LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 965, 1 August 1868, Page 2

LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[By Elecxbic Telkgbaph.l libom oue own cobbbspondent. ! Wellington, Friday, July 31. The Roads Board debate came off on Wednesday. Twenty-four members spoke upon it ; and all, except Richmond, Hall, and Stafford, condemned it as a sham. Ministers defended the measure on the ground of its being intended only for districts not applying for special legislation ; petitioning districts would be legislated for on their own merits. Mr. Fox said he would consent to the second reading of the bill if ministers would move that it be then referred to a select committee. This they agreed to, and the bill was read a second time accordingly. The committee was proposed yesterday by Mr. Stafford. He declined putting on it the name of Mr. Bell, and a ballot was demanded by Mr. Fox. The result of the ballot was as follows: — Bell, 21; Yogel, 20; Reid, 17; Jollie, 16; Carleton, 16; Curtis, 13 ; Fox, 11; Kenny, 11: Campbell, 11; Merwyn, 10; and Stafford as mover. The resolution agreed to at a private meeting of opposition members — that the Government should declare its policy before proceeding further with the business — was moved last evening by Mr. Fox. He spoke well for an hour and ten minutes, and was much cheered throughout. Mr. Stafford followed, speaking for an hour and twenty minutes. He said that the policy of the present government was so far conservative that they used their best endeavours to put a pillow under the heads of the dying provinces. He would propose no uniform or other policy in matters of self government except that of dealing with each application from districts requiring such, according as the special circumstances of each case seemed to demand. He confessed he was a unionist. His efforts were directed towards building up the colony into one great country. He would not declare the native policy of the government, because, from circumstances that had transpired within the last few days, it was known that a large body of natives were now in arms against the government. He did not believe in any concert amongst the natives generally ; the movements on the frontier were a mere matter of strategy. It was impossible that 250 fighting natives could long confront the power of the colony ; rebellion could never assume its former dimensions ; and he hoped the colony would not be panic-stricken because a few murders had been committed. He believed the Middle Island would never be so pusillanimous as to refuse punishment to those misguided people because ths infliction of the same would cost a few hundreds of pounds. The peroration of Mr. Stafford's speech was received with cheers Mr. Travers spoke next ; after whi«b, Mr. Brown moved the adjournment of the debate.