The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1875.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 180, 21 July 1875, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1875.

The custom has grown up, not only in New Zealand but elsewhere, of summing up, sometimes the regal, sometimes the vice-regal speech on the occasion of opening Parliament in the words, " there's nothing ia it." Looking forward, as we were, to the opening address of yesterday, we would fain have been able to comment upon it in a less summary manner, but the oracle has spoken, and, we are compelled & admit, has said next to nothing. The greater part of the first paragraph is evidently the Governor's own, containing as it does his first impressions of the colony in which he is now her Majesty's representative; the second is in the' fine lioman hand of Sir Donald M'Lcjan, the Native Minister, and simply relates in a few words the inter-sessional attempts that have been made towards conciliating the Maoris, and the probable acceptance of the same. by them. Then we are told, what we all knew before, that a contract has been entered into, subject to the approval of the Legislature, for a new Sau Francisco mail service • aud that another has been made for the construction of a telegraph cable between New Zealand and New South Wales. The Estimates have, of course, been framed with the utmost economy,' attention being paid to efficiency, and so on ia the old stereotyped language, and then we arc re-informed of the fact that a four million loan has been negotiated— successfully, it is said, but of that further evidence is required. The revenue is next referred to. We had a right to expect that this had materially increased, seeing that within the last twelve months some 30,000 consumers of duty-paying articles have been poured into the country, but at the same time, it certainly is a matter for congratulation that the increase has been considerably in excess of what was anticipated. This is the first piece of information, gratifying or otherwise, that is to be found in the speech. We now come to the allimportant question of the abolition of Provincial institutions, and, notwithstanding the strong expression of opinion from all parts of the colony in favor of rendering this measure general rather than partial in its operation, the Ministry do not appear to have advanced a single stage since the close of last session, unless we are to take the ambiguous expression "You will be invited to decide whether the operation of the proposed measures may not be extended so as to include the whole of the provinces " as meaning that the Government intend to propose and to take their stand upon "abolition" in its entirety. But this appears to be extremely doubtful. A "re-adjustment

of representation" ia to be proposed, but upon what basis we are at present left entirely in the dark. A « Bill for amending the law relating to the qualification of electors" is also to be introduced, but here again comment is rendered impossible by the absence of any intimation as to the direction in which the proposed change is to be made. Those engaged in business will be glad to learn that there is some chance of the complications arising out of five or sis Stamp Acts being brought to a termination by their consolidation. The amendment of these is also proposed, but how, or in what way, we are left in ignorance. The cumbrous " law relating to insolvency " is also to be amended. This is decidedly a matter of public interest, and the proposed change or changes would have been more likely to be adapted to the convenience of the public had an expression of opinion as to the working of the Act now in force, and the amendments that might be desirable, been invited from the various centres of population. Members of the legal profession and Chambers of Commerce might have afforded several valuable hints, the essence of which, after the process of boiling down in the Minister of Justice's cauldron had been gone through, would have pervaded the dish that Mr Bowen has placed on the bill of fare, to the greater satisfaction, probably, of the community at large in all the leading business portions of the colony. And this brings us to the conclusion of his Excellency's speech. We feel somewhat ashamed of devoting so very small a space to comments upon it, but the fault^iß-<not ours. The Government hatfe left us almost completely in the dark with regard to their future actions. How then can we be expected to express either satisfaction or the reverse?