THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5117, 11 June 1885, Page 2

THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

WELLINGTON

This day. The second session of the Dinth Parliament of New Zealand was to-day opened by the GoTernor. His Excellency was | accompanied by Major Eccles, MrPenne father (Private Secretary), and Consuls; Pearce, George, and Toxward. The Governor's Speech. . Hon. Gentlemen ov the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the HotTSE Or EEPiIESENTATnrES— I have much pleasure in again haying recourse to your assistance in Parliament assembled. The depression which was prevalent throughout the colony when you met last year shows signs of passing away. Notwithstanding the low price of wool and wheat, satisfactory evidence is apparent of renewed enterprise, and by confidence in the future progress of the colony. The loyal disposition of the Maoris, and the readiness they have displayed in aiding the construction of the Northern Truuk Sail tray, must be exceedingly gratifying to you. My Minis* ters' desire, in dealing with the natives, j is. to treat them with justice and consider- < ation, whilst at the same time the law is maintained. There are throughout the j native territory many signs that the atti- | tude of the Maoris is not only peaceful, but friendly; tribes and hapas hitherto standing aloof from Europeans have shown an earnest desire to co operate heartily with the Government. My advisers are of opinion that in order to avoid misunderstandings in the future, it is most important that a better mode of dealing with Native lands should be dovised. To accomplish this in a manner just to the Maori owners and beneficial to the Colony, they propose to submit to you a Bill to regulate the sale and other disposition of the lands belonging to Natives, the construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, which was happily inaugurated near Kihikihi in April last, cannot fail to have a most beneficial effect on the relations existing between the European and native races, and as land is provided for settletxient along the line, the North Island^will doubtless make great strides in permanent agricultural settlement. My Ministers have proceeded cautiously, but effectively, with the prosecution of other public works, and they hope at no distant data that the Bail way between Wellington and Napier will be finished. Kapid progress is being made in the construction of the Otago Central Bailway, which when completed will open up the interior plains of that provincial district. No time was lost in making an agreement under the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway Act; my Minister! are in hopes that in accordance with its provisions Nelson and the Wett Coast will before long be connected with the East Coast of the Middle Island, and thftt that vast area qf laud, which

from its nature requires a railway to devel^pe 'it, will become available for useful purposes. The gain to tho colony from the opening of these lines of communication wilh the .West Coast, my Ministers consider will be of immense importance; whilst the utilisation of the land, of which the colony will retain alternate blocks, niust prove* of great service. You will be asked to consider whether the effective working of the railway opened for traffic could not be improved by the constitution of Boards of Commissioners, to whom would be entrusted the general management of railways—in order to -enable you to deal with this subject, my Ministers **ill submit a. Bill for your consideration. In accord- ! ance with authorities given by Parliament in 1882, and by you last session, a loan of £1,500,000 has been raised, and exceedingly satisfactory prices obtained.. Papers on the subject will be. laid before you The Industrial Exhibition, in Wellington will shortly be opened, and my advisers believe that through it an impetus will be given to manufacturing enterprise through < out the colony.'You will be asked to authorise the representation of the colony at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, to beheld in London next year. A great opportunity would thus be afforded of making known throughout the world the vast resources and natural advantages of this colony. Considerable attention has been given to the promotion of agrisultural settlement, and special settlements formed under the regulations lately gazetted promise to prove a great success. Applications far exceediug the area at present available by law have bscn received by the Lands Department. The constitution of the Legislative Council has often been discussed, and a Bill dealing with the subject, by limiting appointments to a term of years, will be submitted for your consideration, and proposals with this object will shortly be submitted to you. ■■■■'■! l-

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council ANi> Gentlemeic oj? the House of Representatives— For some time daring tlie recess there was considerable apprehension* of war being declared with Russia. My Minis ters therefore felt it necessary to make immediate and strenuous efforts* to place the colony in a state of defence. With this object in view, considerable expense has been incurred, to which you will no doubt readily assent. The main, ports are being put in a state to resist attack, and in a bill to be proposed to you to sanction further expenditure, to render the defence of the colony still more complete, you will be invited to express your views pa the question both of naval and land defences. There has been throughout the colony a desire to improve the system of local government. My Ministers consider that any reform attempted, should interfere as little as possible with existing instructions, go long as the objects sought can be obtained.' They have prepared for your consideration various bills, making provisions for granting local bodies larger powers with a more assured local"finance, thus enabling them to perform their important functions without continually referring to the Central Government or to Parliament for aid and assistance. The attention of my Ministers has been much directed to the development of the great mineral wealth of the colony, the interest and enthusiasm awakened in the Miners by the lectures recently delivered on chemistry and Mineralogy, and their desire for the permanent establishment of Schools of Mines, demonstrate the confidence these enterprising settlers have in their pursuits. You will be asked to give further facilities to the mining industry. There are other industries which require your careful attention; the forests of the colony if properly, utilized would not only give useful , -employment to many colonists, ; but their value would be greatly enhanced. Much valu* able timber is now being recklessly destroyed, and it will be for you to consider whether, for economic as well as climatic reasons, greater efforts should not be made to conserve and utilize the forest lands of the Crown. A bill on the subject has been prepared, and will be submitted to you. The fisheries, though known to be valuable have" hitherto received very little notice; proposals to found fishing settlements, and to aid in the development of fishing industries will be laid before you, and I have no doubt they will receive your careful consideration. The .relations of New Zealand to the Australian colonies and the South Sea Islands have occupied the attention of my Ministers during the recess, and they considered it to be their duty to oppose the Federal Council Bill in the shape it was brought before the Imperial Parliament, until you could have an oppor tunity of expressing your views on the subject. The new mail service to the South Sea Islaods which you authorised. will, it is to be hoped, stretighen the commercial relations and increase trade between them, and New Zealand correspondence with the Secretary of State for the colonies, the Premiers of the Australian colonies, and with the King of Samoa, will be laid before you. Dispensing aid to , the poor and the sick has proved, especially since the abolition of the provinces, a difficult task. My Ministers think that such aid wannob be effectively administered by an agent of the Government, but should be locally controlled. A Bill with this object will be submifted to you. I commend to your careful consideration the Bills which will be brought before you for various purposes ; amongst'others, for Consolidating the Land Laws, for limiting the liability, of Insurance Companies' shareholders, for codifying the Criminal Law, for consolidating the various Municipal Corporations Acts, the Native Land Laws, and the Land Transfer Act, and for establishing a system of Parcels Post, and for the issue of postal notes. I earnestly hope that with the blessing of God you may be enabled to discharge your ardous duties with good effect.