OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 5

OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

July 17. The second session of the fifth Parliament of the Colony was opened at Wellington today, at .noon, with the usual ceremonies. The following is the speech of his Excellency the Governor : — honobable legislative councillors, and Gentlemen of the House of Repbesentatives,— The alarming illness of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales produced iv thi3 Colony, no less than in other parts of the Empire, feelings of profound regret, and the subsequent intelligence of his recovtry was hailed with universal rejoicings. My advisers will submit to jou addresses to her Majesty, in which yon will b 3 asked to express your gratitude for the pres rvation of the empire from a great calamity, and your sympathy with your sovereign and the Roj'al Family. I have to congratulate you on the general tranquillity which prevails in the seveial Native districts throughout New Zealand, and on the friendly disposition manifested by the tribes hitherto disaff ;cted. It shows the progress being made towards the peaceful settlement of the .Native difficulty. I have lately ma^e a tour through the districts in the inteiior of this island, not long since disturbed by rebellion. 1 was everywhere treated by tho natives wi'h the greatest respect and hospitality, and received from them the strongest assurances of their desire to cultiivate friendly relalations with the European colonists. I was much pleased to see the progress of the roads which are being constructed to a great extent by Maori labor.

I also congratulate" you on the steady d> -' velopment and prosperous condition of the agricultural, mining, and pastoral industries. , Since the close of last session, my Government has been engaged in giving effect to the legislative measures passed by you for the construction of railways. Contracts for sections of several lines have been entered into upon terms which I trust you will consider favorable. The surveys of other lines are approaching completion. Payers will be laid before you which will inform you what steps have been taken towards establi hing a continuous stream of immigration. I am glad to be able to inform you that the operation of the Act which three years since the Legislature wisely passed for establishing on the security of the Colony a system of Life Assurance and annuities, which continues to meet with marked success. The progress and development of that system on the principles on which it is based will, I am sure, materially tend to the social comfort and welfare, not only of those who directly share in it, but indirectly of the whole community. Genelemen of the House of Representatives, —

The Estimates will be laid before you framed, with every regard for economy, consistent with efficient administration.

A very satisfactory symptom of that reviving prosperity of theColouy, which I ventured last session to hope was not far distant is to be found, I am happy to say, in the increased and increasing rec ipts" of the revenue. Honorable Legislative Coukcillors, ani> Gentlemen of thk House of Representatives, —

The occurrence of a few cases of small-pox in the Colony should remind you of the importance of sanitary laws. A Uill will be submitted to you improving the law re'ating to vaccination and quarantine, and for the better enabling of means to be tiken for the repression of epidemic disease in towns and in country districts. Measures will be submitted to you to consolidate and amend the laws relating to gold mining ; to reduce the stamp duty payable on receipts ; to reduce postage on newspapers withiu the Colony ; to -enable municipalities and road districts to enter into arrangements or grant concessions for the construction of tramways ; to make more liberal terms on which drawbacks are granted; to encourage fisheries to amend the laws relating to the public revenues ; to amend the law of bankruptcy to provide for the appointment of a public trustee ; to consolidate and amend the laws relating to elections. These and other measures which may be brought before you I commend to your cai eful consideration; and I trust that your labors may, under the blessing of Providence, conduce to the prosperity of the Colony and to the two races which inhabit it. In the Lower House, the Premier gave notice of his intention to move an address of congratulation to the Queen on the recovery of the Prince of Wales ; Mr Gitbourne, notice of a Public Health Bill ; Mr Yogel of Drawbacks Bill ; Life Asssurance Companies Bill, Public Trusts Officers Bill, Tramways Bill, and Sharebrokers Amendment Act. MrLuckie, member for Nelson, moves the address in reply. Mr Luckie moves, and Mr J. Sheehan seconds, the Address in Reply. It is expected that the Hon. John Hall will join the Cabinet, with a seat in the Upper House. " The House has adjourned till Thursday. July 18. In the Legislative Council a motion by the Hon. Capt. Bailie, censuring the Government for not having a member of the Cabinet in the Council, was carried. In the Lower Hou<« Mr O'Conor pre. sented a petition sign d by 600 residents in the Buller district, praying for an ei.quiry into the alleged improper conduct of Mr O'Gonor, as member of ths Nelson Provincial Council in respect of recent land sale. In accordance with the Standing Orders the matter was taken into consideration at once and a committee appointed. MrrFox moved, and Mr Stafford seconded, in eloquent terms, ad address to the Queen, congratulating her on the recovery of the Prince of Wales. The address was carried. The Hon. H. J. Miller is expected to be called to the Cabinet as the colleague of the Hon. John Hall. July 19. In the Lower House, yesterday, a petition was presented fiom Alex. Livingston, of Dunedin, praying for ompensati n for the sudden deprivation of his public office. The following Bills were read a first time : —Public Health, Permanent Officers Salaries, Drawbacks, Public Trusts Office, Life Assurance Companies, Tramways. The address in reply was agreed to. Mr Gillies gave notice today of a motion affirming the desirability of the introduction by the Government of a measure this session defining the power of Provincial Governments. Mr Parker drew the attention of the Government to the decayed' and dangerous state of the roof of the House of Representatives. The Speaker explained that steps had been taken to secure the roof, but it was not safe as against an earthquake. In reply to ivir Stafford, the Minister for Public Works said that a, portion of the Timaru and Temuka Bail way is un^er contract, and that the whole work would le proceeded with *• quickly as powible.

In reply to Mr Collins, the Colonial Treasurer said the Government iutended to amend the Distillation Act, to enable pub* licans to brew upon their own premises, and to confer other privileges. The Hon. John HaU has joiued the Ministry, with a seat' in the Upper House. The acceptance of a scat in the C.ibinet by the Hon. H. J. Miller is not yet decided. July 20. The nomination for Heathcote has been fixed, and the writ is returnable fifteen days henca. In the Lower House, Mr Gillies notified his intention to introduce a Bill to abolish imprisonment for debt ; also that the Government be requested to bring down the measure promised last session, altering the constitution of Provinces, and defining their functions. Mr Macanclrew gave notice of a motion that a portion of the Town Belt of Duuedin be appropi iated as a cemetery. In reply to a question Mr M'Leau promised to appoint two Native members of the Upper House at an early date. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Cautreil for fouitecn days. The Otago Waste Lands Bill was read a first time. The House appointed a committee of twelve to enquiro into the O'Conor scandal. The committee formally met yesterday. It is rumored that the Government, in order to conciliate the Otago members, intend making the session a short one, aud calling another to be held shortly in Dunedin. The Otago members are holding a caucus on the subject.