NEW ZEALAND. IMPORTANT DEBATE.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 197, 19 April 1848, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND. IMPORTANT DEBATE.

House of Commons, Ducember 13. Mr. Lnboucbere rose, in pursuance of notice, to aslt permission of the house to irmoduce a biil for tne purpose of suspending some of the most important provisions of the Act which was passed las>t year lor the government of the colony of New Zealand. He would scale the reasons which induced the Government to consider it their duty to recommend tbis course, and he would a'so mention what were the main provisions of the measure he now proposed for the local government of New Zealand. Those who had paid attention to the aftdim or tins important colony would recollect that in 1846, there was a gereral concuuence of opinion that it was exceedingly desirable to institute a constitutional Government in New Zealand. Petitions wtre presented to the house from the colony itself ; the New Zealand Company, which possessed a great stake iv the colony, and almost all the leading statesmen of the country, expressed a des're that as soon as conveniently might be a beginning should be made to introduce a representative Government into the colony of New Zealand. This was the 6tate of things when the pieseiit advisers of the Crown came into office. His noble friend who held the seals of the Colonial Dcpaitment (Earl Grey) immediately applied himself to the consideration of this impottant subject. I believe 1 am correct m stating that he found on record, in hii office, a determination of the Government preceding Ins to devise borne measuie of this desriiption ; at any rate he thought it his duty to mature the best scheme he tould for the object it wub so unanimously desired to obtain . and the result was, the Bill of last session. That bill was passed almost unanimously both in this and the other hoube of Parliament, and by the bill Her Majesty was empowered to grant a charter and issue instructions, which were to regulate the future constitutional government of New Zealnml, The main provisions of the Act of 1846, and of the instructions issued under it, were to the fo'lowinff effect :— The colony of New Zealand was to be divided into two provinces, nameiy, New Ulster and New Munster, and power was given to the Governor in Council to establish a municipal body in all those places where a considerable number of English colonists were assembled. Uheue municipal bodies were to form the foundation and nucleus of a system of representative Government which it was consideied desirable to rear upon them. There were to be two Legislatures, one for each of the two provinces, and the munic'pal bodies were to elect the representatives constituting those Legislatures. There was also to be a general assembly of both provinces to be elected by the two provincial assemblies, and which general assembly was to take into consideration certain subjects in which t c joint interests of both provinces was involved. This was the general plan proposed by the Act of 184 G. He ought to mention that one very important difficulty with legard to those municipal in&titutions was fiom the beginning anticipated, namely, that of reconciling the inhabitants of New Zealand to regulations so entirely contrary to their habits and cubioms. It was, therefore, proposed to settle this point in the following manner : — that these municipal institutions were only to be established in those parts of New Zealand in which there resided a considerable number of white people. There would still remain a veiy great tract of country occupied almost wholly by the aboriginal inhabitants of the island. It was not proposed to bring that portion of the island altogether and immediately withm the scope and pale of these municipal institutions. It was theiefore provided, that every respect should be shown to the laws, customs, and habits of the aboriginal inhabitants of those portions ot the island where municipal institutions were established, and adequate security made that the representative system sanctioned by the law should not interfere with the aboiigmal people. • This was the outline of the scheme proposed for the government of New Zealand. The reasons which induce' 1 . Her Majesty's Government to propose to suspend the operation of this constitution were contained in a despatch which had been received from the Governor of New Zealand, upon the best consideration that he had been able to give to the plan proposed by the Government. The opinion of Governor Grey must have considerable weight with everybody acquainted with the affairs of that island. It had had the greatest weight with Her Majeity's Govern ment,and the consequence had been that finding he entertained the gravest objection against carrying into effect this new constitution, and aUo finding that persons of great ability and intelligence residing on the spot, supported the views of Governor Grey, Her Mtjesiy'a Government had determined to propose suspending the provisions of the Act. There was one satisfaction at least in difficulties experienced in the government of this island, and that wag, the objection of Governor Grey Ito the establishing of the constitution devised by the Act of last year rested chiefly upon the peculiar character of the aboriginal inhabitants themselves ; and the remarkable description he gave of their knowledge, acquirements, and intelligence. It was quite tue (said Governor Giey) that you had attempted to protect the aboriginal inhabitants from injustice being done them by an English niinoiity, but you have still left to the English minority the power ot a legislative assembly, and the li^ht of imposing duties. Those duties (said Governoi Gtcy) would be mainly paid by the aboiigmal islanders ; and then lie described the isMniierb as bein^ possessed of much property, of periectly understanding the nature of property, and of having sum lent intelligence immediately to perceive that any duty thus levied would in reality mainly be paid by them. This would lead to tumult, especially in the northern division of the island, and therefore 1 lie entertained a strong objection to the immediate

introduction of representative institutions into t ue colony. The expressions of Governor Grey were »° forcibly and so clearly put, that perhaps the house would allow him to read them :—": — " By the introduction (said Governor Grpj) of the proposed constitution into the provinces of New Zealand, Her Majesty's ministers would not confer, as it was intended, upon her subjects the blessings of solf-govcrnment, but would be giving power to a small minority. She would not be giving to her subjects the right to manage their affairs as they miglit think proper, but would be giving to a small minority a power to laise tuxes from the great majority. There was no reason to think (continued G)vcmor Grey) that the mnjoiity of the aboriginal inhabitants would be satisfied with the rule, or the minority ; while tlu'rc were mmy reasons for believing that they would resist to the uttermost. They were a people of strong natural sense and ability, but by nature jealous and suspicious. Many of them were owners of vessels, horses, and cattle, and had considerable sums ol money at their disposal, and ihertf was no people he was acquainted with less likely to sit down quietly under wnat they might legaid as an injustice." (Hear, hear). There was at least this satisfaction, on leading the account of Governor Grey, that the house must be convinced that the aboriginal population of New Zealand were a people extremely deserving of the greatest care and attention, both of that house and the Government of the country (bear, hear), and who, if tieated with consideiation, justice, policy, and humanity, it miglit be hoped would form an exception from what he regretted to say had been the manifest and