PARLIAMENTARY

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 541, 20 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

I FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, September 19

At thi.s morning's) sitting the House on the motion for a further considerat'on of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill, the on Mr Rolleston, Native Minister said, Hon members have no doubt observed in newspapers certain ieports as to the existence of an unsatisfactory stale of affairs on the West Coast. The Government have alto received reports which cause some anxiety as to the future. They have, however, every hope that persistence in the course hitherto adopted may stop serious difficulties from arising. At the same time it is only right to say that the positii n is one requiring great eire and a good deal of circumspection Government will, however, before the House rises, afford members an opportunity of hearing all that Government knows up to the present moment, and will ark the House to entrust them with such funds as may enablo them to deal decisively and promptly with any contingency which may arise. After remarks from members, Mr C. C. Bowen said the aspe-1 of affairs revived the question as to whether the late native MinisteF wis light in insisting on more energetic steps being adopted. Mr Sieehan blamed Go vernmentfornotbringing down such an im portant question until the last moment. He Mr W. Fox should be on the Governmentbenchesin questions involving as they did peace or war. At present there were virtually two native ministers one wholly responsible. He did not think that war was intended. If, however, it did arise he for one would say let the Government go to the full extremity, and so preserve the race itself, from the consequence of its ill advised conduct. He would have liked to have seen the force now on the Coast, located there two years ago, he believed it would have tended to preserve the public peace. The second reading of the Bill was carried and leave granted to sit again after the adjournment.