THE BANQUET TO MR BRYCE AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 5, Issue 482, 27 April 1883, Page 3

THE BANQUET TO MR BRYCE AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Plymouth, Wednesday. The banquet last night to the Hon. John Bryce was very numerously attended, and it was past midnight before it came to a close. The Mayor presided. Mr Bryce spoke several times during the evening in replying to various toasts. In responding to the toast of his own health he spoke for nearly three-quarters of an hour, defending the policy he had adopted in native affairs. He spoke to the colony, but it is impossible to give even the substance in a brief summary. He sympathised with the settlers in their complaint at being slandered by tho southern parts of the colony, but said that those who wrote the slanders neither knew the district nor its people. He referred to a book recently published in England called the History of New Zealand, in which it was stated that during 1869 he (Bryce) murdered women and children. He had not seen the book, but should take steps against the slander. He asked them if they had ever heard of him doing such a thing, which he publicly denied, and branded the author of the book a liar, slanderer, and a coward. He referred to some remarks of the late Bishop Selwyn, who wrote in defence of the European settlers, treatment of the native race. Mr Bryce then reviewed what had been done by his (sir) Government in the settlement of native affairs, and showed that he acted as any other man would have done towards Te Hooti if they had been placed in the

same position. He praised the conduct of the native chief who had taken part in releasing Messrs Hursthouse and Newsham, and said if the amnesty proclamation had not been issued, would Te Kooti have acted in the noble manner he had done? He said the King Country was, now open to Europeans, and there would be no further obstruction to surveys, roads, or railways. He said that the difficulties which had arisen at Cambridge had been caused by the legal profession prolonging cases, in some instances till the costs had absorbed the whole value of the land in dispute. He concluded by saying that the time would come when the Maori could be trusted as any European would be, when they would be governed without any special laws, or have other than European courts to apply to. (For continuation of news see fourth x>age.)