undeviating fate of those savage nations which had came into contact with their civil zed fellow men. He hoped the people ot New Zealand would form an eu option to that rule, and that by fair treatment they might gradually become accu tomed to us in habits and constitutional piactices, be amilgamated with the English nation, as a people of one race, and be capable of enjoying the advantages of a British constitution, British religion, and Biitish liberty. His noble fiiend at the head of ihe Colonial Office, in conjunction with the other member'! of Her Majesty's Government, upon receiving the despatch of Governor Giey, containing so decided and so strong an opinion on the subject of these institutions being established in New Zealand, supported aa that opinion was by such varied and weighty arguments, did not hesitate as to the course they should recommend to the house. They thought it would be the height of rashness, in contradiction to an opinion thus suppoited. to attempt to force new institutions upon the colony of New Zealand, whiih, however valuable they might be in themselves, and as he (Mr. Labouchere) trusted would prove when intro duced with discretion, at a proper period, would, if established without due consideration and deliberation be most prejudicial to its ultimate pi ospeuty. Earl Grey, therefore, did not hesitate to call upon Parliament toauspend the operation of the piovisionsof the Bill of last year ; but when he said suspend the operation of ths Act, he ought to obierve that it was only a portion of the Act that he should propose to suspend ; for there were some very important provisions which it was advisable should be carried into effect as speedily as possible. He considered that it would be perfectly sale to give to the iuhabitantsof New Zealand mu" nicipal institutions for local purposes : and, therefore, while it was proposed to suspend some portions of the Act, it was intended to leave in operation those part* of the Act which related to municipal institutions, some alteration being made, however, as to the qualification of voteis. The present qualification of voters for members of the municipal institutions was the possession of a house, and the ability to read and write the English language. It was certainly supposed, at the tune the Act of Parliament was passed, that very fev7 ot the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand resided in the districts in which municipal institutes would be established ; but this opinion did not appear to have been formed on valid grounds ; and he thought it would be extremely improper to exclude the aborigines from the advantage of the proposed municipal institutions. He hoped, indeed, that those institutions might be made the means of preparing the aboriginal inhab tants ot Neir Zealand or the full enjoyment of constitutional lights. Theaborigina inhabitants could very generally lead and write their own language, but they were se'dom able to read or write English ; and there were also in the colony many natives of France and Germany, who, though they were men of properly and education, did not possess much acquaintance with the English language. It was therefoie proposed so far to modify the qualification as to enable the Governor to give to respectable persons, whether foreigners or aboiiginal inhabitants, residing within the limits of the several municipal districts, certificates which would confer upon them the qualification to vote. The Bill he was now asking leave to introduce would suspend lor the period ot five years so much of the furmer Act, of the letters patent, and of the instructions founded upon the Act, as related to the Legislative Assembly. The Bill would revive, during the period of such suspension, the old Legislative Council of 1840 ; but it would also give the Governor the power of adding to the number of that Council. Ihe Legis* lative Council thus constituted, together with the Governor, were to have the power ot constituting legislative assemblies for each of the two provinces of New Ulster and New Munster, in such manner as might be be thought most expedient, either by directly nominating the members, or by authorizing an election. This was the nature of the meahure he had now to propose, and the house would perceive that it conferred * very large discretion upon the Governor of New Zealand. He (Mr. Labouchere) believed, however, that in the present circumstances of the colony this was the salest and wisest course the Government could pursue. He need scarcely say that it was necessary to exercise the greatest caution in applying general principles to the case of^a people in the position of the New Z3alanders—a people among whom there was a comparatively small number of Biitish settlers, but a people who were intelligent and warlike, and who had been recently emerged from the habits of barbarous life, and from the misfortunes of civil discord. He believed the wisest and best plan the home could pursue would be to adopt lome very simple scheme, such at that which he now proposed, as a temporary measure, leaving to the Governor ot New Zealand and his council a very large discretion as to the course they might think it expedient to adopt. He (Mr. Labouchere) did not consider that it was necessary for him to detain the house any length on this subject; but he might observe that those gentlemen who consulted the documents which had been layed upon the table would find in them a complete and circumstantial narrative, on the part of Goveroor Grey, of the circumstances which had induced him to apprehend that unfortunate results might follow from immediately biinging the charter into operation in the colony. He would only tdd that it was not quite clear, from Governor Grey'a dispatches, what course he had pursued. He (Mr. Labouchere) thought it was evident, thatin the northern pTovince of New Zealand (New Ulster), where Governor Grey seemed to think that the immediate promulgation gf the charter was inexpedient, he

(Governor Grey) hid taken upon himself the responsibility of not promulgating it ; while it was probable that in New Munster, where similar difficulties did not exist, measures might hare been taken to carry the charter into effect. Her Majesty's Government hnd considered, however, that greater evils wonld result from establishing these institutions in one part of New Zealand, ami leaving them in abeyance in another than would follow from the postponement for a time of their introduction. He (Mr. Labouuhcre) thought it was most advisable that the Governor of New Zealand should b", apprised at speedily a* possible the intentions of the house; ard he had no doubt they might safely leave to the judgement and disrretion of the gentleman who now held that appointment the task of dealing with the existing state of thine. He must obseive that it was manifest that, under the wise and tempei ate administration of Governor Grey, very great alterations for the better had been made in the colony ; tr<uiqmiity had been restored ; good feeling and Inrmony hid been revived between different classes of Her M ijehty's subjects ; the revenue was improving ; and he trusted they might look forward to the period when the colony of New Zealind vrould become one of the m >st valuable and useful possessions of the Biitisli Grown. (Hoar, hear ) The right honourable gentleman concluded by moving foijleaye to bring in a bill to suspend, for a limited time, the operation of part of the Act for making further provisions iot the £oTernraent of the New Zealand islands. The question having been put, Mr. W. E. GlaJstone observed, that he entirftly agreed with many of the observation* which had fallen from the right hon. gentleman, and he (Mr, Gladstone) was more especially ready to re-echo the expressions which had been used by the right honourable member with respect to the character and conduct of Governor Grey. He