THURSDAY, AUGUST 19.

Clutha Leader, Volume VII, Issue 359, 27 August 1880, Page 3

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19.

In the --Legislative Council: — < A very large amount of small and routine .business was disposed of. A committee reported that, in debates where personalities were introduced omissions were ; made : by direction of the chief reporter. A continuance of the system was advised, subject to the supervision 'of the Speaker. A motion by the Hon. Mr Peacock, that balances in the hands of Education Boards at the year's end should be repaid to the Colonial Treasurer, ;was withdrawn on the Hon. Mr Whitaker pointing out that in that case Boards would take care to have no balances. A return was ordered on the motion of. -Captain Eraser, of the number of wardens and magistra'es on the Otago goldfields, with their total' cose, and the number of cases they heard. The mover showed that there was ample room for very large economy in the department, there being the same number of officers at high salaries and allowance as when all the fields were populated. The work now was almost nil, and one magistrate could do the whole of it. A return was ordered of the amount of land scrip issued and pxercised on the West Coast of the North fsland. The amendments made by the Lowr House in the Rabbit Nuisance Bill were agreed to. The Joint Stock Companies Act Amendment Bill was read a third time The High School Reserves Bill was read a second time. The Canterbury Rivers Act, 1870, Amendment Bill, New. Zealand University Reserves Bill, Jackson's Bay Settlement Bill, Mmmg 1 Companies Act, 1872, Amendment Bill, Municipal Corporations Act Amendment - Bill, Auckland College and Grammar School Bill, and Watiganui Harbour Board and River Conservators Board Grants Bill were i*ead a second time. The ExecutionAgainst.Re.il Estate Bill and Dentists Bill were read a third time. ... \ . In the House of Representatives — The Hon. Mi* ' Bryce moved the second reading of the ; West Coast Settlement(North Island) Bill. The report of the Commission had no doubt been i read by all. But for that. fact.he would .* have gone more fully into the circumstances, calling for this measure. The West Coast problem .was one of much difficulty, arid one that had lasted for a considerable time, and had been, steadily growing. He was not g:oing to inquire as to who was responsible for the difficulty. It was one that at all events the present Government were not responsible for. ' They found it ready made, and as. that they had to deal with it. It was responsible for the appointment of the Commission, for three better men could not have been found to do.the work . An hon. member said " two," but he, said three, because the. Government named three although two only acted. He was very sorry indeed to see the third gentleman retire. It was the object of the Government (1) to satisfy the Natives that their just claims, would be fully recognised ; and (2) to convince the Natives that the authority of law must be .established: on -the Coast. The Commission : devoted itself to the work to do justice, to Ul parties' concerned, a fact- abundantly /evident by their report. They had'made; many important recommendations,.these'recommendations pointing to. a reasonable solution of the difficult}'. Tho simple object of the '"Government was -"to -deal with the difficulty .in such "a, way as that it would" not break out again in future years to the prejudice of the body politic. : It had been said' that they were adopting- the -policy of their-predeces-sors. He was content to do sby'so long as the course proposed was ; likely *tp achieve the purpose aimed • at.' So far from jealousy, he. was prepared if necessary to take advice from his predecessor in office, or from any other person :who was ab all -likely ito- render -valuable.asj sistanVie. = There was: only one mode of settling, the difficulty ,-^first. by" setting apart land.;to satisfy, the just -claims of the; Maoris, which, .should .-.be recognised! At : jhe T sarne.i time Hd W&S; fully " deter--mine4\that they.shpuld ; be;made. tpjee] that they would be • dealt, with .firmly I The . Government had opened; the dis?

