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deeply infatuated with the belief that Te Whiti holds supernatural powers, and that he will recover not only the reserves, but also the Plains, and everything else. But, Sir, I Avould say that it is a melancholy thing at this time of day that for months past the peace of the colony, or, at any rate, of that part of the colony, has had to depend upon the discretion of a man who is so far gone in insanity that he has a belief that he can raise men from the dead. I say it is a melancholy reflection, not only in view of the large expenditure which is going on, and which is costing the colony money that it can ill spare, but it is a melancholy reflection in view of the loss to the settlers on that coast. Honorable members have very little idea of the state of anxiety in which those settlers live. Many of them are my intimate friends—gentlemen Avith whom I have been associated in a way that we are not likely to forget; and Avhen I see them being actually ruined before my eyes by this state of things my feelings are really more than I can express. Great as is the loss to the colony—and much as I regret that loss—entailed by the maintenance of an armed force there, I deplore the loss that is falling upon the settlers far more; and Ido say that the settlers have a claim upon the consideration and sympathy of this House on account of the noble manner in which they both acted and forebore from acting on the late occasion. I Avill pass now for a moment to another trouble —the outrage aalucli took place at Ohinemuri. lam glad to be able to take a more cheerful vieAv of that matter. I believe that the magnitude of that outrage has been exaggerated in a Avonderful degree ; nor do I apprehend that any very serious difficulty is likely to arise from it. It is, of course, highly unsatisfactory that such an outrage should be committed in our midst, and that we should not be able to apprehend the people who perpetrated it without so much trouble. At the same time I think that the hapu to whicli these people belong is a very small one. It is isolated, and I believe I am speaking from good information Avhen I say that they have not got the sympathy of any other section of Maoris, with the exception of perhaps a dozen or two individuals. Then there is another outrage, which took place at the Bay of Islands lately, which is calculated, I think, to leave a very uncomfortable impression upon members' minds, no matter from Avhat aspect they view it. It is true that it is simply a conflict between Maoris —I do not know that white people are in any way implicated ; but the melancholy part of the affair to me is this: that in the Maori eyes our law and government should have fallen into so loav a state that they should suddenly resort to arms about a question Avhich could have been easily settled in a Court of Law. Considering the peaceful and law-abiding manner in Avhich those tribes had previously been living for so many years, I say it is a melancholy thing that this outrage has taken place; and I think this House would do well to seriously inquire Avhether the personal mode of government on which I have been harping throughout my speech has not something to do with the change for the worse which has taken place in the Maori mind. I have now said all that I need say, perhaps, in revieAving the circumstances of the colony as connected with this department; and I might, I suppose, very well stop here. But I should like, before I sit down, to indicate in a few words how I think these things might be cured. To effect a cure, I would deliberately set to Avork to destroy the principal part of the department as a department. I would destroy that part of the department which I have so often called the personal government; and, to do that, I would divest the department of its functions. I alluded just now to the Native schools, and I said I Avould refer to the subject again. What I Avant to say about the Native schools is, that in many cases these schools were, a short time ago, in a highly unsatisfactory state. But that, I believe, Avas brought to the attention of the late Native Minister, and he consented —at least, so I am given to understand—that Native schools, Avhich cost about £14,000 per annum, should be transferred to the Education Department. That, in my opinion, is a very great change for the better. It is so obvious an improvement, indeed, that the only wonder is that it was not done long ago. Then I Avould take, for instance, the roads in Native districts, and place them: — they are noAV nominally under the Public Works Department—absolutely under that department; and the expenditure should depend, not upon the advice of any