Opening Parliament.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2295, 14 May 1886, Page 2

Opening Parliament.

Tlie : ' Governors Speech.

Honorable Gentlemen .of the Legislatiw ■ ■ Council, and Qmtlimtn of the Horn of Reprmitatim—

It affords mo much pleasure to meet you thus early in Parliament assembled. The year which is now passing will be memorable throughout the British Dominions as that/ou whicli our gracious sovereign enters on the fiftieth year of her reign. You will, I feel assured, desire to prove thatthesubjects of this,the moat distant portion of Her Majesty's possessions, share equally with Her Majesty's subjects in all other parts of the world the highest appreciation of tho great results of her longandbeneficientreign.Youwillbeasked to consider the most suitable way of showing, on behalf of the people of New Zealand, their affection and duty to the jperson of the sovereign, their love and oyalty to the Crown, their sonse of gratification at belonging to a realm enjoying a swaysobenignantand theirdesireto seethe bonds which unite every portion of Her Majesty's vast Empire confirmed and strengthened It is particularly appropriate to such a year that 1 am able to announce to you that in the opinion of my Miuistera there has never been a time when the relations betweon Her Majesty's European and Maori subjects have been of so friendly a character. The Maoris are evincing an intelligent interest in colonising operations, and a'cordial recognition of the laws of the colony. They show tliia excellent disposition by the _ readiness with which thoy are socking Crown titles for large areas of country through which the Northern Trunk railway will pass, and by their willingness to part with land to the Government for the purposes of settlement along that line of railway. Negotiations for such lands aro, in the opinion of my advisers, proceeding satisfactorily, and with due regard to the necessity of a sufficient quantity being retained by Maoris for their own use. You will be asked to amend the laws relating to the disposal of Native lands in the direction, which appears to my '"Ministers best adapted to do justice to Maori owners, and to hasten the occupation and settlement of the country, Public works have been pmcecded with as rapidly as the means placed at the disposal of the Government permitted. Proposals will be laid before you for continuing railways and other public works on a scale consistent with tho circumstances of tho colony, and m tho manner most calculated to secure sound economical results. Now Zealand ii) Buffering from the depression that appears to prevail throughout the world, but which is afficting this colony -much less than other countries because of its great resources. My advisers are of opinion that this depression, rather than tendinp to discourage the energies of tho the people, should lead them to additional exertions, and that, if, concurrently with the. progress of railways, abundant opportunity be offered to settlers to occupy and cultivate land in farms of reasonable size, farmers from other countries will be attracted to the colony, and materially aid its progress. In calling your attention to the gracious compliment which Her Majosty paid to all the Colonies and India by opening the Exhibition devoted to their products, to tho gratitudo the Colonies and India owe to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for the untiring exertions which have led to the success ol the Exhibition, lam glad to be able to say that my Ministers have used their utmost endeavors to secure for this Colony an adequate representation.

_ Gentlemen of the Home 0/ftpraeiite tim:~

The estimates of revenue and expenditure for the current year will be laid before you. My advisers fully recogniso the importance of keeping down the expenditure to the lowest limit, consistent with meeting the requirements of the public service and the wants of the country. The finances of the colony are in a sound condition, and gratifying progress is being made with the conversion of the loans, The San Francisco mail service has been re-established at a cost within the authority which you gave by resolution. It is gratifying that the contract should havo been taken by a Now Zealand Company on behalf of itself and a ■ powerful American shipping organisation. It is equally gratifying that New South Wales joins in the arrangement and that assistance is received iromthe Government of the United States.

Honorable gtntknm of the Ltqislatke Council, and gentltrnm of fte House ofMepmmtaiives— Whilst giving attention to the undertakings which it is' "desirable the colony should carry out, it is not to be forgotten that the works constructed by local bodies are of essential importance towards promoting and extending the settlement of }he. lands. A measure will be placed before you dealing with the finance of local bodies, and enlarging their power of directly managing their own affairs. My Ministers view with satisfaction the disposition which is being shown to dovelopthe local resources of tbo colony, including those of the mines, the forests and the fisheries. It is of infinite importance to recognise and take advantage of the natural wealth of New Zealand and to encourage tho prosecution of industries of a varied character. My advisers place great faith in tho operation of a police which embraces the point* ofprosecuting local industries, and thus affording abundant occupation to the population, promoting settlement by liberal land-laws, constructing railways with a view to opening tho country, aiding the progress of settlement and speedily securing satisfactory economical results, placing local bodies in a position to open roads and' do other useful work, giving to tha mining population , liberal facilities and the establishment of friendly relations with tho Maoris, The arrangement for the construction of the Midland, railway under authority conceeded by Parliament is, in the opinion of my advisers, a matter of hearty rejoicing, some points of a not material nature will have to be submitted for the ratification of Parliament, The attention of my Ministers has been constantly directed to questions relating to tho South Sea Islands. Whilst recognizing ing the'important interest New Zealand h« in these matters they have carefully avoided exceeding the authority with which Parliament has endowed them. Papers on the subject will be presented. Bills will be submitted to you to consolidate the law« relating to crimes, to municipalities, to volunteers, and. to mines; to establish a parcel post 'system, and to amend the Charitable Aid and Hospitals Act, 1 commend to your attention the business that will come before you, and earnestly hopo that your labors will, under the Wefting-trf fMij to attended witk^boAodcMj l .