had been glad to hear the terms in whub the right honourable gentleman had spoken of the ! native inhabitants of New Zealand ; because he did not think, that on all occasions, there had been an equal disposition to recognize the great capabilities and no-> ble qualities of the aboriginal race. He considered that they had, in the case of the islands of New Zealand—with, perhaps, the single exception of their West India LLinJs — the most interesting and hopeful instance of juxtaposition between European civilization and aboriginal races which the world could present ; and he believed that if the house would exhibit towards the New Zealanders that paternal care and tenderness which it was there bounded duty to extend to them, they might witness a satisfactoiy, a peaceful, and a glorious issue to the Christian, philanthropic, and onlighteued labour which had been bestowed upon the c >'ony. (Hear, hsar ( ) The right honourable'gentleman (Mr. Labauchere) had stated that the late Government hdd left upon record proofs of their desire to grant frpe and representative institutions to New Zealand. The otatcmen 1 ; was perfectly trua ; but there had undoubtedly been a difference of opinion between the late and the present Governments as to the most speedy and effectual method of realizing that great object. It was the opinion of the late Government that the be&t mode of attaining that end was to incur, in tiie first instance, the delay of a reference to Governor Grey. When he (Mr. Gladstone) had the honour of holding the seals of the Colonial Office, the Government with whom he acted believed that any steps which would have the effect of binding the hands of Governor Grey, or of committing the authority of the Government or of Parliament to the particular form of the institutions to be adopted in New Zealand, would be ill advised, and would be likely ultimately to lead to the loss of time which such measures were intended, in the first instance, to avoid. He (Mr. Gladstone) readily gave the noble earl at the head of the Colonial department the greatest credit, not only for the motives by which he had beeajgoverned, butjfor the zeal and energy with which he had proceeded in the execution of this portion of his duties ; but he must say that he thought the noble earl's zeal had in tins particular instance a little outrun his discretion, and that he would have more effectually consulted the dignity of. the Crown and the welfare of New Zeiland, if he had been content to refer to Governor Grey, and to obtain his deliberate judgement on the subject, rather than to anticipate what that judgement might be, and tend out instructions which, however ingeniously devised and plainly expressed, were almost certain to be ill suited to the actual circumstances of the movement in New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) With regard to this Bill, he (Mr. Glad9ione)considered that the right honourable gemlemen by whom ithad been brought f irward, had nude out a good case ; but, at the same time, hs must say that some of the provisions of the measure appeared to be of a peculiar nature. He did not make this observation with a view of impeaching the wisdom of the measure ; but he thought it was a reason for abstaining from any detailed discussion of the provisions of the Bill until they had had an opportunity of giving it mature consideration. As far as he (Mr. Gladstone) understood the statement of the right hon. gentleman, his~ proposal almost amounted to placing the whole discretionary power with respect to representative institutions in the hands of the Governor ; that certainly was, on the one hand, a very extraordinary demand ; but on the other hand, he (Mr. G.adstone) was free to say that, according to his judgement, there never was a man in whose hands extraordinary powers could be more safely paced than in those of the present Governor of New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Gladstone) considered that everything that could be done upon the strength of confidence in an individual, and m deference to the principle of allowing local knowledge and experience to prevail over •peculations formed at a vaßt distance, ought to be done With respect to the Bill about to be laid upon the table. He would not on this occasion enter further !nto a discussion of the Bill ; bnt he begged to say a few words on a portion of the subject which had been, referred to by Earl Grey in his despatches, he alluded to the disposal of public lands in New Zealand. At the commencement of ihe present session he (Mr. Gladstone) inquired whether it was the intention of ths Government to lay upon the table the an-* swer of Governor Grey to the despatch of Earl Grey, dated 23rd December, 184G, and particularly that portion of thrs answer which related to the disposal of public landi. He also asked whether the reply of Earl Grey to that answer would be presented to the house. la the papers which had been delivered that morning, he found Ihe acknowledgmenk by Governor Grey of the arrival of Earl GGreysy v s despatch, and also a second despatch of the same date from Govenor Grey referring to a protest of the Bishop of Nsw Zealand ; but he did Hot find any despatch referring to that portion of Earl Grey's despatch which related to the disposal of public lands. He concluded, however, that if such a despatch had arrived |it would speedily be laid upon the table, and that if it had not arrived they would not have long to wait for it : but in the absence of the important information which he was anxious to obtain from the document to which he referred, he should occupy the time of the house unprofitably if he entered upon a discussion of this subject. The dei patch of Earl Grey, which closed the papers that had to day been laid on the table, referred to the protest of the Bishop of New Zealand, dated Ist of July, 1847, in which the bishop, assuming and believing that Earl Grey's despatch on the disposal of public lands asser-

ted doctrines at variance with the treaty of Waitangai. deemed ft \\{s duty to protect against such doctrines, and stated that he would think it proper to instruct the people committed to his charge in the rights which they had acquired ai British subjects under that treaty. Of course the merits of that protest depended essentially on the main question whether EarlGrvy's despatch really at variance with the treaty of Waitnngai—a question which at that time he (Mr. Gladstone) could not discuss. But, passing by that question for a moment, he must my he hoped ihehou»e Mould recollect the peculiar position in which the bishop stood with respect to the enforcement of that treaty. He (Mr. Gladstone) confessed that at first sight a protest like this, with regard to a civil matter, had much the aspect of a gratuitous and wanton interference on the part of a spiritual person (criei of hear, hear) with civif and political affairs ; but any attention to the couise of events must convince honourable gentlemen that there was no ground for such a charge in this caie. (Cheers ) He (Mr. Gladstone) would also presume to say that the slightest knowledge of the character of the Bishop of New Zealand would convince any gentleman that there was no person less disposed to mix in such matters, or more entirely and ardently and exclusively devoted to the duties of hfr sacred calling. (Hear, hear.) Nay, he (Mr. Gladstone) would even say that the Bishop of New Zealand had a shrinking aversion to polit cal affairs, and that he was most anxious to draw clearly and broadly the line of demarcation between his office and the functions of the civil magistrates. Bat in tins parti culai instance the clergy were the chosen instalments of the Government for contacting the treaty of Waitanga and establishing the Government of the Queen. The treaty was made known to the natives through the medium of the clergy, to whom its construction