Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1964. GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 202, 25 November 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1964. GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

In placing before our readers the Governor’s speech, we may mention the conduct of Hr. Janies Wood of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Yesterday (Sunday) hearing that Mr. J. Watt had received a copy of the Governor’s speech, we made application to that gentleman for the use of it. He replied that he had just given it to Mr. Wood, but that we might obtain it or take a copy of it. On applying to Mr. Wood, for it, in order to take a copy, the original copy to be returned immediately, that individual quietly told the bearer of our application that we might “ have a printed slip of the speech at halfpast seven to-morrow [this] morning,” of course just as he was about to issue it in what is called a second edition of the Herald. We leave this circumstance to speak for itself, but we may add that we never met with or heard of such conduct in all our experience in connection with the press, nor can we believe that any other member of it would act in such a discourteous manner. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. His Excellency Sir G. Grey, K.C.8., attended by a numerous Staff, opened the General Assembly of New Zealand on the 21th November, at 2 o’clock. His Excex/lenct delivered the following speech: Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — The state of the Colony, and the resignation of my late Responsible advisers, have rendered it imperative upon me to call you together at an unusual season, and I have to thank youfor the readiness with which you have answered that summons. With the least possible delay I have appointed gentlemen of both houses of the Legislature as my Constitutional Advisers. Tho thanks of the colony are due to Lieutenant

General Sir .Duncan Cameron and Commodore Sir William Wiseman, and to tho officers and men of lier Majesty’s Army and Navy, and of the Colonial Forces, who, by a series of gallant operations, have driven the insurgent natives from districts hitherto the head-quarters of disaffection. very deeply regret that the accomplishment of this object has involved the loss of so many lives valuable alike to this colony and to their country! Steps will be taken with the least possible delay to secure the future peace of the country by setting apart defined portions of the laud of rebel natives for the purpose of satisfying the engagenients witli military and other permanent settlers, and indemnifying the colony to a reasonable extent by the sale of portions thereof, for expenditure incurred by the suppression of Iho present rebellion. Acting on my individual responsibility, I have, offered certain terms of pardon to natives now in arms against her Majesty’s authority. They will be laid before you. I regret that the Province of Taranaki and the Ngatiruauui country still remain in a state of disturbance, and it is my intention promptly and energetically to take such steps as may appear best calculated to restore order in those‘districts and to secure the settlement of Taranaki on a firm and secure footing. To forward this end a bill will be laid before you to enable the Government to acquire land for the construction of main lines of road through these districts and others in Hie Northern Island. Her Majesty having seen fit to entrust to me large and discretionary power so long as the colony accepts the aid of British troops for the suppression of internal disturbances, it will be your duty to consider whether the time lias arrived when the colony may depend upon its own resources for its internal defence, and the Governor be thereby enabled to be guided entirely by the recommendations of his Constitutional* Advisers in native as well as in ordinary matters, excepting only in such as may directly concern Imperial interests and the Prerogative of the Crown. In accordance with the dccinon of Commissioners acting under resolution of both Houses of Legislature, 1 propose immediately to remove the seat of Government to Wellington, Gentlemen of Hie House of Representatives ,— The financial position of the colony will require your most serious consideration. Her Majesty’s Home Government has offered to guarantee one million of the loan authorized bv your Act of last session, but a due regard to the just rights of former creditors and to engagements entered info wiih the provinces, may without detriment to any just claims preferred by the Home Government, probably prevent your acceptance of the offer. Nevertheless, I entertain a confident belief that the steadily increasing wealth and revenue of this colony will enable it to provide the means required for restoring and maintaining its prosperity.

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council > and Gentlemen of the House of llepreseutatives,—

A contact having been entered info by an accredited agent of tin; colony with an English company for the establishment of a postal service bv way of Panama, it will probably appear to you tiiat the credit of the colony requires that such contract should he confirmed, subject to reasonable modifications on points of detail. The contract will be laid before von. It will be my duty, during the next jrecess, to collect such information as nwv a (ford materials for a readjustment of the representation of the colony. Ihe discovery of new gold fields in the Southern island, the satisfactory prospects of the older ones, the progress of commercial, agricultural, and pastoral enterprise in those portions of the colony which have not been subject to native disturbances, are evidences of its substantial progress. Bearing in mind tbo especial circumstances of this session, and the condition of the colony at the present moment, it is probable that the consideration of many important subjects must be deferred until another not distant meeting of the Assembly. 1 doubt not, however, that with the blessing of Divine Providence, your deliberations may tend to rescue the colony from its difficulties, and to conduce to the ultimate prosperity of both races of its inhabitants.