LOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 243, 11 July 1861, Page 3

L OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

A long debate took place on Wednesday, 26th June, on the propriety of receiving a message from H is Excellency referring to. Mr. Firth's amendment on Mr. Weld’s resolution ami asking.: /defii itely, what assistance* the colony would give towards the war. General Cam r>. li il come ou t< p t down tl e King raovem nt, n -t to act as. a.garrison oilier or protect the settlers, and. his. troops-. would not be employed unless the colony gave that hearty assistance which, the Imperial iGovernmeht expected. The 1 ’message had not been laid before ministers before being sent do.vn to the House. T.his.course it was argued was . unconstitutional, - . Z’lie' debate Was adjourned to the 28th. ..■ , • . ■ . In .answer to:;Mr. Fox on 27th -June, Mr. Stafford said ~;“.thsit; the’'conduct, of ;Major Cooper was, 1 most reprehensible.' and if //is Excellency pdfunitted' the letter which had been written at lis dictation to that gentleman to be laid before the house it would be seen that a proper course, had been, a lopted”

Sir. Fox’ requested that tlie letter should he laid hef >re the//ouse, together with the Rev. Mr. /’ayk-r’s letter out of which the enquiry arose.

r . From the beginning Of the session up to the i 21st June, the following committees were ap . pointed,— A select committee to consider and report on the question of the military: dtfences of New Zealand, with power to ea 1 for persons,, papers, and ncords; consisting ofT/eut. ColNjxon,'Messrs. Williamson; .Featherston, Or,. i ihond, .Eyes, Wilson, McGlashan, Domett, f 'Bell, Fitzherbert, 7’aylor, and''/roodJ t. ~,A select committee^ ll private bills. , S A committee km private grievances, t . ;A select committee on the postal arrangei meats existing between the Aus ralian colonies . and the several provinces of New Zealand, r A select committee for the. pirpose of iu- - quiring into the. advisability 1 of e.-tablisbiug a. - court with jurisdiction over native title toi land, ami to report as to the .constitution and • . functions of such a court; also, to consular - the question generally of the appointment,. \ numbers, and salaries of native assessors to : assist the land and other:courts ; -consisting of , Messrs. . Bell, Map tell, Domett, Carleton, J. > C. Richmond, Butler, -Ormond, :and Fitzherbert., i- ■ - > Select committee on the prohibition of (he . importation of cattle from places where the [ disease of Pleura pneumonia, is known to exist. Up to tl.e same date the following bills had , been- introduced;— " " ' ' i A bill to detenii'he the boundary between the provinces of Canterbury and Otago. - i A bill for the incorporation of the Bank of * i New South Wales, v A bill for the regulation of the practice of i law in: A’ew Zealand.. \ A bill for regulating the de cent and disposal of lands held under Crown grant by persons of the native race in the colony of New Zealand. A bill to establish courts of Bankruptcy in New Zealand. - . - A biil fo.r correcting surveys. A bill to incorporate the proprietary of the ZJank of New Zealand. A bill for giving effect to regulations under the Land Registry act, iB6O, and fur amending said act. A bill to amend, the, Civil Service Superannuation act. A bill to amend the law relating to advances bona fule made to agents entrusted with goods. Petitions have been received from the following parties,— Augustus Brown Abraham, barrister-at-law. Certain inhabitants of iVapier, praying for the continuance of the District. Court there.. Certain inhabitants of : Hawke’s Buy, praying for steam communication between Auckland, Wellington, and Napier. Cert ain electors of the Bay of Islands against the return of the sitting member (Mr. Carle-* •ton) for that district. “ 7'he select committee, on this petition dismissed it for non-compliance- * with Standing Orders; • Mr. Sewell as agent for the Mamikau Asso-. ciati'on claimants,' praying for compensation in, land; L; - "'-"r l ' Certain inhabitants of Taranaki,graying for compensation for their losses in the late .war-. From the Provincial Council of Marlborough, that the Inter-colonial steamers call at Picton. From the same, regarding a railway from. Picton to Wairau. , , In answer : to t: questions froiai members* Ministers have intimated,—* *

That they do not intend to introduce a in&asure giving power to make roads through any of the lands not held under Crown grants. That they intended to do away with the special expence of the District courts, by appointing two additional Judges, one for Nelson and the other for Otago. That in respect to the summoning of the Native Conference, the chiefs of. the largest tribes would be requested to elect delegates.

