OPENING OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2056, 10 September 1885, Page 2

OPENING OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES PARLIAMENT.

[HKITKH s rKf Kull\llS.] S^ i>\h\ , September S. Tiik Now South W.iks Paihament was opened today by the (!o\oinor, Lord Augustus Loftus His Excellency in his speech on the O'easion, urged upon tli> Legislature the desiiability ot completing the defence system of the colony, .uul tlie necessity of providing means for the batter collection and sfoinge of water. Alluding to the colonial lailways, His Excellency stated that at the present tine '.VM'O miles of lailwny were open forttalhc, and contracts had been let for the construction of a fin tin i length of 438 miles. Refeiiing to the Hn.inci.il position of the colony, he said the income fiom .ill sources* during the fiist eight months of the emu nt finnncMMcii was largely in excess of the teeeipti for the coi respondin<» period of last yeir. In July li-t the (ios eminent had intended to llo.it .1 lonn of fixe and a half millions, but acting upon the repiesentation made by the AgentGenei.il, Sir Saul Samuel, the\ had decided to postpone the loan, but would place it upon the London miiket \vhcnc\cra f-uoniahle oppoitunity presented itself. Allusion was made to the disastious lesults const .juent upjn the decieased i.iinf.ill. which had m.iteiiall\ mjuied ttade, and affected the revenue to a gieat extent. Tlie (jnestion w hethci New South Wales should continue to pny a sh.uc of the .subsidy foi the maintenance of tlie San Fi.nuuco mail sei \ ice was under the consideration of His Excellency's advisers, and it was hopul thnt some scheme miglit be de vised which would prove satisfactory to the Go\erni«ents interested in the service. His, Excellency, in referring to the Fedc-ating Enabling Act, recently passed by the British Parliament, stited th.it the conditions set foith theicin were not acceptable to the colony, and the Government had, therefore, intimated to the other colonies concerned that New South Wales was compelled to decline to fedeiate undei the existing provisions of the measuie. In concluding his Excellency announced that among other bills which the Govern ii'ent intended to liitioduco dining the piesent session would be measuies foi local self government, and for the bettei piotection of the public health. A lengthy and animated debate took place to day in the Legislative Assembly, on the motion of Sir Alexander Stn.ut, "That Sir Homy l'.nkcs, in his speech announcing the lesignation of his seat as member for Tentei field, was guilty of a libel on the Assembly." Sn Henry defended himself at some length, and, after speaking, left the Chamber. The debate it still pioceeding.