GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 344, 20 July 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(By Electric Telegraph.) THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT, THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. Wellington, Jnly 20. The Governor opened Parliament to-day with the following speech : “ Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen oe the House of Representatives. “ I have great pleasure in now for the first time meeting the Parliament of New Zealand, and trust your deliberations during the present session may tend to advance the well being and good Government of the colony. Since my assumption of Government I have had the satisfaction of visiting the four great centres of population, and becoming personally acquainted with some portions of the Middle Island, and I must congratulate you upon the great energy which has been evinced, and the rapid strides which have been made towards the development of the resources of this rich and fertile country. The reception which I everywhere received as her Majesty’s representative has been most cordial and loyal, and it will, I can assure you, be my anxious desire to extend my visits, with as little delay as possible, to all portions of the colony, in order that I may become personally acquainted with the resources and requirements, and far as possible with the inhabitants of the various districts. I observed with the utmost satisfaction the progress which is being made in the construction of those great public works which have been undertaken by the Government under your authority, and Itrustthe time is not far distant when the industry of the colonies will receive fresh impetus by their completion. The debt incurred by the formation of railways has indeed been large; but at the same time the returns received from those sections already opened are most encouraging, and tend greatly to prove the wisdom of the policy adopted by you, “ Our relations with that section of the Native people of the colony which has been so long estranged from us continue to improve. The recent meeting of Tawhiao with the Native Minister, a meeting sought for and arranged by Tawhiao himself, gives promise that the isolation in which the immediate adherents of the Maori king have hitherto held themselves, is about to terminate. “ The renewed desire of the natives to provide an English education for their children, as shown by the large increase in the number of schools in the Native districts, and the general resumption of industrial pursuits, give assurance of the maintenance of peace, and of a desire on their part to participate with the European colonists in the general prosperity. “ A ccmtnunical ion by telegraph has been received, intimating that a new contract for a mail steam service, to and from Ban Francisco, has been made by Sir Daniel Cooper, as representing the Government of New South Wales, and Mr Russell, as representing the Government of New Zealand, subject to ratification by the Legislatures of the respective colonies. The contract and the papers will be laid before you when received. “You will be gratified to learn that a contract has been made by Sir Julius Vogel, acting on behalf of the Government, for the layingof a telegraph cable between New South Wales and New Zealand upon terms much more advantageous than were believed to be attainable when the undertaking was first authorised, and that the Government of New South Wales has become a party to the contract, and has agreed to contribute onethird (£2500) of the annual subsidy (£7500). “ Gentlemen of the House op Representatives— “ Estimates of expenditure for the current financial year will be laid before you. Whilst providing for the requirements of the public service, these estimates have been so framed as to secure the utmost economy found to be consistent with the complete efficiency of the several departments. “The immigration and public works loan of four millions authorised by the Act of last session has been successfully negotiated. Papers relating to this operation will be laid before you without delay, “It will afford you satisfaction to be informed that the public revenue continues to increase, and that the actual receipts for the past financial year have been considerably in excess of the official estimate. “ Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives—- “ In accordance with resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives last session the necessary measures for the abolition of the Provincial form of Government, and for the establishment of a more thorough form of local Government in this North Island, have been prepared, and will be immediately laid before you. “You will be invited to decide whether taking the circumstances of the colony into consideration, as well as the financial condition and future prospects of some of the Provincial Governments in the Middle Island, the operation of the proposed measures may not at once, with general advantage, be so extended as to include the whole of the provinces. “ In view of the proposed constitutional changes and of the approaching termination of the existence of the present Parliament, a readjustment of representation of the people to meet the altered circumstances of the electoral divisions has become necessary, Bills will accordingly be submitted for your consideration for amenuing the law relative to the qualification of electors, and for a readjustment of representation. “A Bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the Stamp duties, and a Bill to amend the law relating to Insolvency will also be laid before you. “ I confide to your earnest attention these and other measures to be brought before you, in the hope that Divine wisdom will guide your efforts faithfully to discharge your onerous duties.”