OPENING of PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 169, 19 July 1877, Page 2

OPENING of PARLIAMENT.

; THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. [Br Telegraph.] The second session of the sixth Parliament Honorable Legislative Councillors ! and Gentlemen of the House op Representatives. In, having recourse to your advice and assistance on this occasion it gives me much pleasure to be able to congratulate you upon the progress which has .'been made dnrinsr the past, year in the development of the resources of the colony; upon the prosperous coadition of its chief industries, agricultural pastoral, and mining, and upon our continually relations with the native vU?H dng f he - ece^ * haa much P lea s«re in T»s ting ,.a Jarge portion of : , the SSouth Island; 3Sn?°1 gr - ifylqg to meto wifcneßß the indications of- .progress, and advancement

to the future prosperity and welfare of the colony. You will, I ,feel assured, recognise with ma the logs which my Governments and the colony, have sustained in the' lamented death :of Sir Donald M'Lean, who for more tbjan seven yeare filled taa : office of Native ,Mlnis6er. His devotionf, to the^ duties of his office, his knowledge of the Native language and character, his tact in dealing with individuals as well as with masses, secured to him an influence over the Maori people which he exercised unceasingly to promote their welfare and advancement, to maintain peace, arid to bring about that reconciliation between the races which he so earnestly desired to accomplish. Since the prorogation in October last the administrative changes caused by the coming into operation of the Abolition of Provinces Act, and those rendered necessary by the legislation Of last session, have occupied the attention of my Government, and it is a . subject for congratulation that changes so large have been effected with so little public inconvenience and without 1 the^aTsturbanSer of the\ ordinary -;administrative : routine\ throughout the icolony.' This 'satisfactory ■ result, 1 am advised,'is greritly owing to the" J loyal assistance and exertion of those gentlemen, members :of •this; Assembly,- who mr~ their respective provincial districts consented I to hold temporarily the honorary iand respond i sible positions of Executive officers. |j Captain Campbell Walker,of her Majesty's^ Staff Corps, and Depaty-Commissioner of Forests in Madras, whoaccepted-for a specified period the appointment of Conservator under- the Nejiv Zealand Forest Adfc,'ilß7*:r ; Kas cbncludedlhis labors, and furnished an instructive and interesting repo^^'Whipfe'i ' will be* laid before you. ":; v " ■• V.GBHEfi&HEN-OJ? THB HOUSE OS^'&3PSB-t ! .SBiNTATIjVBS. r „ „. The -estimates for the Colonial SeVvi<& have baen prepared, and will b6 .laid before;-, you"-. They have been carefully framed with"' a view to securing as much economy as is found to be consistent ' with'comolete'-efit-ciency in the several departments." You will he gkd to learn that ,exp v erien6e podtmuesio ahaw'with growing distracfcrieW&ie 1 b^neflts which thecolony derirss, as well m the foidm_ of increasing revenue as otherwise, froniits system of public works,, Further papers , relatiya to negotiations and mfeastires fSr^ldecription of our colonial stock by the Bank of England will be presented to you. V HOKORABBB LEGISIiATIVE GODNCILMiBa, /ANi) ' GENTtEikEN' OF THS ' &USB OF° Representatives. In working the Counties Act some defects, have been "discovered, for remedyiug of which legislation will be necessary. Among the measures proposed to be submitted for your consideration will be found $. Bill to make further and better provision for Education in this colony ; a Lands Bill which will to some extent, consolidate^ the existing laws, and will afford greatef facilities f6r the acquisition of land for cultivation and settlement; also a Native Land Bill and a Mining Bill to conaolidata and- amend the existinglaws relating to our goldfields. I commit to.yoiir grave consideratibnShe business of the session, and 1 pray that thai Almighty will so guide and or£er your, de- . liberations that thejr may be productive of ' happiries3 : and prosperity to the people of Ne'w Zealand . _