was in a great degree committed ; and it therefore became the duty of the clergy, and of the bishop, as their head, to see that public faith as conveyed through them, was carefully guarded and kept strictly inviolate. On the ground, therefore, of maintaining and viudicating the p'cdges given by the clergy to the native population, and not from any general disposition to interfere in civil matters, the bishop had found it necessary to make himself a piity to.what lie (Mr Gladstone) believed he would otherwise have gladly avoided. He (Mr- Gladstone) had not anticipated that in that house this prima facie objection to the proceeding of the bishop would be taken by any one acquainted with the affair. There was, however, in the despatch of Earl Grey one assumption which he thought was important on the one hand, as it was clearly erroneous on the other. The noble earl said that he did not for a moment douht the sincerity of the assertions made by the bishop, but he (EarJ Grey) feared it was impossible that language such as that of the protest could he announced to a people who had so lately emerged from habits of the most savage barbarism, without producing very serious consequenses. He (Mr. Gladstone) confessed that he would have been disposed to agree in opinion with the noble eail, if tills document had been addressed by the bishop to the natives ; but he did not find in the protest any indication that it was intended for the cognizance of the natives. Although he knew nothing at the existence of the protest until that day, he could not believe that it had been intended to be made public in the colony, and he must continue to believe so in the absence of all direct information to the contrary. It was perfectly consistent with all the known circumstances to suppose that the bishop had addressed the protest to Her Majesty's representative at the head of the civil Government, as a peison for whom he had th c utmost jespect, in whom he placed confidence, and whose authoiity he was desirous in every way to suppoit, and to whom bethought it his duty to give the first notice of the appearance of any circumstances which seemed likely to divide the duties of the bishopric from the duties of the Government. If that should prove to be the ease, be apprehended that the bishop would not bo open to the charge of having addressed language which was likely to operate on the feelings of a native race of excitable temperament under the circumstances which Lord Gvey assumed. Perhaps the right honourable geetleman, when he should answer the inquiry which lie (Mr. Gladstone) had made, relative to the despatch of Governor Grey with respect to public lands, would also state whether the Government was in possession of any information which showed that the protest was publish* cd by the bishop in the colony, or whether —for anything the Government knew to the contrary — he might not be right in presuming that the protest was only a communication addressed to the Governor himself by the Bishop, in which the latter expressed his strong and conscientious feeling on what he deemed the breach of a solemn treaty between her Majesty and the native chiefs ? If the despatch of Lord Grey could be reconciled with the treaty of Waitangi — if it were conceived in the spirit of that treaty, it was an unfortunate circumstance that the despatch should have been misapprehended bv an in. dividual possessing such weight — derived both, from Ins own personal character and the sacred office which lie filled — as the Bishop. All who were acquainted -with the characler of the Bishop must be aware that he was not less distinguished for the sobriety of his disposition than for the prudence and practical bearing of every step he took, as well as for his ardent enthusiasm in the discharge of the duties of his calliug. (Hear, hear, hear). Nothing could be more improbable than that the bishop should have gratuitously addressed to the native population, language which, he (Mr. G.) must admit, it would be most unwise to use in appealing to them. He earnestly hoped that, for the sake of the bishop himself, anil for the sake of the individual charged with the responsibi ity of maintaining the peace of the colony and the authority of the Crown, the supposition on which Lord Cirey had proceeded with respect to the protest would piove to be erroneous. (Hear, hear). The right honorable gentleman concluded with expressing a deiire that the introduction of the Bill would meet with general assent, and that after the recess it would obtain fiom the house a degree af consideration proportionate to iv importance. (Hear, hear). Mr. Y. Smith said, that he listened with sorrow to the speech of the right honorable gentleman who proposed to introduce this Bill ; because he had hoped, that after all that had been done with respect to New Zealand, the colony would at last be allowed a little repose. He concurred with the rght honorable gentleman in looking upon New Zealand as being the colony most congenial in feeling and interest to the mother country of any we possessed. It resembled Eugland in soil and climate, and the aborigines possessed much of the energy, enterprise, and intelligence, which distinguished the Saxon race. These circumstances gave the colony a peculiar interest in the eyes of the people of this country. He suggested that when they were about to suspend the political constitution of the colony, it would be as well to suspend its territorial constitution also. There was no person to whom he would be more disposed to intrust ample diicretion than Governor Grey, and be hoped that henceforth the Government would endeavour to select colonial governors like him, who owed his advancement to no party feeling or family con* actions. It was, to admitted; difficult to determine

beforehand what man would make a good colonial governor, for, however well-fi'ted for the office an individual might appear to the authorities at the Colonial Office, it not unfreqnently happened that when he established himself in his colonial government, the parading of troops, beating of drnms, and salvos of artillery, turned his head. (A laugh ) Another point to which he wished to call the attention of the Government wai, the necessity of not crippling too much the power of the Governor in the colonies. Th« right honorable gentleman who had just sat down had made I a very elaborate defence of the Bishop of New Zealand. He (Mr. Y. Smith) entertained great respect for the character of that ri^lit rev. gentleman ; lm if he were to judge of him only by this protest, he must «ay that he was the most agitating bishop he had ever seen. Hon. members had that morning seen evidence of what agitating bishops could do (Hear hear, and a lau,h) ; but this right rev. gentleman went fuither than any of them. He said, in reference to the doctiine propounded by Eirl Grey in his despatch— •' Against this doctrine I am called on to protest as the head oi the missionary body ;" It wonld be observed, that he did not say — "as the head of the clergy of New Zealand," but "as the head of the missionary j body ;" and he (Mr. Y. Smith) could not help recollecting how often the zeal of the missionaries in New Zealand had overstepped their discretion, and injured the cause and retarded the prosperity of the colony. The bishop also said in his piotest — ''It is my duty, and lam determined, God being my helper, to inform the natives of their rights and privileges." Jt was evident, therelore, that the bishop intended to agitate on the subject, and he (Mr. Y. Smith) thought thai; the phrase " God being my helper," was one of the strongest expressions which he ever recollected to have been used by a bishop when speaking of civil and political rights. He could not help thinkinc that the right rev. gentleman would be more likely to impede than to assist Governor Gieyin New Zealand, and he trusted his