General Assembly of New Zealand.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 412, 20 September 1866, Page 5

General Assembly of New Zealand.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wedhesdat, 12th Sept. EAST COAST NATIVES. Mr OaHOND asked tha Colonial Secretary,— ** Whether or not the lands of the natives lately in rebellion on the East Coast of the Northern Island, in the district situate between East Cape and Mahia Peninsula, are intended to be made liable for the expenditure incurred by the Colony in suppressing the insurrection within that district. Also, whether it is proposed to acknowledge the services of the native allies of that district by giving them ‘substantial rewards’ for the numerous and signal services they have rendered to the Colony during the disturbances that have taken place in that districtj and whether such reward is proposed to be made by the payment to them of a sum of money, and if so, whether the same is intended to be made a charge upon the district in question, or be borne as a general charge upon the Colony ?”

Mr Sxaeeoed said that he would have preferred if this question had been put on the paper in the form of a notice of motion. The present Government, and indeed every Government, were of opinion that, where native disturbances arose, some endeavor should be made to recoup any consequent expense from the property of the hostile natives ; but the Government could not hold out any hope of on early or substantial return from the lands on the East Coast. The Government were also of opinion that friendly natives should be rewarded from the same source. Tettesdav, 13th Sept. THE POVEETV BAT DISTEICT. Mr M'Lean in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to alter the existing boundaries of the Province of Auckland, and to include within the Province of Hawke’s Bay, that portion of the territory of the present Province of Auckland, known as the Poverty Bay District, read tho prayer contained in a petition he had presented to the House the other day. The petitioners alleged that they had been entirely disunited from the capital of the province in which they lived. They alleged that from the necessity of their case, and being separated by mountains from Auckland, they should bo annexed to Hawke’s Bay, and have their capital on the East Coast, to which they could have every access. Tho inhabitants of Poverty Bay were not yet strong enough to ask for complete separation, but they were desirous that their district should form a part of Hawke’s Bay, in order that they might not be compelled to go so far as to Auckland for a redress of [grievances. The natives who had attached their names to the petition urged that they had come to the colony in the same canoe as did the natives of Hawke’s Bay, and they now prayed that the district in which they resided should be annexed to the province of which he (Mr M'Lean ) was Superintendent. These natives had done good service to the country when the East Coast was in such a state as to render it questionable whether it would remain a portion of Her Majesty’s dominions. The hon. member went on to instance the many good services that had been rendered by the chief Morgan and the friendly natives in Poverty Bay, and considered that a petition coming from them should not meet with inattention. (Hear, hear.) He wished to disclaim an y desire for doing that which simply was for purposes of aggrandisement of the Province of Hawke’s Bay, In bringing Hie motion forward, he begged to say that he did ao from [public desire. His proposal was not e large one. Assuming tho Bill were passed, on the part of Hawke’s Bay he would take upon himself the following responsibility. He should hold himself responsible for £IO,OOO, to be given as compensation to friendly natives for tbeir services ; for £IO,OOO to be given in settlement of losses sustained; for £20,000 for the purchase of lands, town and suburban, for the natives; and for £IO,OOO as a part of the Three Million Loan, to be devoted by Auckland to Poverty Bay. All these responsibilities he would assume without coming to the House for any assistance whatever. He hoped bis motion would be received in such a favorable manner as to enable him to bring in the Bill alluded to. The motion being seconded.

The Speakee informed the House that Mr Whitaker’s amendment, as follows;—“ To strike out all the words after “ Bill,” and insert in lieu therefore the words “to divide the Northern Islands of New Zealand into two provinces,” was out of order.

Mr Whitakeb rose to speak on the motion Before the House, and after remarking upon the worthlessness of Maori petitions, proceeded to reply to the arguments used by the hon. member for the annexation of the Poverty Bay district to

Hawke’s Bay. He had urged that the geographical position of the district was an argument in favor of his motion, but he (Mr "Whitaker) would submit that such an argument fell to the ground, because did it follow, geographically speaking, that if Mr Dillon Bell had a house in Auckland, it should not remain the property of that hon. gentleman, but become the property of another ? (Laughter.) All the merchandise that went into the district was sent from AuckJand, and with but one or two exceptions, all the vessels that traded on the coast belonged to that port. Was the House now going to favor a system of allowing the country to be colonised with sheep, instead of men ? for if leave were given to introduce this Bill, and it were passed, its effects would be what he had now just indicated. An imputation had been thrown against Auckland for not having taken any steps towards colonising the Poverty Bay district, but it was itn. possible that she could have done so, because there was no European land included in it, and besides it was decided that new and isolated lands should not be occupied by lona fide settlers, on account of the difficulties that experience had taught them were very likely to arise. If existing boundaries were to be changed, let them bo changed on some clearly defined principle, but to take a piece of one province and put it on another was a procedure which he could mot but characterise as highly objectionable. (Hear hear.) He considered that tho islands should bo divided in this way—that tho South should contain three strong provinces and the North two and by-and-bye they could establish two provincial institutions, and have one province in tha North and one in the South, and if that did not suit they could have one strong General Government. He cautioned the House not to commit itself to a system of splitting up tho country and erecting small municipalities, and concluded by moving the previous question. Mr FxxzGeeald spoke in favor of the motion of the hon. member for Hawke’s Bay, Mr Newman opposed the motion. He said if the boundaries of the province were to be changed, ho would suggest that a new province should be formed, and called Mr M‘Lean’s Province (laughter.) He could well see the object of the introduction of the Bill,- but he trusted the House would pause before it consented to a proposition which would arrest the good and peaceful government of Poverty Bay (hear, hear.) Mr Oemond addressed the House at considerable length in support of this motion.

At half-past five the discussion was adjourned 'till the Orders of the Day were disposed of.