✨ Governor's Opening Speech
Numb 54. 1195
THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
EXTRAORDINARY.
Published by Authority.
WELLINGTON, FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1899.
THE Fourth Session of the Thirteenth 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 gives me pleasure to meet you, and to be again able to congratulate you on the marked progress and continued prosperity of the colony.
Since the last meeting of Parliament I have been able to visit many districts in both Islands, and, amongst others, the goldfields on the west coast of the Middle Island, and also those on the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island.
The expressions of loyalty to the Throne, devotion to Her Most Gracious Majesty, and cordial welcome to myself as Her Majesty’s representative will ever cause me to remember my visits to the goldfields of New Zealand and their warm-hearted people. I was much impressed with the importance and value of the extensive mineral deposits which I have seen in my tours through the mining districts.
I was pleased to receive a visit from Mahuta, the principal chief, and other influential chiefs of the Waikato tribes; and their assurances of loyalty to the Throne, of love to the Queen, and of good wishes for myself personally afford every hope that the interview will be productive of much good. Later on it is my intention to visit the Waikato and what is known as the “Rohepotae.”
I have also visited several Maori settlements. The most important meeting took place at Waitangi, where the famous treaty was signed in the year 1840. My meeting with the chiefs and Native people generally was of a very satisfactory character, and sincere assurances of their loyalty to the Constitution and to our Sovereign Lady the Queen were given.
The majesty of the law having been vindicated, I was pleased to remit the unexpired portion of the sentences passed on the misguided Natives who took part in the disturbances last year at Rawene and Waima, and restored them to their freedom, on the assurance of the chiefs that they would not offend again.
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NZ Gazette 1899, No 54
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️ Governor’s Speech Opening the Fourth Session of the Thirteenth Parliament
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration23 June 1899
Parliament Opening, Governor Speech, Loyalty, Maori Chiefs, Waikato, Waitangi, Rawene, Waima
- Mahuta (Principal Chief), Visited by Governor, gave assurances of loyalty