THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aid faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 614, 5 December 1863, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam aid faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5.

In the Legislative Council, on Monday, the 16th ult.,

The following Bills were read a third time and passed:—lnquiry into Wrecks Bill; Colonial Defence Force Act Amendment Bill; Provincial Compulsory Taking of Lands Bill and Suppression of the Rebellion Bill.

Mr Whittaker moved the second reading of the Settlements BiH. :" :

Mr Swainson opposed the motion. The Bill was opposed to the treaty of Waitangi; and, therefore, consistently with the faith of treaties, it could not be« passed even by the Imperial Parliament. The Assembly could not do what was proposed, for two special reasons. It could not, under the treaty, take land against the wish of the Natives; and, under the Constitution Act, they had no power to deal with the Native lands at all". The real question to be now solved, was how to win the confidence of the Natives and their willingj submission to our rule —success in which would be a greater triumph of statesmanship than to compel submission by such a policy as that proposed. Capt, Salhon supported the motion. Dr. Poi/len opposed it. ;He particularly condemned the proposals as to dealing -with the lands of Native?, as detailed in the speech of the Colonial Treasurer, because they would be immoral as a policy nnd -delusive and unbound financially. There was a. Native saying, "First the man aud then the land," which he took to express ;»c?e termination to die mau by man upon tbeir Jand rather than give it up. What security of tenure cmld be given, under such circumstances, (o purchasers of confiscated lands; and how was it likely tiia cost of the almosJ^intyjniiuiiJila ftnia-sle .cpu.lcl_be_ —".crrceirsbme aYscussioh, .

Mr Whittaser said there had been something said about the natives .dying before giving up their lands; but nothing was more opposed to their custom. Three-fourths of the land was held by conquest by one tribe from another; for it Avas a recognised principle that wh'-n a Iribe was conquered 3 their lands followed. The Government had no desire to compal the whole native population to submit; but they did deshe to be able to point to south of Auckland and say, '; There is war," and to point north, of it and say. " There is peace: take your choice." He believed that the Bill would go a great way towards settling the present disturbances, and that the native 3 would be benefited by it.

On a division, the motion was carried by fourteen to two, the voting being-For: Messrs Iticltraond, Johnstone, Buchanan, Outfield, Remvick, Stokes Po!hn, Pillans, Wliitaker, Salmon, J. G. W Russell' Walton, H. Russell, and GK L. Lee. Against, two : Messrs Swainson and Sewell.

The Council went into Committee,- and tbe several clauses were agreed to without alteration, except such as was necessary for uniformity between the 2nd and sth, confining the operation of the Bill to acts done " since the Ist January, 1863."

The Arms Continuance Bill was read a second time aad passed through Committee.