INTERIM REPORT BY THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 63, 18 March 1880, Page 2

INTERIM REPORT BY THE NATIVE COMMISSION.

We understand that Sir William Fox and Sir F. Dillon Bell, two of the Royal Commissioners on Native Affairs, have presented an j ad ¦ interim report to , his Excellency the | Governor. The nature of this important J document has not yet transpired, but it is rumored that it deals with certain matters brought before the Commissioners, in regard to which they found no difficulty in arriving ata prompt decision. We believe that the Commissioners state their opinion in respect' to these matter s, and suggest that great public benefit might result from giving immediate effect to various recommendations made by them, which would produce a markedly favorable impression on the native mind and have ] a large amount of influence for good, showing, as it would, the desire of the Government, and of the Europeans generally, to deal out ' swift and even-handed justice to both races alike. So far as we have been able to gather, it is thought that if instant action be taken in the directions suggested, it is likely to induce a strong reaction against the influence of Te Whiti, which might be very desirable just at the present time, when the prophet's.! great meeting ' at Parihaka is taking place, by the practical proof it would offer of the good faith of the Government and their determination to mete ont strict justice, re-, gardlessof nationality. It is not probable that the precise nature of the Commissioners' recommendations will be made public for a few days, owing to the* absence from Wei- j lington of his Excellency the Governor.