OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 386, 19 July 1877, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegraph.] ————« Wellington, July 19,

The second session of the sixth Parliament of New Zealand was opened by the Governor to-day. The following is HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH.: Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, I have recourse to your advice and assistance on this occasion. It gives me pleasure to be-able to congratulate you upon the progress which has been made during the past year in the development of the resources of this Colony, and upon the prosperous condition of its chief industries—agricultural, pastoral and mining ; and upon our continually improving relations with the native people. During the recess I had much pleasure in visiting a large portion of the South Island, and it was most gratifying to me to witness the indications of progress and advancement which presented themselves to me, and to observe the spread of industry everywhere, and of the independence which was evinced by the inhabitants, who, on all sides, expressed to me their loyalty and affection towards her Majesty, and their confident anticipation as' to the future prosperity and welfare of the Colony. You will, I feel assured, recognise with ma the loss which my Government and the Colony have sustained in the lamented death of Sir Donald M'Lean, who for more than seven years filled the office of Native Minister. His devotion to the duties of his office, his knowledge of the Native language and character, his generosity and largeheartedness, his tact in dealing with individuals as well as with the masses, secured to him an influence over the Maori people which he exercised unceasingly to promote their welfare and advantage, to maintain peace, and bring about that reconciliation between the races which he so earnestly desired to accomplish. Since the prorogation in October last, 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 any disturbance of the ordinary administrative routine throughout the Colony. This satisfactory result, I am advised, is greatly owing to the loyal assistance and exertions of those gentlemen, members of this Assembly, who, in their respective Provincial Districts, consented to hold temporarily the honorary and responsible positions of Executive officers. Captain Campbell Walker, of her Majesty's Staff Corps, and Deputy Commissioner of Forests in Madras, who accepted, for a specified period, the appointment of Conservator under "The New Zealand Forests Act, 1874," has concluded his labours, and furnished an instructive and interesting report, which will be laid before you. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — The estimates for the colonial service have been prepared and will be laid before you. They have been carefully framed with a view to securing as much economy as is found to be consistent with complete efficiency in the several departments. You will be glad to learn that experience continues to show with growing distinctness the benefits which the colony derives as well in the form of increasing revenue as otherwise from its system of public works. Further papers relative to negotiations and measures for the inscription of our colonial stock by the Bank of England, will be presented to you. Honorable Legislative Councillors., and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— In the working of the Counties Act, some defects have been discovered, for the remedying of which legislation will be necessary. Amongst the measures proposed to be submitted for your consideration will be found a bill to make further and better provisions for education in this colony ; a lands bill, which will, to some extent consolidate the existing law, and will afford greater facilities for the acquisition of land for cultivation and settlement; a native land bill, and mining bill to consolidate and amend the existing laws relating to our goldfields. I commit to your grave consideration the business of this session, and I pray that the Almiglit}' will so guide and order your deliberations that they may be productive of happiness and prosperity to the people of New Zealand.