The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-05 00:00:00

NOVA SCOTIA.

OPENING OF THE SESSION-SPEECH OF
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.
PLYMOUTH, MARCH 3.

By the arrival of the steamer Mauritius, advices
have been received from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to
the 14th ult.

The Legislature of the province was opened on
,he 13th.

His Excellency Earl Mulgrave, inaugurated the
session with a speech which will be read with some
interest. He said :

" The sudden death of his Royal Highness the
Prince Consort has deeply afflicted our beloved
Sovereign, and cast a gloom over the whole Em-
pire. You will, I doubt not, be anxious to convey
to the foot of the Throne an expression of sympathy
and condolence, in accordance with the universal
sentiment of Nova Scotia.

" Circumstances having arisen which threatened
for a time the amicable relations that have so long
subsisted between Great Britain and the United
States, rendering war upon our frontiers immi-
nent, attention has naturally been turned to the
state of our local defences. Her Majesty's
Government has shown a disposition, while
maintaining the honour of the British flag, to
defend these provinces with the whole power of
the empire, and it becomes our duty now to
prepare for self-defence, and to take such
measures as will hereafter secure this country
against sudden or unexpected attack. It affords me
much gratification to be enabled to assure you that
the volunteer corps throughout the country are in-
creasing in numbers and improving in discipline.
In case of invasion they would have sustained the
regular forces in spirit, and formed in each county
a valuable school of instruction for the militia. But
while great credit is due to the exertions of these
corps, their numbers are still inadequate to the de-
fence of the province, and it should be remembered
that their services being voluntary, it is not just
that a duty which rightly devolves on all should be
accepted from the loyalty and patriotism of a few,
not only without remuneration, but at considerable
sacrifice and inconvenience. A measure, having for
its object the revision of the present militia law,
will therefore be submitted to you, and I would
earnestly press upon your consideration the neces-
sity of taking such steps as shall, without wasting
our resources by extravagant expenditure, secure
to the inhabitants of Nova Scotia the means of re-
sisting aggression in the event of war.
" The public accounts, with the estimates for the
current year, will be laid before you. Though the
derangement of commerce, arising out of civil war
in the neighbouring republic and from the closing
of the Southern ports, has largely affected our re-
venue, you will be gratified to learn that the appro-
priations of the year have been met, and that the
credit of the province has been maintained.
People. The respon-
IsThe discovery of gold in various parts of this
province during the past summer has opened new
upon the Government
uof industry, guarding
sso
iofburi sourcesregulating
lohaftaei
snmhgpi
this
hho yiesrmtnoee ndwte
vfboorrlavnoeuedhr
alike the rights of the Crown and the interests of
proprietors. The responsibility of legislative regula-
tion will now rest upon you. In the papers which
shall be laid before you, the steps already taken
will be detailed, and your attention will be invited
to a measure by which a permanent and uniform
system of management may be established.
" The liberal provision made at the last session
industrial resources of
International Exhibition
charged with
that service. By the labours
etf ohnriasbapl err doe
of a body of intelligent
gentlemen, a very creditable display of objects of
vpmir nee cs
teeonatatapttpihooeuilstfa great tchoemmission
natural history, of art and industry, will be made—
not the least valuable or attractive portion of which
will be specimens from the gold mines, and from
the rich and inexhaustible coal treasures of this
province. It is reasonable to assume that the exhi-
bition of these specimens
will attract into Nova