OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1317, 16 June 1883, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. Honorable Gentlemen of the Legisla tive Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— It affords me much pleasure, being th* first Parliament assembled since my assumption of the government of this colony, to which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint me, to have visited a considerable portion of each island, and have thus bean able to obtain a personal know ledge of various districts, and to make th* acquaintance of many of the residents. I •rust ere long to be able to complete nn tour through the colony. I cannot but regard the cordial manner in which I have been everywhere received as an evidence of the loyal attachment of the people of New Zea land to the Throne and person of our beloved Sovereign. I have been specially gratified by the hearty welcome given to me by the natives whom I have met in different part* of the country. I was much impressed wherever I went by the signs of present prosperity, and especially by the vast capabilities of New Zealand, which only need f*»i their development a larger population and more extended markets for the produce of the colony. I feel sure that as the inducements this colony has to offer become mor* fully realised in Europe, increasing number* of suitable settlers will be attracted to its shores. A few days ago the Government of Victoria telegraphed tornv advisers, proposing that New Zealand should join the Aus tralian Colonies in asking the Imperia' Government to establish British rule over the New Hebrides and other islands of the Pacific. Realising the great importance of these islands to Australia, and thserious '•riment it would be to British in teres*-.« ild they fall intn the hands of a For'-ig: ower, I have telegraphed t«» the y of State for the Colonies, express: ig .ny full concurrence in th*- ■ lesirabiliry of such action, and my ad visers at once according to the proposal ma le to them by the Victorian Government, telegraphed to the Agent-General of this colony, instructing him to co-operate with the Agent-General <»f Victoria in urging these views on the Colonial Offi e. On Tuesday last a telegram was received from the Agent-

General, to the r fleet that. Lord Derby woufd be willing to pro note the views of the colonies on this subject, if some satisfactory assurance were given that they would bear the necessary expense. Since Parliament last net a marked improvement has become ipparent in the relations between the Maories on the one hand, and the Governnent and European settlers on the other. Gn the West Coast of the Northern Island where great anxiety recently prevailed, there now exists a general feeling of security. The Native chiefs Te Whiti and Tohn have been eleased from custody, and permitted to return to Parihaka, where they are residing. There is no indication that this concession will lead to the renewal tjf dangerous proceedings on the part of the Natives; The labors ot the West Coast Commission, now drawing to a close, will, no ddubt, be probative of mu«h good to the Maories, and will generally promote the beneficial occupation and Improvement of the country by »<>th races. The thanks of the Colony are Ineto Rir Wm. Fox for his very valuable services towards bringing about so satisfactory i result. The , Maories, who have for so U ’nj’ years maintained their isolation in the lis’rict between European settlements at Waikato, and those nn th*’ Waitara, have now unreservedly renewed their intercourse with the Government and th« European population, and it is a gratifying fact that on a recent occasion important chiefs of the tribe whic'n had hitherto maintained the most excl 4slve attitude, and which occupies the mo 4 isolated part of the Colony, have recngoUed our laws by voluntarily attending it the Supreme Court in Auckland to give •vldence agiinsh a number of their own people who had committed a serious outrage m a party of Government surveyors. These »re grounds for a reasonable hope that id the future the natives will yield willing obedience to the laws of the Colony. The opening of Kawhia Harbor, which had been closed to Europeans for more than twenty years, the laying out of a Government township, adjacent to the harbor, and the exploration for railway purposes of a part of the country where for many years an European had wot been permitted even to travel, warrant the belief that the natives are realising that the development of the ’•esources of the country will most effectively promote their own interests. I have issued a proclamation under the Act •f last session, granting an amnesty without exception, and there is every reason to believe that the amnesty has produced an excellent effect on the native population. The pressing forward of surveys, and the construction of roads, prior to the alienation of Crown Lands, have proceeded actively during the past year, and satisfactory results have been attained in the promotion of permanent settlement. Further experience in the Department of Administration has shown that some changes are requisite in the land laws, in order to give fuller effect to the desire of the Legislature that the public estate should be so disposed of as to promote the distribution of the land amongst a numerous and industrious popu lation. Amendments of existing Acts, having that object in view, will be submitted for your consideration. During the last session, Parliament determined to adopt within a fixed limit a system of leasing agricultural lands with a perpetual tenure. The initiation of the system has been attended with results which, on the whole, ire deemed satisfactory. The introduction ■»f population under the nominated system of immigration was resumed on its being authorised by Parliament, and has been carried on during the recess. The increasing facilities of communication with Europe, the large area of land which is being opened for settlement by roads and railways, and the establishment of new industries, offer year by year greater inducements for the introduction of capital, and at the same time point to the necessity of steadily continuing the assistance which is given from the public funds in aid of immigration. With the aid of money voted by Parliament, increased facilities for the development of the goldfields have been provided, and encouragement to this important industry has been thereby offered. Large sums have been expended by pi ivate enterprising opening out quartz-reefs, and this branch of the industry Is steadily assuming large proportions, and becoming a permanent source of wealth to colony.

I have been able to give effect to the wishes of the Legislature by arranging for the continuation of rhe San Francisco mail service for a period of two rears beyond the termination of the existing contract, at a cost to this Colony something less thsn that prescribed by the resolution passed last session. The particulars are contained in papers which will be laid before you. Tenders for tbe establishment of a direct line of steamships between Great Britain and the Colony were advertised for here as well is in the United Kingdom, hnt neither the \gent-General nor the Postmaster-General re eived any offer. Your renewed attention to this subject will be invited during the session. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current financial year will be laid before you in the course of a few days. Honorable Gentlemen <*f the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives. Returns will be presented to you which will show that notwithstanding considerable commercial depression during a part of the nast year, the public revenue has been well maintained. The increasing receipts from railways are sati-factory evidence of the general progress and well-being of the country. The frequent applications that are made to this Colony to take part in exhibitions in various parts of the world have led my advisers to give careful consideration to this subject, and they have come to the conclusion that the object sought by exhibitions would be more effectually promoted, and at less cost, by the establishment in London of a permanent exhibition for the products of the industries of Australasia. It is proposed t*» submit to you resolutions with a view of inviting the co-operation of the several Colonies interested. It is, I think, generally conceded that the Legislative Council has for the most part dis 'barged its functions with credit to itself and with advantage to the Colony, but public opinion has, I believe, come, or is fast coming, to the conclusion that the time has arrived when an elective should l»e substituted for a nominated Chamber. It is obvious that a Constitutional change of such magnitude would not, be attempted without mature deliberation. the more so as opinion is very much divided as to the mode on which a suitable constituency could he created. Th* views of my admirers on this very important subject will be laid before you during the session.

There are a number of subjects in reference to which legislation is more or less urgently required, but whi<’h for the last two sessionhave had to give place to the several important measures that have been submitted by my Government for the consideration of Parliament and engrossed its attention. Those measures having for the most pari become law, the present session will, I hope afford a convenient opportunity of dealing with the subjects to which I have referred with a reasonable expectancy that they may be satisfactory disposed of. The works of consolidating the statutes of the Colony ha* been steadily proceeded with during the receu, and is now fast approaching comple-

tion. Several consolidating Bills of importance will be brought before you without delay. Ido not doubt that all the business submitted to Parliament will receive that attention to which it may be entitled, and I earnestly hope that under the blessing of God your deliberations may result in promoting the happiness and welfare of all classes of Her Majesty’s subjects in this portion of her dominions.