MINISTERS’ “LITTLE GAME.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5481, 21 October 1878, Page 3

MINISTERS’ “LITTLE GAME.”

Circumstances were both favorable and unfavorable to Mr. Bees last evening. His gallantry influenced him sufficiently to induce him to postpone the hour of his meeting, so that it might not interfere with the performance at the Theatre Boyal for the benefit of the ladies of the Star Dramatic Company. This was unfavorable to Mr. Bees, in so far that it did not give him quite as much time as he would have otherwise had for addressing bia audience. Bat, on the other hand, he had, as a favorable circumstance, the advantage of holding his meeting, when it did come off, in the Theatre Boyal instead of in the Protestant Hall/ and of thus having a much larger audience to address than could possibly have been contained within the walls of the Protestant Hall. Considering what the subject of the discourse was, Mr. Bees had a very favorable hearing ; but that was in a great measure due to the fact that the Legislative Council having excised the obnoxious part of the Maori franchise clause, the question had lost its interest. Evidently enough, the bulk of the meeting was entirely against Mr. Keea on that question, but they could afford to listen good-humoredly to what he had to say about it, because the question had been for the time decided. One very unfavorable circumstance for Mr. Bees was an unfortunate failure of the point which he had intended to he most telling with his audience. Mr. Bees was endeavoring to show that the opposition to the Maori franchise was chiefly promoted by those persons who were inimical to three things, viz., the settlement of differences at present existing between natives and Europeans, the extension of the franchise to Europeans, and the taxation of land. In proof of his allegation as to the last of the three things, he read a telegram from Wellington stating, in effect, that in the Legislative Council on Tuesday evening Sir Dillon Bell said that the Land Tax Bill had been carried in the Lower House through the Maori members voting for it, and that therefore the Council should prevent the Maoris being able to exercise such a power, and that, added Mr. . Keea, was why the Maori vote (except on the ratepaying qualification) was cut out of the Electoral Bill The point told exceedingly well for a time. Indeed, it told so well that Mr. Bees read the telegram more than once, and dwelt upon it with considerable warmth, interrupted In his speaking only by the tremendous cheering of his audience. Just at that moment Sir Dillon Bell, wo should say, stood at the lowest possible value in tho estimation of a la ge number of the persons who with upturned faces were gazing so admiringly at Mr. Kees. When the storm of applause for Mr. Bees, and of shoute of indignation against poor Sir Dillon, bad a little subsided, Mr. Bees was asked to name the author of the telegram, hut he refused. Subsequently, when Mr. Comford was addressing the audience, the question was put to Mr. Kees again, and then there occurred quite a dramatic episode. Mr. Bees, wholly unaware of what was coming, agaiu read his telegram, which, as taken down by our reporter, ran thus ;—“ In voting for imposition of land tax in the Lower House, the four Maori members voted for it. Without them the Bill would have been lost. It was their (the Council’s) duty to take care that that does not agaiu occur.” Those, Mr, Bees affirmed, were the words spoken by ' Sir DiUou Bell, and while ho still refused to give up the author of his telegram, be undertook to do so if it should be proved that tho. words in. question were not used by Sir Dillon, Then Mr. Cornford became master of the situation.' First, he read tho following telegram which he bad sent yesterday afternoon to Sir Dillon Bell; —“ It is reported here that you stated that Maori dual vote was excised, because native votes in Lower House carried Land Tax Bill. It is intended to make a point of this at meeting to-night. Please say at once if statement correct.—H. A. CoKNfOiiD.” This was listened to in breathless silence, every person in the building eagerly waiting to hear tho reply read, which was as follows*:— u lt is not true that I •aid tho dual vote was excised because native votes in House carried Land Tax Bill.—Sir DILLOK Bell.” —This was indeed a grand €oup t and the effect was electric. Instantly there was an immense acclamation, the building fairly shaking with the shouts of applause. .Mr,-Bees’* point was entirely gone, and tho meeting was very soon afterwards brought to a close.— Hawke's Hay J/erald.