That martial law was still in force, in Taranaki ; that the number of militia on duty there was 160 to 180 men, That the Government did not intend materially to alter the Customs tariff. That in case of war, the settlers would receive protection from the military, or if necessary, protection at a distance from home similar to that of the inhabitants of Taranaki at Nelson. That no expectation of compensation for loss could be held out, but it was just possible .that, waste lands might be given as compensation, as bad been done at the Cape. The following papers have been moved for, — By Mr. Jollie-*—Papers relating to the establishment of Timaru as a Port of Entry. By-Mr. Fox.—A return shewing the names of all persons connected with the Zand Purchase department; their salaries, their present duties and places of residence, and the dates of their latest reports; also the .number ol acres purchased from the Natives during the year ending Ist June last, and the price; also the number of acres surveyed during that time. Do. a return shewing the names of all persons in the Native Secretary's department; their duties, their salaries, and present places of employment.

Do.-—A return shewing, Ist, The estimated cost of the war till now; 2nd, The estimated value of' property destroyed at 7'aranaki by hostile natives; 3rd, the actual number of Jives lost on each side> so far as ascertainable; 4th, The estimated quantity of laud gained by the Government under the terms of peace proposed to‘*the Ngatiawa ; sth, 2’he number of acres of land purchased from the natives since 1840; 6th, The amount of the purchase money.

By Mr. Fitzherbert,—A return of copies of all correspondence relating to the resignation of Mr. McLean, late Native Secretary. By Mr. Featherston, —A return showing the amounts retained by the General Government from the proceeds of the land sales of the several provinces of Auckland, Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay, on account of the reserved sixths, from Ist January 1858 to the latest dates at which" the provinces have furnished returns, when the said sums were received by the General Government, how they are invested, and’the interest received.

Do.—Copy of a letter from Mr. Turner, of Taranaki, to his Excellency. By Mr. Fox, —A return of all prosecutions under the iVative Land Purchase ordinance of Sir Geo. Grey since Ist January 1 4. Numerous infringements of the law had taken place, only some of which had been punished. A prosecution against the Chief Land Commissioner had failed for want of evidence of a sheep being his property. Many persons holding office under Government had at present lands leased from natives. Justices of the Peace in his neighl ourhood had done so to a large extent, aud he did not blame them. It was a subject of great importance. -.Mr. Richmond said his Excellency agreed with his ministers in considering this act ineffective. It was the old policy of the Imperial Government.

By Mr. Brandon, —A copy of the Government instructions respecting the issue of arms and ammunition under the Arms Act of last session. Mr. .Richmond said that a relaxation of the conditions was now under his Excellency’s consideration. By Mr. Carter,- —A return of the various sums expended out of the £150,000 war loan, up to June 12, 1861,

By Dr. Featherston, —Copy of a Letter from certain Natives of Hawke’s Bay to liis Excellency on 30th April 1861,. in which they deny their opposition to the supremacy of the Queen.

By Mr. QTlorke.—A return setting forththe names of the several Electoral districts, the number of members for tach, the number of candidates for iach at last election, the number of votes polled, the number of electors on the roll, the addition..! number that may be registered this year, and the number of the population in each district. By Mr. Wood, —A return of all appoint-ments-made by the General Government since Ist July* 1860, setting forth the name and salary of each person and the date aud reason of the appointment.

By Mr. W, W. Taylor—Copy of a letter addressed to his Excellency by Sir Wm. Denison, dated 16tli May, 1860. After a long discussion the motion was negatived on the ground that it was a private letter, though laid before the British Parliament. It was next day laid on the table by Mr. Taylor himself.

