AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Issue 89, 27 August 1858, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

PROROGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otf Saturday, August 21, at twelve o'clock, his Excellency Colonel Gore Brown, C.8., prorogued the Assembly. From the heavy rain which fell during a great part of the night, and until nearly ten o'clock "this day, there was reason to fear that the close of the sesston' of :1 808 would take place as mauspicioualy as did that.'of. the session of 1856. About ten, however, the rain began to cease, and the day cleared up sufficiently to allow of the prorogation being accompanied by the customary 'formalities. (■■'■■■ The Guard of Honor was commanded by Captain Ward, and the band of the regiment was ranged in. front of the Assembly buildings to receive his Excellency on his arrival. : • . . There was a fall attendance of members of both Houses, and there were also a number of spectators and auditors. His Excellency having arrived and taken his seat in the chair of the hon. Speaker of the Legislative Council, the Speaker and members of the House were introduced,'and the hon. Speaker proceeded to read the following address, accompanying the presentation of the Appropriation Acts for assent:— ' • . ;

" May it please your Excellency,- — " We, her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects; the Representatives of New Zealand, acknowledge with gratitude tlie opportunities we have had, throughout a protracted session, of maturely considering those measures.to which our attention was • invited in your Excellency's opening speech. "We trust that the result of our deliberations on these subjects, as also on many other quesiions of domestic policy,' will tend to promote the wel- '.. fare of the colony, and the well-being of the. people of both races in these islands. , ... "For these objects, connected with the public service of the colony, it has been the duty as.well as the especial privilege of her Majesty's faithful subjects, the Representatives of New Zealand, to make just and ample provision ; and it is in their name that I invite your Excellency's assent, in the name and. on behalf of her Majesty, to the bills which I now have the honor to present."— . [These bills were the Appropriation Acts for 1858 and 1859.] His Excellency having assented to the two Acts, then read the following prorogation speech :— ; " Honorable Gmtlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Hepresenta* tives, — ■■'■■' . : " Tho state of the public business enables me to. release you from further attendance on your legislative duties. "It affor.ls megreat pleftsnre to express my'sense of the attention you have; given to the numerous measures brought under your consideration during a laborious session of more.than;four months;—a session which,-I'lfeel as¥(ired;\vllLb3 regarded'asi! one of unusual importance, and especially remarkable for the exclusive devO'ion of your time and energies to the practical work of legislation. "The enactment of permanent laws to carry into effect the Financhl Arrangements of the last session finally closes various irritating questions; whilst the provisions under which the provinces are henceforth to lie charged with the local establishments of the General Government, will prevent the recurrence of disagreement on financial grounds between the several divisions of the colong. _ : " The act for regulating the management of the Waste Lands of the Crown will, I trust, be found to accomplish the objects sought to be obtained ;— an effective administration by the Local Authori-••■. ties under the supervision of the Government of the colony, and a stability which Provincial Legislation could, not give. " I have willingly assented to the several act* for the improvement of the administration of jus- : tice, which, I confidently anticipate, will be productive of much public convenience. . "The revision of the Electoral Laws will be. found to have secured, rn improve! system of registration, together witli more complete provision ; for the impartial conduct of elections; thus preventing the occurrence of evils which would seriously interfere with the beneficial working of theRepresentative system. • ':•'.,■ " The act for constituting Electoral Districts will, to a certain extent, afford to districts rapidly increasing in wealth and population an opportunity of taking that part in the legislation of the colony. to which they are entitled. The attention of the Government will be directed, during the recess, to the consideration of the means requisite to ensure that every growing interest may be fairly represented.

" The measures which you have passed for extending to the aboriginal population the benefit of free local institutions, promise to promote the civilisation of that portion of her Majesty's subjects. Much, however, depends upon the administration of those laws; and still more upon the capacity,-— as yet unproved,—of the people for whom .they have been framed. Whatever may be the success of the system of native policy thus initiated, you will have the satisfaction of reflecting that you have not left uncared-for the pecuniary wants of a race whose advancement the Government and settlers of these islands are, f roni every consideration, bound to promote. " Gentlemen ofth.fi Hoiise-of Representative? — " I thank you for the liberality with which you have granted the supplies for the service of tho present year. These supplies will be administered with economy for the attainment of the objects for which they were voted. " By the Act for altering the Duties of Customs. the collection of Duties on Imports will be much simplified, while great advantage will I trust be found to result from the admission of many necessary articles of consumption free of duty. At the same time I am confident, from the state of the > trade and commerce, of the colony, that the revenue of customs will justify the Estimate .which lias been, submitted to yon. " Honorable Gsntkmsn and Gentlemen — "The Act which provides for the establishment of New Provinces I regard as of great importance. To afford to the rising settlements of the country the same advantages of Local Government as are enjoyed by the existing Provincial Centres, is in harmony with the spirit of our Constitution, and cannot fail beneficially to affect both the General and Local interests of the colony. " The want of some move definite line of demarcation between the functions of the General and Provincial Legislatures than is furnished by the Constitution Act, has long been felt. ■ It has, however, been considered that any attempt to meet the difficulty by a rigid legal definition would give rise to doubts, and be attended with other serious inconveniences. Of late, the practice, on the one hand, of the Provincial Legislatures, which havo qonfined themselves to locaL subjects, has been tending towards a sitisfactory solution of this questioh; and, on the other hand, the exercise of '■its'powers'by..the General Assembly during the present Session, by taking exclusive possession of many important subjects, on which it i» essential

that legislation should be uniform, will go far to render the division of powers practically complete. "I most heartily congratulate you on the progress of Active Industry throughout the country, and on the generally prosperous condition of all classes of the community. "It only remains that I should express my humble hope that God's blessing m.iy render effectual your labors for the public good, and may secure the continued advance of the peopleof this country,.in whatever is conducive to their true welfare. )( " I now declare this Assembly to be prorogued.