PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, November 2.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1965, 3 November 1863, Page 4

PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, November 2.

The Speaker took tko chair at 2 o'clock. • V Presont : Tho Honorables Major Richmond, G-. L. Leo, Dr. Buchanan, It. Stokes, H. Sewell, J. Salmon, T. Whitaker, It. Walton, H. ltussell, J. Johnstone, J. ,A. (3-ilfillan, ( Gr. Cutfield, W. Swainßon, Captain Baillie. NEW MEMBEII. Mr. P. S. Pillans being introduced by Dr. Buchanan, took the oath and his scat. MESSAGE FKOM HIS EXCELLENCY. Message No. 6 was received from His Excellency, transmitting the following papers :— ' % 1. Correspondence relative to' tho Inte'r-cqloui&l aud Intur- Provincial Mail Service in New Zealand. 2. Statistical tables in anticipation of the jannual volumo of statistics of New Zealaud for the year1862. .»' 3. Native A ffaii s. Despatches from the Seorptary of State and the Governor of Now Zealand.! (In continuation of JS. No. 3.) * 4 Memorandum on Roads and Military Settlemonta iv the Northern Island of New Zealand. \ 5. Ptoolamaliuiin, liulo«i and Reyulations issued under the Gold Fields A.ct 1862. (5. Fui Ihe r papers relating to the Military Defenoe\ of New Zealand (iv continuation of A. No. 6.) ' Meti'.ige Xn. 8 notified that the Governor li»d prantud leave ot absence to tho Hon. J. H. Hafris, for thej^Mion. » ,t, t

Bg^*"^ MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. 'Mr. WnirxiCEK asked permission, before the business of the day was called on, to make a short statement to the Council of what had taken place in the last few days. It would bo in the recollection of this Council that on; the last occasion of their meeting, he made an announcement to the effect that tho then ministry had resigned, and that Mr. Pox had been sent for to form a new ministry. He had now to state to the Council that Mr. Pox had succeeded, in forming a ministry, which consisted of' the following members : — Mr. Whitaker, Premier ; Mr. Fox, Colonial Secretary^ AVith the management of native auairs ; " Mr. Iteadsr Wood, Colonial ; Mr. Thomas Russell, Minister for CoTo"hial Defence ; and Mr. Gillies, of Otago, Postmaster-General. Ho was not now prepared to make a statement as to what measures the Government would introduce, but he should be prepared to do so on Tuesday, and at the same time to state the time that >the Government thought it would bo necessary ;f or the Assembly to sit. They had great hopes' of it being able to depart on the 24th of this month ; but he trusted to be able to say more definitively, when he was in a position to state what measures would bo introduced by the Government. s ~ - .. In reply to the Speaker, Mr. AYhitaker said he did not wis'a to postpone any of the business on this day's paper.

APPARENT IRREGULARITY. , vllr. Sw\inson called attention to the fact that on the previous Thursday, after the late ministry had retired from office, a paper called a* memorandum on roads and military settlements in the Northern Island, was distributed amongst the membei's of the Council, and a few minutes afterwards recalled on the plea that it would be furnished again with a fly leaf, which was done on the following Saturday, after tb.e new ministry were installed. The fly- leaf was . signed, "By his Excellency's command, Alfred Domett." The delivery of this paper to the" Council after theSninistry were out of office appeared to him a great irregularity; and the question he wished to ask was, who was responsible for it ? The fly-leaf stated that the paper was presented by command of His Excellency the Governor. From the terras of the memorandum, they were led to believe that tho were favourable to entertaining the proposition ; and it was delivered to the Council after the present ministry were in office. He mentioned this, not to creato any embarrassment, but to give the hon. member at the head of the Government an opportunity of making a statement in explanation. JSKhitAxer would only at present remai l^ Itliat the present Ministry were nob in -any wayresponsible for that paper, or tho mode in which it had come before the Council. , ADDRESS IN REPLY. ' / % Dr. Buchanak, in rising to move the adoption of the report of the committee appointed to prepare an address in reply to his Excellency's speech, said : Mr. Speaker, in moving that this report be adopted, I intend to obtrude upon the notice and attention of the Council for a very short space only. lam quite aware, sir, that any remarks that may fall from so young a member of the House as I am must necessarily from their crudencss be altogether unworthy their notice ; but as I believe it ■would, be an unusual course to move th'o \ddress without making some observations, I crave the indulgence of the House while I say a very few words. It is only too clear, sir, that our great difficulty at the present moment is the de- 1 plorablc relation m which we stand towards the native population of these islands. At torn. same time we have the consolation of feeling^ that we cannot reproach ourselves with having been in any way instrumental to the state of things which unhappily exists. From the papers on native affairs which have been laid on the table, I find, on the one hand, that the Government, for years past, and especially in the last two years, has been doing all in its power to conciliate, improve, and benefit the Maoris in every possible way. I find that during the last twelve months the sum of £44,000 and upwards has been expended on them under tho provisions of one Act alone, -'-the Native Purposes Appropriation Act, 18^2,' in establishing schools, in giving them ■"mag.'strates, medical attendance, pensions, presents, feasts, and in what in this public statement, are called loans. I find that the Imperial Government, fully aware of the difficulty of the task to be accomplished in governing and civilizing them, selected as Governor at this important crisis, the man whom of all others in the British dominions, had seemed to them to be the most eminently qualified for that arduous post ; and it was naturally hoped not only afkpme, but by tho European inhabitants of the colony generally, that Sir George Grey, by his knowledge of tlie language, cußtoms avid habits of tho Maoris, as well as of their religions and superstitions, and also, by tho influence ho had acquired over them by familiar intercourse during the former period in which, he administered the affairs of the country, — considering these, I say, it was not unreasonable to hope that he would be able, if any man could, to induce the v nativcs to see and accept the advantages that religion, education, law, and order could bring to them. And, s.urely, since the arrival of liis Excellency, tho colony has not been wanting, in its duty to provide the funds necessary to enable his JExcellencj 1 ' to carry out that liberal policy, which seemed to him conducive to tho great end which he- has had, and I believe still has in view — tho peace, happiness, and prosperity of both races.- As far as I can learn, no expense and pains have' been spared, no amount of patience or forbearance considered too great, in the endeivrour to make that policy successful. This, sir, is what I see on the one hand. On the other, I see with the deepest regret, a brave and intelligent race, a people capable of reaching a high standard both of moral and intellectual culture, deliberately thrusting from them all those advantages, and with infatuatio-n, 1 which I cannot understand, steadily > and systematically organizing an armed force, over a lengthened period of time, with the avowod object of driving the pakehas into the sea,- -a feat which I believe the majority of them consider themselves quite equal to accomplish. While we have been doing- everything that man could think of to avoid a collision they have been pre. paring to try thej'r strength; while wo have done all in our pow or to avoid war, and with this hope have sub. mittcd to humiliating concessions, they have forced war upon us, and commenced it with m urder. When I look, Ift on this picture and on that, I feel we are doing

