GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume XXXII, Issue 4422, 2 October 1879, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

| HOUSB OF BBPBESBNTATITHSr

[Press Special Wire.l

TT~SBAT, Sm?THKB__ 30. \_db_bb_ ot _-Pii—: ; g .'":.., •'-, Sir __o__E _-___ rose amidst' _leers to express his disappointment with the "speech" he had heard. He expected lornethirig very different from one who had felt it necessary to" come from, us seat in the Upper House tor take the control of his party in that chamber. He had gravely told them that there were parrties, hut he had overlooked the fact that people;were groaning to be released from the thraldom of that party which the hon. gentleman had supported. They were endeavoring to relieve the people from the iniquities of the party with which ha was connected, and they had the support ef tho people whom they so fully represented in their efforts. Se (Sir George G-rey) repudiated the idea that the Ministry had rewarded or that any gentleman would accept such a reward,'as the creation of Justices for services rendered to the Government. As to the illegal use of the steamer Hinemoa, he contended he had a right to use her if he believed that the country required to be informed on matters affecting their welfare and the government of the country. He believed it was for the benefit of the country and the Government, and if he had done wrong be was willing to take the censure of the people,- tint he was satisfied that he ought not to receive any such censure. He next referred to the Native Department. They had been told that matters were much worse than when the Government came into office, but he maintained that the reverse was the case. To the best of his belief the position was then much worse. Thoy had been charged with bribing the Press with advertise-., ments. He denied that such was the case, and challenged the Press to speak for themselves: they had been charged, .with bribery, not with attempting to bribe merely, and he was surprised that eucli charges should be made. Theyhadchaargedhim with unfairness to; tha oivil service, but he was content to refer that to the service itself, because they included friends of his own, and; he did not think the .speaker meant what he said on that point. He had been, charged with want of thought in the care and custody of the sick aad lunatios, Over whose ears he" had exercised special 'consideration ; but they hud been left with the relics of Provincial institutions, and time was required to alter the state of affairs. HehadJ been charged as unfitted, from, previous* training and education, to administer the affairs of the country. He did not think his colleagues thought so, and did not believe it. himself. He had been charged with being an autocrat, but the fact was that he should again disallow the Land Biir if opportunity presented itself. If that waa the evidence of his autocracy he should continue to oppose' the oppression of the landed proprietors and squatters to the end of his career. They bad neifc aUrided 'to the B„otf>ral"Bill, in the rejection of .which he had'bee- charged.with, giving the Maoris a double vote. __c fact was the Maori dual vote was then in existence, and he was content to give them the same privileges as _uropeans, instead of allowing them, to retain; the double,,vote.. That was what he proposed to the Legislative; Council, bnt they would not listen to his' proposal, hence, he was right in throwing out the BilL As to the ; . subsidies, from what, he had ascertained all but two were paid, and tho accusation was wrong. He had been charged with giving a i clock, but the fact waa that ho had not done so. The matter was brought before- the Government, and dealt with in an open manner. The fact was the clock belonged to i Christchurch, and therefore could not be given as asserted. He had devoted too much time to the charges brought against Ministers; charges- of such a trivial nature. He would go on to notice the more important matteaffecting the government of the colony, rather than dwell upon these matters. The hon. gentleman tells, them they are all liberals. But they were not to be trusted. If they were liberals why did they seek to shrink from paying'a fair share of taxation ? horn yielding the proper representetion ? Tbefacts referred fo by the hon. gentleman who seconded the address in reply—that the hon. gentlemen who supported the Opposition did not represent a majority of the people—were notorious, and the attempt to overturn the argument was very unsuccessful. No reference was made to the fair and equitable administration of the lands of the colony, nor was any regret expressed for maladministrationof former Governments. Everything had been done to build up the powern of the landed aristocracy. They had a Land Board, having control over the lands of the colony, selected from these large land owners. He had been accused but he, is return, accused his accusers of enabling their friends to acquire land, the inevitable result of which was that certain men were acquiring great -ealth, and the general public were left totally unprovided for, and he desired to alter this state of things in order to do justice to the colony and its poorer residents. They had evidence of the evils of this condition of affairs in the examples of large landowners in England, where fifteen persons held two-thirds of the United Kingdom. In France the result was entirely different;, and they saw the benefits of the altered system in the conditions of the working classes. In eichcountry he contended that the question was not whether they should have person—, or party government, but whether tfisy should allow one class to oppress the weaker, to rob them of their birthngh&s, aad to* tread them \ underfoot. "The same work had to be done hero as in England if they were to avoid the condition of oppression and wrong under

