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Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 275, 29 May 1886, Page 2

Our Colonial Parliament has once more assembled in Wellington for the despatch of business, and that too under circumstances which afford the promise of a successful session. The Ministerial programme, as embodied in the speech with which, in accordance with time-honored custom, His Excellency the governor opened the session, is so simple as almost to disarm opposition; yet, simple as it is, it embraces elements of vital importance to this long neglected portion of the Colony, Setting out with a few kindly observations regarding the impending celebration of the jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen—perhaps the most distinguished individual presently on this planet—The speech rapidly passes hi review the more recent developments of the Maori people in the (to them) somewhat novel character of Colonists, dwelling with just approval upon the desire exhibited by the leading chiefs of the North Island (where chiefs are almost as plentiful as blackberries, and not half as useful to humanity) to co operate in the progress of Public Works and the settlement of the Land. A brief reference to the continued existence of commercial depression closes with an expression of opinion (with which we fully sympathise, although we hope rather than expect it may be so) that the depression must speedily yield to the additional expenditure yet to take place on public work, and to the further opening-up of the lands of the Colony. After a passing and appreciative reference to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London, the speech proceeds to give Parliament an assurance that Government will anxiously watch

the public expenditure, and that the finances of the country are in a sound condition. The new mail contract by way of San Francisco, in which, for the first time 4 the Union Steam Ship Company take a position alike worthy of themselves and creditable to New Zealand, affords matter for a brief paragraph, and the remaining clauses of the speech deal with the clauses which are likely to engage the attention of the country and of Parliament in the course of the session. The much vexed question of the finance of local bodies, and the powers to be conferred on such bodies, are to be the subject of a bill; and the Government express their approval of all the means taken, or to be adopted, for developing the mines, forests and fisheries of the country. So far as concerns our readers personally, the next paragraph, relating as it does to railway construction on this side of the Island, outweighs in importance all the rest of the speech ; and it ought to be re-assur-ing to the most faithless and weakneed brother amongst us to know that the arrangements effected for the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson Eailway are complete, requiring only the formal sanction of Parliament in regard to a few matters of detail. Papers are to be presented relative to the South Sea Islands (about which, we think, a great deal too much has been written and said already) and Consolidation Bills are promised on several subjects. The parcel post system is to be introduced, and another effort of legislation is threatened in connection with that unfortunate bantling of last session, the Charitable Aid and Hospitals Act. Such is the programme. It is not very extensive, but is yet wide enongh to embrace matter of vital interest to the State. The portion relating to railway communnication, in particular, will excite the keenest and most absorbing interest on the part of our readers and of the people of the Coast in general. That interest it will be our endeavor to gratify to the full by giving exhaustive and reliable particulars of the question as it continues to develop itself from time to time. The programme looks feasible and business like; and it ought to be met with general approval of Parliament. Into the details of the measures proposed to be laid before the House, we of course cannot enter, until those measures have been introduced, and the bills circulated. The general principles upon which they are based, however, appear to place them beyond unfriendly criticism, even were we disposed to adopt that mode of dealing with a Government which we believe to be the first to exhibit a sense of the needs and rights of the West Coast, and a desire to incorporate us with our fellow colonists on the eastern seaboard.