THE MAORI STONEWALLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8259, 11 August 1888, Page 3

THE MAORI STONEWALLING.

.EXTRAORDINARY ENDURANCE.

rJFnoM Oob Special Correspondent.)

Wellington, August JIO The Maoris, like all semi-barbarous races, are very apt at picking up and copying the vices of their more enlightened brethren. It is a wellestablished fact that the vicious habits of the pakeha have taken deep root among the Natives, and they even go so far as to copy the political •tricks and devices of the dominant race. They make no secret of their indebtedness to the European in the matter of getting initiated unto the mvateries of " stonewalling,''and they fceast openly that they have learned a number of useful "wrinkles" from the pakeha. Mr Bvdney Taiwhanga is not a very high class representative of the Maori race so -.ar as physique is concerned. Ho is short in stature, Common looking in appearance, and asthmatic in his delivery, but notwithstanding these drawhacks he has managed to keep the House sitting ■for 28 hours. His vocal organs at the present -.time seem to be in ao good a condition ks they ■were when the stonewalling began at 3 oclock -yesterday afternoon. Previous to the present Crisis Mr Sydney Taiwhanga was regarded as a -weak, vacillating, mean specimen ot the Maori irace, but the stand taken up by him on to "Native bills has raised him in the estimation ".-of both sides of the House. Since tho stone--walling was commenced yesterday afternoon J_c Sydney Taiwhanga has been the life and ■soul of the movement. Up to the present time f/7 30), he has spoken for 17 hours with ionly a Sew "spoils." There is no doubt that he has heen the inspiring spirit of the agitation against the Native policy of the Government, and ■wright or wrong he has earned the gratitude of ■ the Natives. He was assisted it is true by Mr Taipua and two or three European members, but had it not been for his tenacity of purpose the Government would have earned the day and pushed all the Nativo bills -through committee last night. The numerous .-'.interesting incidents which occurred daring tho discussion would make some very interesting -chapters in the political history of New Zealand, r*ut space will not permit me to refer to more ■than one:or two of them. At 4 o'clock this •morning Mr Kelly, chairman of the Native Affairs -Committee, kept on interrupting the irrepressible Mr Taiwhanga until the patience of the latter gentleman became exhausted. Turning (upon his persecutor he charged him with being : '-indebted to the Natives to the amount of £300. ilr Kelly waxed indignant, and challenged Mr "Taiwhanga to substantiate the charge. p Some -parleying tookplace.and Mr Taiwhanga informed the committee that he would withdraw tbe charge and the words. Some amusement was occasioned by the efforts made to rouse the numerous honourable gents who were overtaken 'by the drowsy god. When thesomriolent representatives were awakened leave was granted to Mr Taiwhanga to withdraw the offensive expresTha Maori members' wets assisted in their stouewaUing by Sir George Groy and Messrs Beeves and Taylor. The evergeen member for Inangahua expressed a desire to read the ent'.rp text of the treaty of Waitangi in the original, informing the committee that he knew as. much about the Maori language as a miile knows about the " Shorter Catechism." The member for Sydenham was also very amusing, somo of lis remarks eliciting roars of laughter. From -what I have heard and read of Mr Sydney Tai--whanga's antecedents I should not have imagined that he' was burdened with an overstock of religion, but from the manner in which he interspersed his remarks with Scripture references and quotations one would have < Imagined that he was a Puritan of the Puritans. He appealed to the Almighty on several occasions to put wisdom into tho minds and softness into the hearts of the members of the House, ' so that they might see the tyranny which was sought to be inflicted on the Nativo race by the perfidious occupants of the Treasury benches. He entreated his colleague Mr Taipua to fight 3nd be strong in the good cause, aud not to give •way-on any' account. The action of the Govern- : ment in refusing to allow any adjournment for breakfast or iancjieon occasioned a good deal of unfavourable comment. It wasurged that the Premier was determined^? force the bills through by an exhibition of mere brute force, and this evoked a good deal of sympathy for the Maoris. I know for a fact that if the Government had refused an adjournment at half -past 5 the bulk of the ' Opposition would have been up in arms to protest against such a high-handed proceeding. she action of Sir Carroll in supporting the Government as agaiast hia polleagUesJhas occasioned some comment, and it js openly stated that his sympathies are with the land csonopolists. How.ever that may be, there is no doubt Ahat he made a really clever speech in support of the Govern--xnent measures. A ~ . . ~ One of the most remarkable incidents in toe • discussion was a rather sharp encounter between - the Premier and Sir George Grey. The Premier - was wroth and grating as is his wont, and Sir ' v-George was sarcastic. Sir Harry fell into hu old fault of widening old sores instead of making ■ an effort to heal them. It ia rumoured that the > Ministry instigated the member for Lyttelton to • ait beside Mr Taiwhanga in order to prevent bim - from getting a wink of sleep. I do not vouch 'lor the truth of tho rumour, but I know for a • fact that Mr Joyce sat beside Mr Taiwhanga all .the afternoon, chatting with him apparently on 'the most friendly terms. When the committee met after the dinner •adjournment the suggestion that some prominent Maori chief should be-heard at the bar of the House was again brought up. Sir George Grey spoke warmly in support of giving the chiefs a hearing. Mr Carroll followed with an apologetic speech, in the course of which he made some uncomplimentary references to _,\. George Grey. The member for Kuraara came to the rescue of tho Knight of Kawau, and delivered an able and exhaustive speech on the Native question. He was particularly severe on Mr Carroll, and stated that the measure under • discussion was to enable a small section of monopolißing plutocrats to get possession of the Maori lands If the bill under consideration were nassed, Mr Seddon predicted that in a few years times the Maoris would be a race of beggars, and they might re-echo the words of the celebrated Scotch song, " We are landless, landless, landless, gregalloch." Mr Seddon's speech was listened'to wi* much attention, and when he concluded he was rewarded with a round of applause. Mr Hutchison,' iv a very telling speech, urged that certaiu Maori chiefs should be heard at the bar of the House. He paid a high compliment to Sir George Gjrey for his noble efforts on behalf of the Native race.

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