whioh the people had leng groaned. If they would secie to the people thea they would be content to m«»%wi|h <*&»£ tion, but they had a nobler -»*« ; toa««i& and whatever the issue, they ;»Mld worj. quieUy on and try to.do tkMsikWore them Without fear of those \^_»te«" to them. ("Loud obtain-'- '"' " .* - , Mr OftsD_«&«ft«r s*ferriDg to the way the P«<_W V gamnion, »_d that Sir G. Girep-uld reqwre a very large supply iTho~%Mtf to keep up Ibt deaund. The speeoh of atrlbe heat of the Opposition was -a masterly one. It contained a masterly array of facts damaging to tho Government, and- contrasted favourably with the speech of the Premier, who expected tho House to take assertions without any attempt at proof. The matter of Canterbury gridironing had been dealt with. He (Mr Saunders) —quired into this, but found no c_—e for complaint against allowing a person to obtain land he was able to pay for* s He did not ccc any objection to allowing eon who had— .contract a chanoeofcobtoiDing | another. That -as the position of those Icharged with gridironing, and the fact was j'tliat only some. 2000 acress certainly much illes* than 5000, were thus dealt with. So that Ithe charge of infamdus practices fell to the ground. He did not intend to say anything (respecting the Hinemoa. They had heard lenough to show them that the steamer, Swhioh the Premier said should be sold, (ought not. to be used *%y him for pouticsl purposes. He need scarcely refer to the, Premier's _aancial J_ots and figures were not in his line, as- was shown by the failure of bis efforts last aession in this direction. He had gone over the list of mem* ■hers arid fouod "that lawyers and newspaper •men were the only classes oyer represented. iThey had twenty-two farmers, eleven lawyers, seven men, whom he called gentlemen for.fchs rwanti of a better classification, seven -Cwsipapermen, editors/proprietors and contributors, six merchants, five finajiraersj moneylenders, &o.y three freeholders, two runholders, twpminers, and two pensioners, both of whom had seats on the G-ovi&imosent ' benches. {Laughtef.] On the sabject of the Electoral Bill he did not see that the tipper House were so blame-hie as the Premier would have them believe in throwing, out the Bill as sent to them. The Premier had not told them why he had so mismanaged Native administration ,• why he haddrweo one Treasurer from his post, and had" not obtained another to cave him frooa the disgrace of doing duty aa a mock Treasurer. If he wanted to chow how the telegraph had been misused, he should show how' a nice little Tiillet' was offered to one who Would oppose him in hit candidature, and this was. done under the profession of furthering the great liberal measures so often referred to by the Premier. He told, them that the Hinemoa was to he employed in enabling him to .circulate his great liberal principles, but he (Mr Saunders) maintained that if they had more of-practice and less of preaohing, it would be better for them. He then went on to speak of the finances of tha Colony as dealt with in the measures of past sessions, which he maintained were failures. If lie had his way, he would have prppbsedan amendment to every clause of the address, and rjrouldv eertaiiily have shown ;liow Ministers hAd themselves opposed- those great Liberal measures they advocated. He continued at some length in a humorous maimer, and sat down amidst applause. \ Mr. Sphi&ht moved the adjournment of the debate at 12 p.m. . i .'^

i ' - . WBiwasDA'srv Ootob_bl. , < l _he House met at 2.30. . -;- V' r^,;'-' j -ftasrs Atjflti and Hiilop took the d»iK _nd~their seats.

; The £rondop, Xiyerpbol, .and Globe Insurance Company Bill and the New Plymouth Gas Company Bill were read time. i A Committee on Standing Orders, andc irid Joint! Committee on Bills were formed,; on the motion of Mr Seymour. .. T ; Mr Pikb gave notice to ask fori retaum of electors throughout the colony, asdi of the. iumbers swho voted\at the late election. ,;!

