New Zealand Gazette – 1883 – No. 52

Page 773

✨ Governor's Speech Opening Parliament

Numb. 52.
773

THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1883.

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

SPEECH.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, —

It affords me great pleasure to meet you, for the first time, in Parliament
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 acquaintance of many of the residents. I trust ere long to
be able to complete my tour through the Colony.

I cannot 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 welcome given to 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 more extended markets for the produce of
the Colony. I feel sure that, as the inducements this country has 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 Hebrides and other
Islands of the Pacific. Realizing 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 to co-operate with the Agent-
General of Victoria in urging these views on the Colonial Office.

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