OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1506, 15 May 1886, Page 2

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

The third session of the ninth Parliament of New Zealand was opened on Thursday afternoon by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Wra. Jerveis, who was accompanied by Major Jervois, private secretary, and Captain Medley, A.D.C. The captain of the Tsukuba and nine officers of the Japanese warship were also present, besides Sir Geo. Whitmore, Colonel Butts, and the Danish, Portugese, and French Consuls. Notwithstanding the pouring rain there was a fair attendance of the pnblic, especially of ladies. The Wellington Navala and the Garrison Band formed a guard of honor, and the D battery fired the salute. The Permanent Artillery was also on parade at Parliament buildings. Fifteen Legislative Councillors were present when His Excellency entered, and at the summons of the clerk thirtyfive members of the Lower House put in an appearance to hear the Speech. The Ministers present were the Hon. the Premier, and the Hons. Larnach, Buckley, Ballance, and Tole. The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel was present in the Lower House, but did not present himself before the Governor.

The Speaker of the Council took the Chair at five minutes to two, and two minutes after the hour His Excellency entered the Chamber and read the following speech :

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.

It affords me much pleasure to meet you thus early in Parliament assembled. The year which is now passing will be memorable throughout the British dominions as that on which our Gracious Sovereign enters on the fiftieth year of her reign. You will, I feel assured, desire to prove that the subjects of this, the most distant portion of Her Majesty’s possessions, share, equally with Her Majesty’s subjects in other parts of the world, the highest appreciation of the great results !of her long and beneficent reign. You will be asked to consider the most suitable way of showing on behalf of the people of New Zealand their affection and duty to the person of their Sovereign, their love and loyalty to the Crown, their sense of gratification at belonging to a realm enjoying a away so benignant, and their desire to see the bonds which unite every portion of Her Majesty’s vast empire confirmed and strengthened. It is particularly appropriate to such a year that I am able to announce to you that, in the opinion of my Ministers, there has never been a time when the relations between Her Majesty’s European and Maori subjects have been of so friendly a character. The Maoris are evincing an intelligent interest in colonising operations and a cordial recognition of the laws of the colony. They show this disposition by the readiness wi'h which they are seeking Crown titles fop largo areas of country through which the Not them Trunk Railway will piss, and their willingness to part with land to the Government for the purposes of settlement along that line of railway. Negotiations for such lands are, in the opinion of my advisers, proceeding satisfactorily, and with due regard to the necessity of a sufficient quantity being retained by the Maoris for their own use. You will be asked to amend the laws relating to the disposal of native lands in the direction which appears to my ministers best adapted to do justice to the matter, and to hasten the occupation and settlement of the country. Public works have been proceeded with as rapidly as the means placed at the disposal of Go*

vernment permitted. Proposals will be laid before you for continuing railwayi and other public works on a scale consistent with the circumstances of the colony, and in the manner most calculated to secure sound economical results. New Zealand is suffering from the depression which appears to prevail throughout the world, but which is affecting this country much less than othei countries, because of its great resourcefi My advisers are ot opinion that this depression rather than tending to disconrag< the energies of the people should lesc them lo additional exertions, and that il concurrently with the progress of railway) abundant opportunity be offered t< settlere to occupy and cultivate land il farms of reasonable size, farmers fron other countries will be. attracted to th( colony and materially aid its progress In calling your attention to the gracioui compliment which Her Majesty paid tc all the colonies and India by opening tin Exhibition devoted to their products, anc to the gratitude the colonies and India owe to His Royal Highness the Prince ol Wales for the untiring exertions whict have led to the success of the Exhibition I am glad to be able to say that Minister) have used their utmost endeavors to secure for this colony an adequate representation. Gentlemen of the House or Reprb

SENTATIyES, The estimates of revenue and expends dure for the current year will be laid be* fore yon. My advisers fully recognise the importance of keeping down the ex* pendilnre to the lowest limit consistent with meeting the requirements of the public service and the wants of the country. The finances of the country are in a sound condition, sad gratifying progress is being made with the conversion of the loans, and the San Francisco mail service has been re* established at a cost within the authority which you gave by resolution. It is gratifying that the contract should have been taken by a New Zealand Company on behalf of itself and a powerful American steamship organisation. It is squally gratifying that New South Wales joins in the arrangement, and that assistance is received from the Government of the United States. Hon, Gentlemen of the Legislativii Council, and Gentlemen of thk House of Representatives. ; Whilst giving attention to the nnder* takings which it is desirable the colony should carry out, It is not to be forgotten that the works constructed by local bodlos are of essential importance towards pro* moting and extending the settlement of the lands, A measure will be placed be* fore you dealing with the finance of local bodies and enlarging their power olf directly managing their own affairs. My Ministers view with satisfaction the disposition which is being shown todevelopo the local resources of the colony, Includ* ing those of the mines, the forests, end the fisheries. It is of infinite importance to recognise and take advantage of the natural wealth of New Zealand, and to encourage the prosecution of industries of a varied character. My Advisers place great faith in the operation of a policy which embraces the points of prosecuting local industries, and thus affording abundant occupation to the population, pro* moting settlement by liberal lend laws, v constructing railways with a view tcopen* ing the country, aiding the progress ofJ settlement and speedily securing satisfactory and economical results, placing local bodies in a position to open roads and do other useful works, giving the mining population liberal facilities, and the establishment of friendly relations with the Maoris. The arrangement for the construction of the Midland railway, under the authority conceded by Parliament, is, in the opinion of my Advisers, a matter for hearty rejoicing. Some points of a not material nature .will have to be submitted for the ratification cf Parliament. The attention of my Ministers has been constantly directed to the question relating to the South Sea Islands. Whilst recognising the important interest New Zealand had in these matters, they have carefully avoided exceeding the authority with which Parliament has endowed them. Papers on the subject will be presented to you. Bills will be laid before you to consolidate the laws relating to crimes, to municipalities, to volunteers, and to moneys, to establish a parcel post system, and to amend the Charitable Aid and Hospitals Act. I commend to your attention the business that will come before you, and earnestly hope that your labors will, under the blessing of God, be attended with good to the colony. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. On the Council resuming, a message was received from the Governor announcing that ho had granted leave of absence for twelve months to Messrs J. 0. Richmond and Robert Pharazyn. Mr Buckley moved for the appointment of Messrs Brett, B dley, Shriraski, Barnicoat, and the mover as a Committee to draw up an Address-in-Reply to the Speech. Mr Buckley gave notice that on the following day he would move that Captain Baillie be appointed Chairman of Committees for the session, and for the appointment of the usual Sessional Committees. Mr Scotland gave notice of his to move on the following day that thi supply of hot meals within the Parliamentary buildings is unnecessary, and that, therefore, the kitchen at Bellamy’* he abolished, The Council then adjourned to next day.