I Mr Lev—T gave notice of a Bill ior establishing a Harbor Board for the post ef Wei--I—gtO—' - 1' •• -' ' '•'.' .-'•'■ '■ •■• -."•:.-. -. '- ; ' j _• HuTbHisoH gave; notice of a Bill for the Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt. : Mr Sa—rs—2B wiU ask the Government i| „ey intend to introduce a Bribery Bill thia SeaeiOH. -'-'■ : -' ■< -- : -A ":;,.."} ,r- !.- ---' TheiPMiOHB, in reply to Mr Georgfl, iaid the Government would take into consideration some method of encouraging the manufacture of wine in New' Zealand, aiid would S—6 submit the matter to a Special Commiaeion on native,iodustries, -, v :, I Mr' Macakdbk'W, i_' 'reply to Mr Adams, said he would cause a report to be made upoa the dost and best means of improving the entrance HNelson Harbor by the removal of; S_lken, ;rochs.3- Directions had been T" ith :: "--'■' ; ■ : , ~„,..'; _pf-3—io_sbbb - , in reply to Mr Adams, Said it was not at present deemed desirable that the ; ' ; adminißtratioa rot publio wbrkat in Nelson and on , : the; West ,• Ccast should"be"pl«eed -under the direction of the, department in Wellington instead of Dunedin," : a_d no steps would be taken to •iarry out a resojution of ), last set-ion to that effect at prwent. " ..... .._ ; Sir- G:.GrBBT, in reply to Mr Adams, said that lihraries in the colony;, would cireoeivl. copies of. J* Gasettes,". statutes, and Pari——entary papers so far as a sum of £300 would enable them to do to, and. that sum would be placed on the estimates for this year. ■;'■:-• ?,>, .--;,' t.-s .-.■•.. .'....- ---i The Pehmikb, in reply to Mr Adams, who asked him to promise to introduce a Bill this session amending and extending the Licensing Aot so far as to.equalije the lioense fee throughout the colony, Jsaid the question was an important one, and 'in the absence of his colleaguo,. the member for the .Thames, Jb.e musfedela 'pit tanswer.j ■ '■ i. \ Mr Thomson, in reply to Mr Ormond, said a return could not he laid before the House, showing the lands" sold in'T© Aroha block (late Broomhall'«), specifying the number of selections and acreage, and whether 'on deferred payments or occupied, because the block was not yet opened. It would be; surj--eyed and drained, and prepared for emsll Settlers aa soon ss possible. : , In reply to fl£r Ballance. ; The Pbsmibb promised to lay before the House a comparative return, showing the tmportsaiid exports, foreign and coastwise, Of timber and grain for three quarters of the yeas of the year, 1878 9. . :;.:;: y 1 Mr Baij_boh asked tbe Colon—l Treasurer whether there is any objection to lay before the House: .letter from the Ban- giving notice of the termination of, the. agreement affecting the public aeex»__ : The Pbsmihs said a paper was laid on the table embodying the tame.' In reply to Mr Bichmor—, The GovasKKBHT promised to pro—aim hares exempt from. the.sohedule of the Protection of Animals Act in the district of Nelson. "■■'■ i : '-"' ■■■■-' '" : AA ~

: Mr Dice asked tho Commissioner of Cos* tpmswhat progress, if any, the Government have made m carrying out their resolution as expressed in the Colonial Treasurer's statement of 19th November;/1877, vis,, "to sell one of the steamships now the property of the Government." '

The PiutKrint said they found it impossible to dispose 6$ the Hinsmoa because she was the only vessel able to carry troops, and no adequate price could be got for the Stella, which was also very useful in the lighthouse service, bat the matter wonld be considered again. In reply to Tainui, The P-BKtKB said that the Eaiapoi Natives Beserres Act, 1877, was in operation. In reply to Mr Hutchison, The Pbb_—x promised to lay on the table a return of lands open for sale iv the several provincial districts, the acreage of blocks and .descriptions of ssjne, distinguishing deferred payment lands and prises, if the Minister for Lands was able to comply, but would state definitely to-morrow. !Mr HoTCHisoK asked if the oover_~ent 'will amend the Ballot Act, dispensing with the numbers marked on ballot papers by returning officers.

