GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 30, 4 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OPENING. OF PARLIAMENT. Wellington, July 3. Parliament was opened at two o'clock by his Excellency, who delivered the following speech : Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House op Representatives,— I have recourse with pleasure to your advice and assistance. The marriage ol his Royal Higfiness the Duke of Edinburgh with her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia, seems to me an occasion upon which you will be glad to express to her Majesty your congratulations, and my advisers will submit to you addresses for the purpose. Since the prorogation of the General Assembly, I have visited most of the provinces, and I have taken every opportunity in my power of acquainting myself with the circumstances of the whole country. I am glad, in the course of my tours and visits, to have become known to great numbers of inhabitants, and I have had the pleasure of viewing the great natural resources of New Zealand, and the considerable progress already made in their development. Everywhere are evidences of comfort and contentment among the colonists ; while in those districts in which Europeans and natives arc mingled, there are gratifying signs of mutual confidence, and even of regard. The public works sanctioned by you have been prosecuted with the utmost vigor the resources at the command of the Public Works Department permitted, and the number of immigrants introduced into the country has largely increased. Papers will be laid before you from which you will gather all the circumstances in connection with the selection, and the passages of the immigrants and the views of the Government thereon. also learn with pleasure that without impairing their own responsibility to Parliament, my advisers have made arrangements with the Provincial Governments to aid in locating and settling the immigrants on their arrival in the colony. The contract, ably negotiated by Mr Russell on behalf of the colony, by which New Zealand in conjunction with New South Wales have again established a mail packet service with the mother country by way of the United States, will be laid before you. Owing to the delay in obtaining the ratification of the Parliament of New South Wales, no effect has yet been given to the agreement approved by you last year, between the colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand, for establishing telegraphic communication between New Zealand and Australia, and between Queensland and Singapore. The approval of the Parliament of New South Wales which has recently reached this Government, will, it is hoped, enable measures to be shortly taken to promote a communication so important to this colony. The general prosperity which prevails throughout the country will be a gratifying proof to you of the wisdom of the provisions which you have made, ,f or at the same time increasing the population and the enlargement, and putting to profitable uses the resources of the colony. The continued peaceful relations with the native race and the dispositions which the Maories evidence to recognise in your policy a desire to promote the interests of both races, are subjects calculated to afford you the utmost gratification. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —

Estimates framed with a due regard to economy, but which necessarily indicate the largely-increased work of administration, will be laid before you. The very considerable increase in the revenue will give you confidence in continuing the great public works of the colony, and in expending money upon immigration. Hon Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House op Representatives,—

I am pleased to assure you of the continued success of the Government system of life assurance and annuities. The time has come when it is desirable you should stamp upon this institution the unselfish nature of the motives which called it into existence, by deciding to reliinquish to those who, by using it, have responded to your desire to cultivate provident habits, the profits which may arise from it. My advisers will submit to you a measure which will contain provision for periodically allotting to the policy holders such profits as may be considered safely divisible. Papers will be presented to you which will enable you to judge that my advisers consider that the Polynesian Islands, their civilisation, settlement, commerce, and forms of government, present a problem of great interest and importance to this colony. Measures will be submitted to provide an additional election qualification, to create and conserve State forests as a colonial property ; to provide a means for guarding against the difficulties which may arise in consequence of continued differences of opinion between the two branches of the Legislature, and to make provision for various requirements of a more or less pressing nature. The urgent demands upon their administrative attention, consequent on the rapid progress of the colony, and the many matters to which that progress makes prompt attention desirable, lead my advisers to think it expedient not to invite legislation upon questions which do not press for immediate solution. The responsible duties you are about to discharge will, I hope, under the blessings of Divine Providence, further add to the welfare of the colony and the happiness of its people of both races. Thirteen members assembled in the Legislative Council, and thirty-five in the House of Representatives. Notices of motion regarding the usual sessional committees were made, Messrs Gibbs and Montgomery took the oaths and their seats. The Premier laid a batch of papers on the table, chiefly regarding immigration, in-

eluding copies of the " Handbook of New Zealand." A Bill to Abolish Imprisonment for Debt was introduced by the Premier, and read a first time. The PREMIER explained that the reason Mr McLean was absent was that he left Wellington under the impression that the House would not meet before the 16th of July; but he was expected back this week. A number of notices of motion were given, and the House adjourned to Tuesday, at 2.80.