LATEST ENGLISH NEWS. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. Tuesday, February 3.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 717, 16 June 1852, Page 2

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. Tuesday, February 3.

The arrival qf her Majesty at the new palace was announced by the booming of cannon and the sound of trumpets. Her Majesty having taken her seat on the throne, Prince Albert being seated on her left, commanded their lordships to be seated, and Mr. Pulman, the •Deputy Usher of the Black Rod, proceeded to summons the Commons to ber Majesty's presence. The scene at this m oment has often been described and it wa3 indeed agorgeous- one. Mr. F. O'Connor was the first person after the Speaker, but we did. not observe- any of the leading, members of the lower house towards the front of the bar. „.»-_.' Her Majesty then proceeded to read the royal speech in that clear and distinct iatona-

: tion fpr rwhich her Majesty is distinguished, every word.being audible in'the farthest corner | ,of the vast chamber : — " My Lords and Gentlemen, " The period has arrived when, 'according to usage, I can avail myself of your advice andassistance in the. preparation and adoption of measures which the welfare of the country may require. / "' I continue to maintain the most friendly delations with foreign powers. , "The complicated affairs of the Duchies of Holstein and Schleswig have continued to engage my attention. I- have every/ reason to "expect that the treaty between Germany and Denmark, which was concluded at Berlin in the year before last, will in a short time be fully 'and completely executed. "I regret that the war, which unfortunately liroke out in the eastern frontier of the Cape of Good Hope, more than -a year ago, still continues. Papers will be Jaid before you containing" full information as to the progress of the war," and the measures which »have been taken for bringing it to a conclusion. *' While I have observed with sincere satisfaction tbe tranquillity which has prevailed throughout the greater portion of Ireland, it is ■with much regret that I have to inform jou that certain parts of the counties of Armagh, Monagban, and Louth, have been marked by 'the commission of outrages of the most serious 'description. The powers of the existing law l have been promptly exerted for the detection of offenders, and for the repression of a system of crime and Violence, fatal to the best interests of the country. My attention will be continued to be directed to this important object. " Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "I have ordered the estimates of the expenses of the current year to be laid before you. " I rely with confidence on your loyalty and zeal to make adequate provision for the public service. " "Where any increase has been made in the estimates of the present, over , the past .year, such explanations will be given as will, I trust, satisfy you that such increase is consistent with a steady adherence to a pacific policy, and with the dictates of a wise economy. " My Lords and Gentlemen, " The improvement of the administration of justice in its various departments has continued to receive my anxious attention, and in furtherance of this object I have directed bills to be prepared, founded upon the reports made to me by the respective commissioners appointed to enquire into the practice and proceedings of the superior courts of law and equity. " As nothing tends more to the peace, prosperi* y, and contentment of a country than the, speedy and impartial administration of justice, I earnestly recommend these measures to your deliberate attention. " The act of 1848 for suspending the operation of a previous act, conferring representative institutions on New Zealand, will expire early next year. lam happy to believe that there is no necessitj for its renewal, and that no obstacle any longer exists to the enjoyment of representative institutions by New Zealand. The form of these institutions will, however, require your consideration, and the additional information which has been obtained" "sinee T the passing' of the act in question will, I trust, enable you to arrive at a decision beneficial to that important colony. . "It gives me great satisfaction to be enabled to state to you that the large reductions of taxes which have taken place of late years have-not been attended with a proportionate diminution 6f the -national income. The revenue of the past year has been fully adequate to the demands of the public service, while the .reduction of taxation has tended greatly to the relief and comfort of my 'subjects. I acknowledge with thankfulness to Almighty God that tranquillity, good order, and willing obedience to the laws, continue to prevail generally throughout the country. x " It appears to me' that this is a -fitting time for calmly considering' whether, it may not be advisable to make Such amendments in the act of the late reign relating to the representation of the Commons id Parliament,- as may be deemed calculated to carry into more complete effect the principles upon which that law, is founded. I have the fullest confidence that in any such consideration you will firmly adhere to the acknowledged principle of the constitution by which the prerogatives of the crown, the authority of both Houses of Parliament, and the rights and liberties of the people, are equally secured." - ->The Queen then returned- the speech to the Lord Chancellor, who received it kneeling, and the royal procession left the house in the same pr-der in which it entered.