The Pbb—Thb said a remedy would be considered. It was a difficult matter. Mr Wiimis— asked the. Colonial Treasurer whether he is aware that the land Tax Commissioner is demanding pay. nient of a whole year's land tax on the Ist of October, though the eighth clause of the Imnd T_c Act, 1878, provides that the tax" shall fe by equal half-yearly pay'agents t (8), whether the Gravermnsnt intend to incut pn payment of the tax for the whole year _t one payment, and if so,' trader what prov_ion of the law] they to take that step. J jThe f»Bß_E_f jm«_ it impossible to ofUect Ump__ on Anril isfr,bnt tßerl wa__d JS* 80 ? w 2? tt. shoold j»t be collected no-, so «^ tM The.

tax due on October Ist would half-yearly sums, and not Je „W °° U!etsd >» . ' _2 'fP*/ to M ' Whyte, \ Mr _-OAKDBBW said no contract l™,i t tobred into for tho construction way bridge at Hamilton, but it -„ j^ 6 **• to take the matter into consider™^? ;U h _va A ffl PnrtlonACt P-*««3 Mr Fishbb, in reply to TawhaL *j_ { quines would be msde as to «»•—!_• Jn * telegraph line from Herd's PoMjt *» to Patio at fie mouth of the riS, SJ?»W Mongonui station to Kail are. ' ° a „ M « MACASDB »"« r . "> wply to Tawhai *_m the Government had rt-ceiTcd a petition ing for the construction of a railway*** Kawakawa to Hosianga. ay fr^ Mr Adams gave notice of the LtV«~.- . Act Equalisation of Pew. u^^g Leave was given to introduce the foVlni;" Bill. : T _U. Seders, Bill to fur h« 3 the Incensing Act; Mr Wood, i_M B™™ 8 ? 0 ? Bi ". .amend Canterbury Bivers Act, IfiSr TJain, Bluff Harbor Eoreahoro aS-S Bill-s-Mr Bain, New Biver PilotS^4 Bb serve. Bill; Mr Pulton, BQI .SfiSMj Government to secure a road totne"!*£) ! Thomas Kirk, of East Werf, _JSSjj I Mr Whitakhb gave notice to silk if »»v bridge over the Waihato at Hs_isto_ wu SS included in the sum of £168,000 voted ft* the Thames Railway, and if so,>hy the waX has aot been commenced. , ' On the motion of Mr Madam)bew a g*W OoJi-itCee was appointed to coasider J, patiiions that may be referred to it by _» Petitions Classification ComraitteVthecQa! inittee to classify, prepare abitaactaof mm: | of such form and mannor as shall nuited to convey all the requisite inTorm&w respecting their contents, and report £«& time to time to the House, anfi sash oof mittee to have power to report their miai-_l md observations to the House. j Mr F_nr gave notice to ask it Gavcrnnsgas . will open for sale lands at the head of T_— , Wakatipu. ** i AUBBses nr bktit. ; The adjourned debate on the Address in reply, and amendment thereto, w&g the. , —ken. Mr Sphi&ht, who had moved the edjasra. ment on the previous evening, said h» .idgj ask for the Consideration of the Mam because he found that sometimes involved ealv a scathing rebuke for first efforts, whioh ]» :-. would not court. He was.pleased, asao—member, to believe there was an impswreiaißii in the tone of the Opposition, for which Uis? were greatly indebted to the leader, and _& that there was hope of a continuance of t_2g improved feeling and courteous ttretitms^t He must first say he was disappoiafed tri!_ the speech of the leader, becauso he thosri_ that the bill ef indictment would hive „j_ ! more telling. He thought he could ferns v j stronger Bill of in dictment--nie_r J ;|j Br i_ p hut even then he did not think it ecus! , justify the vote of no ocn_dene?. 1 Xju^vtefrsome gentlemen to whom nothieg jfe "m&sn-, [ than to raise attacks on any Govarniassfc, «__>■ some snch gentlemen occupied tha Oppo&ftjs_, ! benches at present. He had flraa .smsism . on some questions before coiniaf ' they were not assumed for the soeirig _, and when he found the leader of the OpptrKtica ' —king the course he did, he s6'let&ths_g!tt ■ he should advance a reason safefecfoif * to the country for the oot_*e he* —1 adopted. Those were the only reasons 3r„«h induced the young greyhounds to adept tis course they had, which brought th—i teths House and led them on, and which %s„i lead them to a'sphere..of usefulness in tie ' futuro good Government of this colony." On the subject of finance, he thought the attack of the Opposition was a signal fsUsre. Ee> 1 thought the Premie* was completely exras. rated from any attempt to deceive the Eosse ; in the introduction of hisfinanoialstatsmeri, *. although aeoused to the contrary. It witi unjust to say this .Government leaded U» ■ cotihtry. '' It was the abolition of provinsis V : whioh was a fruitful source of increase of _«' pendituro. Referring to Native affairs,'ths ' great bugbear of the Goranmlent, he esa* . sidered that if there was less isterfer—<» ss the part of the Opposition it would bs he4te 1 for Native affaire. There were fo_d t men who were