G.—sb

2

With these facts before them, and Sir William Fox brings forward no other, the Commissioners consider themselves justified in stating in their report, "that at any moment in all these years the trouble north of Waingongoro would have vanished if, instead of talking about doing the right thing, any Minister had only set himself to do it." Mr. Hart submits that he was not in error in suggesting that this portion of the report was hurriedly prepared. 3. Mr. Hart very much regrets his omission to notice the short extract which appears at page xx. of the reports, from the speech of Sir Donald McLean, but which by no means discloses his policy respecting the confiscated lands, which it was the object of Mr. Hart's more extended citation from that speech to make clear. Without this, the full significance of the promise is not perceptible. A reference to the passage in the report, if made, would rather have strengthened than weakened Mr. Hart's contention, which, so varied, would read thus :—" Although the Commissioners were aware of this declaration by Sir D. McLean, and the circumstances attending it, they had not given effect to it as they ought to have done." The reader who refers to Mr. Hart's speech, with this varied form of the contention in his hand, will be surprised to find how few are the alterations in the speech needed to adapt it to this varied form of the contention. Sir William Fox refers to the fact that Mr. Hart's late speech was made when neither of the Commissioners had a seat in Parliament. That reference gives rise to the suggestion that more caution should have been exercised by the Commissioners when stating and commenting upon a series of transactions the central actor in which was in no position to give explanations or make reply. The feeling manner in which Sir William Fox has concluded his reply, prompts Mr. Hart thankfully to acknowledge his obligation to Sir William Fox for the explanation he has so kindly afforded, and to express his sincere regret if, in. a speech in which Mr. Hart was so anxiously seeking that explanation, he was led into the use of statements or expressions exceeding the limits prescribed by his contention in the form in which it now appears. Hobson Street, July 17th, 1882. Eob. Habt, M.L.C.

Bj Authority: GrEOEOB Didsbuby, Q-OTernment Printer, Wellington.—1882.