GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 206, 23 December 1864, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

TUESDAY, DEC. 13. PEOEOGATXON OF THE ASSEMBLY. At a few minutes to two o’clock, the Speaker took the chair, and read a list of the bills that had passed the two Houses of Assembly and had received the assent of his Excellency the Governor. At two o’clock the strains of “ God Save the Queen” from the band, and the salute of the guard of honor stationed outside the building announced the arrival of his Excellency, who entered the Council Chamber clad in the Windsor uniform, and attended by General Sir Duncan Cameron, K.C.8., Commodore Sir William Wiseman, K.C.8., Capt. Bulkeley, A.D.C., Deputy-Inspector General Mouatt, Principal Purveyor, H. de Burgh Adams, and a numerous suite of naval and military officers. THE GOVEENOH’S SPEECH. His Excellency read the following speech in a clear and audible voice, but with a slightly more hesitating manner than at the opening of the Assembly, and left at half-past 3. Thus terminated the sessions of 1864. “ Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : I thank you for the zeal with which you have discharged your legislative duties duriug the present short session. The resolutions adopted by both branches of the Legislature, relative to the withdrawal of Her Majesty’s land forces so soon as may be consistent with Imperial interests, and the safety of the colony will bo transmitted forthwith for her Majesty’s consideration. I shall at the same time state that this request is made in the hope thereby to remove all necessity for interference on the part of the Imperial Government in the management of the internal affairs of the colony, ofter her Majesty’s forces shall have been withdrawn. You have given me an express power to carry roads through the country, makingjust provisiom for the compensation of land owners ; this Acwhich equally applies to both races of her Majesty’s subjects, will, I trust, if wisely administered, promote the future progress of New Zealand, and the civilization of its native inhabitants.

Gentlemen of the Souse of Representatives : I have to thank you for the measures which you have passed, having for their object the maintenance of the credit of this colony, by increasing its revenue, and making provisions for its immediate and extraordinary exigencies. Sonorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council , and Gentlemen of the Souse of Representatives :

Special considerations have compelled me to bring the session to a close, in an unusually short period. Many important questions will, however, demand your early consideration. It is my intention to convoke a session of the Assembly at Wellington before the expiration of the current financial

Earnestly praying that under divine Providence the measures to which you have given your sanction may conduce to the safety and welfare of the colony, and of both races of her Majesty’s subjects therein, I now in her Majesty’s name do declare that this Assembly stands prorogued and the Assembly is prorogued accordingly. Auckland, 13th December