right lion, friend would not be scrupulous in entrusting Governor Grey with ample powers, and that he would also be very careful how he fettered his diicietion, by obliging him to consult others in the colony. Mr. R. Palmer said, that though he was a member who had but lately entered the House, it was impossible for him to sit in any assembly of Englishmen where, humble as he was, he had to represent important interests, and silently hear assailed a man whose virtues and abilities he believed to be of the highest order that ever honored the character of a Christian bishop (hear) : a man who had done not merely to the advancement of the religion of that church which it was his duty to maintain and uphold, but aUo of those political institutions which were the subject of the deliberations of the house, more genuine service thaa had been done, or could be done, by any body in New Zealand— services wh.ch he (Mr. Palmer) knew would be appreciated hereafter in this country, and which were now understood and appreciated in the country which was the subject of debate. (Cheers.) He had heard with great satisfaction the whole, he might say, of the spetch of the right honorable gentleman the President of the Board oi Trade ; but most particulaily that of it which referred to fhe native aboriginal population of New Zealand, beciuse he had shared that feeling wh cli he was sure all students of modern history mu«t have entertained, with reference to the events which had attended the march of civilization. The conduct of Spain towards the natives of ths countries which she overran was marked by bloodshed, cruelty, and rapine; she li.mipled upon them, treated them with utter contempt, di-pestssed them of their land, made thiir persons her property, and finally exterminated them from the face of the earth. He believed he might say that though this country had Borne crimes of this nature to answer for, we had less than many other nations; and certainly when we come to New Zealand, our coming there was not an alarming circumstancejjfor the friends of humanity to contemplate. Those missionaries who had been spoken of, and of whom he should have a word to say by and by, long before any pretens'ons to the territory of New Zealand had bi'en made on the pait of the British Crown, had left all they valued in the world to carry knowledge, vh cue, and civilisation, among a people, to go among whom was to encounter persecutions scarcely lesi serious than those wlnchthe early Christians had to enduie. They were the pioneers of cvilization ; they taught these people to know something of a higher life, beyond this world, and in it too (hear, hear) ; they laid the foundation on which a promising superstructure had since been raised ; and it was to them we owed this great fact, that Ministers were enabled to come forward and say that there was a just ground for hoping that the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand might be incorporated as British subjects, and admitted to participate in the benefits of our political institutions If the natives were found to be intelligent, possessed of cultivated minds, aud imbued with the principles of religion, all this wai owing to the miSbionarie"!, tvho had been spoken of with so little respect. It might be there were some in whom zeal had outrun discretion— not that he should accept as conclusive the dictum of every honorable gentleman who spoke on the subject, because the honorable gentleman and the missionaries might be impressed by different ideas. The missionary looked beyond the present ; he had higher principles, higher objects in view. Even then, if he did express himself too vrarmly, he (Mr. Palmer) was persuaded that it would be far more for the interests of the colony that the voice of the missionary should be lifted up ft r the instruc ion of the natives, because he knew m what way the moral feelings of the natives were touched. Not only did we hear from the missionaries the most satisfactory testimony to the qualities of the native race, but even the history of the collisions which had takcu place afforded, he would venture to say, corroborative evidence of what noble materials these people were made. Even their rebellion, though it might be a question how far that term could be applied in all its strictness to their proceadings, was conducted in the most humane manner, and in accordance with the spirit of civilized warfare. They acted in the rebellion as well as men could do who were rebels. He had detained the house too long (cheers) ; but he wished to say one word with respect to the protest of the Bishop of New Zealand. The Bishop of New Zealand thought, and he (Mr. Palmer) confessed that, on reading Earl Grey's despatch, he thought also, that the despatch was intended | to inculcate a certain principle in dealing with all questions that could arise with respect to the title of the natives to the land. As he read the despatch, it amounted to this : — " You have recognized certain territorial rights in the natives already ; do not go i beyond that; and take this piinciple as your guide in futu.-e, that they have no territorial rights at all." | Now, it should be recollected that the missionaries and the bishop ot New Zealand were the persons through whom the Government of this country had dealt with the natives. The mirtionaries carried on ; the negotiations ; they understood the sense in which the natives understood the transaction with them ; and could it be otherwise than the duty of these men to P'Ofl3t, in the most public and emphatic manner, artist am act which appeared to them to be, not a

mere abstract enunciation of a formal principle, but one which practically altered the whole course of our policy on questions connected with the possession of land, and which was directly opposed to those prinriples which the bishop and the natives understood to be the basis of the tiejty? With regard to the language of the protest, he thought that it had been somewhat misunderstood. All that the bishop said was that he would, in a manner consistent with the dignity of his station, by all the lawful means in bis power, teach the natives in whut way they should exercise their undoubted rights and privileges. All depended upon the way in which the bishop acedupon that announcement, wh'ch was not made public to ths natives. It seemed to him (Mr. Palmei) that the bh-hop had done no mow than state, very clearly and plainly, what was the course which he should pursue, and that his lan^Ußge did not tend in the slightest degree to agitation or disturbance. He (Mr. P.) knew, and every body who wos acquainted with the Bishop of New Zealand, knew also, that the words witli which he had accompanied the declaration of his intentions were not mere words of hollow qualification in his mouth. He would speak strongly to the Governor, by whom, if he were open to censure, he would be censured ; and to the natives, if he s iid that he would speak as a bishop ought to speak, he (Mr. Palmer) ki.ew he would do so, and that he had done so, he (Mr. Palmer) was as firmly convinced as auy one could be. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Hume considered the reisons assigned by Governor Grey m> clear and satisfactory, that hs entirely concurred in the motion. lie confessed that he, for one, deeply regretted what appeared to have been the conduct of the bishop of New Zealand. He a!s i regretted to hc.ir the speech of the honorable gentleman , who had just sat down ; for, allowing everything which the houoiable gentleman had said of tliat bishop to be perfectly trie, still he (Mr. Hume), when lhat bishop was sent to New Zealand, could only judge of him by his conduct there. Of all the documents connected with the colonies, he could find none in which there was such a manifestation as in those connected with New Zealand, of any bishop or clergyman so standing up and bearding the Government, and declaring that he would dispute the oiders, not merely of the Governor, but of the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department. (Hear, hear). What did the Bishop find fault with ? Lord Grey, witli a view very probably to close the disputes conuected with land, which placed the colony of New Zealand in an unsatisfactory state, endeavoured to point out to the governor what ought to to be the piinciple in reference to that subject; and one of these rules was, that the savages in New Zealand were to have no right to the land which was unoccupied or unsubdued for the purposes of cultivation. The BMiop referred to this as a doctrine which he was determined to resist ; and he was prepared to teach the inhabitants ot New Zealand that they had a right to all the land in the colony, and that any attempt to displace them was a violation of their righti. That was the way, he (Mr. Hume) construed the language of the Bishop. He therefore, considered, that this document, pioceeding from the Bishop, only showed that that venerable prelate, who was described as being so amiable until he left this country, must hnve had Lib head turned the moment he landed in New Zealand by the salvoes of artillery which announced his lauding there. (Hear, and laughter.) Yet this was an individual whom the people of England were paying— ;£Goo was the amount of the salary charged in the last estimates. When the Bishop was> sent out, he (Mr. Hume) objected to any expense and he would now ask were they to pay a man to become a firebrand in the colony ? If the Bishop differed from the Secretary of State, wai it becoming in him, being next in rank to the Governor, to take on himselt to proclaim to the inhabitants that the authorities at home were exercising arbitrary and unjust authority? (Hear.) After reading the papers laid before Parliament, he (Mr Hume) came to the conclusion that it was the duty of the Government to remove the Bishop to a better climate, and a more favourable station. At any late, that house could stop his salaiy at once. (Hear, and a laugh.) The house had been told that these missionaries had taught the people of New Zealand Christianity ; that they had reformed the cannibal liubits and barbarous usages of the natives ; and that it was through them that the colony had been brought to peace. The hon. member who last spoke had told the house that these missionaries bad sacrificed everything to promote the cause they professed. And ye:, he (Mr. Hume; asked what had been the result ? If he recollected aright, the Church Missionary Society and other bodies from whom they received moDey, had written out to these missionaries to say that they were forgetting their mission. They represented that they had not sent them nut to become great proprietors of large estates and jobbers in land, but to be the propagators of Christianity. It did not appear however, that thcia missionaries had exercised the virtues of self denial, because they had absorbed 96,600 acres of land, holding out to the natives that because of their sacred calling they were privileged to buy land, but inducing the natives to resist every other person doing so. (Hear, hear). So that the authorities at home were obliged to send out positive orders that they should not proceed in a way which was disgraceful to their calling- One missionary of the name of Williams wai mentioned to be in possession of 30,000 or 40,000 acrei. He (Mr. Hume) considered it to be a great misfortune that the colony from the first had been in the hands of these intriguing missionaries. From them had proceeded the distrust and hatred of the British Government, and the unfortunate collision which had taken place. On this ground he was sorry to hear any one commending men who hud caused such results, and he also regretted that any language should have been held to the effect that the ecclesiastical power should be predominant in the colony of New Zealand. If that were to be the case, where wero { they to end ? He had always been accustomed to regard the ecclesiastical power as subordinate and obedient to the civil power. Were they now to have a Bishop and his clergy bearding the Governor of a colony ? (Hear, hear.) He hoped the Government would make Governor Grey dictator until he was free from such meddling and dangerous interference. And he also hoped thot this would be a lesson to the present ' Secretary of State for the Colonies not to send out more bishops. (Hear, hear.) He, (Mr. Hume) was not sorry that the government had got a lesson on this point, and he hoped it would teach them to be more prudent in future. Mr. Cardwell said, that the present bill was one step proposed to be taken in respect to that difficult problem which they were endeavouring to solve — the government of New Zealand. He hoped that 1 1 would not be made the occasion of manifesi ing any other spirit or feeling except a sincere desire on ail parts to promote to desirable an object, though at present it must in candour it must he admitted, that their progiess towards the desired end was not yery great. As far as he could co L>ct from the statement of the right hon. gentleman, they were now called on to cancel most of what they had done in reference to New Zealand! with ih" exception pf. the jnwnicipal institutions, and lo

make also soire alterations in those municipal institutions, in respoct to the exercise of the privileges. (No !) He said, yes : for if the Governor were to have the power to give a certificate, constituting the qualifica ion of the elector, that was an important alterationHe only lefei icrl to tins matter for the purpose of shewing how difficult was tlis experiment they were making, in applying the constitutional iorms of •Europe to the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zsaland. In solving this problem hz hoped that the government would not be guided by the advice of Ihi* hon. member for Montrose. He (Mr. Caflwoll) mutt siy, 'hat if the learned and most estimable pi elate ot New Zealand, forming an opinior. for himself on a matter in respect to which he believed he had contacted a solemn responsibility, were not to be allowed to address to the constituted authorities, and to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, his firm and slodfast remonstrance, then constitutional liberty and fiesdoro of discussion must be considered at an end in New Zealand. (Hear). Me would not consent to the abolition of constitutional liberty and populir discussion ; and whether it should turn out that the Bishop of New Z aland was right or wrong in his opinion, and which they would know more about when they came to a deliberate discussion of this matter, he said it was intolerable to hear in the House of Commons a man called a turbulent piiest, and such, otlur terms as the hon. member for Montrose had used, because in firm language, he had addressed a remonstrance to the Secietary of Slate through the Governor of New Zealand. Mr. Hume said lie had net used the terms mentioned by the hon. gentleman. Mr. Cardwell was sorry if he had mistaken the effect of the honoiable gentleman's obseiv rf tious. Mr. Hume — But I have no objection to calling the Bishop a tuibulent piiebt. (A, laugh). Mr. Cardwell continued — Then he was in the judgement of the house ; and those who heard the honorable gentleman would form for themselves an opinion whether the language the honorable gentleman had applied to the Bishop of New Zealand whs such as was justifiable in its application to a person making a firm remonstrance through th* 1 constituted authorities to the responsible Government of New Zenland, The hon. gentleman said he did not know much about the Bishop, and thought that his having landed in New Zealand under a salute of guns» had turned his head. lie was exceedingly sorry for the honorable gentleman, for if he had read the despatches that had been laid on the table of that home, with respect to the conduct of the Bishop when he was amid the sound of artillery, when lie was amid the din and smoke, not of & salute, but of actual battle, and had found that the dangers he then saw did not turn his head, or discourage him from being in the thickest of the danger, and rendering to the sufferers that assistance which became bis situation, he thought the honorable gentleman would be of. opinion that the head of the Bishop was not easilyturned by the sound of a salute. (Hear, hear.) There the honorable gentleman expressed his hope that, at all events, the salary of the Bishop would be stopped— and pursuing his idiosyncracy, he recollected that in the last miscellaneous estimates there was an entry of X J 6t)O for the salary of the Bishop. He had not the honor of being in the confidence of the Bishop, with, respect to his salary, but he did know his character ; and he ventured to tell the honorable gentleman, that if there was a living man upon whom the fear of losing a s ipendof .