willing to thwaifi : ? alforts of any Native Minister „ A Government in order to thro~ ofets* :. cles in the way of successful —fes_» ' tions. . Mi-Utere might wear tlictuKlrsa oat, but they would get no sympathy atthel—nd§ ' of the Opposition. Tho Thames sM? ~„ a i slight trouble, bnt had been magn—ed ints & rebellion, and they were led to believe Va& all persona would require to bualila on armor in coniequonce. They wore told thet & ' prompt measures had been taken the mot | Could have been securad, but ho wts s_etM> ■ if armed, constables went there $hsj *%sa\& •■ ■ J not answer for the result. If ths two psrsais - allied with them a strong fores, _id ■„ 1 attempt had been made to appx"«hend ihtm, it would simply have been like fools msb% ; I in where angels feared to tread. He did ok | approve of the action of ths Native Mirost— as a rule, but he did approve cf tho esvsss taken on this matter, when ho said th 9 Natives.should themselves ba nisde rsspas*"' gible through the forfeiture o£ their kca far, the reparation o£ this offence. Whilst ! there were to be found on the fhsm® men as brave as could bo foratl ia the colony, there was an amount er responsibility whioh they should set fee held liable for, and after all he did notyofithinh the management of Native affairs deserved -the censure received. He tbon?ht that,if' necessary, the I—id disputed should be ocaapksL ' by art armed party, aithongh not at pr„a»S, until an arrangement had besn made for reparation foir the >nj<"T doiao. He sje?4 ellnded to the dhargo of bribery prefw»d against the Press. Ho could net tilcsf sa-ifes ' charge to pass without prafcostipc agit_iliit. There were men who did not think for —(!&•. —Ives, and greatly depended on the myth* ; , Press was oondncted, aad it was a pa!_| thiag fed cay that their articles "ore g-i&se 1 by the Government sdverti—mente. Hit, was so, then it wa* lamenteblo. But he <isa" sidered that the Government patrennae cj the shape of advertisements "bs a May*' , Boad Boards and tradesmen woto as good * patrons . as' the Government, 3 Ho woa&solve the matter by giving no advertfes* i mente. Newspapsrs woold give tho fey formation for the benefit of their resdes, ' and because they would not bo support— if they did not. Ho maintaiped that ssy Government would uso their influeacs to eniiui* the return of their supporters. Ttss i were elwaya to he found wo„hippers of tii© ; rising sun, and that being the e?as, tfiJ ; Government coald always have sapports?. The Premier had answered the oi?_*g»oi using the steamers for politioal purposes, *& would only say more'power to ilieP«~&r for the oo—-se he had pursued in his efforts ts defeat tho schemes of those oppowd to to in tryingto exclude the scrpantfrom Eden. „Te had only done what -as .t&t and justiflsble, for he did not came op Iwp the south and use the Govermneni steaKuW »s the jonrney in order to assist 1»* on other and more important t~wea. He thought it was a pity, if tb« «*- ------leadcar o? the Opposition couM a** B been neoured in his seat by the use of tea Stella, that an application wss not >»»* . for thestos—«r. He ooald not say what tM result would have been, but he could s&y£« we* sorry for varioas reasons that lbs h«Jj gentleman was not in his seat. He I*" 1 lu *r he was influenced by a sincere desire to "&*"? the eelony. Beferring to ch<„i(_ble aid a™ looaJ bodies, he waa sure from bis own «_*.' ledge that the Government hsd taken g»» pains in the matter. In the town Crosn wwc» he came the full control had bean taken e«r all bnt the criminal class, but they hsd aow so in opposition to efforts made t* I& *S them by the part of the House opposed to m» Government, who told them that the consoJ« dated revenue would not be reepjnsi&lff -" such charges after a year or two. *™ statement had been sncceasful ia p»MM»J others from foUowing in the counti tsSrtJ vj the district to which he referred, Tm •»»» people had brought forward Local 0pl»3£» Licensing Pees Bflls withr.o other oW - than to show their very libers! Wentim* , and so longtes that was their intenUM, s* hoped the Bills would noS pass thewjOM reading. They would have the people bM" that they were Uie proper persons to *»■'» these great liberal Hieasuresjßhould b? » B -KJ It was very unlikely they would do ». Jnext proceeded to inquire into desertion by the hon. membsr for o_e_« * tbe party he was now so fiercely andSd although he could not »«*_«KS» it, he hoped tobe enlightened at soffl ti_easto the motive for The Premieron the subject of the gggj Bill and'the Maori dual vote masniaoea,^ affect the Upper House to be t^^g. that body, and m delag »'•« c^ . Seeping up the digaity of tha* Hon". «~

