PARLIAMENT.

Waka Maori, Volume I, Issue 3, 18 September 1878, Page 35

PARLIAMENT.

For the information of our Native readers we commence in this number a report of speeches of Native members in both Houses. From the speeches of the European members we shall, as a rule, merely make such extracts as may be necessary to throw light upon and connect the sense of what is said by the Native members. HOUSE. Fbiday, 26th July, 1878. NATIVE LAND BILL. Mr. Sheehak, in moving the second reading, said the Bill only contained three clauses. The 2nd clause proposed to give the Courtpowerto summon witnesses, to enforce attendance, and to punish for neglect. The 3rd clause allowed counsel for the Natives to appear before the Court. This was asked for by the Natives themselves, and was highly commended bv the Court. He thought the House would agree that it was very desirable to give this power. The Government could appear before the Court by counsel and the proposal contained in the Bill would simply put the Natives on a equal footing with the Government. Bill read a second and third time and passed.

Tuesday, 30th July, 1878. ADDRESS IN REPILY. 11l tlie discussion 011 the Address in reply to His Excellency's Speech (published in the first issue of the Walca Maori) Mr. Fox, in a speech of considerable length reviewed the historical events of the last few years in this colony. He alluded to the remarks made in the Speech attributing and appropriating to the present Government, and particularly to the Premier and the Native Minister, the satisfactory termination of the Native troubles and difficulties which had so long existed in this country. He said no allusion whatever had been made to the laborious

efforts of past Ministries and individuals to whose exertions, most undoubtedly, we owe the pacification of the North Island. He referred to the late Sir Donald Mc Lean as being the rightful owner of the credit of having led up to the final pacification, and the restoration of amicable relations between the two races in this country; it was he said, owing to Sir Donald McLean's unexampled patience and affection for the Native race, and the experience and skill of which so many years of official tenure had made him the possessor, that we were able to see this country restored to a state of peace. Mr. Sheehak", in reply, made a long and, in some respects,an able speech, the purport of which was that to himself and Sir G-eorge Grey was due-the credit of whatever has been accomplished in the promotion of peace and good-will between the two races. "With respect to the policy pursued by the late Sir Donald McLean, he said, "For myself 1 may say that I never supported a war policy. I have said over and over again that it was a great mistake, and it would have been far better to have spent millions in flour and sugar than to have gone to war with the Natives. I never approved of the policy initiated in 1863 and carried out in 1869; but I entirely approved of the policy of peace which Sir Donald McLean pursued. Even when my own party were against it I have supported it, because I believed then, as I do now, that it would be better to put up with small indignities at the hands of an uncivilized people than to rush into war." [ln contrast to this statement now made in the House by Mr. Sheehan, we print the following extract from a leading article which appeared in the Wanav.fja during the latter part of the year 1876. Mr. Sheehan, when giving evidence in the Hon. H. E. llussell's action against the Walca Maori y stated distinctly that the literary department of the Wananga was under his special charge. He must, therefore, be held responsible for the article to which we allude. In it the peace policy pursued by Sir Donald McLean was viciously assailed,and Sir Donald himself slandered aiid abused in a most malicious manner. We were told, exultingly, that there was to be no more flour and sugar, no more blankei s, no more seed corn and potatoes ; no more mills, agricultural implements, &c. Then came the following, which was carefully omitted from the Maori version, "The expenditure of about two and three-quarter millions since the retirement of the Stafford Ministry in that year (1869), in support of the McLean policy, has brought the finances of the colony into serious difficulties ; and what is there to show for this enormous sum of money ? A so-called peace policy, ten times more costly than a short and vigorous war would have been for the purpose of punishing the tribes who disturbed the colony and defied the Queen's authority ! The flag of .England dishonoured and trailed in the dust! The very recipients of the Government money dissatisfied, turbulent, and ever demanding more!"] Mr. Tak'a.moa.'N'a. said, —I rise to support the observations made by those young members who have spoken this evening. I am pleased with them, and I believe their expressions with regard to peace. X am grieved at the remarks made by. those two old members who have spoken. They have not said

anything in support of the arguments adduced by those young members. The Hon. the Native Minister has stated that he made no reflections upon Sir Donald McLean's policy; but I do not know in what respect Sir Donald McLean did good. Had I known in what respect he did good, I would not have said anything in this House. I always objected to his policy; and I was never afraid to express my opinions before you in former sessions. I hope no more old members will stand forward to object to the statements made by those young members. If it was my case, I should be asnamed to bring forward arguments against those young men. I should not drag forward old matters to be debated over again in this House. The honorable member for Wanganui (Mr. Fox), is a bad man. He used to go about among the Iving people, _ and tried to induce them not to believe in their so-called Iving, and his endeavours were for the destruction of this Island. Therefore it is that I support the statements made by thoi?e young men who have spoken. I went to the Waitara meeting, and saw liewi there. Rewi, I believe, is a very good man. I think it would be a very good thing to give up Waitara to Hewi; and it was Kewi's proposition that there should be a general meeting of the tribes at Waitara, and after investigation into the Waitara matter it was. agreed that all the tribes should go to Kawhia. They were pleased to listen to what I had to say, because I was an upholder 'of the proposition formerly that the Waitara matter should be investigated. However, the AVaikaio people did not agree to my proposition that Waitara should be investigated. That was while Sir George Grey was coming over the sea. The meeting was held at Peria. I was there with the Bishop. Therefore I say that the attention of Parliament should be devoted entirely to matters concerning the welfare of this Island, and the old men should turn their attention to the disasters which have occurred in this Island. Let them understand that the Queen is devoting her attention to peaceful relations with the tribes, and let this House devote itself to considering the question of land taken improperly from certain subjects of the Queen. That is the only reason why I stood up to speak. The Address in reply Avas then brought up by the Committee appointed to draw it up, and agreed to. The Address itself would not interest our Native readers, as it merely conveys the thanks of the House to His Excellency for his Speech, with an assurance that all measures submitted to members should receive their consideration, &e.

