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New Zealand Mail, Issue 340, 17 August 1878, Page 14

The hon member for Waikato, Mr. Whitaker, moved the second reading of his Parliamentary Representation Bill on Wednesday, and made a long and able speech in explanation of the principles and details of the measure. In principle it provides for the representation of the whole of the electors of the colony by an adaptation of Hare’s scheme, and is based upon manhood suffrage with one vote and one vote only for each individual. We shall take an early opportunity of reprinting the Bill for the information of our readers, as the subject is of vital importance to all.

A meeting was held on Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. J. H. Wallace, who occupied the chair, was requested to wait upon the Hon. the Minister of Public Works to arrange the hour on Monday next for a deputation to wait upon the Minister. Mr. Macandrew appointed eleven o’clock as the time at which he would receive the deputation. The great advantages which would be derived by the carrying out of a direct line of railway from Wellington by way of the West Coast to Foxton have been frequently pointed out in our columns ; and there can be but little doubt that the work will ultimately be undertaken. It will open up a large area of fertile country to settlement, and promises to be a reproductive undertaking. The West Coast of the North Island has hitherto been much neglected in the matter of railway communication when compared with more favored districts. The people at the North are urging upon the Government the desirability, if not necessity, of extending the Auckland and Waikato line through to New Plymouth ; and in the Middle Island the residents at Hokitika, Greymouth, and the West Coast are urging their claims to railway extension, as are the people of Christchurch, Dunedin, and other portions of thei South. Amongst the various claims of the kind now being urged upon the attention of the Government that of the supporters of the Wellington and West Coast line to Foxton ia certainly a strong one, and deserving of favor*

able consideration at the bands of the authorities. The result of the interview with the Minister of Public Works on Monday will be looked forward to with much interest by a considerable section of the community who are alive to the desirability of the proposed railway being carried out.

A few days since, in noticing the fact reported by our Thames contemporary that the Honorable Hoani Nahe, the Maori colleague of the Premier, was opposing the Government claim to Te Aroha Block then before the Native Lands Court, we promised to reprint the letter in which Mr. Nahe’s defence was contained and which was not to be found in our exchanges then to hand. We discovered the letter in question, under the signature of a native named Reihana Poto, in the Thames Evening Star of the 24th ult., and, notwithstanding its length, have transferred it to our columns to-day. Mr. Nahe’s parliamentary education is progressing ; with natural imitative aptitude he adapts the Ministerial rule, that '* other things being equal we’ll help our friends,” to the local conditions of the Thames. If he extend the rule occasionally so as to smooth over an accidental inequality, such as that which is shown to exist in the Taranaki advertising contract, he can plead a high example and take his stand upon his merits as the saviour of the country. “ Who is it,” asks Mr. Reihana “ that set up Sir George Grey as head of the Government ? And who was it that set up Mr. Sheehan as Native Minister ? It was Hoani Nahe !” Let us therefore be thankful and hope that he will not think it necessary at once to pull down that which he has built up. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan, in his loyal defence of his colleague, is reported to have said :—“ The fact was that in reference to the Aroha Block Mr. Nahe had given every assistance to the Government, and in consequence of his action the matter had been brought before the Native Lands Court. Of 64,000 acres judgment in favor of the Government a 3 to 55,000 acres had been given, and the Government had large interests in the remainder. The charge that his colleague had opposed the Government was without foundation ; he had merely protected his own personal rights against the claims of other natives, and he (Mr. Sheehan) had yet to learn that a person joining the Government did so to the prejudice of his private estate.” Mr. Nahe, examined before the Court, admitted that he had no claim to the land at Te Aroha and no “ personal rights ” in it. He was moved to obstruct the Government claim, as Mr. Reihana tells us, by the inscrutable “ workings of a chieftain’s heart, which are not generally understood by the masses of the people.” It is fortunate for the interests of the public that the Judges of the Native Lands Court are not subject to be moved by such impulses. The Government claim was sustained by the Native Lands Court in opposition to Mr. Nahe, and an awa,rd of 7500 acres as a reserve, —subject to a debt to the Crown of £2OOO, money received by them from the Government agent, was made to the Ngatirahiri. Whilst we are grateful to Mr. Nahe for the present Government, it is impossible not to feel that he has made a little blunder, and that neither Mr. Sheehan nor Mr. Reihana Poto has improved his position by their attempted defence.

Ik a recent issue we expressed a hope that the Government would not neglect the opportunity (to which their attention was called by the Hon. Mr. Fox) of securing, if possible, a visit from the Japanese Commissioners who are now in New South Wales with the object of opening up a trade in wool between the two countries, and we quoted from a private letter relative to the peculiar adaptability of New Zealand wool for manufacture into clothing suitable for the millions of China and Japan. Since then a communication has been received by the Chamber of Commerce from Mr. Monckton Synnot, of Melbourne, requesting, in the name of the Japanese Royal Commissioners, that samples of New Zealand wool may be sent to him to the extent of a few pounds weight, as it is considered that the coarser New Zealand wools are more suitable to Japanese requirements—viz., the manufacture of army clothing—than fine Australian merino wools. The -Japanese Commissioners have chartered a vessel to take sheep and wool to Japan, having arranged through the Oriental Bank for their purchase. Mr. Synnot suggests that this is a good opportunity for sending New Zealand woollen yarns to the commissioners, who promise to do everything possible to encourage the introduction of Australian and New Zealand wool amongst their countrymen. The own correspondent of the Press Agency at Hiojo Kobe, Japan, writes : “ The telegraph lines are being extended in all directions, and native traffic is considerable. Many stations are forwarding 400 to 500 native messages daily. The main lines consist of four wires, 920 miles ; two wires, 700 miles ; branch lines, 2500 miles; and above 1200 miles are in course of construction.” It seems therefore that the old prejudice against innovations is rapidly dying out in Japan, and that the time is most favorable for Australia and New Zealand obtaining a new and almost unlimited market for their staple product. We trust the Government, will not lose sight of the matter, but that everything will be done to induce the Commissioners to visit the colony, and to afford them every facility whilst they are here ; and if other engagements prevent them coming to New Zealand, that at all events every care will be taken to place them in full possession of samples and all authentic information respecting our wool. If once a wool trade can be fairly established between these colonies and China and Japan, the great prosperity which has hitherto been attained here by wool-growing, in which all classes have more or less participated, would no doubt be greatly increased, and there appears absolutely no limit to its extension. The value and importance of the question indeed can hardly be over estimated.