THE QUEEN'S SPEECH

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 141, 3 April 1873, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH

Tin. following w the speech delivered by commission at the opening of Parliament on I'ie Gtli February :— ilv Lords and Gentlemen, I greet you cordially on your reassembling for the clischai'^i' of t \our momentous duties. 1 havothe satisfaction of maintaining relations of friendship with Foreign Powers throughout the world. \ou were informed when I last addressed you that steps had been taken to prepare the way for dealing more effectually with the slave trade on the East Coast of Ainca. I have now despatched an Envoy to Z.in/.iW, furnished with such instructions as appears to me best adapted ior the attainment of the object in view, lie has recently reached the place of his destination, and has entered into communication with the Sultan. My ally, tho German Emperor, who had undertaken to pronounce judgment as arbiter on the line of water-boundary so long in dispute under the terms of the Treaty of 1816, has decided in conformity with the contention of the Government of tlio United States, that the ilaro Channel presents the line most in accordance with the true interpretation of that Treaty. I have thought it the course most befitting tho spirit of international friendship and tho dignity of the country to gne immediate execution to the award by withdrawing promptly from my partial occupation of the Island of San J uan. The proceedings before the Tribunal of Arbitration at Gcncvn, which I was enabled to prosecute in consequence of j the Indirect Claims preferred on behalt of the Government of the United .State-, terminated in an award which in part established anil m part repelled the claims allowed to be relevant. You will in due course be inked to provide |for tbe payment of tbo sum coming due to the United States under this award. My acknowledgments are due to the German Emperor, and likewise to the Tubunal at Geneva, for tho pains and care bestowed by them on the peaceful adjustment of controversies such as could not but impede the full prevalence of national goodw ill in a case where it was especially to be cherished. In further prosecution of a well understood and established policy, I have contlu.lol a Treaty for _tlic Extradition of Criminals with mv ally the King of tho Belgians. The Government of France ha-, during the recen, renewed its communications with mv Government for tho piirpow of concluding a Commercial Treaty to replace that of 18G0, which is about to expire. In prosecuting these communications, I have kept in v iew the double object of an equitable veg ird to existing circumstances, and of securing a general provision more permnuent in its character, and resting on a reciprocal and equal basis, tor the commercial and maritime transactions of the two countries. I hope to be enabled, within a short period, to announce to you tho final result. It has been for some jcars felt by tho Governments of Kussia and the United Kingdom respectively^ that it would be conducive to tho tranquillity of Central Asia if tho two Governments should arrive at an identity of view regarding the lino which describes the northern l'routier of the dominions of Afghanistan. Accordingly a corcspondencc has passed, of which tins is the mam subject. Its tenor, no lcs^tluin. its object, will, I trust, be approved by the public opinion of both nations. Papers will be laid before you with relation to the awards delivered under tho Treaty ot Washington, to the commercial negociatious with France* and to the northern froutieu of tho dominions of Afghanistan. * Gentlemen of the House on Commons,— The estimates of the coming financial j ear will be presented to you. They have been framed with a v iew to tho efficiency and moderation of [our establishments, under circumstances of inconvenience, entailed, by variations of an exceptional nature in tho prices of somo important commodities. Mr Lords avd Gentlemen, — Although the harvest has been to some extent deficient, the condition of the three kingdoms with reference to trade and commerce, to the sufficiency of the revenue for meeting the public charge, to tho decrease of pauperism, and to the lolativc amount of ordinary crime, may be pronounced 1 generally satisfactory. A measure w ill be submitted to you on an early day for settling the question of University Education in Ireland. It will havo for its object the advancement of learning in that portion of my dominions, and will be framed with a careful regard to tho rights of con«cienci\ You will find ample occupation in dealing witli other legislative subjects of importance, which, for tha most part, have already been under jour notice in. virious ibrnis and at diflercnt periods. Among theso your attention will speedily be asked to the formation ot a Supreme Court of Judicature, including provisions for the trial of appeals. Among the measures which w ill be brought before you there will also be proposals for facilitating tho transfer of land, and for the amendment of our system of Loc.il TataI mii, of certain provisions of the Education Act of 1870, and of the General Atle regulating Kaihvays aftd Canals; together with various other Hills for the improvement ol the Liw. I earnestly commend- jour deliberations to tho guidance and ia\our of Almighty God.