THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3297, 16 July 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1879.

The ' speech ■ -of ■-■' His: Excellency the Governor' de-liv'ered !lat^e' openingl of Pa^iam^ii^-yest^clay foreshadows what will be some of, the; salient features of tile, policy of; his < responsible••advisers during the^pre^sexii session/ ttiat; is, <tf coiirse,!; always .su'ppbsiog ,tiiaib they, mdiiage;; to, retain their seats on the Treasury., benches^ -The first portion of His Excelrency'a, Speech is, of theusual congratiiiatpry character .ihatnfiwCrQKernors in-- ; use when meeting ;forthe:first 'thne! the .'representatives of, thej pebple^: jie.speaks of.:a bill being, brqugh^before thenhouse to secure manhood suffrage; 'ori'a residential ;qualification (a 1 matter,, .'in y.liiseif of Bufilcien'tV'.import- ;- ance j to; :go , ,to: , the,, co.uritry ion). Ever since the Premier emerged from the peaceful seclusion of his island home to again enter into the stormy ?arena of politics, manhood saffrage h«s been one J of his watchwords, so'th'at^it is probable; that the present session will see this " burning question " fought out. Anotheir important democratic measure to be in--1 troiuced ' will b^ an epactment limiting the ( duration of Parliaments' to .three years'/and'the 'adjustment of representa- - ; ;iion on ,-tlie'., basis ', population. „ Tlie Governor refers to a measure dealing with nativb'lands, the introduction of which, however, is contingent on its being acceptable to the natives. We do not think thel Maoris will ever cede their right to. dispose of^ their own lands io i)ae Government or. any one el»e, so that it ijs probable the bill teferred to will not be intro^iidedi' lAJftierbri^ifly adverting tojthe recent native disturbance, HisiExcelleapy makes mention of the negotiations with the Waikato natives at Kdptia, which, he , asiserts,;have come to. nothing, and any future negpciatioDß must be commenced on anew basis. In the portion ofthe speecli more particularly /addressed' 1 to the n^einb'ers of the H^ou|e ',6f> reference is made to the:'decrease' of the Landvßeren'ue, thrbughthe' falling off iA land sales, due in a great meagure to the , upiversal coEQmdrcial depression, and ,a)s6 to the postponement of the sales of the confiscated lands. This decrease, as 'His ijxcellency points out, is not a loss to the Cbunt'ry,i,,as the land still remains to be sold, and the progress of settlement will give to it enhanced valuei; However, as a consequence of th^is ,decreaso,. l ;ifci iii stated tliat the Grovernment will need to impose new taxation, and in view of that, j a measure will bo presented, imposing a.i j

incqnio,tft|;." From the expressed opinions of tho merabera* (?f the Ministry on this it is uot\ a matter for surprise tKat the Governor should announce that it is the intention of his advisors to introduce the measure referred to. ;As, 'one <• of its results ultimately will be the reduction of taxation in ■ other directions—especially on the necessaries of life—it will be received with approval ..by the working classes throughout the colony. Amongst the measures of lesser importance referred to is! oner conferring? „bQpo,w,ing p.of era on County. Qouncils of a similar nature to those conferred on Borough's Try::ike llunici^al Corporations Act,. Another enactment affecting, local th^bilil suspeh^ng; plUjrality i of votes in cases of election,to local bodies whilst i thOae: -bodies Tare/. .subsidised by colonial revenue. Legislation will also be brought tp'.lbeir'^n;thti'B,iibj'eots. f pf hospi-' tal "mDintenance_ and immigration qf Chineß6i and . this , abdut ends • the listiof 'measures referred ■to in'-'tad ■ fedteTtitir'a speech, {'w^ioli we have endeavored tb summarise. We may take occasion tb' !refef\more fully to the prindipalipoints? in the proposed new" TegM^tibn itji''i' /lfut;iire.