House of Representatives.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 843, 24 July 1879, Page 2

House of Representatives.

Wellington, This Day, NO CONFIDENCE DEBATE. In the House on Tuesday, the debate on the no confidence motion was resumed by Mr. iJartf, who declared his intention to vote for it. Dr. Waliis defended the Government. Mr. Giaborne also spoke m its delence. . Mr. Saunders followed on the other side. Mr. Rees made a long speech m defence of the Government. Mr. Turnbull moved the adjournment of the debate, which Sir W. Fox agreed to, because Mr. gjheehau was indisposed, aud could Dot speak that evening. Yesterday the afternoon sitting was occupied with answering questions, and the nrst readings of new .bills. Mr. Macandrew agreed to furnish the information asked for. LAST NIGHT'S SITTING. At the evening sitting the debate on the no confidence motion was resumed by Mr. Sheehan, who spoke at great length. THE NATIVE MINISTER DEFENDING THE GOVERMENT. He declared that the present proceeding was quiet contrary t.o previous custom, and if it had been followed by eiir William Fox he would have let the address iv reply pass, and then brought down a no confidence motion. He charged the Opposition with preventing the supply required for the carrying on the ordinary service of the country. Their charge of maladminstration was all pretence, the fact being that they felt themselves m a majority — but -for that there would have been no such charge. Their statement about acquiescing m Government policy was simply an attempt to baulk that policy. They were simply acting the wolf m sheep's clothing. After thanking the Opposition for agreeing on the previous evening to the adjournment of the debate, he expressed his personal admiration of Sir W. Fox, but the speech he made m opening the debate was devoid of the statesmanlike qualities to be looked for m a man of his standing. Sir W. Fox had told them that a Native war was imminent, but Sir W. Fox himself was responsible for that state of things. Mr. Sheelian then proceeded to reply to the various charges made by Sir W. Fox. With respect to Mr. C. O. Davis, he said he had been blamed for not dismissing him six months before. Major Mair had admitted being m correspondence with Rewi, and had endeavored to irritate that chief against the Government, and although he promised not to do so again, he was discovered the same night tampering with Rewi. Mr. Sheehan then justified his action with respect to Booth. In reference to Mr. D. M. Lnckie's appointment he said that Sir W. Fox had not only transferred members of the House into the Public Service, but had put strangers to the c-uintry over heads of Civil servants of long standing. He denied that the negotiations with the King Natives had been a failure, and averred that at the Kopua meeting Tawhiao had expressed himself strongly m favor of the Government. On no occasion were the relations with the Waikatos on so satisfactory a footing as at present. He remembered Sir Donald McLean waiting six weeks at Alexandra without any result. For years past the King problem was difficult to deal with, and the ground they occupied was a source of danger. At a late meeting, as Tawhiao would not come to terms, Rewi determined to act for himself, and agreed, that if the Government would protect for a reasonable time, certain land from being sold or leased, he would do his best to settle tribal boundaries. This was a great point, that a man who had been against us should enter r a Lands Court to decide boundaries. It was "a Court the King Natives had always scoffed at. Speaking of the Waimate Plains, he said : The Natives had had abundant opportunities to settle reserves, but had refused to do so. The first mistake was that of having to take the land, when no provision was made for holding it. He did not admit, however, that this vitiated the confiscations. There was nothing to justify the action the Natives had taken. Not a single promise to them remained unfulfilled. A great cause of trouble was the condition m which the Government found the Native land purchases of the late Government. These, the present Government had strenuously endeavored to set right, their policy being to acquire as much estate fairly as they could, and for the sake of the country, he hoped that their policy would not be reversed.

He concluded by referring to the attacks made against himself, which, he said, were unfair and unmanly. Mr. Wakefield made a strong attack upon the administration of the Government, and more particularly against the Premier, who, he said, had never merited the confidence of the House. At 1.20 the House adjourned, on the motion of the Premier, until the usual hour this afternoon.