| "Wednesday, 31st july, 1878. TE AROHA BLOCK. Mr. Fox said that, before the prorogation of the House last year, Mr. Sheehan had promised him that he "would do his utmost in the purchase of the Aroha Block, and informed him that he had the greatest hopes of being able to close the transaction in a week or two. The honorable member (Mr Sheehan) encouraged him to hope that the settlement was near at hand by informing him that the Hon. Mr JNahe was interested in the property, and that he was going to use his best exertions amongst his own tribe to assist the Grovemment in completing the transaction. He felt some degree of disappointment that a satisfactory result had not been obtained; but they could judge of his amazement when he heard by a public telegram in the Press that the Hon. Mr. N ahe was at this time doing all in his power to defeat the attempts of the Government Commissioner to effect the purchase of the Aroha Block. He trusted that the Hon. Mr. Nahe was

using his best endeavours as a Minister of the Crown to have the purchase effected, and that his efforts were likely to be successful. Mr Sheehan was very glad, in justice to his colleague, that the honourable gentleman had raised this question. The Hon. Mr Nahe went with him twice to the Aroha district, and used every influence in his power, and materially assisted in obtaining the consent of the owners to put the land through the Court. "When he spoke to the honorable member for "Whanganui on the subject the land had not gone through the Court. A great number of the Natives, claiming to be owners of it, refused to assent to the making of the purchase, and those were the persons with whom he and his colleague had to deal. Finally, through their persuasion, those Natives agreed to put the land through the Court. With regard to the charge made against his colleague, as to. his opposition to the Grovernment in this matter, he would tell the House exactly what took place, and he thought honorable gentlemen would agree with him that he (Mr. Sheehan) had pursued a proper course. His honorable colleague was an owner of the land in question, and, with the other members of his tribe, supported his claim to it. They did not fight against the G-overnment, but merely acted to protect their own interests. He advised his" colleague to do all in his power to protect his own interests in the matter—that it would not be fair to expect that because he became a member of the Government he should sacrifice his private interests. So far as the interests of the Government were concerned, his colleague had given the most loyal and valuable assistance, after the judgment of the Court had been given against him and his people, in inducing - the Native owners to give their consent to the purchase. Mr. Pox said the explanation was very satisfactory, and he was very glad to hear it.

"Wednesday, 7th. August, IS7B. MAHIA DISTURBANCE. Me. Sutton, in moving the motion standing in his name, said that about six weeks ago, at Mahia, in the northern part of the district which he had the honor to represent, some horses and cattle belonging to a Native in that locality were impounded in the public pound. Shortly afterwards a small body of Natives forcibly broke open the pound, released the horses and cattle, and to some extent assaulted the person in charge. An information was laid against the two ringleaders before the Resident Magistrate at "Wairoa, who proceeded to Mahia, a distance of something like thirty miles from the place he resided, accompanied by two Justices of the Peace and two Native Assessors, for the purpose of inquiring into this matter. Upon their arrival at Mahia, the party were subjected to very great insults. They were informed, as he understood from gentlemen who were present, and from the reports in the papers, that- it they attempted to enter the pa it would be very dangerous, and that the Natives would not allow any policeman to enter. Therefore he had thought it his duty to ask for the correspondence which he believed had taken place on the subject. Motion made, and question proposed, " For copies of any reports from the Resident Magistrate at "Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, having reference to the refusal of certain Natives at Mahia to allow a Resident Magistrate's Court to hear and determine a charge of breaking a public pound; and any instructions issued to the Resident Magistrate thereon." Mr. Sheehan said the mover of the motion had stated pretty nearly the facts of the case. There

was a small section of Native people living at •who had refused to permit the erection of a pound on a piece of land which they claimed to be theirs. But he could assure the House, and the honorable gentleman also, that there was not the slightest cause tor fear about this particular matter. He proposed himself to settle the difficulty quietly after the session by going up and " whakawa-ing the whole crowd and, if they would not be content to accept the conclusion he arrived at, he should deport them to some part of the district more loyal than where they resided at present. There were not more than thirty of them. It only required some person to go and talk to them in a friendly way to remove the little difficulty about the erection of the pound, and to establish law and order. Motion agreed to. [We have omitted a large portion of the Native Minister's reply to Mr. Sutton, because we consider the careless and flippant manner in which he treated the subject would only have the effect of encouraging a disregard of law and order among evilly-inclined Natives. For the same reason we have refrained from giving publicity to a discussion on a motion made by Mr. Eox relative to a disturbance which occurred at Waitara a few days after the Premier left that place, when certain drunken Waikato Natives attempted to pull down and burn the "Waitara Hotel.]