PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.
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"SOUTHERN CROSS, July 29th, 1862."
PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
WELLINGTON--Monday, July 14th, 1862.
Both houses of the General Assembly of New Zealand, were opened at the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, this day. All the ceremonies observed on such occasions were fully carried out. Long before the time appointed (Two o'clock) for the delivery of his Excellency's speech, every available place in the Legislative Council Chamber was occupied by eager or curious spectators, a large proportion of whom were ladies. Indeed, so important a share of the Chamber did they occupy, that there was scarcely sufficient standing room for the members of the House of Representatives, when that body were summoned to hear the opening address. His Excellency Sir George Grey arrived a few minutes after two o'clock, and ascended to the Speaker's chair. His Excellency having taken his seat the members of the House of Representatives were summoned, and with their Speaker at their head, they in obedience to the summons entered the Council Chamber.
His Excellency then in a voice, which at first appeared tremulous, but gathered firmness as he proceeded, read the following speech:--
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,--
1. Since the last session of the general assembly a great calamity-- in the death of her illustrious Consort Prince Albert, has befallen her Most Gracious Majesty. This sad event has touched the heart of her people in every part of her dominions. I take this the earliest public opportunity of expressing that deep and respectful sympathy for her Majesty which I am well aware is shared
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by the inhabitants of New Zealand, and which has been fully shewn by the numerous addresses of condolence which have already been transmitted to her Majesty.
2. I have great satisfaction in meeting, for the first time since my return to this colony, the general assembly, which is so important a branch of those institutions of self-government which have been bestowed upon it by the imperial parliament. During my absence from the colony I have watched with deep interest the working of those institutions, and on my return have been much gratified by witnessing the result. The progress of the colony, as a whole, appears to have been steady and rapid; settlements which at the period of my leaving were in their earliest infancy, have grown into populous, wealthy, and flourishing provinces, exhibiting a healthy vitality which appears attributable in no small degree to the large amount of local self-government which forms so prominent an element in the Constitution of the colony.
3. But while there is so much room for congratulation, to be found in the general progress of the colony, the unsatisfactory relations which have grown up between a portion of the Maori race and the government are a source of deep regret. In the attempt which it is my duty to make to restore the friendly relations which formerly existed, my hope of success rests mainly (under Divine Providence) on the co-operation and support which I may receive from the colonists, and the resources you may place at my disposal. It is an arduous task only to be effected by earnest and persevering exertion, made in the spirit which becomes a great and civilized nation in its dealings with a people but partially reclaimed from barbarism, and very imperfectly enlightened. At the same time I am not unmindful of what is due to the European population, which relying on well-known treaties and guarantees has made this country its adopted home, and is entitled to expect that the progress of colonization shall not be unnecessarily or improperly obstructed.
4. Documents will be laid before you which will shew you the character of some of the institutions by which I hope to confirm the attachment to the government of those native tribes which have hitherto continued friendly, to restore the confidence of those which have unhappily been alienated, and gradually to elevate the race to a higher level of civilization. Some progress, necessarily
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limited by circumstances, and by the extent of the resources at my disposal, has already been made in the introduction of those institutions. How far this has been done, and what success has hitherto attended it, you will learn from the reports of the civil commissioners and resident magistrates who have been engaged in the work, and which will be laid before you.
5. In framing the institutions referred to, you will observe that I have endeavoured to avail myself as far as possible of the machinery provided by you in your session of 1858, and other existing laws of the colony. It is desirable, however, that the powers conferred by those acts should be in some respects enlarged, and bills will be laid before you for that purpose. I have found also that great impediments exist in the way of enabling the natives to deal with their lands, and particularly in the administration of native reserves, the individualization of native title and the issue of Crown grants to natives. Bills will be laid before you which have for their object the removal of the impediments referred to, and the amendment, in several particulars, of the existing law on those subjects.