Deposition __£ -_, intent—- to support toe _S»2—«*»°«■ they were professing feat JL- were vrffii-fcT { ° S»T? £ ff ** ,** _&efcgh _»J might just as well make np their goads that these measures —ouldne passed. __*t told the House that they would not —.po« the measures in traduced, bnt the fact «_(they wished to internipt those measures _a_ not leave thft «s_e to the country. He _2_t_ o_?y say with the Pre—tier, that he dis-gr-jted such men. They were going to flit ft>f the Trienmsl Pari same— s Bill, with only cae honorable exception, |W —1 opposed it in a solid phalanx, as the jaatds would show. They only now; came *a§S&° OfottL fa support of —i—» measures -_««_» iSeiy fcaew Hie country would have siiort of them. He trusted when f__- ore- Bi_» became law there would be ___t_er appeal to the country, when they —Tjtild see the remit. He asked that the G-o-------tera-ent and their tapparters sheaM have _a opportunity of carrying out the measures of whiea they were the anthers. Beferrnig t 3 the Premier in eulogistic terms, he eonn _ed by ssying he did all in defence of the ; Ebeals of this country which a. man dare do, flsteoel TancßLi said he thought there ,—jj a nuttpprshension in the minds of some _BB»~_•_hers regarding one or two points inferred to. On the question of subsidies, _« new rule introduced by the Government __ given rery great trti_lie throughout the country, because they had received no notice of s-eh a change. The objectionJto tb* use of the Hinemoa was only that it shooH not-be used for electioneer—g, but rirai purposes. As to the plural votings for one was quite ready to give up his plural vote, and he apprehended that the .abjection was that we should not be overtired in proportion to others. Other things being equal, they were quite prepared to give _p~t_e cumulative voting. They were told they were all liberals, but desired to raise an aristocracy. This was certainly not applicable in his case. All attempts to perpetuate the aristocracy of the old country, or to found a sew aristocracy in this country, would be a failure. With regard to what had been n—t of Lord Beaeoasneld by the Premier, he could agree with h_a politically. He (E«l Beaoonsfield) was a charlatan, bat he wss not a brute, ~od that was what the Premier's accusation tended to in speaking of Ms c—ling for three: cheers for the Irish fe_line, when assembled at a festive board. He differed from the Government on some points of policy, to which he should refer. The mover ef the Address in reply seemed to be aware that the Go—inunent had stopped, free inanigraSon. The advantage of the nssnii—ted system was, that it brought _ttengst them the class of wen who were honest, sober, and fitted for the werk before them. An alteration had recently been made, rsqtdr—g a pay—ent of £5 in advance on nomi___Cß, which had the effect of stopping ___jgr_its. In the district he came from he feed been assured by the oldest residents that wef» were increased by Innnigmtion, and immig—itkm should be conducted on a liberal ssak>. He could not support a Governmint controlled by one who would sot say whether he was a free trader. Hehadel—»ya been in favor of free trade, «nd maintained that it was not an open question— to whether they should support it. He would only sak, referring to Native matters, whether their management had been successful. The shooting of Government officers ooald not be construed into a tribal dispute. Two years ago, when the present Government took office, they had no Native troubles before them. Certain surveys were —en about to be done in the Patea district, hut the Government said these surveys should not then be made, and must first be inquired into. Twelve mouths later they ordered the •survey to be made, and the Natives, who before thought thsy had friends in offioe, resisted the changed intentions in the way they did. , The _nd was advertised for sale, bai-the notices were afterwards withdrawn. (The speaker was out short by the hour of •djenrmsent}

SV_5tKCr -CT-TNG-. _on—_s nr ssstr.

