OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2531, 19 May 1882, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

SECOND EDITION,

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. TBy Telegraph.! [We have been favored, through the courtesy of the Government, with the following full account of the Governor’s speech! : Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen op the House op Representatives.

It is with much pleasure that I have recourse to your advice and assistance on the occasion of the opening of the eighth Parliament of New Zealand.

I forwarded to the Queen an expression which I feel sure will have your hearty concurrence, of the deep-felt thankfulness which all classes of Her Majesty’s subjects in New Zealand hoard of her recent preservation from danger, and of their earnest prayer that she may be long spared to reign over a loyal and un t d emj i-e. The measures adopted by the last Parliament to extend the franchise, to increase the representation of the people, and to afford more frequent opportunities of ascertaining the opinion of the constituencies may, I trust, cause all classes of the community to watch your deliberations with keen interest, and be found conductive to the permanent welfare and happiness of the colony. I am glad to be able to congratulate you upon the renewed and well-founded confidence which exists as to the commercial prospects of the colony, upon the disappearance of distress amongst the working olassesi and upon the general increase of the revenue.

The proposals submitted to Parliament last cession for the systematic laying out of roads, and to promote the colonisation of the waste lands, have had careful attention during the recess ; and in all parts of the colony the work of settlement is progressing favorably. New openings are in the course of develop, ment for the employment of labor and capital, the railways have become more pro. duotive, and fresh groups of population are settling in districts which only require means of convenient access to make them prosperous.

A desire for pertnanent settlement on the goldfields, and for the profitable union of mining and agricultural pursuits in the same localities, is becoming more manifest.

The present time is, in the opinion of my advisers, a very favorable one at which to press forward the construction of works and to facilitate the influx of population. The success of the scheme which has been adopted at Rotorua on a limited scale for the administration of Native lands, on behalf of the Native owners, leads me to hope that it may have a beneficial and more extended operation in the future.

My advisers are of opinion that a plan for leasing agricultural lands with fixity of tenure, upon reasonable terms, may with advantage be incorporated into the general system of administering the Grown lands of the colony, and a measure will be submitted to you with this object.

Towards the close of the last session of Parliament the aspect of affairs on the West Coast of the North Island appeared to my Government to have became mors threatening than had previously been the case, and my advisers felt themselves compelled to consider whether more active steps than had yet been taken might not be required for the repression of lawlessness, the protection of her Majesty’s peaceable subjects, and the termination of the increasing excitement in that district. At their request the House of Representatives voted a sum of £IOO,OOO to meet such a contingency in the month of October. The time arrived when, conciliation having, in the opinion of my Ministers, failed to effect its object, they considered the adoption of more vigorous measures to have become necessary. A proclamation was accordingly issued during my absence from the colony, by the Administrator of the Government, calling on Te Whiti and his adherents to accept within a specified time the land offered to them, a requisition with which Te Whiti failed to show any sign of compliance. The danger and difficulties of the position were judged fcy my Government only to increase with the continued exercise of forbearance, and it was resolved that the periodical meetings of Natives at Parihaka should be no longer allowed to be held; that the numerous Natives from other localities congregated there should bo compelled to return to their own districts; and that To Whiti and Tohu should be removed from a position which was deemed by my advisers to constitute a standing menace to the peace of the colony. Te Whiti and Tohu were therefore arrested, and were committed for trial on a charge of sedition. In order to secure the success of the operations necessary

for these objects, the Volunteers were invited to leave their districts to render assistance, and a large addition was made to the Armed Constabulary. The thanks of the colony are due to tho Volunteers for the readiness with which they answered the call made on them, and tor their soldierly conduct while on active service. The discipline and good conduct of the Armed Constabulary entitle them to the highest praise. My Government desire it to be recognised that in the course pursued they have been and are actuated by anxiety to avert consequences disastrous to all classes of her Majesty’s subjects rather than by any desire to inflict punishment.

A Bill will be laid before yon having for

ts object to render the trial of Te Whiti and Tohu unnecessary, and at the same time to prevent them from returning for the present to Parihaka, or recommencing an agitation which has long caused alarm and apprehension of danger among the settlers on the West Coast. lam assured that confidence in the

tranquility of tho district is established, and that a feeling of security exists among the inhabitants which has been long unknown to them.

Gentlemen of the House op Repeesen-

TATIVEB, — The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year will shortly be placed before you.

Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen op the House op EepbeBENTATIVB3. Returns will belaid before you which show that tho revenue hvi considerably exceeded the amount estimated ; the railway returns especially show a gratifying increase, the surplus of receipts over expenditure during the past year amounting approximately to 4 per cent, upon tho cost of construction. A new impetus appears to have been given to every branch of industry. The yield of gold for the year which has just closed, as compared with that of several previous years, shows a marked development of th a important industry, and encourages the belief that further expenditure in opening up the gildSelds will be productive of the best results to the colony at large. Tuese facte appear amply to justify your making provision for the extension and ultimate com-

pletion of the main trunk lines of railway, as well as for other important works in connection with them, to which Parliament has already given its sanction. Proposal* with these objects will be made to you, which tl # increase of revenue and the revival of prosperity appear fully to justify. The commissioners appointed to enquire into the constitution, practice and procedure of the courts of judicature within the colony, with the view of preparing such measures of reform as would render the administration of justice more speedy and efficacious, and at the same time less costly than at present, have completed their labors, and Bills will be presented to you for giving effect to the recommendations of the Commissioners. Bills will also be introduced to amend the Counties and Hoad Board Acts, to regulate the making and levying of rates, to effect important changes in the working of the Government Life Insurance Department, to improve the law affecting lunatics, to enable affirmation and declarations to bo taken in lieu of oaths, to abolish the restraints on the alienation of land, to amend the law relating to the property of married women, to consolidate and amend the law relating to legal practitioners, and for the better management of Native reserves. Each of these subjects will require your very ca efnl oonsideratio*, and under the guidance of Providence I trust that your deliberations will result in just conclusions, beneficial to all classes of her Majesty's subjects in this colony.