Parliamentary.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 951, 27 July 1878, Page 2

Parliamentary.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

[BY .SiLECTRIC TI3IiECHtA.PHIC }

WELLINGTON, F.iday.

The House opened at 2 p.m. The Governor's speech touched on the prosperity of the colony and his cordial reception everywhere. Re. ferring to native matters, he said : —I congratulate you on the fact tliat peaceful relations have at last b sen established with the Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto tribes. Complying with pressing and frequentlyreceived invitations of leading chiefs of those tribes, the Premier and Native Minister visited them on several occasions in their own districts, and met them also at Waitara. Papers on this subject will be laid before you ; they will show that before long the period of serious difficulties with the native race may reasonably be considered to be approaching a termination. There is now a fair prospect that before long European "enterprise and settlement will be welcolmed by those great tribes, and they will gladlyavail themselves of advantages which road?, railways, and telegraphs will ' bring to their magnificent territory, by which'its value, and consequently the wealth and happiness of that portion of the native race so long estranged from us mast be largely increased. In consequence of the disposition thus l'ecently manifested on the part of these natives you will be asked to consider the question of extending the North Island trunk railway from Auckland to Taranaki. It is probable that blocks of land of great value will be acquired tipQii reasonable terms along the line. While negotiations with these tribes have beeu progressing the interests of those that have long been loyal have not been neglected, and many principal native settlements during the recess were visited by the Premier or Minister. Several long pending questions, out of which more or less illfeoling had

arisen, have been finally uiul satisfactory settled. The question-.of Ihe survey for son lenient of the West Coast of this Island ins beo:i firmly taken in haucl. Cue block has been surveyed, and Ayill be shortly bpend for sule ; and the immediate survey of the -Waimate piains is ordered, whilst the utmost consideration t'o>: former native owners will be shown, In dealitfg with those lau Is a large .extent'of valuaMe eountry will by available for sale and settlement. My advisers f.xmd the position of Government; with 'regard to native hind purchases to be very unsatisfactory, and but for the legislation of las' session, which enabled the Government .temporit'ily to protect lands under negotialim by the Crown, many blocks upon wbicb large sums, of public bad been spent would :have passed into the hands 0? private speculators. This is a ques ion with which you will be called u t JOii to deal, and : information sufficient to enablb you to conserve the.interests of the colony in this respect, will be afforded. for simplifyiug procedure in the investigations of title to native lands, as well as for their alienation, will be submitted to you. The principles of those mesures have been discussed with many sections of the native people. It is bel.eved the effect will •be to place upon an equal footing all Queen's subjects who may desire to put chase 'native-lands. The speech, also, announced an increase of revenue. It referred to the measures taken for the colonial defence, and said the ueo?ssary armament would shortly arrive in the

colony. Measures are promised of electoral reform, and for placing taxation on i move equitable basis, apportioning (.be burdens according' to the , P >vyer of bearing them. The Tariff, \ as revised, is to relieve commerce. .Government, found that, to secure administrative reform, offices m<ist. be amalgamated. This was done, more especially in the Department of Justice. A bill extending the jurisdiction of inferior courts, and simplifying proceedure ot the Supreme Ooiufc, will be introduced. It is intended to appoint a commission to inquire into the working of the New Zealand University. With a view to advancing higher education. Encouragement will be given to private and local efforts for railway extension. The speech also referred to the duplication of the Darwin cable, and the cheapening of cable charges. Mr Seymour Ueorg'; moves and Mr K. Hobbs seconds the address in reply. Mr Sheehan introduced a Bill, which was carried through all its stages, empowering the Native Land Court to compel the attendance of witnesses with the iutention of facilitating business at the Thames (Jourl", now sittting.