OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 717, 27 July 1878, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Wellixgtox, July 26. Pa.'lament was opened by the Governor at 2.30 p.m. to-day. The House was crowded. There were about 220 ladies present, and about 17 members of Council took their seats, including the newly-created lords Messrs. Martin and Buckley. Of the House of Representatives some 50 members attended. All the members of the Ministry were present, except the Premier, who is reported to be ill. The following is the GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Hox. Legislative Couxcilloks and Gkxtlemex of the House of Representatives. It affords me much pleasure again to have recourse to your advice and assistance, and I confidently anticipate that your deliberations will tend to promote the prosperity and good government of the Colony. Since the last session T have been uniformly received by the colonists with the utmost loyalty and cordiality, as the Queen's representative wherever I have been able to visit, and it has been with the greatest gratification that I have observed the marked progress in material prosperity which is everywhere taking place, and which testifies so manifestly to the industry of the people of this country. I congratulate you on the fact that peaceful relations have at last been established with the Waikatp and Ugatimaniopoto tribes. Complying with the pressing and frequently received invitations of the leading chiefs of these tribes, the Premier and the Native Minister visited them on several occasions in their own districts, and met them also at "Waitara. Papers on this subject will be laid before yon. They will show that the long period of serious difficulties with the native race may reasonably be considered to be approaching a termination. There is now a fair prospect that before long European enterprise and settlement will be welcomed by these, great tribes, and that they will gladly avail themselves of the advantages which roads, railways, and

telegraphs will bring to their magnificent territory, by which its value, and, consequently, the wealth and happiness of that portion of tKe ; native race sblbng'estranged from us must' be largely increased.' In'; consequence of the disposition thus recently manifested : on the part of the natives, you wilLibe, asked .to consider' the question the- North. Island trunk railway from Auckland to. Taranaki. It is probable that blocks of land, of great value will be acquired upon reasonable terms along the line. While negotiationa with these tribes have not been neglected, -many, of the principal native settlements have,_during the recess, been visited by the Premier, or the Native Minister. Several long pending questions, out of which more or less ill-feeling has arisen, have been finally and satisfactorily settled. The question of the survey of the settlements of the West Coast of this Island has been firmly taken in hand. One large block has been surveyed, and will shortly be opened for sale, and the immediate .survey of the Waimate Plains has been ordered. While the utmost consideration for the former native owners will be shown in dealing with these lands, a large extent of valuable country will be available for sale and settlement.

My advisers have found the position of the Government Native Land purchases to be unsatisfactory, and but for the legislation of last session, ' which enabled the Government temporarily to protect lands under negotiation by the Crown, many blocks upon which large sums of publib money have been spent would have passed into the hands of private speculators. This is a question with which yon will be called upon to deal, and information sufficient it is hoped to enable you to conserve the interests of the Colony in this respect will be afforded vou.

Measures for simplifying the procedure in investigations of title to native lands, as well as their alienation, will be submitted to you. The principles of these measures have been discussed with many sections of the native people, and it is believed that the effect of them will be to place upon an equal footing all the Queen's subjects who may desire to purchaso native lands.

The threatening aspect of Europe?n affairs caused the Imperial Government 'o assemble in London a committee of scientific officers to consider the question of colonial harbor defence. Those officers made a recommendation for the defence of the chief harbors of New Zealand, and the substance of these recommendations was telegraphed to me by the Secretary of State, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Colony would carry them out. On the advice of my Ministers, I have replied . that New ■ Zealand accepts the duty, and the necessary armament will shortly arrive in the Colony. Papers on this subject will be submitted to you. Measures have been prepared, and will be brought before you, dealing with Electoral Reform, which, it is hoped, will tend to place the method of electing members of the House of Representatives upon a satisfactory basis. Gbntlemex op the House of REPRESENTATIVES ;

The Estimates which will be laid before you have been prepared so as to promote economy and effective administration in the several departments. You will find that there is a large increase of revenue, which indicates the prosperity of the Colony, and its progress is rendered more certain by a marked extension of the export trade. . The successful issue of the loan authorised last session is a further proof of the opinion entertained in other countries of the stability of our financial position, and of the general prosperity and peace which prevail in New Zealand. Authority has been given to the agents under the Consolidated Stock Act to convert New Zealand securities of a miscellaneous character into long-dated debentures, bearing a uniform rate of interest.

