WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4807, 5 June 1884, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This. day. Parliament was opened by His Excel

lency the Governor at 2 o'clock, with the usual ceremony. His Excellency was attended by Major Eccles, A.D.C., Mr Pennefather, Private Secretary, Major Cantley.TJoyalEngineers, Col. Pearce, and the various Consuls. There was a larger attendance of ladies than usual.

The Governor's Speech. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Kephesentativis—

I have much pleasure in again meeting you in Parliament assembled. Since the close of the last session a great affliction has fallen upou Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, through the sudden death of His Itoyal Highness the Duke 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 be had lived and worked, have caused his loss to be regarded as a national calamity, I did nofc delay in assuring Her Majesty of the deep sympathy which was felt by theprople of New Zealand in her severe affliction. When I first met the .Assemby after my assumption of (he Governorship, I expressed the satisfaction I hed experienced in making myself acquainted with the people and the resources of the colony, so far es I had then been able to visit different districts. During the last year I have made more extended tours through many parts of both islands,^ and the manner in which I have been welcomed in all these places I have visited has bren most cordial and gratifying. The impressions I had already formed of the great capabilities and prospects of the country, have been much strengthened by all that I have lately seen. The depression which has been felt duriDg the past year in many parts of the world lias been intensified in New Zealand by the unseasonable weather which prevailed in some districts at harvest time ; but this depression largely resulted from external causes, the chief aflaongst them being the reduced values of the : staple products of the country—wool and wheat. I trust, however, that a renewal of prosperity may with confidence be anticipated. There can be no doubt that with increased population a more varied use of the soil would result in a large development of the vast natural resources of the Colony. Already new industries are springing up, with regard to wjiich there is every reason to hope that the genial climate, and the great fertility of the New Zealand soil, will enable the Colony to compete successfully with other countries in the markets of the world. Having the fullest confidence that, with a cessation of the causes that have led to temporary depression, there will come a revival of trede and an increasing activity in all local industries, my advisers Lave 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 the Crown lands in such a manner as will, it is believed, promote their occupation by settlers who are able to aid in increasing the productive power of the country^ The plan of offering a portion 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 affords to the industrious settler, 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 operations of this plan to other parts of the colony. Besides its proclaimed goldfields, you wili.be glad to find from a return which will be presented to you that daring the past year there has been a considerable increase in the area of land taken up, subject to residential conditions; and that notwithstanding the difficulties under which the agricultural classes have been labouring, their, engagements with the Crown have been met on the whole with creditable promptitude. A /proposal for dealing with pastoral lands in small areas will also be submitted to 'you, and it is a matter for congratulation that while gettlement within the colony has been progressing, increased facilities for the disposal of its products in the Home markets are being afforded throngh the establishment by private enterprise of direct steam communication with Great Britain. Of special interest connected with the establishment of direct steam service, and the general growth of colonial industries is the feet that great and rapidly increasing consumption of coal is being met by increased productiveness of the mines within the colony. The annual importation of coal had remained almost stationary for the last four years. On the goldfields much enterprise has been shown by miners duribg the year in introducing machinery, and opening quarlz mines, as well as in the application of new methods to the successful working of deep alluvial deposits. The yield of gold from quartz shows an increase over previous years, and although the total production for the colony during the past year has not been equal to that of former years, there is satisfactory ground for believing that the average annual 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, ard this satisfactory result is, I am assured, visible in almost every native- dittriet. Exploration for railway

purposes and surveys for tha ascertain> ment of the title over large areas'of the North Island, hitherto but little known to Europeans, have been carried on with such slight interruption as to show that the isolation until lately maintained by some of the tribes no loDger exists, or is desired by them. The progress which is being made iv determining tho tribal boundaries in the North Island will shortly leave little to be done beyond the 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 the European population. A Bill will accordingly be laid before you to regulate the sale or other disposal of land bslonging to aboriginal natives. Experience I)hs proved that the abandonment of the Crown has not I produced the beneficial results which were anticipated by the promoters of that policy, but that on the other hand direct dealing for Maori land by, Europeans has been open to objection of ka very grave character, and the good of the colony, .not less than tbe interest of the natives, requires a complete change, and a bill will be submitted to you by which it will be proposed to permit the disposal of calive land only through the Land Boardß of the colony, or by direct sale to the Crown. Papers relating to the work of the West Coast-Commission will be laid,before you, together with a final report on the subject from the Commissioner. Sir Wm. Fox has for several years devoted himself with great care, attention, and discretion to the fulfilment of the duties of that office, and the colony has good reasons to be satisfied with the manner in which he has completed the work entrusted to him.

Gentlemen of the House of Eepbesentativ s—

The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year will be laid before you very shortly, The lessened in-, come trom^lhe 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 in colonial revenue calls for greater economy and diminished expenditure in the public service.

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Eepeesjentatives—

When I bad the pleasure of meeting you at the opening of last Session, a discussion was proceeding between my Government and the Govercments of Australia respecting the concerted action to induce the Imperial Government to establish British rule or protection ov t er certain Islands of (he Pacific. I then informed you that I had telegraphed to the Secretary of Stale expressing my full concurrence in the desirableness of Ihe proposed action. It was, before the end. of the Session, announced to Parliament that it was determined to hold a Convention to consider the question of Federation and Annexation, and that it would be attended by representatives of New Zealand. I, in reply, consented to accredit the Premier and the Honorable Sjr Frederick Whitaker, his predecessor in office, to attend the Convention on be» half of this Colony. The meeting took place at Sydney during the months of .November and December last, and 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 also 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 relapsed criminals Jto these seas. You will be invited to consider certain deductions of the convention, especially those concerning the convict question, and also to consider a draft bill, having for its object the establishment of a Federrl Council, the provisions of this bill will not in any way effect the powers of the several colonies.

[Left Speaking.]

On the House resuming, Messrs WakeSold and Newman took the necessary oath, and their seats. A new writ was ordered to be issued for the Ashburton seat. ■

(FBOM OTJB OWN COBBEBFONDENT.)

Upon the conclusion of the reading of the speech, in the House of Representatives, Dr Newman, the newly-elected member for Thorndon, gave notice of motion that he will move the Address-in-Reply. ■ '