy and consideration which have been shown by all with whom I have been brought into contact, whether officially or in my private relations. In returning to my private station at Home, I shall retain a deep interest in the well are of this most promising community. I shall deem it not less a privilege than a duty to serve its interests in so ifar as my humble means aud opportunities may enable me. I anticipate great benefit to the Colony from tbe State Forests Act which you have passed, providing, as it does, for setting apart forests which will not only be of use in maintaining the future industries of the Colony, but which may be expected to have a beneficial effect on the climate and upon the productiveness of its lauds. Providing, as the Act does, the machinery for the establishmeut of State forests, I am not diaposed to regret the short delay in determining the actual position of forests. You have unmistakably committed the Colony to the establishment of State forests, and it will be your duty to see that adequate lands are provided for the n, from which sufficient revenue will be obtainable to do justice to your intentions. You have passed many measures this session which will materially aid in carrying on the public service of the Colony, and in remedying the defects which experience has proved to exist. I regret that the length of the session did not enable you to deal with the question of promoting commercial intercourse with Polynesia. It is one which 1 hope will have your careful consideration • and, it will be the duty of myadviseis to bear in mind the large interest which New Zealand has in the subject, with the view of bringing it before you on a future occasion The attention «c my advisers will he earncstly given to further continuing public works, and promoting immigration. Ihe re establishment of the Californian mail packet, service m conjunction with New South Wales, aud the giving effect to provisions already agreed to for the establishment of cable communication with other parts of the world, will also have the zealous atteutiou of my advisers.

Gentlemen of tue House of Representatives, I acknowledge with pleasure the provisions you have made for the public service, and it will be the care of my advisers to administer them with the utmost economy consistent with efficiency.

Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the Hodsb of KeprbSENTATIVES, — This session will be memorable for the decisive atep which has been taken in the direction of abolishing the form of Provincial Government in the North Island. The opinion of the. Bouse of Representatives has bpen expressed by a large majority, which voted in favor of the resolutions, whilst debates in the Legislative Council have left no room to doubt, that that Chamber is also favorable to the proposed policy. For some years past there has gfottn up a belief that the Provincial system in this island does not really afford that amount of local government which the people desire. The decision arrived at is memorable also for the desire which the Legislatnremanifests that the land fund of the Colony should be applied to suitable purposes, and, as far as possible, localised. That decision must effectually do away with apprehensions in anv part of the country that the change in the Provincial system would mean the absorption of the land fund, in opposition to opinions upon the subject which have be n confirmed during a long course of years. I hope the Provincial Governments of the North Island, in loyally recognising the decision of the House of Representatives, will during the recess exert themselves to the utmost to so manage the affairs of the Provinces as to enable the projected change to be effected next year with the least possib'e inconvenience. lam glad to be able to continue to remind you of the increasing prosperity of the Colony, and hope the success which has attended your past efforts will, under the blessing of Divine Providence, continue to make itself manifest in the future, and that you will live to see the result in New Zealand becoming tlie home of a large, a prosperous, and a contented population.