Measures will be 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 commeroe of some restrictions which retard its growth. Hon. Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :

The Government have found that in order to carry out any real administrative reform, there must be an amalgamation of offices as well as a simplification in the administration. This has been specially felt in the Department of Justice. A Bill extending the jurisdiction of the inferior courts has been prepared, and will be laid before you. My Ministers have endeavored by this Bill to simplify the proceedings in the local courts. Steps have also been taken to obtain a simplification of the Supreme Court procedure, and the Government hope that the benefit obtained in other countries from amending the procedure of the higher Courts of Judicature will be secured for this Colony.

A report will be laid before yon showing the effect, so far. of the Education Act passed last session. The time that has elapsed since its passing has been too short to allow a fair estimate of its working to be arrived at. but the Government do not believe that any material amendments are at present expedient. The question of higher education deserves most careful consideration, but as a preliminary thereto it is expedient that the mode of working and the effects of the existing instifcution.should be ascertained. It is intended, therefore, to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into, and report upon, the operations of the New Zealand ' University, and. its relations to tho secondary schools of the Colony. The report of .this Commission will, if legislation be necessary, enable Parliament to deal effectively with the subject next session.

Arrangements have been entered into with tlte ' Government- of New South Wales for the ' modification . of the- San Francisco mail service'contract, and as to coining within the 'terms of the postal union in conjunction' with New' SbiriSh Wales. The Government have alsa negotiated with Colonel Glover, the representative of the Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Company, for a duplication of the cable from Port Darwin to London, and a reduction of the tariff on the New Zealand cable. The present state of the negotiations will be.-shown by papers that will be laid before you.' The goldfields of • the Colony are* still' prosperous, and there can be no doubt that there are yet numerous and extensive auriferous deposits that only require

population and enterprise., for their velopment. /"v., \ ':■:;. i, You .-will, I have..no doubt, join 'with "me in4Jjfi,hupe : that the proposal'to es€a.Dr dish dfre'ct-Steam communication between 'New 'ZealkAd and /the United Kingdom, may prove successful. ; j .;-. ;.: The results of the gradiial extension of :fcbe railway'system- Have been such..as to 'justify tfee" Colony in large indebtedness for the prosecution of those public works. It is gratifying to find that the District Railways Act of last session is being taken advantage of, and. that the faith of the people of New Zealand in railway extension is being shown by many 'important lines in different parts of the Colony being undertaken by private and local enterprise. This spirit of self-reliance, my Ministers think, should be fostered, and you will be asked to make some slight amendment with the view of offering facilities which experience has shown to be desirable.

During the recess, various changes have been introduced into the management of the Public Works and Railway Departments—changes which, I venture to hope, may prove beneficial to the public service. -

I commend to your serious consideration the various measures and subjects that may be brought before you for your advice and action, and I pray that the -spirit of Divine wisdom may so order your deliberations that peace and happiness may be promoted' 1 throughout the length and breadth of the Colony.

In the House of Representatives, the following Members took the oath and their seats : Messrs. Seymour George, F. J. Moss, R. T. Turnbull, R. F. Hobbs, G. E. Barton, and W. H. Cutteu Notice ot the appointment of the usual Sessional Committees was given, and a number of papers were laid on the table. A couple of petitions were presented.

Mr. Sheehan obtained leave, after some discussion to put through all its stages the Native Land Act Bill, for amending the Native Lands Act, 1873. The object of the Bill, he explained, is to compel an unwilling witness to give evidence regarding certain land purchases in which the G 'vernment are largely interested. After few slight alterations the Bill passed .iiroiigh Committee. The same Bill having been similarly dealt with in the Council and brought down to the other place, the House adjourned till 7.50 p.m. on Tuesday next. In the course of the proceedings Mr. Seymour George gave notice that he would move the address in reply. It is understood that Mr. Hobbs will second it.