fonly^hdt! 'it-becomes usjto do, t whence assure Un° Exp^lloncy- ih#ie vrordtpi the/RldresstthatJ ,'" your'Excelloncy may rejy with confidence on lour 1 cordial' support in your endoavours to r carry on' the war with Vigour, and to make it, \i£ .possible, the last which shall afflict the .Colony of ,New Zealand, and we assure your \Excellency that whatever measures may bo vbrought before this Council will receive our imost serious and careful consideration." lam ?quite sure also that this honorable Council will 'gladly avail itself of the opportunity to "recogjniso very gratefully the promptitude and liberality with which your Excellency's application to the Imperial Government for additional military assistance has, in this time of difficulty and danger boon responded to," and "also jcordiaUy acknowledge the sympathy and .support afforded by the neighbouring colonies of and especially by the Governor of Without furlhor x'J-'eface, beg ileave to read the address and move its adoption. 1 ? The lion, momber then read the address as follows :

May it pmsase tour ExohmjEnoy, — We, her Majesty's roost dutiful and loyal subjects, t tbe Legislative Council of New Zealand, in Parliament ,'anienibled, beg leave to return our thanks to your Excellency for the speech with which you have been pleased to open the present lession of the General Asiernbly. ~ We recognise very gratefully the promptitude and liberulif.y ■\yith which your Excellency's application to the Impel ial Government for Additional military assistance hns, in this time of difficulty and d.vigor, bepn responded to. Wo also cordially acknowledge the 1 sympiitliy and support afforded by the neighbouring 'colonies of Aiiitialia, iind ('specially by the Governor of Tasmania. . We also, in accordance with your Excellency, acknowledge with admiiatiou and giatitude .the set vices 1 endured liy IF. Mi ship 3 of w.ir on tins station, the compicuous gallantly displayed by 'Majesty's tioops, under the guidance and with the. ' example of their distinguished General, awl the zeal ■ and courage which have been evinced by the militia 'and volunteer* amidst the hardship 1 ) and privations of service m the field. We deeply lament that a war with a portion of the native race has liecome inevitable ; but yqjir lixcelloney may rely with confidence on our cordial support ,in your ontleavouiß to carry on the war with vigour, and to, make it. if possible, the last which shall afflict ihe colony of New Zealand, and we assiuo your Excellency that whatever measures may be brought before this Council will receive our most serious and careful consideration. Wo humbly join with your Excellency in earnestly hoping that, with the blessing of the Almighty Disposer of events, thoie measures may tend to the deliverance of the colony from its present difficulties, and to the permanent welfare of its inhabitants. ■ , >

Mr. H. Russkil seconded the motion. Mr. Swainson : Sir, I liavo not any opposition to offer to the adoption of this^ifddrcss. I rise, not for the purpose of making a speech, but to make an apology for not making a speech. I wish the Council to understand that if I say j nothing on this occasion, it is not because I have 'nothing to say, but because that speech having ' become the last dying speech and confession of ' those who made it, it has passed beyond the Ireach^of profitable consideration. question being then put, the address was « adopted nem. con.

LAND KEGISTKY LAW. 1 Mr. Sewell moved for leave to bring in a | bill to amend the law relating to the registration 'of deeds aud titles to land. Ho would not ■ ' trouble the Council with details at this stage of . the bill. It was technical in its nature, and after being brought in, would be considered by Ilia hon. friends at the head of the Government and himself. On the second reading, ho would state more particularly the precise object of itMotion agreed to. Bill introduced, and ordered to be read a first time on Tuesday.

NATIVE AFFAIRS. Mi f . Sewell inquired whether it was intended to lay on the table any further papers relating to native affnirs. Mr. Whitakek said he was not aware that it vijas. \Ou the motion of Mr. Whitaker, the Council then adjourned. - j