PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1845, 1 September 1874, Page 3

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

HIS EXCELLENCY'S SPEECH. " Wellington, Monday, 5.5 p.m. His Excellency Sir James Fergusson closed the session with the following 1 speech:— , . . • : Honourible Legislative' Councilloes and Gentlemen oi' the House of | HEPEESENriTIV'jS—• ■ { I have to chunk you for the attention i' which you have paid to the discharge of 1 your onerous duties during the short but | very arduous session which I am now j about to terminate., This is the last occa--0 sion upon which I shall have the honour j of addressing you from this place. I dee sire to assuro you that in resigning the e high office which I havo, held ] but for * a short term, I am deeply , sensible 1 of,the constant.coui'tesy and: consideration j which have b'oen shown nie by all with y whom I havo "been brought'intocontuct, t . whether in my official or private relations, is and that in returning to a private station at home I shall retain a deep interest in a the welfare .of this most promising com- ;• munity j that I shall deem it not less a privilege tUoR a duty to servo its iuterests

in so far as my humble means and opportunities may enable me. I anticipate great benefit to the colony from the State Forests Act which you have passed, providing as it does for setting apart forests ; which will not only be of use in maintaining the future industries of the colony, but which may be expected to have a beneficial effect on the clipiate and-pro-' ductiveness of its lands. Providing as the Act does, machinery for tho establishment of State forests, I aui not disposed -to : regret a short dolay in determining the ' actual positions of the forests. You have committed tho colony to ■the establishment,of fitate forests, and it will be' "duty to see that adequate lands are provided for them, from which sufficient reyeiiups .will ,be ; obtainable to 'do justice,to ( your intQn,liqris.. ou have passed many measures' this session which will materially aid in carrying on.',ijie service of the colony,- and. in reme-; 'dying- the'defects which experience has proved to exist. I regret that the length; ;of the session did nob enable you to 'deal with the question of promoting commercial intercourse with Polynesia. It is' ono which I hope will liave your careful .consideration, and it will be the 1 duty of toy advisers to bear !in miud the largo interest which New Zealand has in the subject,- with a view of bringing it before 'you on a future occasion. The attention of my advisers will, be earnestly given to further continuing public works and promoting immigration ; . the re-establishment off the iCalifornia'n. mail packet service, ''in conjunction with New South Wales; and giving, effect to the provisions yoil have hiad'e' for the public service; and it will be the care of my advisers to administer them with tlio' utmost economy consistent with efficiency. 1 Honourable Legislative .Councillobs : and Gentlemen of 'the ' House oi? ; IiEPIiESENfATIVIiS,—

i; This session will be a memorable one, for the decisive step which has been (akenin the direction of abolishing the form of provincial government in the North Island. Tho Idouse of Representatives expressed this decision.by a large ' majority, wh'o- voted in favour of tlie resolutions, , whilst the debates in the Legislative Council have'leffc.'no room to' .doubt that that Chamber also are favourable to the proposed-policy. For some years past there has grownup a belief that the provincial system of- this island does not really afford that ambunt; of local ■government the people desire; ' The deci-' sioh tiri'ived at is memorable also for the 'desire which the legislature . manifests, that, the land fund of ; the colony should be, applied.to'': suitable .purposes, and as, far as possible be .localised. ■ ..That decision must effectually do awa.y; : with the apprehensions in any part of the country that ajchange in the provincial system would mean the absorption, of .the,laud .fund, in opposition to the opinion's,upon the subject which have been , confirmed., during a king course of years. I hope the : Provincial Governments of the -North Island, iii loyally .recognising the decision of the House;of Representatives. will .tlie recess exert themselves ■ to ; - the to so' '- manage' -the • affairs-, .of the provinces as to.enable the projected change to be effected next year.-,with, the least possible inconvenience. I' am glad to 1 be able to continue to- remind' you of the increasing prosperity of the colony I hope the success., which has attended your past efforts will, under'"the blessing of : Divih(B' Providence, continue' to make -itself manifest in the' future, and thjat you will live to see the result in New the.,home, of r -.a large, prosperous, and contented population. V o; r