PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5057, 21 June 1895, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE SPEECfc.

[BY TELEGRAPH.] . -^I Wellington, .•'.. ;;;-|! The second session of the welfth -',s Parliament of New Zealand was this ■ v day opened by the Governor, when ■" v ' His Excellency was pleased to make : v.. the following speech:— ' \ Honourable Gentlemen of'the Le'gisk- :.''. the Council, and Gentlemen of the . ;;; Kouse of Representatives.— ' U', It gives me great pleasure again to '■■"s meet you in Parliament assemble);], ;! I was able during the recess to visit ':■ '$ the Snares, the Auckland, the Campbell, Antipodes, Bounty and '. "* Chatham Islands. In connection 4 with my visit to these interesting hut little known Isles, I must express my regret at the almost complete disappearance from them of the seals once so numerous tliero. I invite your attention to this undoubted national loss, lam able very gl? ih to congratulate you upon more IW* oue aspect of the present j&te and future aspects of the Colwß The depression which was so universally felt during the spring and summer began to pass away before the end of autumn, and has now unquestionably given place to renewed hope. Several of

OUR STAPLE PRODUCTS, notably wheat, has risen in price. The improvements in the market for kauri gum lias been a matter bf congratulation, chiefly, of course, for the province of Auckland. The better demand for timber has affected many districts. With the recent partial recovery in the price of frozen mutton may bo coupled the success of the important experiments lately made in shipping liife stock and chilled beef to London. The revival of quartz mining so noteworthy for mouths past in the Auckland goldfields appcA likely to have a counterpart on We West Coast of the South Island. Tliero is solid reason for anticipating that mining will for some time to corAo both employ more labour and yield more gold than for years past. Useful as the cyanide process of extracting gold has been in the past it is not to be gainsaid that the royalty - exacted under the patent rights of the Cassells Company has been aheavy burden on tho back of "V MINING ENTERPRISE. Therefore as the English Courtshave upset tho patent, my Ministers hare taken steps to have it setasideinthis Colony. The state' of the public finances of New Zealand continues to be fair ground for almost unmixed national satisfaction. Once more I am able to say that tho provision made during last session for carrying on the public services has proved more than sufficient. The public accounts show a surplus of revenue over expenditure of a thoroughly sound kind, able to challcjje honest and reasonable Atticism. Though during the recess persistent efforts have been made to combine the .MAORI TRIBES in a league against further sales of land, my advisers are glad to beable to assure you that the attempt has 1 failed, indeed signatures to deed of sale are being affixed in numbers and the work of the acquisition, by the State, of Native land, is in no fear of being arrested from causes which will be made known to you. The work of surveying the territory of the Tuhoe tribe, was somo months' ago, suddonly interrupted. A display of armed force and negotiation conducted for tho Government by the member of the Ministry representing tho Native race, quickly led to a peaceful understanding. But my advisers, deeming it best to guard against further disturbance obstruction in this part of thtaColony have decided to push roadsWrough the length and breadth of the Uriwcra country, that in future it shall be at peace and opeu to all, The inability of the

MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY , to complete its contact has long been known. Three years ago, the Company's Now Zealand representatives, frankly admitted this inability. Though valuable concessions were more than once granted, tho Company's representatives had .subsequently to askfc Parliament to modify the contract, in order to prevent the collapse of the undertaking. Tho second application was decisively refused. Though the term for the contract's completion expired in January last, only about one tifth of the roads', required for the lino's construction;'' have yet beon laid out, and for months past little or no Ita£ has been done, and the arfjEation desired by the Company, was postponed by tho arbitrators until next year. As the inexcusable delay by the Company to complete its con- |V tract, and tho consequent locking up' of live million acres of Crown Lands, impelled my advisers to take posses' sion of both tho complete and incr ; mplete working of the lino, this step was taken in accordance w if, a law, and under tho best a( [ v i ce to be obtained Tho Comp i ete(li portion of tho Midland Tyi' j s » now being worked by f,| l6 Q J m . meat, and authority wi',l be asked to extend and the cost 0 f such ex te n . sion the Company will be requested to refund. The vis jit of

TUE COWSUJ, IKEASUKER to London has be 011 followed bymuch' direct advantage to the Colony] At the. Postal Conference at Hobart, new cable rates were fixed, under which Now Zealand will savo £3OO ' a year, I* London the Treasurer has obtained for tho Colony an extension term with tho B» of. England, whereby the bo benefitted to the extent of £3 000 por annum. Above all New Zealand! hashed the way by successfullr floating a 3 per cent, loan h* the Mghsh. money market, thereby strengthening her public credit. sincE ensuring the scheme for giviW financial aid under the Advances to.v Milani Act, Many of our settlers'' have alleged that theii'applications for loans have not received that consideration t of which their merits demanded. The responsibility however, of administering the lan'or' rests with tho Board,and thecircum' stances complained of are beyond the control of my advisers. These matters-. ' will, I trust receive your careful con' sideration With a view to openingfresh markets for our produco m^ 55? provißional^ BECIPiIOCAITREATIfs