PARLIAMENTARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 92, 18 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE GOVERNORS SPEECH On Tuesday afternoon last, Ilia Excellency Sir Hercules, Robinson attended Parliament, and read the usual vice-regal speech, as follows :-fHonorable : 'Legislative Councillors arid Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: .:,»;■■■..: It is a great pleasure to me, so shortly after my assumption of the government of this colony, to meet the Legislative f ouncil and Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. J i<"i ' > >'. '■ '• buring the limited time whicli has elapsed since my arrival, 1 have, endeavored, as- far as possible, to make myself acquainted, with the oapabilities and requirements of the country, and tog'iin, by.pe r sonal intercourse, a knowledge of its public men, and of the various contra unities' spread throughout its wide extent. , The first impressions whish I have formed are very favorable, I have been much grati-

fied by tho loyal and cordial reception which Kathevorjwhere been accorded to me as her Majesty's Rpresentative ; and I have not failed to note with admiration the extent and variety of the resources of the country,, and the industry and enterprise which art developing them with such marvellous rapidity. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to express to you, as representing both races of the people of New Zjaland, my grateful acknowledgments for tha welcome which has been extended to me, and to offer my congratulations upon the fair, healthy, and fertile ,country wjiicli Providence has •given to ybujis anjnlierihince. ' My responsible advisers fully recognise tho desire that exists for the enactment of measures which will secure a more equal representation' of ~ tlitr'peopTe ; "for a more frequent return of members to their constituencies for re-election ; for an equitable distribution of the burdens of taxation ; and for a~mode. more just and-j«dicioun>f~deah ing with public lands arid with those belonging to the natives. , Aa, a, first step towards giving effect; to these desires, the following measures will amongst others, be laid before you :— A Bill to amend the law relating to elec tors qualified to vote at the election of members of the House of Representative* ; and a Bill to make provision for the representation of the people iv the- General Assembly. These measures, if they receive your • sanction,- will- secure manhpod suffrage on a . residential qualification to -Europ'eanß, and will givo the franchise to men of the native race who are enrolled on a ratepayers' roll, or who hold individual or undivided grants from the Crown of land to a certain value. Tho effect of the measures will also be to adjust representation, as far as practicable, on >the basis of populafc'ofc, Stfd[td finjit the duration of future Parliaments ftoJ three years. ' * T A measure will be submitted, to you pro> ' vidi'ng that in future native 'reserve lands shall be dealt with only by public auction or public tender, thereby abolishing the present monopoly of deiiling in such 'lands securing the best price for the native owners, and giving to every one an oppor tunity of completing for sales or lease?. ', /It jisa'lso under consideration how far this principle of public auction might be fairlj and beneficially applied to such native lands as now f remain.. uns ur.veyed, oc th< titles to which'have -not • yet "been investi gated by the Court. The disposal of sucl lands, with the consent of the native owners, under the existing land laws of th< ■colony, wcmlld greatly pro'mute'the increas; of settlement, while at the same time i would secure to the native owners the ful value or. their .estates.? Inquiries are* no\i being made to asoeitain the opinions of th< natives generally, and, if acceptable to then a Bill for this purpose will belaid befor< you. The fanaticism which was prevailed 01 the West Coast-of this Island for some years past has, during the reces3, assumed t somewhat alarming appearance. The, ne. qeasary steps have been' taken I . to. secure th< peace of the district, aad it is possible that c peaceful solution ..of the .difficulty will bt found. Papers in reference to this mattei will bo laid before you. The negotiations with tho Waikatc natives have been suspended, and all offer; of settlement have been withdrawn, so thai any future negotiations must be .com menceJ on c- new basis. The behaviour ol Tawhiao and his people continues friendly and peaceful; aad.tn7 advisers have good reason to believe thit thase isolations will be maintained. At the same time the wellknown chief Rewi has g'ven 1 farther important proofs of his good faith and loyalty. The attitude taken by him affords a guarantee for the continuance of 'peace ; and the maintenance of this would, iv a short time, lead to the oponiug up of the interior for settlement. Generally, the behavior of the native people has been loyal and' peaceful. ' ' Very great progress has been made in the acquisition of natj'vd lauds ai public estate, especially in localities through whioh the proposed trunk lines of railway in the North Island are likely to pass. ; Gentlemen of! the House of Representatives, — , It will be gr.itifying ; to you to learn thai the