6. I have hitherto had no occasion, and hope I shall have none hereafter, to employ the military forces in any active field operations. Shortly after my arrival in this colony, however, I became aware that the southern frontier of the settled portion of the province of Auckland was entirely unprovided with a line of defence against the quarter from which, in case of further insurrection, an attack was most likely to be made, and that the absence of roads would render it impossible to move troops further inland than 15 or 20 miles from the town of Auckland, so that insurgents might have approached within that distance of the seat of government, and the population of a large part of the province been involved in destruction and ruin. I therefore lost no time in requesting the officer commanding her Majesty's forces to employ a portion of the troops under his command in completing, to the banks of the Waikato river, the Great Southern Trunk Road. That officer responded to my request with the greatest promptitude. The works were commenced in January, and a metalled road is all but completed to the banks of the Waikato, where a military post is established commanding the river, and presenting a barrier to any hostile attempt against
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Auckland from that quarter. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the officers and men who have been so employed, and who have continued their operations to a far advanced period of an unusually severe and rainy season. At Taranaki works of a similar class have been commenced by the militia, and I hope shortly to undertake operations of the same character in other districts. These works, while greatly contributing to the security of the settlements, will largely and permanently benefit them in other respects. Their construction will necessarily involve a considerable outlay, and a bill will be laid before the house of representatives, by which it will he proposed to authorize the government to raise a loan not exceeding £10,000 for the purpose of meeting the necessary outlay. It is proposed to charge this loan on the northern island, and ultimately to allocate it proportionably to the several provinces in which it may be expended.
7. Her Majesty's government has repeatedly expressed its anxious desire to learn that the colony has taken effective steps towards the local self-defence by the creation of a militia force. It is extremely desirable that greater preparations should be made in that particular. To enable this to be done, a bill will be laid before you for the better organization of militia and volunteer forces, and it is hoped that the encouragement which it is proposed to give to the latter may result in the increased strength and efficiency of such corps. I cannot conclude this subject without expressing my thanks to the Auckland Volunteer Corps which lately took the garrison duty of that province, thus enabling a considerably larger number of troops to be employed in the construction of the military road than could have otherwise been detached for that duty.
8. The rapid growth of the settlements in the Middle Island, and the sudden development of their resources, arising in a great degree from the discovery of gold, and other mineral wealth, will probably have suggested to you the expediency of making some further provision for the administration of the general government in that island. I trust also that the arrangements which have lately been made for the increase of the steam postal service between the Northern and Middle Islands will be found greatly to lessen the inconvenience which has hitherto, no doubt, existed.
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The late unfortunate loss of the 'White Swan,' will, I trust, not involve more than a very temporary and partial derangement of this service. I cannot, however, allude to that event without expressing the gratitude which is due to Almighty God for the preservation of so many valuable lives as were in peril on that occasion; and also the deep sense which is entertained by my government of the very great kindness and hospitality which were exercised towards the shipwrecked persons by Mr. John Moore, the resident proprietor of the station near to which the wreck occurred.
GENTLEMEN OF THR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
9. The estimates for the financial year will be laid before you without delay. They have been framed in the same spirit of economy as I trust you will find has directed the expenditure of the funds placed at the disposal of the government by your last Appropriation Act.
It is my duty to call your attention to the correspondence which has taken place between her Majesty's government and the Colonial government, relative to the cost of the military operations which have taken place since the outbreak at Taranaki; and I have to request that you will enable me to state to her Majesty's government what proportion of the cost the colony will be prepared to take upon itself.
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,--
10. The census which was taken on the 16th day of December, in the year 1861, is in the course of compilation, and will very shortly be published. In the meantime, a full abstract of all the most important returns will be laid before you. A comparison of this census with that of 1858 will be found to exhibit a most satisfactory result.
11. In conclusion, I earnestly hope that the Supreme Ruler of the world, who controls and directs all human events, may so inspire your councils with wisdom, and so support me in the execution of my duty, that our joint efforts to secure the peace and advancement of this country may be crowned with success.
His Excellency then bowed and retired, the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives withdrew to their own Chamber. The spectators having also retired, the Speaker took the Chair.
