THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Southland Times, Issue 1768, 18 July 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

{BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH) Wellington, July 15. His Excellency the Governor opened Parliament at 2 o'clock to-day. The Volunteers formed a guard of honor. In his opening Bpeech the Governor said— HONOBABLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOUS, and Gentlemen or the House op Uepbesentatives, — It gives me pleasure to meet you at so early a moment after assuming the charge of the Government of New Zealand, to which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint me. lam gratified to iearn that the condition of the colony \b extremely prosperous, and that the colonists at large are manifesting faith in its resources, and are developing them with energy and enterprise. The public works already authorised have been proceeded with as rapidly as circumstances permitted, but in order to render effectual the policy of public works which has been adopted by Parliament, you must bear in mind that the principle upon which those works were undertaken in- i volved not only a system of arterial communication throughout the country, but consequent settlement by numerous occupiers of the lands so opened up. Papers will be laid before you indicative of the anxiety of the Government to pro- j mote and assist immigration. The increasing success of the Life Assurance and Annuities Department is highly satisfactory. Whilst a system of State insurance affords great advantages to colonists, it does not close the door to private associated enterprise in the sauie useful direction. At the Intercolonial Conference, held during the recess, many important results were arrived at?, to some of which your attention will be directed. In consideration of the unanimous desire of the conference, Her Majesty's Govern-

ment have obtained the assent of the Imperial Parliament to a measure by which the Australian Colonies will have the right to enter into reciprocal traffic arrangements. I do not doubt that this concession will be granted to the Legislature .. of New Zealand, which has constantly advocated its justice add expediency, and I express the hope that such, care will be exercised in making proper and reasonable use of it as will prove that it has been wisely sought and granted. Arising out of the Conference, though not directly associated with it, are proposals for the establishment of cable communication between Australia and New Zealand, and Normautown and Singapore. Your early attention will be invited to these proposals, which await, and are subject to, your concurrence. I regret that whilst so many other subjects received satisfactory consideration and decision at the hands of the Conference, upon the subject of mail services, a unanimous conclusion was not arrived at, and in consequence it awaits final arrangement. My advisers have given much consideration to the matter. "Whilst they are anxious to re open the Californian service, they are only disposed to do so on terms which will do justice to the requirements of the Colony, and which will not dissociate New Zealand from the use of the Suez service. Negotiations are still pending, but in all those which have been entered iuto, the approval of Parliament has been made an absolute condition. The work of making roads in native districts in the North Island, and thus through their aid of opening up the country for future settlement, has been prosecuted during the year with steadiness and success. It is gratifying to observe that the opposition originally manifested at several points to this 1 undertaking is gradually lessening, as the Natives more fully understand the intentions of the Government, and the benefits accruing to themselves from these works, in affording employment in several dis- » tricts, and in giving increased value to tribal lands. It; is also gratifying to ' observe that the Natives generally appreciate the advantages of peace, and , are directing their attention to industrial pursuits, and to the establishment of schools iv which their children can obtain the advantages of an English education. The murder committed in the Waikato by certain Natives has attracted much public notice. While lamenting the oi.-currence of a crime now happily so rare, I would announce with satisfaction that it has evoked from the leading tribes throughout the Island general and 1 public condemnation, as well as renewed declarations of their loy- | alty. The Government have left ' the criminals to the ordinary opera- | tion of the law. That operation may not : be early in the district, still remote from European settlements, in which they have taken refuge, but the Government, while mindful of the requirements of justice, '• and of the protection of industrious inhabitants, have not deemed it expedient, by any precipitate measures, to 1 risk the disturbance of the generally ' peaceful condition of the Colony. , Gentlemen" of the House op Eepbesenta.tiyes, — Estimates, prepared with every desire to consult economy to the utmost extent consistent with the requirements of the public service, will be laid before you. Tour consideration will be asked to several subjects relating to the Civil Service. The public revenue is increasing, and the improved credit of . the Colony is shown by the enhanced value of its securities. Honobable Legislatiye Councillors, and Gentlemen op the House 02 1 Kephesentatives, — Measures will be laid before you to initiate the reconstruction of the coustitulion of the Legislative Council; to amend the laws relating to goldfields ; to provide for education ; to consolidate the laws relating to prisons ; to amend and consolidate the electoral laws ; to establish a silver and copper mint ; to amend the insolvency laws, and abolish imprisonment for debt; to provide for the election of a native district council j to amend the law relating to. native lands ; and to give increased security to persons insuring their lives. I confide to your careful attention these and other me sures designed in the interests of the whole Colony, aud of the two races which inhabit it, and I trust that Divine Providence will bless your efforts to discharge efficiently your onerous duties. Wellington, July 17. The Engineer-in-Chief, in reporting on the different railways, estimates the revenue to be derived from the Nelson and Foxhill railway at £8000, and the working expenses at £7000 The traffic of the line will almost entirely depend on timber. It is expected that £2000 will be derived from the passenger traffic. He considers it quite hopeless to look for the working expenses jpom the Kaiapoi and Eyreton railway, which will not be less than from £2000 to £3000 a year. The Eacecourse and Southbridge railway will pay a dividend in addition to working expenses. The Eakaia and Ashburton line runs through poor shingly soil, unfit for cultivation. It is estimated that the Timaru and Coleridge districts will yield a passenger revenue of £3000, and for freight £1400, which will equal working expenses. The Ashburton and Timaru railway will open up a district where there are 100,000 acres cultivated. The I estimated revenue is £13,000 a year, and the expenditure £28,000, leaving a net profit of £15,000. The Waitaki and Moeraki railway passes through one of the best districts in the Middle Island, there being GO.OOO acres under cultivation. The estimated revenue is £17,000, and the working expenses £14,000. The Tokomairiro and Lawrence line will yield an annual profit of £8000, the working expenses being estimated at £10,000, and the revenue at £18,000. The Wintoa and Kingston line will leave a net profit of £7500, the estimated receipts being