revenue roceived under nearly all heads during the past year "has exceeded the estimated amount, ..the excess uadeavsuoh head* haviug amounted ' to ' '-about ' £190,000 Under the head of the land revenue, a large deficiency has occurred ; but it must be borna in mind that, whilst a deficiency in tho Customs revenue, or of any revenue of that character, would be an absolute loss to theicolonywhioh could never, be replaced a fdllinaf-off of land revenue practically means only that so much less Crown land than was calculated on has bsen sold during the period iv question. The Crown land which is the capitvlof the country, still remains for sale, and can be sold when the progress of settlement will give it an enhanced value. The policy whiph you sanctioned last year, of reserving Crown land from, sale in districts through whioh rail ways are in course of Iforraation, "until theii construction is complete, will neoessarily add to the value, and to the proceeds which may be anticipated from the sale of such lands, The falling off in the~Bale of Crown land during the year may be attributed in pari to the commercial .depression' whiohAhni prevailed throughout theworld — fortunately less iv New Zealand than . elsewhere — bul ohiefly to the' postponement of the sale o confiscated lands. „- The -probable continuance during th< current financial year of a decreased lain revenue renders it requisite, in the opiniot of my 'Government, to impose fresh taxa tion to meet the requirements (if the colony In accordance with tho principle of equalising ( the. incidepce of taxation, a ineasun will be preeeiifedto yoii for>iinpb«rig a taj of income. One result of that tax will bi that, so soon as the finances of the countrj admit of it being done, -the Legislature cai lesson and ultimately abolish all dutiei which now press heavily on the necessariui ..of;life/qi}d/jhe springs of induesry( > : f Those railways 'which under the authority of Pai liamen t have been .corapj^tedbetweei large Venitres bf population are how yieldin| a yearly revenue which .not only meets th< of their' 'maintenance, but- pays l i large proportion of the interest on the cob of their construction.. The estimated ,g>oef revenue of these railways for the curren year is £950,000. .They h^ye giyen;a ; greai^ enhanced value to property throughout tht colony, and have materially promoted th( development of its, resources. Encouragec by this experience the Government propoa to proceed vigorously with the constructior o f those lines which have . already been p\ c may hereafter- be authorised by Parliament tho completion of which will be of greal advantage to the entire community ; and for that purpose a measure will be submitted to you, autbovis^ngf an ; additiqpal loan oi fiS.OOOjOa&tolbeiraisedj l l The estimates which will be laid befon you h?v«s. been prepared, wiih a .careful vf %ard for economy] l ■<•■!■'• f ; F '- i:) Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the Hou6e of Represen tatives : „ ■'. ' ! ! My advisers axe of opinion that the present system. of, county local; self-government should be placed on a better footing, and that this should be done without impairing

the self-governing powers.,. possessed by road '"boards and municipalities;*^ A Bill will therefore be submitted to yoit for enabling County Councils to " rftiso^-under certain conditions, and subject to jfche assent of the ratepayers— loans for public works such as can now be raised by municip Q Utieß. The Bill will contain provisions inten.#^o encourage the union of two or more countie3 for executing such works ; but it will not be sought to withhold the powers from any county standing alone, provided the various conditions are complied with. It would be manifestly impossible for the Government to present during this session measures which would effect in their entirety all the objects which have been indicated. Nevertheless, the measures which will be proposed are all ir the direction which my advisers believeto-be - consißteirtr"wh the wishes of the country. _ . 'Amongst otherjm^qrtajnjb Bills to be submitted to you are — A. BilLio_fiUßpßnd plurality f)f voting in cases of electon to -local governing bodies, whilst those bodies are subsided out of the general reyep,ue,of the colony. A Bill for the better management and maintenance of hospital and charitable institutions ; and . A Bill to re ulate the immigration of Chinese. • In accordance with,tha intention- stated in my predecessor's, speech/last a Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire iuto the* subje'ofc ' of l higher wlueation. Papers on this subject will be laid before you. . : : •■•■'••.; /. I lam confident that your careful attention will be bpstowed.on all measure; whicji, may be brought before you in the ioteVests of the whole colony, , I desire to unite cortdiallyrwith you in, carrying, out the wishes of our Most Gracious Sovereign 'for the wolfare -and happiriesß of Her' Majeßty'a subjects of both races in New Zealand ; and [I ,- humbly expiesß my hope , that (^i vine Providence may bless, our endeavors to at tain'those beneficent ends. ' . At the conclusion of the : spe^eh his Ex* ccllency retired, and the members of the Lower House returned to their oirn- Gham* her. , . ■ •■ . -.- . - •■ ■/ /■/ ht *