PROROGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 6, 9 November 1872, Page 3

PROROGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

—o THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. (From the Weekly News.) The Assembly was prorogued at 2 o’clock on Friday by hi» Excellency the Governor, who delivered the following speech :— Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of REPRESENTATIVES, —

In bringing to a close this session of Parliament, 1 have to thank you for the care and attention you have devoted to public business. 1 am glad you have been able to pass so many large and important measures calculated to promote the social welfare, commerce, and good government of the colony. By the Public Health Act you have greatly strengthened the hands of the Government by enabling it to take needful precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases, while you have in the Municipal Corporations Waterworks Act passed a measure calculated beneficially to promote thehealthand comfort of the inhabitants of towns. The Drawbacks Act will afford considerable relief to the mercantile portion of the community, and remove the obstacles to the increase of that commerce, with the islands of the South Pacific, which this colony from its geographical position ought to be able to command. I congratulate you upon having passed the Public Trustees Act. Although somewhat novel in its features, it will supply a great public requirement, and will I trust prove of advantage to the colony. Its initiation will during the recess engage the careful attention of the Ministry. ° The Public Works Amendment Act, in which you make further provision for further carrying out the beneficial policy of colonisation, shows you to be determined to promote to the utmost of your ability the progress of the colony. The provision you made for the benefit of the West Coast of "the Middle Island is a proof that you fully recognise the wants of that important district. The Railway Act makes provision for the carrying out of works previously determined upon by Parliament, and, although the cost now sanctioned appears considerable, it is explained by including the expense of engineering and departmental work, not before included, and the purchase of land, together with the extra cost of iron and estimated addition arising from the increased price of labour. It is especially gratifying that, when all these amounts are add together, the average cost of the railways will be only about £5090 per mile or £9O more than was estimated when the public works and immigration proposals were first submitted to Parliament The 761 miles of railway which have been authorised at this rate must largely develop the resources of the country. It will now be the duty, as I believe it will be the aim, of my Ministers to construct these works with all the speed that the state of the labour market ar I ot her considerations will prudently permit. The Tramways Act is an important supplementary measure to your railway legislation, and will, while opening up the country, at the same time provide railways with a network of feeders to their traffic. I regret that the measure introduced by the Government with a view of providing greater security to life-assurers has not passed into law. I hope, however, that eventually this or some similar measure may receive the sanction of Parliament. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — I thank you for the supplies you have granted for public services, which shall be administered with all due care and economy. I am pleased to notice the increased attention which is being devoted to the administrative financial question. By the Public Revenues Act you have provided a much more efficient system of control over public money than previously existed, and I have little doubt that the measure will prove extremely beneficial. During the recess it is the intention of the Ministry to investigate the condition of the Civil Service in order to decide to what extent administrative economical reforms are practicable. Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — The abundance of employment which exists, and the readiness with which the recently-intro-duced immigrants have been absorbed by the labour market , proves the wisdom of Parliament in recommending active measures of colonisation. It will be the earnest endeavour of my Government to continue to carry out the conciliatory policy towards the natives which has been so successful during the last few years. I have felt great pleasure in summoning to the Legislative Council two Maori chiefs, Mokena Kohere, of the East Coast; and Wiremu Tako Ngatata, of the West Coast. In bidding you farewell, 1 desire to congratulate you on the general and growing prosperity of the colony. The official statistics recently published by the Imperial Government show that New Zealand, although only 32 years have elapsed' since the beginning of colonisation here, is already fourth in rank and importance. On the long list of British colonies, in its public revenue, in its trade (including exports and imports), and in other elements of material progress it is now surpassed only by the Dominion of Canada, by Victoria, and by New South Wales. It may be confidently expected that, through the blessing of Providence on the energy and industry of its population in developing the vast and varied natural resources of this country, New Zealand will soon rise to a still higher place amongst the provinces of the Empire.

The Luna which arrived in the Bay on Wednesday morning did not bring our files from the south. We understand that a large mail was brought on by her as far as Napier, but from some unexplained cause was left behind. From a stray copy of the IT. B. Herald, we clip the following items of interest: — WELLINGTON. November 2. Mr. Ormond’s resignation of his office of Minister of Public Works, and seat in the Executive have been gazetted. November 3. It is rumoured that Katene and Parata have been appointed native advisers. November 4. The reports concerning the appointments of Katene and Parata are true. The Government do not intend to increase the hours of duty of the Civil Servants, but it is intended to do with fewer employees, + ? dismiss the incapables and to pay the good servants better salaries. Colonel Harrington is to be placed on half pay till the end of the year, when his appointment will cease. Captains Humphreys, M'Pherson, and Dawson’s appointments are to be abolished. DUNEDIN. November 4. Mr. Brodie, late Accountant in Bankruptcy, died yesterday. GREYMOUTH. November 4. The Greymouth races take place on the 17th March. The Jockey Club Handicap prize is £175, with sweepstakes added, entrance £7. Goldfields Handicap, £125 ; Hurdle Handicap, £75. CHRISTCHURCH. November 2. The month’s land sales amount to £9,692, and for the quarter £22,668. Wheat, 4s lOd to ss. Flour, £l2 per ton. Oats, 2s 3d to 2s sd. REEFTON. November 2. A fracas has taken place between Drs. Bulmer and Currie, and blows were exchanged. AUCKLAND. November 1. Mr. Buckland reports — There was a full supply of fat cattle, realising 24s to 26s per lOOlbs. Usual supply of fat sheep : 6C9 sold at 2jd to 3d ; long-woolled ewes and lambs, shorn, 20s per couple ; wether hoggets, shorn, 12s ; fat lambs, 13s 6d to 14s; springing heifers, £4 10s to £5. November 2. Rumours are rife respecting gold discoveries at Tuhua. The natives are excited thereat. L her news has been received from Samoa, which states that there has been a par ;ial cessation of fighting on account of a scarcity of provisions. Canterbury flour is quoted at £l4 to £l5 p«r ton. Wheat, 6s. Oats, 2s lOd. Hams and bacon are in plentiful supply. A messenger has arrived at Kawliia from Tawhiao, with a letter, inviting Mr. Mackay to meet the King at Pekanui to-day. Mr. Mackay proceeded there. November 4. The officers and crew of the p.s. Nevada have petitioned the Government for a remission of the fine imposed on the cook of the vessel, who was convicted of smuggling cigars. 1,4000z5. of gold is expected from the Cure crushing. The week’s return of the Cale lonian amounts to 2,8000z5.