New Zealand Gazette – 1866 – No. 40

Page 275

✨ Governor's Speech Opening Parliament

Numb. 40.
275

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1866.

THE First Session of the Fourth Parliament of New Zealand was this day
opened by the Governor, when His Excellency was pleased to make the
following

SPEECH.

HONORABLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS,
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

I have taken the earliest opportunity of resorting to your advice and assistance
after the dissolution of the late Parliament.

The increase in the number of the Members of the House of Representatives,
which has taken place under the Act which came into operation on the occasion of the
recent General Election, will, I trust, give additional weight to the deliberations of the
Legislature, and afford more ample means than has hitherto existed for the due
representation in Parliament of all interests in the Colony.

It is with great satisfaction that I am enabled to inform you of the all but
complete cessation of disturbances in those portions of the Northern Island which
had previously been disaffected.

By the expedition of General Chute on the West Coast important results have
been attained. Our prestige has been restored, and the Maoris have been convinced
that the British soldier, when properly led, can follow them to their fastnesses, and is
nowhere to be successfully resisted. Recent occurrences have, however, proved that
this campaign, so ably conceived, and so gallantly and vigorously conducted, has
not sufficed, owing to its abrupt termination, to secure the tranquillity of that
district; nevertheless a valuable service has been rendered by the Major-General to
the Colony and to the Empire.

The unbroken success which has attended the operations, on the East Coast, of
Her Majesty's Colonial Forces, largely aided by loyal Natives, has resulted in the
surrender or capture of most of the hostile Natives.

My Government has eagerly watched for, and gladly accepted every indication
on the part of any of these Natives, of a desire to live peaceably with their fellow-
subjects, and with the view of removing any cause of irritation, the larger portion of
those who had been taken in arms have been restored to liberty; while at the same
time, the more prominent ringleaders have been temporarily removed to the Chatham
Islands, and those who had been guilty of wanton and unprovoked murders, committed
in cold blood, have been dealt with by the ordinary civil tribunals.

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