Governor's Speech

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 163, 15 June 1883, Page 2

Governor's Speech-

(by telegraph.) (unites peeßß association".). Hon. gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and gentlem- n of the House of Representatives, it affords me. great pleasure to meet you for the first time m Parliament assembled. Since my as* sumption ot the Government of this colony to which Her Majesty has been gracious y pleased to appoint me, 1 have visited a considerable portion of each Island, and have thus been able to obtain a personal knowledge of vanous districts and to make the acquaintance of maiy of the residents. I trust ere long to be able to complete my tour through the coloay. I cannot bat regard the cordial manner m which T hare been everywhere, received as an evidence of the loyal attachment of the peopte of New Zealand to the throne, and person of our beloved Sovereign. I have been specially gratifies by the hearty welcome given to me by the Natives whom I have met m different parts of the country. I was much impressed wherever I went by the sigus of present prosperity, specially by the vast capabilities of New Zealand which only need for their development a larger population and more extended markets for the produce of the colony. I feel sure that as the inducements this country has to offer i become more iully realised m Europe, increasing nurobers of suitable settlers will be attra .ted to its shores. A few days ago the Government of Victoria telegraphed to my advisers proposing that New Zealand should join the Australian Colonies m asking the Imperial Government to establish British rule over the New ffebri les and other islands of the Pacific. Realising the great importance of these islands to Australasia, and the serious detriment it would be to British interests, should they fall into the hands of a foreign power, I have telegraphed to the Secre-ta-y of Statft tcr the coloni^a expressing my full concurrence m the desiraDility of such action, and my advisers at once acceding to the proposal made to them by the Victorian (Government, teleKiaphed to the Agent-General of this colony instructing him to co-operate with the Agent-General of Victona m urging the views of the colonial office. 1 1) a Tuesday last, a telegraoi -was re- ) ceived from the Agents-General to the j effect that Lord Derby would be willing to promote the views of the colonies on these subjects tf some satisfactory assurance were given that they would bear the necessary expense. Since Parlinment last met a marked improvement has become apparent m the relations between the Maoris on the one hand and the Government and European settlers on the other. On the we tof the Northern Island where great anxiety recently prevailed, there now exists a general feeling, of security. The native chiefs Te Whiti and Tohu have been released from custody and permitted to return to Parihaka, where they are residing. There is no indication that this concession will lead to the re newal of dangerous proceedings on the part of the natives. The labors of the to a close will no doubt be productive of much good to the Maoris, and will greatly promote the beneficial occupation and improvement of the country by both races. The thanks of the colony are especially due to Sir W. Fox for his very valuable services towards bringing about no satisfactory a result. The Maoiis who have for so many years maintained their isolation m the districts betwaan the European settlement; atWaikato and those on i the Waitara liver nave now unreservedly renewed their inter-course with the Government and the European popula. tion, and it is a gratifying fact that on a recent occasion im» portanfc chiefs of the tribe which has hitherto maintained the most exclusive attitude and which occupies the most isolated part of the colony, have recog* nised our laws by voluntarily attending at the Supreme Court m Auckland to give evidence against a number of their own people who hadcominitted a serious outrage on a party of Government surveyors. There are grounds fora reasonable hope that m the future the natives will yield willing obedience to the laws of the colony. The unopposed reopenin? of the Harbour of Kawhia which had been closed to Europeans for more than twenty year? ; the laying out of a Government, township adjacent to the harbor, and the exploration for railway purposes of a part of the country where for many years Europeans had not been permitted even to travel warrant the belief that the natives are realizing that the development of the resources of the country wi^ most effectively promote their own inrerets. I have issued a proclamation under the Act of last session, granting amnesty without any exception, and there is every reason to believe that the amnesty hah produced m excellent effect on the native population. The pressing: forward of surveys »nd the construction of roads prior to ;be alienation of Crown Lands have proceeded actively 1 during- the past year, md satisfactory results have been atained m the promotion of permanent lettlement. further experience m departmental idministration has shown that some (hinges are requisite m the land laws, n order to give fuller effeeb to the lesire of the Legislature, that; the lublic estate should be so disposed of as o promote the distribution of tbe land mongst a numerous and industrious lopulation. Amendments of existing icts having that object will be subaitted for your consideration . During the last session Parliament etermined to adopt, within fixed liruits, system ot leasing agricultural lands p ith a perpetual tenure. The initiation f the system has been attended with jsults which may upon the whole be eemed satisfactory. The introduction of population under ie nominated system of immigration as resnmed on its being authorised by 'arliament, and has been carried on uring the recess ; the increasing icilities of communication with Europe, ie largo area of land which is being ?eaed tor settlement by roads 'and

railways, and the establishment of new industries offer year by year greater inducements for the introduction of capita I, and at the same time point to the necessity of steadily continuing the assistance which is given from the public funds m aid of immigration. With the aid of money voted by Parliament, in-* creased facilities for the development of the gold fields have been provided, and encouragement to this important industry has been thereby afforded. Large sums huve been expended by private enterprise m opening out quartz reefs, and this branch of the industry is steadily assuming; larger proportions, and becoming a permanent source of wealth to the Colony. I have ber j n able to give effect to the wishes of the Legislature, by arranging for the continuation of the Han Francisco mail service for a period of two years beyond the termination of the existing contract, at a cost to this colony something less than that prescribed by resolution passed last session. The particulars are contained m papers which will be laid before you. i Tenders lor the establishment 'of a direct line of steamships between Great Britain and the colony were advertised for hei c as well as m the United Kingdom ; but neither the Agent-General ncr the Postmaster- General received any offer. Your renewed attention to this subject; will be invited during the session. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year will be laid before you m the course of a few days. Honorable gentlemen of the Legislative Council and gentlemen of the House of Kepresentatives, returns will be presented to you which will .show that notwithstanding considerable commercial depression during a part of the past year the public revenue has been well maintained . The increasing receipts from railways are satisfactory evidencft of the general progress and well- being of this country. The frequent applications that are sent to this colony to take part m exhibitions m various parts of the world h*ve led my advisers to give careful consideration to this subject, and they bave conn to the conclasioa that the object sought by exhibitions would be more effectually promoted, and at a less cost by the establishment; m London of a. permanent exhibition for the products of the industries of Australasia. It is proposed to submit to you resolutions with a view of inviting the cooperation of the several colonies interested. It is I think generally conceded that; the Legislative Council has for the :nost part discharged its functions with credit to itself, and with advantage to the colony ; but public opinion has I believe come, or is fast coming to the conclusion that the time has arrived, when an elective should be substituted tor a nominated chamber. It is obvious that a constitutional change of such magnitude should not bo attempted without mature deliberation. The more so as opinion is very much divided as to the mode m which a suitable constituency should be created. important subject will be laid before you during the session. There are a number of subjects m reference to which legislation is mo»-e or less urgently required, but which for the last two sessions have had to give place to the several very important measures that have been submitted by my Government for the consideration of Parlia* ment and engrossed its attention. Those measures having for the most part become law, the present session will, I hone, afford a convenient expectation of dealing with the subjects to which I have referred with a reasonable expectation that they may be successfully disposed of. The work of consolidating the statutes of the colony has been steadily proceeded with during the recess and is now fast approaching completion. Several con» solidatiog bills of importance will be brought before you without delay I do not doubt that all the business submitted to Parliament will receive thac attention to which it may be entitled, and I earnestly hope that under the blessing of God your deliberations may result m . promoting the happiness and welfare of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects m this portion of her dominions.