By Mr. J ollie-—Copies of correspondence' respecting the natives between the Bishop of New Zealand and the Colonial Secretary, By Mr. Fitzherbert,—---Copy of correspondence between the General Government aud the Itesident Magistrate at Wellington, relative to the remission, by the Superintendent of Wellington, of a fine inflicted on the Inspector of Police, also a. copy of the depositions in the case of Newry v. Aitcheson. By Dr. Featherston, —For a Copy of al correspondence between the Government, the Bishop of New Zealand, and Mr. Parris, relative to a letter addressed by the latter to the Bishop, on the subject of the purchase of lauds frony the natives at Waitava.

Mr. Weld read the following letters in compliance with this request from Dr. Featherston. New Plymouth, August 26, 1858.

My Lord, —I have the honor to inform you, that on the 19th inst. a party of about twenty natives came to see me from Taranaki on the subject of making an appeal to your lordship for a minister to be located amongst them, having previously held meetings for the consideration and discussion of the subject at their own place, as shown by their own letters herewith inclosed. In the absence of a clergyman able to confer with them, I consented to talk the matter over with them and report to your lordship, which I have much pleasure in doing, as a member of the church (unworthy as l am), but not in the capacity of a Government officer, lest I should be charged with partiality for natives of that denomination, as some are wont to do, because I refuse to support or countenance dishonourable and treacherous treatment of William King and his people, to extermin ate them from the Waitara in accordance with Mr. Turtou’s peremptory plan for the acquirement of that delightful and much coveted district. Since your lordship’s departure in Fe bruary last, 1 have had to contend with very trying circumstances of a most painful nature, ; which has caused me intense anxiety of mind for those natives.

Pardon this digression from the subject matter of my letter, in reverting to which 1 would beg to observe that the natives who are moving in this matter appear to be in real earnest, and although there may be some opposition, I believe they can carry their point, should a minister be available for so desirable and neglected a field. They are principally Hoera’s relatives*

The land proposed to be handed over to your lord-hip for the residence of a clergyman is about seven miles from Tataraiwaka. The quantity not ascertained (perhaps 20 acres). JFilliam King, of Ginuioa, Taranaki, is now with me, talking over the subject. Ho expresses his grief at the conduct of his people for repudiating the offer. made at Montote, and appears equally anxious as the others for a minister, in prouf of whioh the former applied to me to borrow (£100) one hundred pounds to hand over to your lordship as an earnest of their sincerity, being the amount they propose to subscribe yearly towards the maintenance of a clergyman. The only information I could give them was, that when your lordship was last here, you told me you purposed'returning about November, when they would, no doubt, have an opportunity of seeing your lordship on the subject, and in the meantime I recommended them to give the matter a thorough consideration among themselves, and extend it through the district.

While we cannot hut feel the need of great caution with respect to these poor creatures, who inquire concerning the truth as it is iu Jesus, at a period when the natives throughout the country, 1 believe, were never more unsettled ; still, may we not look upon such a solicitation as a proof that the Lord has not forsaken them, and that their consciences are still striving within them. Hoping t hat your lordship may be able to give them some encouragement, I remain, fyc. (Signed) Robert Parris.

New Plymouth, Dec. 21, 1860. Sir,—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th inst., requesting to be informed, whether the statement made by Dr. Featherston to a public meeting held at Wellington on the 24th November, respecting a letter written by me to the Bishop of New Zealand, be correct, and in reply to inform you, that when the Bishop of New Zealand was here in 1858, during the time Ihaia and Nikorima were besieged in the Karaka pa by Wirerau Kingi, I accompanied him, Mr. Ironside, Mr. Whiteley, and Mr. Diemensclmeider, on a visit made to both parties, with a view to arrange terms of peace between them, in which, however, we failed. On the bishop leaving *the settlement, he requested me to keep him informed on the subject of the feud. I must now quote from my letter to the Native Secretary, in September last, in which I have recorded a history of the circumstances 1 about which I wrote to the Bishop, premising that I have no copy of the letter, as it was a private communication, and must have been surreptitiously obtained from the Bishop, who, I am convinced, would never have published private correspondence, or have so perverted it. .

