The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1890. The Speech from the Throne

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 3, 21 June 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1890. The Speech from the Throne

Although we did not expect that th Governor's speech delivered at th opening of Parliament on Thursday would coutaiu any subject matter o of very great interest yet, we in us confess, we were disappointed at it: extreme meagreness. There is abso lutely nothing in it. It is said th* country is happy which is without v hißtory, and if that be correct the colony of New Zealand has been poli tically happy anyway, for the pas year, inasmuch as it would appear tv have nothing to chronicle in the way of notable events during that period It is true we have had the Dunediu Exhibition, and the flax boom, terndered with typhoid fsver and the vagaries of some of the members oi Cabinet; but these are but ordinary matters which fall naturally into oblivion. We are glad to know that, notwithstanding the muddling of the Minister in charge of that department, the waste lands of the Crown have been settled at a satisfactory rate of progress ; but emphatically deny that the Government deserves any credit for the fact. Settlement has beeu forced on in spite of the Government, which is a very different thing. A scheme i» to be submitted for the defence of the colony against any attack which is likely, in case of war, to be made upon it, and when that scheme is before the House we may expect to hear some considerable amount of talk about it. but we confidently prophecy that whether good, bad^ or indifferent it will not be accepted. The Bills to be introduced are few in number certainly, but they are each of considerable importance. The qualification and Eegistration of Electors, the Civil Service Regulations, Hospital and Charitable Aid, the Bankruptcy Luw, are the most pron»inent. Whether they will be passed by this Parliament is very doubtful. A singular feature in the speech is the entire absence of any allusion whatever to the alleged surplus in the Treasury, of which so much was made a few weeks ago. No doubt a discreet silence was the wisest course under the circumstances.