PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 78, 29 October 1872, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

PROROGATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.—Friday. The Assembly was prorogued at 2 o'clock by his Excellency the Governor, who delivered the following speech:— Honourable Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— In bringing to a close this session of Parliament, I have to thank you for the care and attention you have devoted to public business. I am glad you have been able to pass so many large and important measures calculated to promote the social welfare, commerce, and good government of the colony. By the Public Health Act you have greatly strengthened the hands of the Government by enabling it to take needful precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of infrctioii3 diseases, while you have in the Municipal Corporations Waterworks Act passed a measure calculated beneficially to - promote the health and comfort of the inhabitants of large towns. The Drawbacks Act will afford considerable'relief to the mercantile portion of the community, and remove the obstacles to the increase of that commerce with the islands of the South Pacific, which this colony from its geographical position ought to be able to c immand • I congratulate you upon having passed Pablic Trustees Act. Although somewhat novel in its features, it will supply a great public requirement, and will I trust prove of advantage to the colony. Its initiation will during the recess engage the careful attention of the Ministry. The Public Works Amendment Act, ; n which you make further provision for further carrying out the beneficial policy of colonisation, shows you to be determined to promote to the utmost of your ability the progress of the colonv. The provision you made for the benefit of the West Coast of the Middle Island is a proof that you fully recogn se the wants of that important district. The Railway Act makes provision for the ' carrying out of works previously determined upon by Parliament, and altboug'i the additional cos!" now sanctioned appears considerable, it is explained bv including the expense of engineering and departmental work, not before included, and tiie purchase of land, together w r th the exira cost of iron and estimated addition arising from the increased price of labour. It is especially gratifying that, when all these amounts are added together, the average cost of the railways will be only' about £5,090 per mile, or £90 more than was estimated when the public works and immigration proposals were first submitted to Parliament. The 764 miles of railway which have been authorised at this rate must largely develope the resources of the country. It will now be the duty, as I b= I 'eve it will be the aim, of my Ministers to construct these works .with all the speed that the state of the labour market and other considerations will prudently permit. The Tramways Act is an important supplementary measure to your railway legislation, and wll, while opening up the country, same time provide railway 3 with a network of feeders to their traffic: I regret that the measure introduced by the Government with & view of providing greater security to life-assurers has not passed

into law. I hope, however, that cvontuully Una or eOiiic similar measure may receive sanction of Par* lui aent. Oi:.<rLUMKN OF THK IfoCSK OP RfiI'JIBSBKTATIVKS,— 11>tank you for the supplies you have granted for public service*, which shall bo. administered With all due care and economy. 1 am pleaded to notice tho increased attention winch i* being devoted to tlio admaiislrative iinanoial question, iiy tho Public JR4venues Act you have provided a much moiv eillciont system of control over public money than previously existed, and I have httlo doubt that the measure will [Move extremely beneficial. During tho ruccse it is the intention of the Ministry to investigate the condition of the Civil Service in order lo decide to what extent, administrative economical reforms are practicable. Honourable Legislative Councillors and GknTLKMEX OF TUB JIOUSK OF KKI'UKSKNTATIVKrt, — The abundance of employment which exists, and the readiness with which the recently-introduced immigrants have been absorbed by the labour market, proves the wisdom of Parliament in recommending aetive measures of colonisation. It will be the earnest endeavour of my Government to continue to carry out tho conciliatory policy towards the natives which has been so successful during the last few years. I have felt great pleasure in summoning to the Legislative Council two Maori chiefs, Mokena Kohere, of tho East Coast; and Wireinu Tako Ngatata, of tho West Coast. In bidding you farewell, I desire to congratulate you on the general and growing prosperity of 110 colony. The otlicial statistics recently published by the Imperial Government show that Now Zealand, although only 32 years have elapsed since the beginning of colonisation hero, is already fourth in rank and importance. On the long list, of British colonies, in its public revenue, in its trade (including exports and imports), and in other elements of material progress it is now surpassed only by the Dominion of Canada, by Victoria, and by Now South Wales. It may be confidently expected that, through t.he blessing of Providence on the energy and industry of i>e papulation in developing the vast, and vane.l natural resources of tins country, New Zealand will soon rise to a still higher place amongst tiie provinces of the Empire.