trict l )v,-a. xqa,d,.;and-ciU a. r number of tracks^so. .as. J.o_intersectL_.the. -district, 'ThpiSp.'jprocf'HdingfjJ he fhou^ht, ( ? hra'd, alre!M<i\ had the effect of convincing the Maoris that' it was the -full* intention of the Government To™settle, tha district, while : at :h s e> f! s.itne •tim > e-t6J thethw^nd t,heh',,;plaiins justice J!s w^oujd f) bg done. It w"as the intention of "the' Government iii a very sh'ortitiufe'ro-adrera tise.a^considerable portipn-iof the laud for sale. At the same time they would take care^to cut ; ou tTaroplg reservesr'so as to reserve for the Maoris, not only t h ei r c v 1 ti V atio n s ; ; b u t ' ! I \l ce w i se rf lan d tb; '/which' / they '.a it Vach6'd speci^'^valii'e 1 . The, Government rthou^ht-tH^', l^cl^rQr gulations.at present : iri'.jfo'rjce,.- s'ufj^gien.t tot settle. fth.e, district-7-theiY f g.reat.jaiin .wis to promote^ a : close ; settlement 'on the - ; lahhV' -The- 'Government^thought the set.tl.ers. must \be 'deferi'ded'/'--t'here" , fore they^eiebted tlie proposal for plant,ing the district with military seUlers* ; If the; Maoris.were so iilradvisedjas/to-in- ' terrere with the settlprs, then they must be punished. A- settler could not. at, :the!'same •■timef'be'a soldi^Kaf^lt nhad | also, , been ,- suggested that .-.the ( .unem- j ployed' should" "be placed on trie land", j The Government,"'- -however', .3 rejected: that, proposal, . as to .spme extent ] moralising. ' These "men \vould rely on: /the. .Govern merit, 1 'and notton ;wha.fethey ; could. make, of -their Jand. .Care would ! be taken not' to irritate" the" Maoris'. | Although their diredt'acquies'cerice could I not be securedy- he— thought neyerthe- 1 less an 'indirect- acquiescence Hvould-be; secured. Injact, fthey ; had already"'toj some extent'secui'pd tliat acquiescence. \ The Government was, quite as ; .unwillingj to go to war as' he believed' tine Maoris j themselves were", '"'and anything* in rea-i son that would prevent" warfare' ought! to be done. He believed,- however,! they would be able to avoid war; for! if the Natives had any desire for" war, j is was.n;ot:likely;they .wnuld.a.lljovv., their; most warlike brethren to be hended. If they only managed a ; fewj first steps in peace and quietude, ,;he; believed the remainder of the work! would be comparatively easy .•"'Tt was! proposed to make a new land district.,! placed directly under the control of th.e| Government instead of tinder a ' la^nltf board. The reason, was to avoid com-; plications. It was an exceptional pro-; posal, but then the circumstances were; exceptional. It was necessary the Go-; vernment should have very-' ■" large* powers. Without such it. would be absurd for any Government to under-; take the work. ; . : Sir George Grey said the report of the Commissioners waa worthy of the Colon}' of New, Zealand. I.t deserved all credit, and he fully admitted the trouble they had gone to. He -was nut. equally satisfied with the bill. .Instead^ of being a permissive measure, the bill should have adopted- the report as a whole, and enjoined the full carrying: out of its just and righteous recommendations. In the passage of the bill through Committee he would endeavour to get it amended, so as to convince' the Natives that the whole report had been adopted, and that they would get all that the Commissioners recommended. He felt great satisfaction at the remarks made by the Native Mini-, ster. He had hoped, however, to hear him say that the men who had made .the recommendations should .be - - entrusted with the task of carrying them out. A- course of that kind would enable gentlemen in all respects worthy of the Colonyto finish- their career in a great and good work, and a work which must be of great importance to the Colony in all -time coming. - ■•--' - , A long discussion ensued wl^ 0 ! 1 wf!S i adjourned tiirnext evening. j The H on. Mr Bryce said- that there were. a number of bills on the .Order, Paper that he saw nochance of passing this session. He therefore moved the discharge- of ( the following. :~Native Lands Fraud Prevention Bill, Native Lands Contracts Act -Validation 'Bill, : .Native Lands, Stamp.] Duties Bill,- ,fSa^ tive Reserves and Miscellaneous" Native Claims Bills. : f ! .. ; , "' The motion was agreed, to and. the bills discharged'/ ' v " : .'.The Hon.: Mr Hall, moved the second reading .- of : the , Disease.d Cattle • Proclamation Validation "Bill, which was carried..' ' ■ ■ '- ■- l -'■ '-S r - ■ r;:: ■' : On the, motion, of the Hon^ Mr Dickj the Licensing Bill was discharged. ; '. The,.Hbuse went into- Gomuiittee'-on the Diseased GattleProclaniiitiip^ny alid^- :- tion; Bill^arid the 'Electric" Telegraph -A oV 18-75, Amendment 'Bill; 'arid -the House adjourned. at : mi,dnjght..,. ,. ,:,:,.. ■