WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1069, 15 July 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

_ » The Peace Preservation Bill which was r"ead a first-tips, on Tuesday, is not yet circulated in"print, but I am in a position to say. from authentic information that its object is to enable the Government to deal with the Maori prisoners now in custody, the time of detention is as fixed by the Act of last session having nearly, expired. ■ I understand that- the Government dp not intend to go on : -with the trial of the prisoners in the present critical jcondition of affairs, especially as the Government believe they could not charge the prisoners with any offence which would involve more than a few days' ( ;imprispnment. at the end of which, period the prisoner^ would be liberated to return to Parihaka where they would become a dangerous element in con j uhbttion with the natives who are already assembled there. It is estimated that that there are at Parihaka and the immediate neighborhood 300 able-bodied natives, most of whom are from other districts. It is thought they might act iudopendentlyjof Te Whiti's authority, and repudiate his policy by protesting against) the road making and occupation of land. I am in a position to state that the Government still regard the position on the West Coast as eminently critical. Strong bodies of natives continue at intervals to dig up in front of the line upon winch, the road will be constructed, though they do not venture to meddle with the constructed road. Te -W*hiti maintains ' his apparently peacefuf'attitude, but declines to entertain the proposals submitted by the Government, on the ground that they would lead to no satisfactory or practical results, but he suggests that Governor Robinson sh.ouldgo to Parihaka and- attend, a meeting there to discuss matters, believingthat whatever arrangement would be come to would bind the honor of the Crown and be ratified. The Ministry, however, do not see their way to advise Governor Robinson to comply "with Te Whiti's request, and the Governor of course has no idea of going there unadvised by his responsible advisers. lam further in a position to say that Ministers would be willing to comß to some arrangement with the prisoners themselves for their liberation on the basis of substantial guarantees for their good behaviour, but the prisoners are hopelessly impracticable, and when any proposal is mooted refer the Government to Te Whiti, through whom alone they will receive any overturs. A most important phase which the matter has assumed is a proposal from Rewi (Manga) of the Ngaitimaniapoto tribe to take the Maori prisoners under his charge, settle them at Waitara, and become personally responsible for their safe keeping and good behaviour. lam informed, on undoubted authority, such a proposition has been submitted by Rewi, but the Government do not see "their, way to accept it, partly because they have no absolute security for Rewi's power to fulfil his part of the proposed agreement, and partly because they do not clearly see how it might affect Rewi's position with regard to Waitara, as it might involve future complications, being tantamount to a virtual acknowledgement of Rewi's mana over the district. What the Government therefore propose to do is to obtain power from Parliament • to extend the period of detention of the prisoners^ with authority to liberate a limited number of them from time to time if deemed advisable under the tcircumstances then existing. As an experiment it is proposed to liberate a small party of William King's people, of whom are undergoing sentences, and to carefully watch its effects with a view to future action in the same direction if the experiment succeeds. The proposed plan has already been mooted to William King (Wiremu Kingi), who has received it in a friendly manner, promising to use every endeavor to induce the liberated natives to settle quietly on their lands. It is generally expected that the estimates will' be pushed through very rapidly, now that a fair start has been made. Members anticipate that the session will close about the end of August. It looks now as "though the Opposition had abandoned all intention of turning out the Ministry, and majority of them are anxious that the work of the session should be proceeded with as quickly as possible. It is' is still maintained by some that Mr. Reader Wood has sinister designs on the Government, and is only waiting for a chance to catch Minister's tripping. His action certainly would lead to that inference, but he has proved himself so utterly shifty tnat he is distrusted by both sides, and would not secure a following of a dozen members in the House. Mr Macandrew appears to be inclined at last to bury the hatchet. ' He expressed to the effect yesterday that it was no use whatever his side of the House taking any action against the Government as to the further reduction of the ; although he . believed they could be reduced half a million. This statement was followed by cries of '• Oh oh ! " and laughtei. He said the beat

thing now to be done was for the Ministry to get through the business as speedily as possible and send members away to their homes/ The feelr ing amongst several Opposition members is that JMr. Macahdrew's leadership has been a great failure. Dr. Wallis yesterday pointedly alluded to him as the " late " leader of the Opposition, and altogether disagreed with him on the point of having no discussion on the estimates. It has frequently happened of late that when Mr. TVfaCandrew has risen to make a proposition several of his own side have expressed totally opposite views. .. .- ... v . ■ Mr. Saunders was very severe on Mr. Seddon last nivht and referred to the presumption,. he displays for so young a member in continually taking up the time bif the House. He said if Ministers were so untrustworthy .as Mr. Seddon implied they were the Treasury benches would be" occupied by none but rogues and vagabonds. Mr. Reeves afterwards alluded to this, and endeavoured to be witty at - Mr.. Saunders' expense, but the House scarcely saw the intended joke. He said Mr. Saunders had accused Ministers of being rogues and vagabonds, but he (Mr. Reeves) knew they were " nothing : of the sort,- but. : were all honorable 'gentlemen^ It was very noticeable that whilst Mr. Seddori wSspursuing'a course of simple obstruction which was resented by nearly every member on. both sides of the House, the only member who cheered, and evidently encouraged him, was Sir George Grey, although he himself took no part in the discussion,. Mr. Lawson's reply to the charges >f the Civil Service Commissioners is published. In is chiefly occupied with a | defence of his mangement of the Auckland Railways. He concludes by saying that the report contains unmerited disparagement, but not having ., seen the evidence on which the Commissioners have based their statements he is not in a position to deal more fully withtheir imputations. - He, .however, is conscious of havjng.Loyally arid faithfully used his best efforts to make' the railways useful and profitable, and he is satisfied that the results would be -accomplished if the public .were less exacting in their demands upon the Idepartment. His object 'in- bringing forward rebutting evidence^ respecting the charges imputed to him is, he says, simply that he may be on "record- as a protest against the report referred to, and he confidently leaves^ any- further action in the hands of tM Minister for Public Works. Hawkes Bay Herald.