IMPORTANT MEETING AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 136, 21 August 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

IMPORTANT MEETING AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Mr. Craceoft Wilson called a meeting of his constituents at Christchurch on the 29th ult., to consider the expediency of convening the General Assembly. He addressed the electors at great length, and expressed his doubts whether it would be expedient to have a session of the Genei'al Assembly at the present moment. He said what was wanted was time, money, and troops. He maintained there must bo no more interference with Courts and their decisions, and no more class legislation. Her Majesty’s dominion was proclaimed in 1851, and King Potatau in 1858; two beggars can sleep in one blanket, but there cannot be two kings in one kingdom. It had been said, too, that the confiscation of the Maori land is illegal without an act of the General Assembly. He did not pretend to know the law, but he knew that such was not the law in 1745. Many an Englishman had suffered for rebellion with lands and life, and such being the case he didnt see the necessity for hesitating in inflicting the present law of confiscation upon the Maories without a special Act of Parliament. He held it as his opinion that any expenditure or loss incurred by a rebellion ought to be a first charge upon the rebel’s estate. In this case rebellion would not last long. The tribal rights too had been given as an excuse for the refusal to dispose of lands. If the tribal rights are so powerful as this, then there are other duties attached to them ; the whole tribe must be answerable for rebellion. The most painful part of the subject is the possibility that the policy mentioned may be frustrated by the opposition of the majority in the Northern Island, and to compel us to have recourse to separation. He, (Mr. Wilson,) would endure anything to preserve New Zealand as a whole, for he felt convinced that if it were once disunited it would for ever remain so. Mr. Moorhouse, the ex-Superintendent of Canterbury, did not agree with the views expressed by Mr. Wilson. He was not one of those who advocated sending home the army ; he believed in the impression conveyed by a row of bayonets, but would be very sparing in their use. He would impress on the natives that with them lay the alternative of severe coercive measures or peace, and if they rejected peace, let the war be prosecuted with a vigor which would bring about the sooner the end we all desire. Mr. J. Hall, in seconding a motion that it was desirable to summon tbe Assembly at the present moment, said, “ All would agree that native affairs could not go on any longer as they had done, but before saying that the General Assembly should be called together, he would like to know what the movement against the Waikato meant. If it meant that the Government were in earnest in their endeavors to enforce upon the Maories submission to British authority, it was possible to call together the Assembly. It was true that the Ministers were not justified in expending public money without the sanction of the Representatives of the people, but when rebellion had broken out in the land it would be still less justifiable if they delayed the march of the troops till the Parliament had been assembled. If matters had come to such a pitch it was the duty of the Ministers to lose no opportunity, and he felt sure they would be fully indemnified by the Assembly. If therefore, members meant fighting, let them fight, but don’t let them call the Assembly, for men would not be persuaded into measuring their words, and General Cameron would find his worst enemies were not the Natives in his front, but tho talkers behind bis back.” Ultimately an amendment was passed adjourning the meeting to a future day, when, all the members could attend.