OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 2, 16 June 1883, Page 3

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The second session of the present Parliament was • opened on Thursday last by his Excellency with the usual ceremony. GOVERNORS SPEECH. The Governor in his speech referred to the recent tour through the colony, and spoke in the warmest terms of the satisfaction it had given him. He had telegraphed to the Imperial Government supporting Victoria's proposal for the annexation of the New Hebrides, and the Assent-General had cabled that the British Government were favourable if the colonies would guarantee the expenses. He congratnlatedrtuej colony on the peaceful settlement of the West Coast difficulty, and the quiet return of Te *Vhiti and Tohu, and the appearance of prominent Kingites in Auckland courts as witnesses against Mahuki. A further amendment of the land laws was necessary in order to promote agricultural settlement. The Government believed that the time had arrived when the Legislative Council should be made elective, and would submit proposals on the subject. The Government intended to invite other colonies, to join in establishing a permanent exhibition for colonial products in London. No other bills were announced in the speech, THREATENED MINISTERIAL CRISIS Sir George Grey gave notice that he would ask leave to introduce a Land Tax Bill. ! Mr Montgomery grave notice of a bill to repeal the Property Tax. THE GOVERNMENT THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET. At a Cabinet meeting held last night it was resolved to treat the above motions as motions of want of confidence, and have determined not to proceed with Ministerial bills till they are I disposed of. Ministers connt on a majority of eight. MINISTERIAL CONVERTS. Common report, to-day, states that Mr Shephard, member for Waimea, and Mr Levestan, representative of Nelson City, have joined the Ministerial ranks. The reason assigned for their abandoning the Opposition is their antagonism to the central route for the South Island central railway extension. 1 NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE. The Minister of Public Works has received a telegram from Mr Hursthouse, surveyor, stating, that he has found an excellent and practicable route For the Auckland ami Taranaki railway via Mokau. • , v " SIR GEORGE GREY; ' . Sir George Grey has given notice of. bills, for the abolition of tne Legislative Council, and for empowering the Government to appoint a cominisson to ' carry out annexations in the South Pacific' '