THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1078, 19 May 1882, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Honorable Legislators - and Member* of the ~ House of } ■ It ia with much pleasure that 1 have recourse to your advice and assistance on the occasion of the opening of the eighth Parliament of New Zealand, . I forwarded to the Queen an expression which I feel sure will have your hearty concurrence of.the deep felt thankfulness ■with .which'ill classes of .her, Mtjesty's subjects in Now Zealand heard of her recent preservation from danger, and of their earnest prayer that she may be long -spared to reign over'a loyal and united Empire. The measures adopted by the liist Parliament to extend the franchise, to increase the representation of the people, and to afford more frequent opportunities of ascertaining the opinions of the con-, stituences may, I trust, cause all-classes of the community to watcli your deliberations with keener interest, aud be found conducive to the permanent welfare and happiness of the . colony. I am glad to be able to congratulate you upon the renewed aud well-foun-ded ooiifidence which exists as to the commercial prospeots of the colony; upon the disappearance of distress among the working classes and npon the general increase of the. revenue. The proposals submitted to Parliament last session for the systematic laying out of roads to promote the colonisation of the waste land«, have had careful attention during the recess, and in all parts of the colony: the work of settlement- is progressing favorably. New openings are in the development for the employment of labor and capital, and the railways have become more productive, and freah groups of population are settling in districts which only require meanß of convenient access to make them prosperous. A desire for permanentsettlement on the goldfieldsand for the profitable union of mining and Agricultural pursuits in the same locality is becoming more manifest.: The: present* time is, in the opinion of my advisers, a very favorable one at which to press forward the construction oi roads and to facilitate the inflow of population. The success of the scheme which has been adopted at .llotorua on a limited scale for administering Native Lands on behalf of the native owners leads me to hope that it may havo a beneficial and more extended operation in the future. My advisers are of opinion that a plan for leasing agricultural lands with fixity of tenure upon reasonable terms may wish advantage beincorp"uted into the general system cf administering Crown Lands of tile 1 colony and a measure will be submitted to . yon with tliiß object. Towards the close i-f the la«t sesion of Parliament the as: tct <>f affairs ou the west coast of the North Island appeared to iny Government to have b?como more threatening than had previously been tlio case, and my advisers felt themselves compelled to consider whother more active steps than had yet been taken miulit not bo required for the repression of lawlessness, the prelection of Her Majesty's peaceable subjects', and the termination of the increasing excitement in that distriot. At their request the House of Representatives voted a turn of 1100,000 to meet puch a contingency. In the month of October the time .arrived whon conciliation having, in the opinion of my Ministers,.failed to effect its object, they considered the adoption of more vigorous measures to havo hecomo necessary. A proclamation was, accordingly issued during my ahsetico from the colony by tho administrator of tlio Government, calling on Te Wliiti and his adherents to accept within a specified time iho lands offered to them, a requisition "with which Te 'Wliiti failed to show any sign of compliance. 1 ' The dangers and difficulties of the position were judged by my Government only. •: to .increase with the continued exercise of forbearance, and it was resolved that the periodical meetings of natives at Parihaka should no longerbe : allowed to be held; that the numerous- natives from other localities congregated there should bo compelled to return to their own districts, and that Te Wliiti and Tohu should be removed from a position which was deomed by my advisers to constitute a standing menace to the peace of the. colony, Te ffhiti and Tohu were therefore arrested andMvere .committed for trial on a chargo of sedition. In order to secure the. success of . the operations, necessary for _ these objects the "Volunteers were invited. to leave their districts to render assistance and a large addition was made to the Artfed Constabulary, The thanks of fie. colony are due to the volunteers for the readiness with which they answered the call made on them, and for their soldierly conduit while on active service. The discipline. . and good conduot of the Armed Constabulary entitle them to the highest praise. My Government' desire it to be recognised that in the course pursued they have been, and are, actuated by anxiety to avert A consequences disastrousall . classes of her Majesty's subjects rather than by any desire to inflict punishment.. A Bill will be laid before you, having for its object to render the. trial ol Te Whiti and Tohn unnecessary, and at the same- • time ..to prevent tliem .from return: •. ing, . for., the present, ; to; Parihaka, - or recommencing an asitation whicg lias long caused alarm and apprehen.Bjpij of danger among the settlers on the ,; West Coast, I am assured that confidence in the tranquility of the district is estate lished and t&aU'feolin;' of security exist! •

amorif; the inhabitants which lias boon ...long unknown to : Gentlemen of tho House of Representatives, the estimates of revenue and expenditure for tho current financial year will shortly bo plaeee before you. Honorable legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— ■ Returns will bo laid before you. which , show timt tha revenue libb considerably exceeded the amount estimated. The raiiway returns especially show a gratify, ing increaso. Tho surplus ot recoipls ovor expenditure during tho Dast year amounts approximately to 4 per, cent upon the cost of construction, A now impetus appears to havo been givon to every branch of industry, tho yield of ffold for tho year which has just closed as compared with that of several previous years shows n marked development of this important industry and onconragos tho belief that „ furthor expenditure in opening up the ■ ReW/fields will be productive of tho host results to tho colony at large. These facta appear amply to justify your making provision for thuextonaiou and ultimate completion of the main trunk linesof railway as well as tin 1 other important works inconnection with them lo »l ich Parliament has piready givon its sanction. Proposals with these objects will bo made to you winch tho incroase of revenue and the revival ol prosperity appoar fully to justify, The commissioners appointed lo inquire into the constitution practice and procedure of .the Courts of Judicaturo within the • colony with the view of preparing such measures of reform as would rondor the administration of Justico more speedy and eflicaciims, and at the same time less costly than at present liavo completod their labors, and Bills will be prcsonled lo you for giving effect to the recommendations. of the Commissioners- Bills will also bo introduced to amond the Counties and Road Board Acta; lo regulate the making and levying of rates ; to effect important changes in the working of the Government Lifo Insurance Department; to improve the law affecting lunatics, to enable affirmations and declarations lo be taken in lieu of oaths; to abolish the restraints on the alienation of land. To amend the law relating to the property of married womon. To consolidate and amend the law relating to legal practitioners and for tile hotter management of Native Reserves. . Each of these subjects will require your very caroful consideration, and under llto guidauco of Providence I trust that your deliberations will result in just conclusions beneficial to all classes of Her Majesty's subjects in this colony.