THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 294, 14 August 1860, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

On Friday, the native minister asked leave to bring in a Bill to prevent in certain cases dealings with aboriginal natives, and agreed to take upon that motion the general question of the war, and more especially of Taylors title to the land in dispute. This led to a steady, hard debate of more than twelve hours duration, with about as much more, in all probability, to come. In the first five hours, only 3 speeches, were disposed of. What to do about reports, we scarcely know as yet. To report in full, would need the reporting power of the Times;; and every member who addressed the House was so well up in his subject that the speeches cannot be condensed without to them. The utmost'thai "members can expect, in these long debates, is to be not misrepresented, and to have the main points of their several arguments set down. The interest of the debate was much heightened by Mr. Forsaith (the best Maori scholar in the House), who, fin the course of a very able speech introduced quotations from some letters written by W. King to Archdeacon Hadfield complaining, among other things of insults which he said he had received from Mr. Parris, the District Commissioner, and mentioning his claim to the land in dispute. The letters were placed by consent at the disposal of the House. Three several points were, then raised; —firstly, that Mr: Forsaith. had brought charges against Mr. Parris: this, however, soon broke down, it being evident that the charges were made by W. King, and not by the member who read King's letter's to the House. Secondly it was maintained that Mr. Forsaith had not made fair extracts, —that he had kept back an important admission by King. The expression was read, and rendered into English by Mr. Dillon Bell. Mr. Forsaith denied the accuracy of Mr. Bell's translation ; and so that matter rests, for the present. We are bound to say that we are informed, by two Maori scholars of high reputation who were present, that Mr. Forsaith was right. Thirdly, the conduct of Archdeacon Hadfield, for withholding from the Governor what was called important information, was reproved in very strong, though courteous term's. The Archdeacon is well able to take care of himself, without any help from us. The question is partly one of dates. But we, for our own part, are utterly unable to perceive the importance (at that time) of the information that King had asserted a claim on the land. It has since grown into importance, from the fact of the Government having waged war on the ground that King had never asserted a claim. But what man in his senses -could have expected a Government to take up ground so untenable; who could have believed that they would transfer the onus prohandi from themselves, to William King ? The Archdeacon also, like ourselves, placed a blind confidence in the Governor's promise not to buy any land the title to which was in dispute ; and knowing of his own knowledge the points of the dispute, would as soon have expected to see his Excellency walking on his head as waging war about the particular piece of land in question. About this incident in the debate, however, more yet remains to be said. It is not for us to anticipate, in forming a conclusion. We merely observe that hon. members were a j a little too- hasty. It is a sign of a weak case when its defenders snatch at straws. . Who, moreover, can tell what is "information " to the Government, and what is not ? We ourselves possess a great deal of very important information on the subject; but presume that they possess it likewise. It is to be presumed, for instance, that they are aware of what we state for the information of our readers, that they are in good authority ior believing that there are already 4000 men pledged to support King ', than King keeps no more than about 700 with him, to spare the provisions; recruiting his losses, as they occnr, by corresponding indrafts. We have long perceived that the country I was in much more serious difficulty than had been commonly supposed; but were taken very much by surprise when we learned from the Governor's despatches laid on the table of the House, that our own alarm was exceeded by that of the Government. The earlier despatches betray a blind confidence; the latter ones seem to be written in hurried trepidation. Firstly, on the 25th Jannary his Excellency tells the Secretary of State that he has ordered the survey, and made preparations for any contingency that might arise. "I trouble you with the present despatch only as a matter of information, and trust it may not be necessary to refer to it again." Then again on the 27th February,-—" Private letters are full of alarms and surmises, and talk of a war of races; but I do not put faith in them, or anticipate any real opposition, when the Chief William King sees that I am determined not to permit him to defy her Majesty's Government. On the 2nd March, —" It is now my intention to request Colonel Gold to occupy land at the mouth of the Waitara with her Majesty's troops, taking every possible care to avoid a collision unless it is forced upon him. I shall there erect (at the expense of the local Government) a block house large enough to hold a Company of regular troops, and strong enough to be left in charge of twenty men." On the 22nd March, —" I have some diffidence in expressing any opinion as to the number of troops required; I have hitherto considered that 2,000 men, with a strong Company of Artillery, would have enabled me to bring such a force into the field suddenly as would extinguish the first sparks of rebellion : now I am, reluctantly compelled

to^ay that I believe that 3,000 men, a Steam Gun-boat, and a Steamer oT -War,: will.be necessary for some time to come to ensure the maintenance of peace." But Donald M'Clean (Native Secretary),is "of opinion that it would require a force of not less than 5000 men to defend the various isolated and scattered settlements of the Northern Island." The climax, probably not yet reached, is certainly being ascended to at an accelerating rate of progression. We very much fear that the seeming inconsistency is only too easily accounted for. Assuming, as the Governor did, that William King was certainly in the wrong, his Excellency's confidence at the outset, that a simple demonstration would overawe him was not ill grounded. A native will jump about, and threaten, and lash himself into a passion, when he knows himself to be in the wrong, but will rarely fight. But when he thinks that his cause is just, he will die upon the land. Wo have Jong suspended our own opinion on the merits of the cause at issue, hoping for inquiry ekewhere. But we admit that the steady, quiet composure of King and his followers —-the firm front which they shew, is not without its influence upon v«. Even if King be not in the right, assuredly he believes himself to be go. One feature in Maori warfare geems to be overlooked. One reason why the war in the North was so easily put an end to, was, that so few natives had been killed. There were not many to be avenged. The more are killed, the more " utu " will be required. If the 700 Waikatos who are said to have gone down to Taranaki be killed, 1,400 will follow to take their place. And so the feud increases, spreading from tribe to tribe. It will perhaps be argued, that by this process the natives would presently become concentrated in one place, where they might be utterly overthrown. Very possibly, if the object be to exterminate. Nero wished that all Rome had but one neck, that he might cut it off at a blow. —Southern Cross, August 7.