PROROGATION OF THE ASSEMBLY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 322, 9 November 1865, Page 1

PROROGATION OF THE ASSEMBLY.

(Prom the N. Z. Advertiser, Nov. 1.) At a few minutes past two o’clock on Monday last, the General Assembly w r as formally prorogued by his Excellency the Governor. Although, in consequence of members having paired off, and left for tbeir homes, the attendance of members of both Houses of Parliament was very small, there was a sufficient number to represent all the Provinces. The spare space in the body of the Hall was occupied by a large number of ladies, and the strangers’ and reporters’ galleries were filled with spectaters. Shortly before two o’clock a guard of the Wellington volunteers, under the command of Lieut. Mills, and headed by their drum and fife band, marched down the beach and took up their positions in front of the Government Buildings to await the arrival of his Excellency. At a few minutes past two o’clock Sir George Grey, attended by his aide-de-camp (Major Grey,) his private Secretary (Rev. Mr Thatcher,) Lieut. Allardyce, and others, walked up the avenue, and entered the building. All the necessary preparations for the prorogation having been made, his Excellency entered the Legislative Council, and took his seat in the Speaker’s chair. Mr Carleton, the Acting Speaker in the House of Representatives, addressed the Governor asking his assent on behalf of her Majesty to certain bills. The formal assent having been obtained, his Excellency delivered the following speech ;

Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen oe the House oe Representatives, — I am happy to be able to release you from your further attendance in parliament. The zeal and diligence which the Legislature has displayed in the performance of the duties which have devolved ou it during the present session, cannot fail to be attended with permanent advantage to the country. The measures you have passed affecting her Majesty’s subjects of the native race, are evidence of your earnest desire to extend to them, to the full, all the rights and privileges enjoyed and prized by British subjects. By such measures, wisely administered, there is every reason to believe that they will become steadfastly assured that their interests will be zealously guarded by the Legislature, on whom they can rely, to secure, by every means in its power, happiness and prosperity to those amongst them who are peaceably inclined while those who may unfortunately be led into crime, will assuredly discover that a certain punishment awaits them. It affords me much gratification to express my sense of the energy and gallantry of her Majesty’s Colonial and Native Forces so signally displayed in the eminent successes recently achieved by them on the East Coast. Gentlemen oe the House oe Representatives,— I thank you for the supplies you have voted for the public service. You may rest assured that they will be administered with a regard for that strict economy which is imperatively required in the expenditure of the public moneys, and which will mainly tend to preserve the unity of the Colony. The measures you have passed for improving the character of New Zealand securities, and for relieving the embarassments which have for some time affected the Province of Southland, will maintain and improve the financial credit of this country. I have gladly assented to the bill for effectually preventing the expenditure of the public moneys without the authority of law. I am happy to be able to congratulate you on the steady increase in the revenue, which is likely to be still further augmented by the rapid development of the gold-fields on the West Coast. Honorable Gentlemen and Gentlemen, — The bill for increasing the representation of the people in Parliament will ensure the means of a fuller expression of public opinion to the districts to which it relates. It is my intention to dissolve this parliament, and to call another without unnecessary delay, I earnestly trust that the exercise by the several constituencies of the high functions which will devolve upon them will result in promoting the welfare and happiness of all classes of her Majesty’s subjects in the colony. 1 now in her Majesty’s name and on her Majesty’s behalf, declare this parliament to stand prorogued to Tuesday, the 26th day of December next. And it is hereby prorogued.