HON. GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 12, 12 June 1885, Page 2

HON. GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

— -— — ! I have much pleasure m again having recourse to your assistance m Parliament assembled. The depression that was pre- : - valout throughout the colony when you : met last year shows signs of passing i away. In many parts, notwithstanding the low. price of wool and wheat, satisfactory eridence is apparent of renewed enterprise and of confidence m the future j progress ••; the colony. The loyal dis- '■ position of the Maories and the readiness they hud lisplayed m aiding the construction or! the Northern Trunk Railway must be exceedingly gratifying to you. My Ministers desire m dealing with the Natives to treat them with justice and consideration, vrhilat at the same time the law is maintained. There are throughout the Native territory many signs that the attitude of the Alaoris is not only peaceful but friendly. Tribes and hapus hitherto standing aloof from Europeans have shown an earnest desire to co-oper-ate heartily with the Government. My j advisers ure of opinion that m order to avoid misunderstanding m tha future it is : most important that a better mode of dealing with Native lands should be devised, and to accomplish this m a manner just to the Maori owners and beneficial to the colony they propose to submit to you a Bill to regulate the sale and other disposition of lands belonging to the Natives. The construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway which was happily inaugurated near Kihikihi m April last cainot f ail to have a most beneficial effect "ti the relations between the European auu Native races, and as land is provided 10. .witleuient along the line the North l»i«nd will doubtless make great stride* m permanent agricultural tottlemeiu. .Ay Ministers have pro* oeeded cautiously but effectively with the prosecution of other public works. Ther hope Uat at no distant date the railway between Wellington and Napier will be finished. JRauid progress is being made m the construction of the Otago Central Rail tray, which when completed will open up the interior plains of that provincial district. No time was lost m making an agreement under the: East and West Coast and Nelson Railway Act, and ruy Ministers are jn- hopes that m accordance with its provisions Nelson and the West Coast will before long be connected with the East Coast of the Middle Island and that a vast area of land which from its nature requires a railway, to develop it will become available for useful purposes, and the gain to the Colony from opening these lines of communication with the Weit Coast, my Ministers consider will be of immense importance, whilst the utilisation of the land of which the Colony, will retain alternate .blocks must prove of great service. You will be asked to consider whether the effective working of the railways opened for traffic could not be improved by the constitution of Boards of Commissioners, to whom would be entrusted the general management of the railways/ In order to enable you to deal with this subject, ray Ministers will submit a Bill for your consideration, m accordance with the authorities given by Parliament m 1882 and by you last session.. The loans of £1,000,000 and ±'1,500,000 have been raised and exceedingly satisfactory prices obtained. Papers on the subject will be laid before you. The Industrial Exhibition m Wellington will shortly be opened and my advisers believe that though itanimpetui will be given to manufacturing enterprise throughout the colony. You will lie asked to authorise the representation of the colony at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition to be held m London next year. A great opportunity will thus be afforded of making known, throughout the world the vast resources and natural advantages of this colony. Considerable attention has been given to the promotion of Agricultural Settlement. The Special Settlements formed under the regulations lately gazetted promise to prove a great success.: Applications far exceeding the area at present available by law have been received by the Lands Department. The constitution of the Legislative Council has often been discussed. A Bill dealing with the subject by limiting the appointments to a term of years will be submitted for your consideratibn.