(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (Per Greville & Co.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 233, 18 July 1872, Page 5

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (Per Greville & Co.)

Dunedin, July 17. The General Assembly was opened yesterday. The Governor's speech congratulates the colony on the peaceable aspect of th« natives, prosperous condition of the staple incomes, and the increased revenue.' The 6utbreak of the smallpox was regretted, and attention directed to the importance of sanitry laws. Bills are to be submitted improving the law a relating to vaccination and quarantine, and for better ' enabling measures to be taken for the repression of epidemic diseaaes. Measures will be submitted to amend and consolidate laws relating to gold mining ; to reduce the stamp duty payable on receipts ; to reduce postage on newspapers within the colony ; to enable municipalities and 'road boards to make Arrangements and grant- concessions for the construction of, tramways ; to- make more liberal terms for granting drawbacks; to amend laws relating to public revenues* to amend laws relating to bankruptcy, providing for the appointment of a public "trustee : and to consolidate and amend laws relating to elections.

Mr. Luckie moved and Mr.- Sheehan seconded the address in reply. It i 3 ex pected that Mr. John Hall will join the Executive with a seat in the Upper House. The House adjourned till Thursday (to-day)-. A great 6re has taken place in Shortland. The south west side of Pollen street, from the old Bank of New Zealand to Litchfield and Barnets, a distance of one mile, is destroyed. The amount of damage iias not yet been ascertained. There was no insurance.