“ Jf’hen Ihaia, Nikorima, and their party, were besieged in the Karaka pa at the Waitara, and were in a most miserable plight, Mr. JThiteley suggested to me, that I should try to arauge terms of peace on the following basis, namely, That the besieged should be allowed to vacate the pa, aud that the besiege: s should thpn destroy it. 1 availed myself of the and obtained the consent of Ihaia and Wiremu Ivingi, the former to leave the pa, and the latter to destroy it, and [not follow them any further; and shortly after, in the middle of the night, Ihaia’s party took a loud farewell of their pa, but their places were immediately occupied By his Wanganui and Mukau allies. They thus tried to take advantage of arrangements which I had attempted to make for their preservation, and, but for my opportune arrival and discovery of the ambush, would probably have succeeded. “ 1 was much blamed ty the newspapers of the province for communicating this intelligence, but no man, with one spark of honor, could, under the circumstances, have acted otherwise.”'

My letter to the Dishop of New Zealand refenel to these attacks of the local press,.and

those of many of the settlers, who were desirous of acquirin g land by any,; means, and who viewed the frustration of the ambush as inimical to land purchases; hut it did not allude to any action of the government, nor to 7 eira’s block of land, which had not then been offered for sale. As it is now more than 2| years ago since it was written, and as, I have no copy, I cannot offer any more particular explanation. I can only add, that the, statement, as rendered by Dr. Featherston, is untrue, and I am convinced 1 did not write that which was not the

case. I enclose herewith copies of the “ Taranaki Herald ” of 15th May and 12th June, in which my conduct on the occasion in question is alluded to. Animadversions likewise appeared in the Taranaki News,” but I cannot procure copies of .them. I have the honor to be sir, ■ Your most obedient servant, . Robert Parris. : - ' Assistant A r at'ive Secretary. F. G. ; Steward, Esq., Private Secretary, Government House, Auckland.

Auckland, 2Gth Dec 1860,

Sir,-—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of the 24th inst., in which you express your hope that, in “justice to Mr. Parris,” / will furnish your Excellency with a copy of the letter to which the Superintendent of Wellington referred in a speech made by him on the 23rd November. I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I have carefully read the report of that speech, printed in the “ Wellington Independent ” of December 7th, and am unable to discover any such charge against Mr. Parris as would induce me to publish, without bis consent, a letter addressed to me on matters unconnected with the present Taranaki question, and not intended for publication.

Mr. Parris’s letter was written to me on the 26th August, ISSB, to give me a report of an effort made by the Taranaki tribe to obtain a clergyman to reside among them. In the course of his letter Mr. Parris was led to state the anxiety of mind which he felt for the natives of liis district; and spoke of plans which had been suggested for the acquisition of the Waitara. I understood him to refer to plans of the same kind as those against which I had remonstrated ‘in my pastoral letter in 1855. I have shown Mr. Parris’s letter only to a few persons, and have constantly refused to allow it to be published. ■■''■■■As, however, it has been publicly mentioned, it will probably he found to be the best course to allow it now to be published ; but I shall not do this without Mr. Farris’s consent. The only use I have made of it lias been to show that the danger arising from the excessive eagerness of 1 some of the Taranaki settlers to obtain possession of the Waitara was the same in 185 S, as I had represented it in 1855. I have the honor to remain, sir, Your Excellency’s obedient and humble servant, G. At N. New Zealand. His Excellency T. G. Browne, Esq., C. 8., &c. A long debate ensued, having reference to the words which Dr. Featherston used in a late speech at Wellington, *“I will mention one important fact which will, I think, stagger most believers in the justice of the war. I have myself seen a letter from Mr. Parris, in which he states that he was. son ly beset to enter into a conspiracy to deprive Wm. King of the much coveted land at Waitara.” The subject is to be brought up again when the papers are laid on the table, and. Mr. Parris is brought before the house for examination.