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Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1235, 29 May 1880, Page 3

The second session of the seventh Parliament of New Zealand was opened at two o'clock this afternoon, by his Excellency the Governor, in person. The Volunteers furnished a guard-of -honor, and a salute was fired by the Wellington battery of Artillery. A message having been sent to the House of Representatives requesting the attendance of members they entered by the front entrance to the Council Chamber, and his Excellency read the following speech :—: —

The Governor's Speech. Hon. Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, In accordance with what was understood to be the wish of both branches of the -Legislature I have called you together at an earlier period of the year than usual, and after an interval of little more than five months since the last session of Par- j liament. When I las>t met you the country was suffering from severe monetary prossure and general depression in various branches of industry and trade. It is satisfactory to me to be able on the present occasion to congratulate you upon the partial relief which has been experienced, and upon the degree of confidence which has been revived by an abundant liai-vest, and by the increased value of most of the staple products of the country ; at the same time, as the condition of the colony demands your careful consideration I regret that there should be a considerable amount of distress among the working classes. I trust and believe this may be only of a temporary character. It is engaging the serious attention of my Government who have taken steps for inquiring- into the means best calculated to encourage such local industries as w.ll affoi'd steady and remunerative employment to the people. In accordance with the decision of the Legislature I appointed a Royal Commission to cuquire into the alleged grievance of a portion of the native race with respect to their lands on the West Coast of the North Island. The reports and recommendations of the Commissioners will be laid bofoi-e you. I trust that the measures at once firm and conciliatory adopted by Government will issue in a permanent and satisfactory settlement of the difficulties which have arisen in that part of the Colony. The determination which has been shown to redress grievances where they may be proved to exist, and at the same time to assert the superiority of the Crown, cannot but favourably affect our relation with the whole Maori race. The steps which should be taken for the defence of the Harbours of the Colony have been carefully considered and ably reported on by Colonel Seratchlev, and an experienced oflicer of the Royal Engineers. You will be asked to consider the extent to which it will be advisable to give effect to his suggestions.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,— Carefully prepared estimates of the revenue and expenditure for the ensuing twelve months will be laid before you. The facts elicited by the Commissioners whom I have appointed to enquire into the present position of the Civil .Service will, I lwo no doubt, assht my responsible adviseis in effecting a substantial reduction in the cost of that service. I regret to have to announce to you that a falling-off has taken place during the past financial period in noarlv all the principal items of revenue. While this may in some measure be attributed to peremptory ca°es, it v\ ould be unwise to ignore the fact that, prior to the existing depression, there had been a time of extraordinary inflation consequent on the expenditure of boirowed money. Wi'li the lessening of the abnormal influx of foreign capital, the country must look for a diminution in the rate of progress it has recently betn accustomed to, both in respect of its ordinary and territorial revenue. Under the ch cuimtanecs, my advisers enteifcain no doubt as to the course to be pursued : expenditure must be decreased ; luxuries must be curtailed ; and the public works which have already been constructed must be made more reproductive. It is to industry and economy that the colony has to look for development of its resources and the maintenanc % of a healthy progress. You will be a'<ked to consider a plan which, it is believed, will place the finances of the local bodies on a satisfactory basis and will enable those bodies to carry on thenworks in a self-reliant and independent manner.

Hon. Legislative Councillors and Gentlemen of the House of Eepresentatives,— At a time when it is indispensable that the closest attention should be bestowed upon the state of our finances, upon the solution of the native question, and of economy in administration, it is not the intention of my Government to ask you to devote a longer time to the work of legislation than will be requh-ed to complete the constitutional measures already initiated, and to deal with pressing questions of social and administrative reform. Bills will be presented to you for consolidating and amending the licensing laws of Khe colony ; for placing the administration of hospitals and charitable aid on a sound and intelligible basis; for completing the changes in the electoral laws which were commenced during the last session of Parliament; for readjusting the representation of the people; and for dealing with native lands and the constitution of the Lands Court. The work of consolidating the statistics, as authorised by you, has made considerable progression. A number of Bills, the result of the labors of the Commission, will also be placed before you. The necessity for revising the whole system of legal procedure now in force in the Supreme Court, and in the other Courts of the colony, has forced itself on the present session; but it is proposed to institute an inquiry with the view of preparing such measures of reform as will render the administration of justice more speedy and efficacious, as well as less costly, than at present. The work of opening up the waste lands of the Crown for settlement has been vigorously prosecuted, and blocks of lands for occupation upon the deferred payment and village settlement system have been - set aside. The desire which exists for the occupation of land in small holdings exhibits a determination on the part of the colony to devote themselves steadily tg the development of its resgurc.es, It is

to be regretted that in some parts of the country land has been bo.ught on terms with Avhich the purchasers have found it impossible to comply : the subject is under the careful consideration of my Government. In now leaving you to the labors ol the session, I have to assure you of my earnest desire to co-operate with you in youv efforts to promote the welfare of the country, and to express my hope that God's bles&ing may rest upon your deliberations.