PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 207, 31 August 1881, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 today. Tho report on direct steam comJnnciesiion wag brought up by Mr Macandrew. the Chairman of the Con-, naif fee, end it was ordered to be coneiderer? m September 13th

*t J. B. F-ehfr psve rotice that he wonld sek the Govemmpnt fo point oat the passaeee in Sir J. Vocel'a letter to which fhey took exr-fption, an d io vbich they considered thetraelvee called upon to return (he letter to the writer Mrjor Atkineon hid oo the table (he English Actuaries,' report ou the Government Life Assurance Department, together wi«h the Comroienoner'e report, and FaiJ be would cive natice of a rootion to-morrow, eEftt.lice the scheme for the prcfiia proposed by the Government to be carried out.

Io reply ?o questions put, it was strife! tl at the cost cf erecting and ma?n'a'nin» Native *ehocls was defrayed chiefly out of vote. Provision would not be made in the meantime for the erection of a light at Kaipara Heads, as {here were other works for li^fetins the coast of a more urgent nature to be attended to.

A Bill to give effect to the decieicn of the Native Affairs Committee in the case of ibe Waipepa nativfs respecting the hod on Mr Hardiog'a ruo would be introduced to-morrow.

Mr Reeves a»ked if it wa9 the intention of thp Government to have a light erected ct th? Fretch P«ss.

On M jor A^kins-n obj^ctinf, The Speaker ruled be was importing debatable matter io»o tbe question and coold not b 8 allowed to do bo, whereupon,

Mr Reeves obsn-oned bis question, and reoFed the Brijourcmf-nt of tbe House, continuing hi* remarks until tbe adjournment at 5.30 p.m. The Houee resumed at 7 30, Mr Beeves continued the debate, sperkioe till 9 o'clock. '

Sir G. Grey said (hey stooi at a very great crisia in tho tffairs of the Colony. He wished to say a word on the form of Government they would bave to meet in future. The plea that if a wrong wga dene they could easily pot it ri<?ht in the future was a delusion. Ha referred at coma length to the Legislative Conncil, and ita action in various natters, tnd argued tbet in refusing his Abolition of Onthe Bill, the Upper Ctamber had committed a further outroge on humanity Hank in old times had never acted in a more outrageous macner. He aleo hlsmed them for having rejected bia Law Practitioners' Bill. He contended that those opposing this Biil were making a noble stand against the predjgpoßitg cause to the wrongß he had alluded to, Bnd posterity would bless tfcem for their endeavor. Let the fquetters and the large lsnd owners sey what they liked, the maeeeß would blees them acd eirjg their prcises. If the power vrss handed over to a few families as wr.e propos? d in the Middle Itlacd, then God hdp the population as a whole. If thn pian was ptrsiatd id, woe bende the people of the North Island. He eskfd those tbet had a!" ways sfood with him to rally once more and say that this irjusdee ebonld not be done. He believed the newa of the •traggle being made by this sturdy b?nd would *presd tbtougVout New Zealand, end although their efforts were now being eolaiy received, a tide of lympathy end support would yet set io in their favor. He counselled that irasly band not to be discouraged beCfeUee they addressed empty benches — not io be discouraged because representatives preferred the fascinations of the concer-hall and dance-room to the Parliament aa it now stood. Their noble endeavors would reocb beyond these men. They would reach the ears of the thousands who were thus threatened with wrong, and they would yet be roused to aid ihern in their selfdenying efforts. It *»as but a thin house to epe&k to, end the numbers were but smell to etk to come and assist; still be thought the tbirg night be done. Let them riso then as one man and demand their rights — demand their liberties. Let them Dot lay the flattering unction to their souls tlat ii they gained a present advantage, they would be able io redress wrongs done. He invited the noble band who had fought so bard to continue the good fight. Let there be cow a solid determination to walk firmly aloDg the path of duty. Great wrODgs hod besn done in tie pact. It was a pleasnet thing to have power to people the land with Eheep, and drive off toman iou!e; but the responsibility wss dreadful to contemplate. It was misery where there might be abundance — poverty where there mipbt be riches. Let them rise. The ctnee wbb worthy of the tffort. It was the cause of Justice md Truth!