The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1285, 15 June 1883, Page 2

The Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI- WEEKLY. FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1883.

The second session of the eighth Parliament was opened to-day, by His Excellency, the Governor, in person. The " Address from the Throne," was somewhat lengthy, but is remarkable for nothing more than its barrenness of reference to the Ministerial policy. It may in fact in this respect be taken as the Colonial Treasurer's recent Hawera address, with the poverty and pauperism left out. Here it is: — Honorable Gen - tlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of thb House op Ju^EPßgSEN^Arggs^ you for the first time in Partiament assembled. Since my assumption of the Government of this Colony to which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint me, I have visited a considerable portion of each Island, ! and have thus been able to obtain a personal knowledge of various districts, and to make the acquaintence of many of the residents. I trust ere long to be able to complete my tour throughout the Colony. I can't but regard the cordial manner in which I have been everywhere received as an evidence of the loyal attachment of the people of New Zealand to the throne and person of our beloved Sovereign. I have been specially gratified by the* hearty wjlcome given me by the Natives, whom I have met in different parts of the country. I was much impressed wherever I went by the signs of present prosperity, and especially by the vast capabilities of New Zealand, which only need for their development a larger population and extended field for the produce of ' ite Colony. I feel sure that as the inducements this colony have to offer become more fully realized in Europe increasing numbers of suitable settlers will be attracted to its shores. A few days ago the Government of Victoria telegraphed to my advisers proposing that New Zealand should join the Australian Colonies in asking the Imperial Government to establish British rule over the New Hebridies, and other islands of the Pacific. Realising the great importance of these islands to Australasia, and the serious detriment it would be to British interests should they fall into the hands of a foreign power, I have telegraphed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressing my full concurrence in the desirability of such action, and my advisers at once acceding to the proposal made to them by the Victorian Government^ telegraphed to the Agent-General' of „this Colony, instructing him io co-operafte with the Agent-General of Victoria, in urging these views on the Colonial Office. On Tuesday last, a. telegram was received from the Agent-General to the effect that Lord Derby would be willing to promote the views of the Colonies on this subject, if some satisfactory assurance was given that they would bear the necessary expense. Since Parliament last met, a marked improvement has become apparant in the relations between the Maoris on the one hand, and the Government and European settlers on the other. On tho. West Coast of the Northern Island, where great anxiety recently prevailed there now exists a general feeling of security. The Native chiefs, Te Whiti and Tohu, have been released from custody, and permitted to return to Parihaka, where they are residing. There is no indication that this concession will lead to a renewal of dangerous proceedings on the part of the Natives. The labors of the West Coast Com' mission, now drawing to a close, will, no doubt, be productive of much good to the Maoris, and will greatly promote the beneficial occupation and im- 1 provement of the country by both | races. The thanks of the Colony are especially due to Sir W. Fox for his valuable services towards bringing about so satisfactory a' result. The Maoris, who have for so many years maintained their isolation in the district between the European settlements at Waikato and those on the Waitara River, have now unreservedly renewed their intercourse with the Government and the European population, and it is a gratifying fact that on a recent occasion an important chief of the tribe which has hitherto maintained the most exclusive attitude, and which occupies the most isolated part of the Colony, have recognised our laws by voluntarily attending at the Supreme Court in Auckland to give evidence against a number of their own people who had committed a serious outrage on a party of Government surveyors. There are grounds for a reasonable hope that in the future the Natives will yield willing obedience to the laws of the Colony. The unopposed opening of the harbor of Kawhea, which had been closed to Europeans for more than 20 years ; the laying out of a Government township adjacent to the harbor, aud the exploration for railway purposes of a part of the country where for many years Europeans had not been permitted even to tread, warrant the belief that the Natives are realising that tlie development of the