£6OO a-year, allowed to him by that house, would be utterly inoperative to deter him from what he believed to be his duty, that man was the Bishop of New Zealand. (Hear.) He had been diawn into these observations because he thought it was intolerable that language of such a nature as they had heard that evening, should be addressed to a person of great respectability and eminence, for what he believed to be in the discharge of his duty. (Hear, bear.) He had purposely ibreborne to enter upon the question whether the Bishop was right or wrong in this matter, but he had yet to leai n that a person's being right or wrong in the precise opinions he had formed, was to be the measure of Ins liberty to express them. The Bishop of New Zealand represented a body of persons of whom all the authorities who had filled the Colonial office, had spoken in terms of the highest respect. He held in his band a document showing the language in which, the noble lord at the head of the GoYernmenr, when he filled the office of Colonial Secretary, 6poke of the Clergy and Missionaries. He spoke of them as all others had, in terms of the highest respect. We hdd obtained possession of New Zealand bj treaty. We had formally, studiously, and ostentatiously disclaimed all right of sovereignty by the title of discovery, wisely or unwisely, we had obtained possession of it by treaty. We chose the Missionaries as the negotiators of that treaty, and there was a remaikable scene which had been described before in that house, in which the New Zealanders debated whether they should or should not make a treaty. The argument used by those who would have diisuaded them horn it was this—" Your land will be taken from you." The argument of the Missionaries on behalf of Great Britain was — " Your land shall not be taken from you ;" and tbe New Zevfanders then, in their own figurative language haid — " We quite understand it, the shadow of the land goes to Queen Victoria,— the substance remains with ue." (Hear, bear, hear.) He did not think that that was an occasion for entering upon a long discussion, as to the true interpretation and right application of the treaty of Waitangi — but it was impossible to deny that the responsibility in regard to it, rested on the Missionaries whom we had employed to conduct it — and it was also impossible to deny that it was right to respect their sense of their responsibility to the Government. I£ the Bishop had been guilty of acts as an agitator, he would be deeply culpable and seriously responsible — but they bad no evidence whatever, that he had done anything; except addressing the Governor, and through the Governor, the Secretary of State. Ue knew no right more inherent than that of an Englishman, in any situation, to state in firm and temperate language, bis opinion on a matter foi which he was responsible to the Government ; and he begged to enter his protest against the censure, which was now sough C to be cast upon the Bishop of New Zealand for luving done so. Mr. Aglionby regretted very much that during the course of this debate many remarks had been introduced which had caused initation, but he must confess it was not the fault of the Government, or of the right honoiable gentleman who bad brought the subject before the House. He regretted, also, that the protest which had been referred to should have been made by the Bishop of New Zealand ; but he hoped and trusted that further rciiection might have induced the Bishop to be contented with having made it, without anything more. With respect to the observations of the honorable and learned member lor Plymouth, that honorable and learned member surely never could have read many of the Pallumentary papers with respect to the conduct of the Missionaries and the ticitv of Waitangi. It had been heard in that house, and had never been refuted, that the Missionanes weie not all of that high class of character which some might suppose Clergymen who were sent out of this country should be. No doubt there were many most excellent men amongst them ; but other?; from personal motives hftdallowed

political feelings to interfile with the | crformanee ol their duty, it would he lecollourd Hint when the treaty was made, the Missiouniies became purchasei 1oi" ianit. That vriu> contraiy to the rule of the Society, »nd. if he mistook not, he hud seen a lcsolution ol the Chinch Society coinlt*ii>»"'iij> such a p-ncticc. He regretted to say tlmt 100 many of those connected wish this mutter, had «sed thiir utmost oidcavou'S to prevent the Colonisation of New Zealand. In the couisC of the present discussion, the House had heard miiny and warm prainra of the NaUve« of the Colony, hut he could not help saying lhat he thought ll>e üboi i«ines had been praised lather too much — tlicy cci t.unly were fl line people, •>.n ncuf a rare ; sh at tley readily a >Mmibilcd to Englishmen ihcic (ould bo no doubt; that :is lahoicrs tlicy kept their time— lint they wrie sobei, i) ;i y. that tiny hod suffici-nt ot the punciple of union in them lo form usoir of joint -slot it fcwp.my lor the ]ni»-| ose of <airyinj> on ti watei-mill, but htill they w< ie rjuifc I'veipi.U'fd. No doubt tliey ivoulil progiens i( thpy weie kt nlonc, but to talk of their humane qualities, ,ui(l 01 then huiuanily in w,u % wiir gom» 100 lar. (Jnjrl't it not to have lii-cn Well known to j,eiitlemi'n Tiliosjjnke in that slinin, t but the body of a British Office i killed itt (lie war had been rntitil.iied for the purposes of cannibalism ? lie had in his hand a communication, on the iiuthotily and accuracy ot winch be pJaeul lull reliance, sluiing that a woman and four rlnldicn liad been barbarously immteied by natives of New Zealand, that her body also had been mutilated for the purposes of ennnibalism, and that a portion of it bad been eaten. Mill lie did not deny llmt nil ilnng.s considered they we>e a (me s»t of people, and if led to tho itninHgcnK nt of (Jovtinoi (iiey, lie li.rl no doubt that the Colony would be of giwt iuJvuml'iro to this country. He was rejoiced then to tnid a 13 ill uitroituocd for the purpose of giving Municipal chaitorß to the settlers in New Zealand. He hailed it as an imptovtmenf, and lie yielded freely to the ailments and ltasoiiings of Governor Grey. As to the New Zealand Company, lie could not help Buying, as be had doneup°n foimer occasions, tbat their proceedings had been very much misconceived. No Bill di. signed for the pnrj ose ol making them Legislators, had ever been introduced — at least, ;i8 fnr as bis knowledge went, he could nay that nothing of the sort had been attempted. The Company never Jmd assumed, or wished to assume, the cbaiacter of Legislators or that of Governors, nnd as to the Commissioner, he was not to go to New Zealand — be wan to sit in London, and nowhere else, and his lunctions were to continue ko long as any debt remained due- by the Company to (he Government. lie bad heard it said that stiong powers weie given to tin 1 Governor, but he contended that that con !". . ncn was not misplaced. For liiw part he thought ibe i i#ht honoiablc gentleman "was right in (jiving that powei. Sir E. Button rose merely fur tho purpoFC of saying that, whether Hie P-ihhop of New Zealand was a good, and sensible, and diicieet man, or the contiary of all those, he had in the present instance done his du'y, nnd no more than his duty. The Bishop having been a party to piomolu q the treaty of Waitangi. be justly felt it hi* duty to tue lhat the whole of ltd provisions were fin ly cm i ied out Mi Plump) <• observed ilint the Missionaries had Vei> . „tly calumniated, all hough he agreed with thf 'imi' -aM member for Plymouth, who bad recently ad'•i •"■! tin lloube with great ability, that they might . .