OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 179, 26 July 1878, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The Parliament was opened at two o'clock this afternoon hy His Excellency the Governor. As the first sheet of the telegram containing the speech which would occupy a column and a half of oar space, did not reach us until past four we are unable to do more than give a brief summary of its contents. His Excellency haviug congratulated the colony upon the marked progress it has made in material prosperity, proceeds to state that owing to peaceful relations having been established with the Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto tribes there is every prospect of European enterprise and settlement beiug welcomed by them, and the House would consequently be asked to consider the question of extending the North Island trunk railway to Taranaki. Reference is made to the subject of defence of the harbors of the colony, and His Excellency states that acting on the advice of Ministers he haa informed the Home Government that New Zealand accepts this duty. Measures will be submitted dealing with "electoral reform, which, it is hoped, wili tend to place the franchise and method of electiug members upou a satisfactory basis." There is said to be a large increase of revenue, and a marked extension of the export trade. The colony is congratulated upon the successful issue of the loan negotiations, being a proof o£ the opinion entertained in other countries of the stability of our financial position. Measures are to he introduced to place the taxation of the colony on a more equitable basis, apportioning the public burdens according to the capacity'to bear them, and the tariff will be submitted to revision, tending to relieve commerce of some of the restrictions which retard its growth. In order to effect a saving of expenditure in the Judicial department, and at the same time to increase its efficiency, a Bill will he introduced for extending the jurisdiction of the inferior Courts, and steps are being takeu to simplify the Supreme Court procedure. No material amendments are considered necessary in the Education Act. A Royal Commission is to be appointed to enquire into the working of the New Zealand University and its relation to the secondary schools of the colony. The hope is expressed that the proposal to establish direat steam communication between New Zealand and Great Britain may prove successful.