resources of the country will most effectively promote their own interests. I have issued a proclamation, under the Act of last session, granting an amnesty without any exception, and there is every reason to believe that the. amnesty has produced an excellent effect on the Native population. The pressing forward of surveys, and the construction of roads, prior to the alienation of Crown lands, have proceeded actively during the past year, and satisfactory results have been attained in the promotion of permanent settlement. Further experience in departmental administration has shown that some changes are requisite in the Land Courts, in order to give fuller effect to the desire of the Legislature, that the public estate should be so disposed of as to promote the distribution of the land amongst a numerous and industrious population. A number of existing Acts having that object will be subjected for your consideration. During the last session Parliament determined to adopt, within fixed limits, a system of leasing agricultural land, with perpetual tenure. The initiation of the system has been attended with results which may, upon the whole, be deemed satisfactory. Thejntrodujtion was resumed on its being authorised by Parliament, and has been carried on during the recess. The increasing facilities of communication with Europe ; the large area of land which is being opened for settlement by roads and railways, and the establishment of new industries, offer year by year, greater inducements for the introduction of capital, and, at the same time, point to the necessity of strictly continuing the assistance which is given from the public fund in aid of immigration. With the aid of money voted by Parliament, increased facilities for the developement of the goldfields have been provided, one encouragement to this important industry has been thereby afforded. Large sums have been expended by private enterprise in opening out quartz reefs, and this branch of the industry is assuming large proportions, and becoming a permanent source of wealth to the Colony. I have been able to give effect to the wishes of the Legislature by arranging for the continuation of the San Francisco mail service for a period of 2 years beyond the termination of the existing contract, at a cost to this Colony of something less than that prescribed by the resolution passed last session. These particulars are contained in papers which will be laid before you. Tenders for the establishment of a direct line of steamships between Great Britain and this Colony were advertised for, here, as well as in the United Kingdom, but neither the Agent-General nor the PostmasterGeneral received any offers. Your renewed attention to this subject will be required during the session. Tile Estimates of revenue and expenditure - for the ctu'rent 'financial year will be laid before you in the course of a few days. Honorable Gentlemen of tiie Legislative Council, and Gentlemkn of the House of Representatives. Returns will be presented to you which will show, thai notwithstanding considerable commercial depression during a part of the past year, the public revenue has been well main- ' tamed. The increasing receipts from railways are a satisfactory evidence of the general progress and well-being of the country. The frequent applications that are made to this Colony to take part in exhibitions in various parts of the world have led my advisers to give careful consideration to this subject, and they have come to the conclusion that the object sought by exhibitions would be more effectually promoted, and at less cost, by the . establishment in London of a permanent exhibition for the products of the industries of Australasia. It is proposed to submit to you resolutions with a yiew of inviting the co-opera-tion of the several Colonies interested. It is, I think, generally conceded that the Legislative Council has for the most part discharged its functions with credit to itself and advantage to the Colony, but public opinion has, I believe, come, or is fast coming, to the conclusion that the time has arrived when an elective should be substituted for a nominated Chamber. It is obvious that a constitutional change of such magnitude should not be attempted without mature deliberation, the more so as opinion is very much divided as to the mode in which a suitable constituency should be created. The views of my advisers on this very important subject will be laid before you during the session. There are a number of subjects, in reference to which legislation is more or less urgently required, but which, for the last two sessions, have had to give place to the several very important measures that have been submitted by my Government for the consideration of Parliament, and engrossed its attention. Those measurer; having, for the most part, become law, the present session will, I hope, afford a convenient opportunity of dealing with the subjects to which I have referred, with a reasonable expectation that they may be satisfactorily disposed of. The Work of consolidating the Statutes of the Colony has been steadily proceeded with during the recess, and is now fast approaching completion. Several consolidation Bills of importance will he brought before you without delay. Ido not doubt that all the business submitted to Pailiament will receive that attention to which it may be entitled, and I earnestly hope that, under the blessing of God, your deliberations may result in promoting the happiness and welfare

of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects in this portion of her dominions.