£26,000, and the working expenses j £18,500. For the Brunner coal railway, the working expenses will be £4000. It will require the production of £23,000 (?) per year to pay working expenses The report on the North Island railways will soon be published. In the House .of Representatives today, Mr Murray gave notice of a motion that the Government ought to take immediate steps to prevent further purchases of land from Natives by Europeans, until a measure had been passed to regulate such transactions in a manner more satisfactory to the Natives, and more consistent with the progress of bona fide colonisation, and the maintenance of the peace of the Colony. Tbe Speaker announced his receipt of a telegram from Mr Hallenstein, member for tbe Xakes, resigning his seat, and Baid that he must await the receipt of the formal resignation before issuing the writ. In reply to Mr Johnston, the Premier *aid that two securities for £25,000, from Messrs Webb and Holladay, contractors for the San Francisco mail service, were held by tbe Government. Mr Webb refused to pay, but the bonds were good, and tbe Government would recover the money. £10,000 had been already stopped from moneys due to Mr Webb. The Volunteer Land Scrip Act has been read a first time. The Municipal Corporations Waterworks Bill, and the Assaults on Constables Bill, have been read a second time. A return showing the practical result of the Industrial Committee of last session has been agreed to. Mr Webb (member for Lyttelton) moved the address in reply. He referred to the prosperity of the Colony as being due to the Public Works and Immigration policy. Tbe country should feel grateful to the Government for having avoided another Native war. The people of the Middle Island would approve of the action of the Government. He trusted tbe same good feeling would exist between tbe present Governor and the Ministry as with Governor Bo wen. Mr J. E. Cuthbertson seconded. He said he thought that bad legislation would not ruin a country with New Zealand's resources, yet efficient legislation would rapidly develope the resources of the country. He referred to the importance of intercolonial co-oper-ation, andi said that the people of the Middle Island were grateful to the Government for not having rushed the country into a ruinous war. Mr Cuthberteon made an excellent speech, which was generally applauded at the conclusion. Mr T. B. Gilließ said he would not move an amendment, nor would he enter into a debate now. other opportunities would arise, and he only spoke lest it might be thought that he entirely approved of the address. On tbe second reading of the Municipal Corporations Bill, Mr Gillies asked whether debentures were to be issued at par, or at a price to be fixed upon? Mr Bathgate referred to the twentysecond clause of the Municipal Corporations Act, and said they might exchange at par for value. The House rose at 4.30.