LATEST SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 241, 17 July 1872, Page 3

LATEST SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

Per the New Zealand Press Association. OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.— ADJOURNMENT UNTIL THURSDAY. THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH. WELLINGTON. i Tuesday. The Diseased Cattle Act will come into force on the Ist of August. Another case of small-pox has occurred to a grand-child of the woman who cleaned out Kaye’s apartment. The House opened at two o’clock today, and the usual sessional committees were appointed. Mr Fox gave notice, of 'notion to send an address to the Queen, congratulating her on the recovery of the Prince of Wales. Mr Luckie moved the adoption of the address, and Mr Sheehan seconded it. Tho House has adjourned until Thursday next. It is belteved that Mr John Hall will join the Ministry, and go into the Legislative Council and conduct the business there. Tho adjournment until Thursday has taken place for the purpose of enabling arrangements to be completed. The following is the Governor’s speech, delivered on the opening of the House : Honourable Legislative Councillors. Gentlemen of tiie House of Representatives— The a’nrming illness of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales produced in this colony, no less than in other parts of the empire feelings of profound regret; and subsequent intelligence of his recovery was hailed with universal rejoicing. My advisers will submit to your addresses to Her Majesty, in which yon will be asked to express your gratitude for the preservation of the empire from a great calamity, and your sympathy with your Sovereign and Royal Family. 1 have to congratulate you on the general tranquillity which prevails in the several native districts throughout New Zealand. The friendly disposition manifested by tribes hitherto disaffected shows that progress is being made towards a peaceful settlement of the native difficulty. I have lately made a tour through the districts in tho interior of this island, not long since disturbed by rebellion. I was everywhere treated by the natives with the greatest respect and hospitality, and received from them the strongest assurances of their desire to cultivate friendly relations with the European colonists. I was much pleased to see tho progress of the roads, which are being constructed to a great extent by Maori labour. I also congratulate you on the steady development and prosperous condition of the agricultural, mining, and pastoral industries.

Since the close of List session, my Government has been engaged in giving effect to legislative measures passed by you for tho construction of railways. Contracts for sections of several lines of railway have been entered into upon terms which I trust you consider favourable. Tho surveys of other lines are approaching completion. Papers will be laid before you which will inform what steps have been taken towards establishing a continuous stream of immigration. I am glad to be able to inform you that the operation of the Act which three years since the Legislature wisely passed for establishing on colonial security a system of Life Assurance and Annuities continues to meet with maiked success. The progress and development of that system, and the principles on which it is passed, will, I am sure, materially tend to the social comfort and welfare not only of those who directly share in it, but indirectly. of the whole community. Gentlemen of tub House of Representatives, — The estimates will be laid before you framed with every regard for economy consistent with efficient administration. A very satisfactory symptom of that reviving prosperity of the colony which I ventured last session to hope was not far distaut is found, I am happy to say, in the increased and increasing receipts of reveuue. Honorable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the Huuse of Representatives, — The occurrence of a few cases of smallpox in the colony should remind you of the importance of sanitary laws. A bill will be submitted to you for improving the law rtlating to vaccination and quarantine, and for enabling meaus to be taken for the repression of epidemic i.isease in towns and country districts. Measures will be submitted to you to consolidate and amend the laws relating to gold mining; to reduce the stamp duty payable on receipts, aud the annual stamp duty payable by certain companies; to reduce postage within the colony ou newspapers ; to enable municipalities and road districts to enter into arrangements or gfaut concessions for coustructiou of

tramways ; to make more liberal the terms on which drawbacks are granted ; to encourage fisheries ; to amend the laws relating to public revenue ; to amend the law of bankruptcy, to provide for the appointment of a public trustee, and to consolidate the laws relating to elections, nnd to extend the franchise. These and other measures which may be before you I commend to your careful consideration, and I pray that your labours may, under - the blessing of providence, conduce to the prosDerity of the colony, and the happiness of the two races inhabiting it.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. In the R.M. Court to-day. in the case of Regina v. Fereday, for giving an unstamped receipt for moi ey, to wit, a ciieque for £59 ; the court dismissed the case, the Resident Magistrate deciding that such acknowledgment of the receipt of a cheque cannot be held to be a discharge, nor is it a note, or memorandum, or writing, even for payment of money, as provided by the 15th section of the Stamp Act, 1869. [The decision is not quite clear to us, but we give it as received by Telegram.—Ed. T. G.]