OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, 19 May 1882, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THIS DAY.

Second Edition

. # (per united press association.)

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH.

Wellington.—Parliament was opened at 2 o’clock to-day by the Governor in person with the usual ceremonies., There was a very large attendance of the public. , The Governor congratulated the honorable Legislaiive Councillors, and gentlemen of the House of Representatives, on the opening of the eighth Parliament of New Zealand, and, referred to her Majesty’s recent escape at Windsor. He continued : The measures adopted by the last Parliament to extend the franchise, to increase the representation of the people, and to afford more frequent opportunities of ascertaining the opinions. of constituencies may I trust cause all classes of the community to watch your deliberations with keener interest, and be found conducive to tlie permanent welfare and happiness of the colony. I am glad to be able to congratulate you upon the renewed and well founded confidence which exists as to the commercial prospects of the colony, upon the disappearance of distress among the working classes, and upon the general increase of revenue/ The proposals submitted to Parliament last Session for the systematic laying put of roads to promote the colonisation of the waste lands, have had careful attention during the recess, and in all parts of the colony the work-of settlement is progressing favorably. New openings are in course of development for the employment of labor and capital. The Rail wa} r s have become more, productive, and fresh groups of population are settling in districts which only require means of convenient access, to make them prosperous.. A desife for permanent settlement' on the goldfields and for the profitable union of mining and agricultural pursuits in the same' localities, is becoming more manifest ; and the present time is, in the opinion of my advisers, a very ; favorable one at which to press forward the construction of roads, and to facilitate the influx of population, : The success .of the scheme which has been adopted at Rotorua on a limited scale, for administering native lands on behalf of the native leads me to hope that it may have,, a beneficial and more extended operation in the future. My advisers are of opinion that a plan for leasing agricultural lands with fixity of tenure upon reasonable terms may with advantage be incorporated into the general system of administeringrthe Grown lands of the. colony;,and a measure wilf.be submitted to yod with this object. The speech then referred "at length to the suppression of native obstruction on the West Coast, remarking that the proclamation was issued while the Governor was absent '; referring to the arrest of Te Whiti--and Tdhu ; .the: -calling out of Volunteers, and their prompt response to the call of duty; and the present state of tranquillity in the Parihaka district. The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year will shortly bo placed before you. Returns will be: laid before- you which show that the revenue has considerablyexceeded the amount estimated. ‘ The Railway returns especially show a gratifying increase. The surplus of receipts over expenditure during the past year amounts approximately to four per cent upon the cost of-construction. - - A new impetus appears to have, been given to every branch of industry. The yield of gold for the year which has just closedias compared with that of several years shows, a marked development of this |iinportant industry, arid encourages the belief that- further expenditure in opening up goldfields will be; productive of the best results to the colony at large. These facts appear amply‘to justify -your making provision for the evtension ■and ultimate, completion of the main trunk lines of aailway, as well as for other important works in connection with them to which Parliament has" already ; given r its sanction. . - _■ .. . ■ , ~ Proposals with these objects' will be made to ; you;-which the increase of revenue; andy.the. revival of prosperity appear fully to'justify. , ... ‘ . ' Bills will also be introduced toiatriend the Cauntie's and Road I Boards Acts ;. to regulate the:.making and levying rates ; to effectimportant clianges in the'working of the Government ; Lifer Insurance department;; ..to; improve the daw effecting lunatics ; to enable affirmations’ and declarations to be'taken in’ lieu of 1 baths ; to abolish ‘th e restraints bn - tk e ' Alienation of land jtp.amend the,law property of married women ; to consolidate and to legal practitioners^;»and for management of-Native reserves.

, Bills, for cheapening and ■ - simplifying procedure in the Courts Tpf lawwill be presented to you. .... Each of the subjects will require your very careful consideration;; arid under the guidance of providence -I trust.-that your deliberations will result in just conclusions, beneficial, to all classes of her Majesty's subjects in"this colony.' ‘ •- -