\ ' i ') stepping somcwhiit beyond the bounds of . u«d< n -. The Missionaries hud been accused of rasj.ii , too eagerly at tl c possession of land, but wbe-a they found themselves, as many of them weie, fcurrounded by large families, wos there anything bo very i , lenbonublc in thur endeavoring to appropriate a lew ucr •- ? Mr. Labmicbere tiusted that the debate would go no fui.liPi. (Hear, beur ) There bud been one or two point* raiMd in the course of the discussion, to which jie w? , now under the necessity of adverting. The ri[{hl lionoiable gentleman the member for the Univeritiiy of Oxfo'd, and alletwardEotUfrhonorublemenibers, h»d rereired to the conduct of the Bishop of New Zealand. He (Mr. Labouehere) had sHuhously avoided broaching thi* bubject, but some explanation th« House would probably now tbii.k called for. Me had not the honor of a personal acquaintance with that light reverend prelate, but from all he hud heard of him he could assure the House no one wis mon pcn>ua<ltd than he ■was that the Bishop ol N.w Zealand wiw incapable of doing anything but what appeared to him lo be Btrictly in accordance with the dictates oi iti.s conscience. The right leverend prelate might full into a mistake but there was no doubt he, lud in this case believed be wan acting rightly. But tbm was not now the (pirition— ibis whs not the way in which the biil>jcct had come before the House. The Buhop of New Z uland cilered a formal communication to the Governor of t lie colony desiring it to be trunsmiited to the Sectelary of State. The intention in taking this course wah very plum, There was a diversity of opinion between the llisbop and the executive Government on that which was the nicest and most delicate ol all sul>jectb — a subject which had filled New Zealand with blood and outrage — the possession of land (hear) ; and, in const (ponce, m a formal document, the right reverend preUie announces his intention — " God being my helper," as he fluid, *'to use all legal and constitutional measuics befitting" my station, to inform the natives of Nlw Zealand of their rights and privileges as Bri ish subjects, and to assist them in assei ting these rights, whether by petition to the Inipcuul P'lrliutUfiit, or other puact able means." Now, this obviously was a declaration of a i't;solution on the pnrt of the I'ishop to inform the aboiigineß, that he altogether differs from the Kxecutive Government on thm p< hit, and to absist and aid them in leMStanee. (Hear, hear.) It naturally occurred to his (Mr. Liibouchere't) noble fiiend the Secietary for the Colonies, that this was a most unfortunate Hep for the right leverend prelute to take, and he (Mr. Labouehere) thought, in the rcbponble situation wbiih he filled, that his noble friend could not under the circumstances have i drained from expressing, a» hcliaddone, in respectful, but in the most decidod terms, his great regret that the Btdhop had so acted. II : (Mr. Laiiou chere) had come to the same conclusion as bin noble /rier.d ; he could not hut i egret that in thin wny the Tight reverend prelate sbou'tl put himself in opposition to the Government and commence a couibe ot agitation, f Oh, oh.) Wliy wlmK'lsc was it? Auanlollowing ti.e sacred functions of a Bishop, #oi s among the Na'i«c.s c xhorthig them to petit mr — aiK 1 what wan that but what was commonly termed " a»it>ti m ?" Jiear.) A more ill :u!vißec! cou k su could not have been pui sued (hear) , and the Government had in consuqicu'e been eomptlled to notify thm (-leal disapprobation, (lliar, luar.) Thu light honorable gentleman had ask<d if any other documents rdnting to t<is Biibji ct than those laid on the table had arrived (torn Ni.w Zealand? He believed not— tlje House was now m pOitsetsion of every doeun.cnr throwing any hyh 1 upon the subject. Wiih rtbpecl lo the mxt point wl.i h had been raised, he (puts dilLiul fiom ihe ri);ht honoubl*. gentleman in ih ob-ei vnllnn he hmJ niudt on th- abstract ijpinioi) ev.irii.ssed h\ hsnobef i i d (B, rl tiiey) in addrcßSt. ' .. Uishopi-i ol N< wZuulami. Tlu'.'i«ht honoiiiide gctitlenian was •vviong in i.uppr mg that I\ib noble frifl/id bad put no nstncuou on that opinion. Uc etrtainly laid down the principle on which to piohib remarks. The

language in fact wns very noiupulous. In recommend, ing a better piinnple than that befoie lecogmzed ir refeienocto laying claim to the land occupied by the Natives, be said he- had emle.ivoiued to guard himsell ag.iinst lioiiiq; mpposed to cufotec it iir applicable to the present Mute <>t New Zealand. Tile IMshop, thercfoic wo,-, not just ili"d in assuming that (he noble lord had l»iil down .in nlisti net principle on whirl) ii would he e\pedient at all times to act The honoiahle gentleman Ihe member for Liverpool (Mr. Cirdwcll) h.id set ill' (I to reproach the Govunrm nt for having d( atmyfd till Municipal institutions ol New Zealand. £>o far fioni that hem" the case, the only aileiution contemplated was in the seirn* ot enlargement; it was n.eiily pioposed to facilitate the communication of the Municipal Fianchise to the ormi <al Nuuves who might reside within a iciniin distiict, by empowering tlic Governor to giant them certificates aB peisons quahhed to enjoy such pihilei!^. 'lherc was no inlcimnn of proceeding with any of the furlhei stages of this Bill beyond the second lcadiriif, until aflei the iccess. Tin: only desne 111 now pioducnm it wa-., to leave no doubt c u die mmds of the natives of New yfealand, as to the good wishes and motives ol the Goveinment. The 15 ill would piobablylead to a ptoiMcled d soussion ; )>ut to tlic iinncijile — the suspen ion for a time, of the lepnscnUuve sy&fom in the colony of New Zealand — be hoped a general consent would now be given. (Ileur, Ihmi.) lie would propose the bctond reading on Monday, bo lhat 11 might at once be sent oul to the Colony, and the Committee he would be glad to deler until after the recess. Lord Clive thought the right honourable gentleman who bad just sut down bad no n^l't to take (or granted th.it the Bishop of New V, alum) bad enttud upon a cout^e ot agitation. 'Iheie was a protest, it w<ia true, but tbeic was nodevmnent whatever to .show tlmt there h.i I been any ugita' ion. With regard to the question ot land, the honoiablc gentleman, (Mr. A(liionby) showed a grent difl\ rcnee between his co. loninl and domtbtic policy. At home on any question ol inolosurc or cultivation of wnEtcs, he bad the mosl profound respect for the claims ot every person who had a riijht in the common. But when questions arose between the natives oi New Zealand and the Company, he thought it very wrong the bi-liop should intorru them ot their rights as British eubject-. lie thought it the natives had no ti^bislnnce or counsel, it would be very unfair to them, and a one sided bargain. (Ifeai, heai.) The Eail of Arundel did not see why the bishop should not instinct his (lock on the proper constitu lion vi the civil powei, and their own just rights. Leave was then given to bung in the Hill.