HOUSE OF COMMONS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 53, 11 October 1845, Page 4

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

May 1. — Mr. G. W. Hope asked the hon. and learned member for Liskeard to be good enough to state the terms of his motion for Juesday next relative to the affairs of New .Zealand, m.

Mr. C. Bullee replied that the motion <eff which he had given notice was for a Committee of the whole House on the present state of the colony of New Zealand ; and his intention would he on getting into that Committee to move the greater part of the resolutions adopted by the Select Committee of last session. But he thought it due to gentlemen who took an interest in the matter that he should state that a new arrangement with respect to the affairs of that colony being under the consideration of her Majesty's Government, he did not think he should be doing his duty to the settlers, to the Company, or to the public at large, if he were now to bring the subject into discussion in that house, and he. would, therefore, withdraw the notice which stood for Tuesday

May 2. — Sir R, Ikglis, observing' that the uesolu'tioh respecting New Zealand bad- been postponed* inquired if that postponement was tba result of some communication between certain parties connected with New Zealand and her Majesty's Government ? Seeing the Under Secretary for the Colonies in his place, he wished to ask him whether it was consistent with a sense of public duty to state to the House whether or not such communication had taken place on the part of the New Zealand Company, or any other body, to alter the relations in which the Church Missionary Society on the one hand, and the natives and the New Zealand Company on the other, stood as regards each other, and what was now the actual nature of the position 1 of these three parties in respect to. each other?

Mr. G. W. Hope said he had intimated to the honorable member for Liskeard that he had some explanations to give of what had passed last night. He had given the honorable and learned member notice that he should request him to state the terms of his motion for Tuesday night. The honorable member, on coming down to the House, stated that he meant to postpone his motion, and also that he had some communication with the noble lord under whom he (Mr. Hope) served upon the subject. Not having had an opportunity since of seeing the noble lord, he (Mr. Hope) did not then know what Had passed between them. The hon. and learned member having postponed his motion, and given his reasons for so doing, he (Mr. Hope) had nothing to say as to the terms used ; but he had explanations to give, which he now proceeded to lay before the House. In the first place, the withdrawal of the notice was unsolicited on the part of the Government, and unwished for by them. They were perfectly prepared to maintain and defend the conduct which they had pursued as regards the New Zealand Company. In the next place, perhaps on account of the manner in which it had reached the public press, it would appear that the matter was more fully before the Government than was the case. The facts of the case were these : — The noble lord the Secretary for the Colonies had received an intimation from gentlemen connected with the Company, that it was possible that an arrangement on a totally, different basis might be submitted to him for his consideration. In answer to that the noble lord stated that, whenever such a proposal should be made in a proper official manner, he would be ready to give it a candid and- dispassionate consideration. As yet the noble lord had not received that proposal in an official shape, and he was at perfect liberty to accept er reject the proposal when made to him. No alteration had, in the mean time, been decided on relative to New Zealand. He wished it to he fully understood that such was the state of the case, that, oa the withdrawal of the motion, no compromise had been made on the part of the Government, in order to av&id discussion.