THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1607, 19 July 1872, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE GOVEENOB'S OPENING SPEECH.

m (BT ELECTBTC TELEGRAPH.J

The following is a telegraphic report of His Excellency's speech when opening the General Assembly on Tuesday : — Honorable Legislative Cottkcii/loes, ASD Gentlemen oe the House oe Bepbesek tatives , — The alarming illness of His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales produced in this Colony, no less than in other parts of the Empire, feelings of profound recret, ard the subsequent intelligence of his Tecovery waa hailed with universal rejoicings. TMy advisers will submit to you addresses to Her Majesty, in which you will he asked to express your gratitude for the preservation of the Empire from a great calamity, and your sympathy with yoiir Sovereign and the TRoyal Family. I have to congratulate you on the general tranquility which prevails in the several Native districts throughout New Zealand. The friendly disposition manifested by tribes hitherto disaffected shows that' progress is being made towards a peaceful settlement of the Native difficulty. I have lately made a tour through districts in the interior of this Island not long since disturbed by rebellion. I was everywhere treated by natives with the greatest respect and hospitality, and received from them the strongest assurances of their desire to cultivate friendly relations with the European colonists. I was much pleased to see theprogressof roads, whichare being constructed to a great extent by Maori labor. I also congratulate you on the steady development and prosperous condition of tbe agricultural, mining, and pastoral industries. Since the close of List session, my Government has heen engaged in giving effect to, the legislative measures passed by you for the construction of j railways^. .Contracts for sections of several lines of railway have been entered into, upon terms which I trust you will consider favorable. The surveys of other lines are approaching completion. Papers will be laid before you which will inform you what steps bave been taken towards establishing a continuous stream of immigration. lam glad to be able to inform you that the operation of tbe Act which three years since the legislature wisely passed for establishing on colonial j •securities a system of Life Assurance and Annuities continues to meet with \ marked success. The progress and development of that system on the principles on which it is based will, I am 6ure, materially tend to- the social comfort and welfare, not only of tbose who directly share in it, but indirectly of tiie. whole community. Qestvbsoes oy the House of TRepbesentatives, — Estimates will be laid before you, framed with every regard for economy consistent with efficient administration, j A very satisfactory symptom of that reviving prosperity of the Colony, which | I ventured last session to hope was not far distant, is to be found, I am happy to say, in the increased and increasing receipts of revenue. Honorable Legislative Councillors, and Gentlemen of the House op Bepresentatives, — j The occurrence of a few cases of small-pox in the Colony should remind you of the importance of sanitary laws. A Bill will be submitted to you for improving the law relating to vaccination and quarantine, and for better enabling means to be taken for the repression of epidemic disease in towns and country districts. - Measures will be submitted to you to consolidate and amend the laws relating to gold mining ; to reduce the stamp doty payable on receipts, and tbe annual stamp duties payable by certain companies; to reduce the postage, within the Colony, on newspapers ; to enable municipalities and road districts to enter into arrangements, or grant concessions, for the construction of tramways; to make more liberal; the terms on which drawbacks are granted ; to encourage fisheries ; to amend the laws relating to public revenues ; to amend the law of bankruptcy ; and to provide for the appointment of a public trustee to consolidate and amend the laws relating to elections. These and other measures which may be brought before *you, I commend to your careful consideration, and I pray that your labors may, under the blessing of Providence, conduce to the prosperity of the Colony, and the happiness of the two races which inhabit it. Welli sgton, July 18. In the Upper House to-day, the Hon. Capt. Baillie moved a vote of censure on the Government for not appointing a representative in the Legislative Council. The motion was seconded by the Hon. Dr Buchanan. The Hon. Mr Harfc said the uncertain health of the gentleman who had been requested to accept that position bad been the obstacle in the way. ; The Hon. Mr Mantell stated it was the uncertain health of the Government, not of the gentleman in question, that had been the real obstacle. The motion was carried. In tbe House of Bepresentatives, M r Beid presented a petition from Alexander Livingstone, of Dunedin, asking for compensation, owing to his sudden dismissal from the Government service. The Public Health Bill has been read I a 'first time. * /Mr D. M. Luckie, of Nelson, moved, | and Mr Sheehan, of Auckland, seconded, j tbe reply to the address, which was j carried.