PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 238, 4 November 1876, Page 4

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

(Evening Argus November 1.) \ Parliament was prorogued yesterday by commission at half-past five o'clock. The Commissioners were the Hon. Sir Jobn Richardson, Hon. John Hall, Hon. Dr Pollen, end Hon. Major Richmond, C.B. The members of the House of Represeniatives being summoned, the Clerk read a message from the Governor assenting to the several Bills passed, and also read the commission authorising the prorogation. Sir John Richaadson then declared Parliament prorogued to the I7th day of January next. The following speech was not read: Honorable Legislative Councillors AND GENTLKMEN OP THE House of Representatives, — The state into which you have brought the public business, and the strong probability of greater mischief being done if the session were prolonged, enables me to release you from further attendance in Parliament. I regret that I am unable to express fully my opinion of the manner in which you have performed your duties during the session. When some four months and a half ago I had recourse to your advice and assistance, I did so with much satiaJaction, and I urged you most earnestly to co-operate and assist in rendering as beneficial as possible the great constitutional changes which were impending, and which this Parliament was elected to carry out. 1 commended to your notice a Bill for establishing Counties with independent powers. I earnestly directed your attention to the necessity for amending the law relating to Native lands. I invited your attention to certain negotiations with the Bauk of England, regarding the inscription of stock. I forcibly impressed on you the necessity of enlarging the facilities for acquiring land in moderate-sized blocks for cultivation and settlement. I aeked you to consider a Bill regulating Friendly and finally I committed to your grave consideration the business of the session, impioriog the Almighty to guide and order your deliberations that they might ba prouuctive of happiness and prosperity to > the people of New Zealand. J deeply regret that i v His wisdom the Almighty has not seen lit to vouchsafe an answer to this well-imant, prayer. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — You have passed most of the eeaeion in useless talk and disgraceful reoriminaiion, while what business you have done has been sluired over at Lours when, both in miud and body, you were utterly incapable of devoting the requisite attention to the important work you were engaged on. I tbank you ior the supp"es you have so lavishly granted for the current year, nnd (or ihe enoruiouß power you have placed in the bauds of my reapoueible advisers, without knowing who they will be. I deeply sympathise with mauy of you who, having been led to believe that your consisient support of, nnd services to, my Government would be rewßrded by suitable permanent provision at the public expense, are now rendered incnpable of accepting Government employment for a period of twelve months, by on Act to which I hove just niven my assent. From the provisions of that Act twenty-three of your uumber are, however, happily exempt. Honorable L> gislative Council lors, — Trie to your own interests, 1 have observed how carefully you have interposed to guard property from taxation, and to prevent the settlement of the country on such a system as that of acquiring freeholds by deferred payments. This policy, if only it can be steadily persevered in aud submission can be euforued, will in time render you enormously wealthy, and enable you to quit the colony which has made you so. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — I do not know of a single measure which has been paesed in such n shape as to prove satisfactory or beneficial to the country. My Government Las promised attention to a great variety of subjects, and to prepare a very large number of Bills during the recess, but to prevent disappointment you had better not rely too implicitly ou theee promise*. It would be a mockery on my part to express the usual hope, that undtr tha blessing of Divine J'rovulence the measures you have authorised in thiß session may tend to promote the progress of this colony, and tho welfare of tbe people. The age of miracles ia passed, and the measures in question Lave not been designed in that spirit, or pa3sed with that view. I do, however, earnestly pray that during tho reces3 you may have time 4o reflect upon the events of the session, find that the reflection moy 3 under the blessing of Divine Providence, lead you to repentance and amendment, and that when next I am forced to call you together you may return here wiser aad better men, conscious of the grave responsibilities resting upoa you, and anxious to discharge the high and important duties of your position honestly and faithfully, to the advantage of the coluny and its people.