Colonel TfilKß—t con—insd—He had said that Mr Gladstone was a free trader, and __dsr of the Liberal party, and he never spoke with any {_tcer_in sound, or carried two fttcei as a leader. He had said that the poc__n taken by the ———try encouraged opposition on the part of the _atires. The •Sect was that the Natives came to consider Use Government as poMosiing no mind of their own, and there was nothing so vacillating as the conduct of Ministers on Native aSaira. It had been said —»_———_ people had same interest in k—ping up the vacillating [policy, but he knew nothing of it, and could only say that if they knew when to expect war they w©_d be prepared for ft. He had "—led in the interest of the out settlers for protection at theme when the Premier visited the/ |Jm6, _id wm told that no necessity had bees show— The Governmant waited for its subjects to move before taking any action. It was absurd to tell them they had an interest in ieepmg np active service for the pay. Was it—stly they wsuld have their—,miKe,s* lives endangered to keep up an expenditure on __ea _en, or to sell heads of eaftlo for the —B—tenance of these men? The policy of the Government ought not to be r_K—ry HtQements, out to sell land to the highest bidder. __I supply protectien to the settlement. He Mad uo w£—t to say anything against —misters. They had —ways been courteous t9_m,j_td.were doing what was according to the light wi—in them. But he feared their fight vm darkness. He asked that the hasi should he indmd-aliied, and ample jpwv—_tc —ade For Native reserves and roads. They would re—ive an increased value for h_is through rosds. As to the extentien of the franchise iv his own district some 6do freeholders were not enfranchised, owing pss_y totheir own neglect and partly to the c——_fotory nature of the course to be adopt—, fair registration. The provision ref m*_£ that names should be cenl into the Kf—a»—on o—eers was not carefully attended to, and too often technical errors disfranchised eisetors whose nastars were sent. Besides thit,—ed_lvelingof Natives oo_d at any time be made to swamp an electorate, and he objected to these men, who had no land of their ownpefhaps, swamging the bona fide —tSeri. He supported univenal suffrage, ~s_ regard to the redistribution of easts, be _ts_ts_ed that popnlation was the true bask, but property wo—d alio have its share —rough the increase of population. There' was no real antagomam between town, W eoi_try, but they were not always co—adered to be identisai It was urged in h» COO—ituency that he was opposed to altering tbehour, and on that ground he obtained pre—jus few votes from the town. The town n~ eotatrr had feelings not always in ——on. On the subject of triennial Parliaments, thty were its its favor. Personally he ~— net tied, but should support it. The Eher&l party, with which he was contested, v_ in a minodty, and he was used to it, but he was always glad to see his minori-ties.-ooma. into m»}arit_s. They took no _sa*s acre nor taxed any man's land, bnt thay fid not support art—cial buttresses.! _nsy asked people to feel their own way and'! ws—; fey their ewn strength. They tried to «_S» men feel tha* they were men, bnt that wtSijotJ—«ca*e ia —is cot—try. Why waa the law of entsil which fastered large estates fa?* ea _c statute books of this colony? «• J*>calkd liberal party here was not an e_M«st one, or eh e they did not know whit it "___ - they cons-ered it right to d~»«Bcad one pwty and to flatter and to cajole the working men, it was nearer m east<An!—aa. Jfe would counsel the JW~f men to stand fast to principles, to hold *_^««nrii*o—i, aid be not afraid of en- ™**— ~• If they were properly swayed by •Bra,—*- would nof, require to he afraid of *■!*_*■ £€heera.] . ** Mac* congra-u—ted the House on the ™g*_re£ to_»since re_„mbling after disso- £**<__ S*«b-I'e-edthat the leader of the sfl_aia_ had shown good _ate and gentle«^*eel— gin Ms speech, bnt he felt regret «a|J» had set a better casa to deal with. He |~M;«*re *ly —xferet—id why the hon. mem°*Ti who, had ,*jnst sat dowi?, whose feeling* *^s» enatiy—..accord with Ms own, shonld Z—ffl •'ting on one side and he on ~*fe—* Heeo—d ©aly aaee__t for it ca the ~?«Pd —at fee gen—Sß—a had haen twenty 3*»_i on* eetejy, as he m„erstosd he hi_ ■ fS^l***- *»w years in- New _—_—d. !_• def—— thepolfejof —.c **«*—fienV_— to c——Spate —ia_ters from — * eaaiw— greferred s__ast the—_ —bey *«*-Ja&J— i* they s-onld pz—errs peaoe at _?_2_T or ~* sasaaß c * the colony wonld aad great lots wag—, ensue. have the Fa-ire MinJsUr to de» - P o^*- * ~* mm-fameri that when i__ t* WS-hw f« Grey aad Bell bad «"*h»gwia the eohmj, he woold find thai **»*»§ tra&a-a- aa bis (the speaker's)

