GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 163, 19 July 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 15. At 2.30 precisely His Excellency and suite arrived at the Legislative Council Chamber, where they were received by the Naval Brigade, which formed a guard of honor, the artillery at the same time firing a salute on the reclaimed land.

The Legislative Council Chamber was crowded.

His Excellency the Governor, who was in uniform, on entering the Chamber was received by the Hon. Sir W. Fitzherbert, Speaker, and the others who had been commissioned to open Parliament on Friday last.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. His Excellency then delivered the following speech : Hon Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

—lt is a great pleasure to me, so shortly after my assumption of the government of this Colony, to meet the Legislative Council and the Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. During the limited time, which has elapsed since my arrival, I have endeavored, as far as possible, to make myself acquainted with the capabilities and requirements of the Colony, and to gain by personal intercourse, a knowledge o? its public men, and of the various communities spread throughout its wide extent. The first impressions which I have formed are very favorable. I have been much gratified by the loyal and cordial receptions which has everywhere been accorded to me as Her Majesty's Representative, and 1 have not failed to note, with admiration, the extent and variety of the resources of the country, and the industry and enterprise which are" developing them with such marvc-loua rapidity. 1 gladly avail myself of this opportunity to express to you, as representing both races of the people of New Zealand, my grateful acknowledgment for the welcome which has been extended to me, and to offer my congratulations upon the fair and fertile country which Providence has given to you as an inheritance. My responsible advisers fully recognise the desire that exists for the enactment of measures which will secure a more frequentation of members to their constituencies for re-election, for an equitable distribution of the burden of taxation ; and for a mode more just and judicial in dealins with the public lands and those belonging to the Natives. As a

I first step towards giving effect to those desires" the, following measures will, amongst others, be laid before you.—A Bill to amend the law relating to electors qualified to vote at the electionof members of the House of representatives, and a Bill to make provision for the representatation of the people in the General Assembly. These measures, if they receive your sa7iction, will secure manhood suffrage ou a residental qualification to Europeans, and will givo the franchise to med of the Native race, who are enrolled on a ratepayers' roll, or who hold individual or undivided grants from the Crown of land to certain value. The effect of the measures will also be to adjust representation, as far as possible, on the basis of population, and to limit, the duration of future Parliaments to three' years. A measure will be submitted to you providing that, in future Native reserve lands shall be dealt with only by public auction, or public tender, thereby abolishing the present monopoly of dealing in such cases, securing the best price for the Native 'pwners, and giving to everyone an opportunity of competing for rates or loans. It is also under consideration how far this principle of public auction might be fairly V-and beneficially applied to such Native kinds as now remain unsurveyed, or the % titles to which have not yet been investigated by the Court. The dispoal of such land with the consent of the Native owners, under the existing land laws of the Colony would greatly promote the increase of settlement, while, at Ihe same time, it would *|ecure to the Native owners the full vklue of their estates. Inquiries are now-being made to ascertain the opinions of the Natives generally, and, if acceptable to them, a Bill for this purpose will be laid before you. The fanaticism which has prevailed on the West Coast of this island for many years past has, during the recess, assumed a somewhat alarming appearance. The necessary steps have been taken to secure the peace of the district, and it is possible that a peaceable solution of the difficulty will be found. Papers in reference to the matter will be'••laid before you. The negotiations with (he Waikato Natives have been suspended, and all offers of settlement have been withdrawn, so that any future negotiations must be commenced on a new basis. The behaviour of Tawhiao and his people continues j friendly and peaceful, and my advisers |

luive good reason to believe that these relations will be maintained. At the same time, the wo'l-known chief E.ewi has given further important proof of his good faith and loyalty. The attitude taken by him affords a guarantee for the cohfinuance ©f peace, and the maintenance of this would in a short time lead to the opening up of the interior for settlement Geparaliy, the behaviour of the Native people has been loyal and peaceful. Very great progress has been made in the acquisition of Native lands as public estate, especially in localities through which the proposed trunk lines of railway in the North Island are likely to pass. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, —It will be gratifying to you to learn that the revenue received, under nearly all heads, during the past year has exceeded the estimated amount. The excess under such heads has amounted to about £190,000. Ukler the head of land revenue a hirge deficiency has occurred, but it must be borne in mind that whilst a deficiency of the Customs revenue, or of any revenue of that character, would be an absolute loss to the Colony, which could never be replaced, a falling off of land revenue practically means only that so much less Crown hinds than was calculated on has been sold during the period in question. The Crown land, which is the capital of the country still remains for sale, and can be sold when the progress of settlement wilh give it an enhanced value. The policy'which you sanctioned last year, of reserving Crown lands from sale in districts through which railways are in course of formation, until their construction is complete, will necessarily j idd to the value and to the proceeds I which may be anticipated from the sale lof such land. The falling off in the sale of Crown Lands during the year may be attributed in the part to the commercial depression whLh has prevailed throughout the world, fortunately less in New Zealand than elsewhere, but chiefly to the postponement of the sale of confiscated lands. The probable continuance during the current financial year of a decreased land revenue renders it requisite in the opinion of my Government, to impose fresh taxation to meet the requirements of the Colony. * In accordance with the principle of equalizing the Incidence of Taxation, a measure will bo presented to you for imposing it on income. One result of that tax will be that, so soon as the finance of the country admits of it being done, the Legislature can lesson and ultimately abolish all duties which now press on the necessaries of life and the springs of industry. Those railways which, tinder the authority of Parliament, have been completed between large centres of population are now yielding a yearly revenue which not only meets the charge of their maintenance but pays a large proportion of the interest on the cost of their construction. The estimated gross revenue of these railways for the current year is £950,000. They have given a generally enhanced value to property throughout the Colony, and have materially promoted the development of its resources. Encouraged by this experiment, the Government propose to proceed vigorously with the construction of those lines which already have been, or may hereafter be, authorised by Parliament, the completion of which willfbe of great advantage to the entire community, and for that purpose a measure will be submitted io you authorising an additional loan of £5,000,000.

The estimates which will be laid before you have been prepared with a careful regard J o economy. Hon Legislative Councillors and gentlemen of the House of Kepresentatives,— My advisors are of opinion thai.the present system of local belf-government should be placed on a better footing, and that this should be doue without impairing the self-governing powers possessed by road boards and municipalities. A Bill will therefore We submitted to you for enabling County Councils to raise, under certain conditions, and subject to the assent of the ratepayers, loans for public works such as can now be raised by Municipalities. The Bill will contain provisions intended to encourage the union of two or more counties for executing such work, but it will not be sought to withhold the powers from any county standing alone, provided the various conditions are complied with. It would be manifestly impossible for the Government to present during this session matters that would affect in their entirety all the objects which have been indicated, nevertheless the measures which will be proposed, are all in the direction which my advisers believe to be consistent with the wishes of the country.

Amongst other important Bills to be submitted to you, are—a Bill to suspend plurality of voting in cases of election to local governing bodies, whilst those bodies arc subsidise d by the general revenue of the Colony, a Bill for the better minagement and maintainance of hospitals and charitable institutions, and a Bill to regulate the immigration of Chinese. In accoi'dance with the intentions stated in my predecessor's speech last session, a Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire into the subject of higher education. Papers on this subject will be laid before you.

I am confident that your careful attention will be bestowed on all measures which may be brought before you in the interests of the whole Colony. I desire to unite cordially witft* you in carrying out the wishes of &ur most gracious Sovereign and the and happiness of Her Majesty's subjeclS of both races in New Zealand, and I humbly express my hope that Divine Providence may bless our endeavours to obtain those beneficent ends.