GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1188, 7 June 1884, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

OPENING- OF PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, June 5,

Tha third session of the eighth Parliament was opened to-day by His Excellency the Governor at 2 p.m. with the usual ceremony. His Excellency was attended by Major Ecclcs, A.D.C., Mr Pennetather (private secretary), Major Cant lay, R.E., Colonel Pearce, and the various Consuls. There was a larger attendance of ladies than is usual. The following is the . • GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Honorable Gentlemen or the Legislative Council and Gentlemen op the House of Representatives. I have much pleasure in again meeting you in Parliament assembled. Since the close of the last session, a great affliction has befallen Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, through the sudden death of His Royal Highness th* Duka of Albany. Sincere sympathy has been felt by the whole British people with our beloved Sovereign in her bereavement, and the high character, noble aims and beneficent pursuits of the Prince, which had endeared him to all amongst whom he had lived and worked, have caused his loss to be regarded as a national calamity. I did not delay in assuring Her Majesty of the deep sympathy which was felt by the people of New" Zeahnd in her severe affliction.

When I first met the Assembly after my assumption of the Government, I expressed the satisfaction I had experienced in making myself acquainted with the p«opl» and the resources of the colony, so far an I had then been able to visit the different districts. During the last yaar I have made a more extended tour through many parts of both Islands, and the manner in which I have been welcomed in all the places 1 have visited has bean most cordial and gratifying. The impression 1 had already formed of the great capabilities and prospects of the country have been very much strengthened by all that I hava lately seen. The depression which has been felt during the past year in many parts of the world has been intensified by the unseasonable weather which prevailed in some districts at harvest time, but this depression has largely resulted from external causes, the chief amongst ; them being the reduced value of the staple products of the country, wool arid wheat. I trust, however, that a renewal of prosperity may with confidence be anticipated. There can be no doubt that increased population and more varied use of the soil, would result in a large development of the vast natural resources ot the colony. Already new industries ate springing- up, with regard to which there is every reason to hope that the genial climate and the great fertility of New Zealand will enable the colony to compete successfully with other countries in the markets. Having the fullest confidence that with a cessation of the causes that have caused temporary depression there will come a revival of trade and an increased activity in all local industries, my Advkers li«ve not hesitated steadily to prosecute the work of colonisation, by assisting to introduce a class of immigrants acceptable to existing settlers and nominated by them. They have also furthered the same work by disposing of tlia Crown lands in such a manner as will, it is believed, promote their occupation by settlers who are able to aid in increasing the productiveness of the country, and the plan of offering a proportion of the Crown Lands'for occupation on a system of perpetual lease, has met with considerable success. This result will be accepted with satisfaction, generally, for the plan afford." 10 tl.« industrious settlar all the permanency and security of freehold tenure, while it leaves his capital available for improvements and for stocking his land. You will be asked to extend the operation of this, flan to other parts of the colony besides the proclaimed golitields. You will be gladto find from a return which will be presented to you, that during the past year there has been considerable increase in the area of land taken up subject to residential condition, and that notwithstanding the difficulties under which the agricultural c'as&es have been labuiing s their engagements with the Crown hive : been mec on the vvhole with creditable

promptitude. A proposd for dealing with pastoral lands in emu!) areas will also be submitted to you. It i« a mattor for congratulation that while settlement within the colony has beea progressing, increased facilities for the disposal of its products in the Home market are being offered through the establishment by private enterprise of direct iteam eommunication with Great Britain. Of special interest in connection with the establishment of direct eteain services and the general growth of colonial industries, is the fact that the great and rapidly increasing consumption of coal is being pet by increased productivenesj of the mines within . the colony, the annual importation of coal having remained almost stationary for the last four years. On the goldfields much enterprise has been shown by the miners during the year in introducing machinery and opening quartz mines, as well in the application of new methods to the'successful working of deep alluvial deposits. The yield of gold from quartz shows an increase oc«r previous years, and although the total production of the colony dnring the post year hss not been equal to that of former years, there is satisfactory ground for believing that the average annnal yield will in future be maintained.

The policy which has been pursued for some years in dealing with the native inhabitants of the colony is daily producing more friendly relations between the two races. Tokens of this satisfactory result are, 1 am sure, visible in almost every native district. Explorations for railway purposes and surveys for the ascertainment of title over large areas of the North Island but little known to Europeans, hss been carried on with such slight interruption, as to show that the isolation until lately maintained by some of the tribes, no longer exists or is desired by them. The progress which im being made in determining tribal boundaries in the North Island will shortly leave nothing to be done beyond tho work of subdividing and individualising the native tenure. The time has arrived when a very material change in the mode of dealing with native lands is called for in the interests alike of the Maori and European population. A Bill will accord ingly be laid before you to regulate the sale or other disposal of land belonging to aboriginal i\atives. Experience has proved that the' abandonment of the exclusive right of purchase by the Crown has not produced the beneficial Jesuits which were anticipated by the promoters ! of that policy, but that on the other hand direct dealing in Maori lands by Europeans has been open to objections of a very grave character. The good of the colony, not less than the interests of the natives, require a complete change, and a Bill will be submitted to you by which it will be propossd to permit the disposal of native land only through the Land Boards of the colony, 01 bj direct sale to the Crown, Papers relating to the woik of the West Coast Commission will be laid before you, together with a final report on the.subject from the Commissioners. Sir Wm. -Fox has for several years davotad himself with great care, attention and discretion to the fulfilment of the duties of that office, and the colony has good reason to be satisfied with the manner in which he has completed the work entru&ted to him. Gentlemen oh the House o? Repbesen- j TATIVES. ; The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year will be laid before you shortly. The lessened income from the principal industries of the country, has led to greater frugality of living among the people, and during the past financial year the receipts from some of the principal sources of revenue have consequently fallen short of the amounts they were estimated to yield. This reduction of the colonial revenue calls for greater economy and diminished expenditure in the public service. Honorable Gkntiemen op thu Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