: to—r of tie B'om'^Jtoj—m_~oTT>eing confintd " to * Csw «s the oth—litde. He asked if that wu a_acS"of laber—s~which kept up a Maori ne—spaparin ipUsof the disapppsval ef the House, or if the party who purchased the H—smoa were the-only true Liberals. They also knew- how the Civil Service had been added to by _eu from England instead of promoting men in the colony, and that was done by the Opposition, who were also t_e greatest o—cere ef the Prests, and had formed compani— in order to get bold of the newspapers. They had heen told they were _1 liberals, hut one party wanted to turn out of office the only Liberal G-avemnient> apd directed their efforts towsrds the r«—iov_l from: office of th« "orJylrtberal leader they possessed.. He.intended to give a hearty support to Ministers until they had an opportunity of carrying into effect the liheral policy they had introduced. [Cheers.J Mr Gibbok__ next rose and proceeded to defend Ministers from the accusations made sgainft them by those who were anxious to take their places and pus their measures. He considered such a course unprecedented. He maintained . that the words "no confidence in the Government as at present constituted," meant something more than appeared on the surface, and were introduced by design. He maintained that the charges brought against the Government were newspaper assertions, and he would undertake, by means of a pair of scissors and a blue book, j to frame a much stronger indictment against I any Ministry, not excepting that of which the hon. member at the head of the Opposition was a distinguished member for three years. He proceeded to defend the Premier from the accusations brought against him, and said that the remarks made by the hon. member at the head of the Opposition against newspaper people vreffe not creditable to him. On the i subject of favoritism in the Civil Service, he stated that the conduct of former Governments was much more reprehensible than that of the present administration. With regard to lonatio asylums, the present Government had contracts out for works: amounting to £150,000 in connection with _sylmss. The telegram scandal was only an isolated phase which had no application to , Ministers generally, and even in the instance referred to an explanation; which should be considered satisfactory, had been given. The impeachment really resolved itself into a personal attack on the Premier, who appeared to'have aroused the opposition of certain hon. members of the House anxious to sesrifioe the originator of the policy in order to possess that policy and put it forth' as their own. For nearly twenty*-flve years this leader had been the Queen's representative in her colonies, and during that time he had always devoted his efforts towards the amelioration of the condition of the classes he had to govern, and not towards benefiting himself to an extent which etherslwould have done placed in similar positions. His greatest efforts had been devoted towards minimising pauperism and securing the greatest good for the greatest number, and his name would be passed down as ". the champion of their rights and liberties.

Mr Dick said new. members had been cautioned that if certain measures'were passed they would have to go back to their constituents, and that, if they did not support Ministers, they would be rejected. Now, this. might affect some hon. -members, but it was not applicable to the members sent by his constituents. He then referred to the Native Department, and characterised the treatment of Bewi aa undignified and unfair to the country, because it represented that he was superior to Kings or Governors or anyone else. He did not profess to know more than what the newspapers told him; but, from what he -knew, he thought am—take had"heen made in the treatment of Te Whiti, He did not; think'the Premier had acted with the clearness and decision, which they were entitled to expeot from one who had occupied the position he had. He trusted that all his mistakes would be buried with his bones, and that only his good deeds would live after him. He thought that, if he had never occupied any position of power than that of Governor, he wonld have ieftr a greater name behind. He knew that he. intended at one time to make his govern—enfc of the country a model for others, but he had not done so. Be threatened to make great reductions two years ago, bnt had not done so. They found that the former Government chastised them with whips, and now they were chastised with scorpions. It appeared to him that the question was not so much what Bills should be carried, as Who should carry them. The GoTern—ent had held oft—a for two years, but bad not during that time given them a satisfactory report of the finsaces of the colony. On these and other grounds, to which he referred, ho supported the amendment of the hon. member for Selwyn. - _ i Ibb_urn said he wished to give a few of his convictions, and to account for the vote he should give in I favor of the Government whenever the division name on. He thought it was fair to give individuals and Governments an honest ] trial before condemning them, and he hoped they wonld afford the present Government such [a trial, in order that they might have a full opportunity of carrying out those Liber— _easures whioh they propose— The country had bean appealed to on account of those measures, which it was now sought to strangle by turning out M_dstore. He thoroughly approved of the policy oont—ned in the Governor's speech, but was a thorough free-trader, and could not bear the thought of protection, and trusted the Government would carry out the measnres sat forth.

Mr Fibhbb moved the adjournment of debate at midnight.