POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1172, 7 June 1869, Page 5

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

The state of political parties at the present moment is somewhat difficult to understand. The centralist or country party, headed by Mr Stafford, will muster around their chief in somewhat diminished force. Since last session several supporters of the. present government have resigned, and candidates have been returned avowedly opposed to Mi* Stafford. But then it is._. well- known that the Opposition are divided amongst themselves, on nearly every important question, and the greatest difficulty would be experienced in the formation of a Government. Messrs Pox and M'Lean are mentioned as likely to accept office, but it is thought that they would be unable, to command, a numerous followr | ing. The general idea appears to be that if the Government are defeated they will appeal to fcb'e country. Meantime, signs are not wanting to prove that a change in the form of Government has become absolutely necessary. Greymouth'seeks tb be separated from Nelson and erected into a county, whilst Canterbury is about to cease to : exist air a province, in the same sense as formerly, and will likely merge into :a! couple of counties. The Superintendent announces himself as a eandinate <fo^-a seat in the Council, and will in future personally ■ conduct the business of the Government. The Executive, in view of the impending change, have resigned. The whole tendency of the various movements throughout the colony is simplicity and economy in carrying but the principle of local

3 self-government; -.It: is mqre • thai i probable that the subject of separation j will again crop up in the Assembly. It is } known that several members who were ) ' strong opponents of this measure have i lately changed their opinions, and are t now in favor of the colony being split up , into two large provinces or states — > each having a separate government and parliament. There id a rumor to ■ the effect; that a ]oan of £5,000,000 will ; be asked, bearing an Imperial guarantee, > for the purpose of introducing military settlers, and encouraging Immigration. , The G-eneral Assembly was opened on the Ist of June. The Governor was ' absent in Auckland with the Duke of Edinburgh. Parliament was opened at two o'clock. The Commissioners were the Hon. Major Richardson and the Hon. J. C. Richmond. The following • is the Gf-overnors's speech : — • " The fulfilment of the promise given last Session, no less than the disturbed state of the country, have required'recourse to your advise and assistance ! earlier this year than usual. That assistance you willj no donbt, freely give, for you will recognise the fact that the colony can no longer endure those evils under which it has, with but temporary intermission, long suffered, from the determined hostility of the turbulent portion of the Native race. Since the close of last Session that hostility has displayed itself in an aggravated form. Murders and other atrocities, entirely unprovoked, have been committed in cold blood upon unarmed persons. Another missionary, whose life had been devoted, to the service of the Natives, has fallen a victim to them. Neither age nor sex has been spared. Every means at the disposal of the colony has been employed in the war thus forced upon us, and which had to bo encountered on both sides of the North Island at the same time. Large numbers of men have beeu raised, trained, and engaged in active operations in the field. Defensive works have been erected for the protection of places exposed to the attacks of the enemy. It will be your duty to consider how the efforts hitherto made may be sustained and strengthened. " The thanks of the colony are due to Colonel Whitmore, and the officers and men of the colonial forces, both European and Native, for the conspicious courage with which they have encountered the enemy, wherever he has presented himself, as well as the indomitable energy and zeal with which they have tracked and dispersed his retreating forces. In the course of these arduous and harassing dnties they have penetrated forests and inhospitable wilds hitherto unvisited by European forces, and haccessible to ordinary means of transport. The •difficulties they have surmounted have had no parallel in the military history of this country. No troops could have displayed a more gallant spirit, and no officers cduld have conducted a compaign with more enterprise, kill, and prudence. " The great difficulty of the country must be grappled with, and^ a permanent remedy. " musir be applied toti state of things winch' has paralysed industry in every way, restricting the progress of settlement, and leading on the contrary to disaster and ruin, which, spreading far beyond the scenes of conflict, will be felt by all sections of the community throughout New Zealand. Such a policy demands a highly organised force, embodied for a definite period, established in the best strategical positions, and occupied in the perfecting of communications. " The correspondence between the Gk>veraor and the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the retention of the Imperial troops in New Zealand, and especially with regard to the resolutions on the subject passed by the House last Session, will be laid before you. The question cannot be further pressed by the Legislature with any regard for its dignity or self-respect, or with any hope of a beneficial, result to the people of N"ew Zealand. "A Bill of a temporary character will be submitted to you, providing a sumrnary means of dealing with persons' taken in arms against the Queen, and those who may have been concerned in, the exceptional barbarities committed by the rebels. " The attainment of a permanent peace will require an exceptional expen-' diture beyond what it is advisable to levy in the shape of annual revenue, and a portion of it should therefore be provided tor by loan. Application for the guarantee of snch a loan has been made to the British Government. You will probably believe that the condition of the country requires the renewal of this application, nnd justifies the hope that this, the last prayer of the colony, will not be rejected. "Estimates of the expenditure for the ensuing "financial year will be laid before you. While providing for the efficiency of the various services, they exhibit, with : the exception of the amount required for Defence purposes, a reduction in the : expenditure of the country. The result of the operations under the Consolidated Loan Act, up to a most recent date, will be laid before you.' You will gladly recognise that, owing to the able manner in which these- operations have been conducted, a considerable diminution in the annual charges on the revenue haa been effected. " The Electric Telegraph is in course of extension to Wanganui on the one side, 2nd towards Taupo and Auckland on tb,e other. The cessation of active warfare will be immediately followed by the completion of the latter line to the capital of the Groldfields in the North. These singularly rich fields continue to increase in importance, and reliable authorities prognosticate, their extension, as well as the discovery of like deposijts in

many par.ts pf tjie North Island, which* ' will give' profitable employment to a large population. ... _ " The approaching termination of the present Parliament calls for legislation 1 to ', readjust the representation of the people ! in conformity with the altered condiri'on of several districts. You will also be invited to consider a measure making undevised real estate distributable among the next of kin, in the same manner as personal property. " Although the Natire Question will largely engage your attention, other matters of public interest and importance will doubtless not be neglected. In the special cii*cumstances under which you are assembled, may the Spirit- of Wisdom so guide your councils as to promote the welfare of the people of New Zealand."