The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1885. The Governor's Speech

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 1, 13 June 1885, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 1885. The Governor's Speech

We can safely characterise the " Speech from the Throne " made by His Excellency Sir William Jeuvois as one of the clearest and most comprehensive that has yet been delivered in the New Zealand House of Parliament. It contains a brief summary of the condition of the colony, its present prosperity, and the presages of greatness with which its future is pregnant. In it may be recognised traces of the master hand of Sir Julius Yogel, the Bupreme Optimist of New Zealand, who has the power to give a roseate tinge to whatever he touches. This is far pleasanter than the gloomy pessimism of the Continuous Ministry, which went far to render nugatory even their best and wisest schemes, or tended to frustrate the most eagerly cherished hopes or wishes of their most earnest supporters. The work of tho session is indicated in the speech — A Bill to regulate the sale and disposition of lands belonging to the natives; a Bill to arrange for the working of the railways by the constitution of Boards of Commissioners, to whom would be entrusted their general management; Parliament will be asked to authorise the representation of the colony at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition to be held in London next year ; a bill dealing with the constitution of the Legislative Council by limiting the appointments to a term of years instead of for life ; the Estimates wiU, when brought down, contain certain proposals to re-adjust taxation. The Governor is sanguine that the expenditure which was deemed necessary to put the colony in a state of defense against anticipated Russian attacks will be readily assented to. We are not in that faith, as we believe that, the promises of the leaders of the Opposition notwithstanding, somo of the small fry in the House will find a good deal to say on this subject, and may give Ministers some trouble. Various Bills have been prepared for granting local bodies larger powers, which will enable them to perform their functions without continued reference to the central Government. Facilities are to be given to the mining industry ; forests conserved, and much valuable timber now wasted to be utilised ; fishing settlements formed and encouraged ; charitable aid to the poor and afflicted is to be locally controlled; Bills for consolidating the land laws ; for limitating the liability of insurance company shareholders; for consolidation of the various Municipal Corporation Acts; the Native land laws, and the Land Transfer Acts ; for establishing a system of parcels post ; and fer the use <>i postal notes. Nothing is said of the arrangements said to be far advanced towards the completion of the purchase of tbe Wellington-Manawatu Railway. We can only suppose that "when it is necessary for the publio to know the; will be informed.*' There is everj promise that the session will be a long one. The debate on the Federal Council Bill may occupy a very considerable time, and that on Mr Bal__*ce's Bill for consolidating all existing Native laws will probably be a long and dreary one. If the Native Minister succeeds in his task he will deserve well of his country. The one thing needed is cohesion of Ministers for the session to be a political success. Without this quality they will fall to pieces like a house built of cards. Their safety may lie in the knowledge possessed by the Radical Stout, and Conservative Yogel, of the divergence of opinion between them, and this knowledge may prevent them trenching in dangerous ground or opening questions which might lead to a catastrophe.