When I had the pleasure of meeting you at the opening of last session, discussion was proceeding between my Government and the Governments ot Australia respecting concerted action to induce the Imperial Government to establiih British rule or protection over certain islands of the Pacific. I then informed you that I had telegraphed to the Secretary of State expressing my full concurrence in the desirableness of the propossd action. It was, before the end of the session, announced to Parliament that it was determined tq bold a Convention to consider the questions of Federation and Annexion, and that it would be attended by representatives of New Zealand. I readily consented to accredit the Premier and the Hon. Sir Frederick Whitaker, his predecessor in office, to attend the Convention on behalf of this colony. The meeting took place at Sydney during the aionths of November and December last, aad afforded an opportunity for the discussion of several matters affecting intercolonial interests. The report of the Convention will be at once presented to you. Papers will »lso be laid before you relating to Confederation and Annexation and to the action taken and proposed to be taken by the French Government with regard to the transportation of convicts and relapsad criminals to these seas. You will be invited to consider certain resolutions of the Convention, especially than* concerning the convict question, and also to consider a draft Bid, having for its object the establishment of a Federal Council, The pi<ovisiens of this. Bill in no way affect the powers of the several colonies respecting the control of their own affairs, but it is oeomed to be of importance that there should be u body having authority to act in matters of Australasian concern, as to which individual colonies would be powerless or be capable of no more than weak or dilatory action. Any action taken from time to time by the Imperial Government would be greatly facilitated by the existence of a body representing- united Australasia, witn which they confer on matters concerning the relations between this part o,f the Empire and foreign countries,

Beturns will b» laid before you from which you will learn that tliare was, during the year, a large increase in the trufficon the railways, inducing a considerable growth in the industries of the colony, but it was found during the last few months tha», notwithstanding, theie would be a deficiency in the actual receipts as.compnred v\ith the estimates which were submitted io yon !a;-t session. Largo expediture had also become indisdensabk-, not only for providing necessary applih

ances, but also for affording iucraasod facilities to those using the lines. Under these circumstances the Government decided to exercise the power given them by the Legislature, and to raise the tariff of charges to a rate nearly equal to that which, without bearing unfairly upon any class, had formerly been in force, rather than allow the expense of carriage upon the railways to fall on the general taxation o the country. Careful surveys have be»n mad* of the different routes proposed for the Main Trunk Railway through the North Island. Reports as to these, showing their re. •pective merits, and the character of the country traversed by each, will be laid before you in accordance with the , terms of the North Island Main Trunk Eailway Loan Act 1883. Your approval will be asked for that route which 'is shown to offer, upon the whole, the greatest advantages.

A. Bill will be introduced, having for its object to establish the Civil Sorvice on a more satisfactory basis. By its provisions it will be sought to give to th« officers of the service a confidence in their statue at defined by the Legislature, whioh cannot but be beneficial to the mind of the public they serve. At the same time a guarantee will be afforded that an appointment will be the reward of merit, and that promotion will be open in all Departments •£ the Service to those who prove themselves efficient. •

Among other measures to be submittod for your consideration, will be a Bill to proviie for the carriage of parcels through the post; > Bill to amend the Regulation of Election* Act ; a bill to alter the constitution of certain city electorates ; a Bill 10 consolidate and amend the law relating to the qualification and registration of voters, and to provide for the is»ue of electors' rights ; a Bill to amend the lsw relating to the property of married women, and a Bill to facilitate the alienation of land. I do not doubt that the circumstances of the colony and the provisions of the measures brought before you will receive your most careful and earnest consideration, and I trust that your decisions may, by God's blessing, tend to the happiness and well-being of the people of New Zealand.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS.

In the House of Representatives, after the delivery of the Speech, petitions were presented by Messrs Barron, Swanson, Steward, George, Conolly, M, W. Green, Bracken, and Hutchison, on various subjects. COMMITTEES. The Ministry j,ave notice of the appointment of. Library and House Committees. BILLS ANNOUNCED. . Notices of Bills were given as follows : —By Mr Barron, of a Caversham Drainage BUI ; by Mr Whitaker, of a Tewn Districts Act Amendment Bill ; by Mr Steward, of a School Committees Elections Bill ; by Mr Barron of a Bill to Abolish Plural Totiag; by Mr Hamlin, of a Manukau Harbor Bill ; by Mr Bracken of a Seamen's Franchise Bill ; and »y Mr Shaw, of a Bill to alter the Duration of Parliament. returns. A number of returns were given notice of, including one by Mr Montgomery, for a return of the loan expenditure in the several districts of the colony. ADDRESS IN REPLY. Dr Newman gave notice of the Address in Reply, PAPERS, A large numbers of papers were presented by Minisierss, and the House rose.