PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1017, 24 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 24. In the Legislative Council yesterday, on the motion of the Hon. John Hall, returns were ordered of the native land purchases since September 18th, 1878, giving all financial and other information. Sir F. D. Bell resumed the debate on the address, speaking two hours and a quarter against the Government policy in all departments, especially the Native Department. He considered the natives were quite justified in resisting the surveys considering the promises made by Stafford and M'Lean. The plains would never be occupied without bloodshed. The Government, notwithstanding all promises of retrenchment, had been the most profligate of any. He condemned the proposal to allow the Counties to borrow, which would work incalculable harm to tho country. He considered that the whole career uf ihe Ministry had been one of unvarying failures and blunder, unredeemed by a single good action ; and the Ministry were now about to make a most ignominious exit.

Colonel Whitmore, replying to Mr. Waterhouse denied that the Premier dictated to his colleagues. His conduct

towards Ministers was invariably most courteous, and full of graceful consideration. He considered the Native policy resulted in utterly spoiling the natives, and making them depraved and debauched.

In the House of Representatives, yesterday, the Minister for Public Works, in reply to ±»lr. Feldwick, said that with the view of increasing the comfort of passengers on the railways, his department had taken" steps for converting the sis-wheel carriages now used into double bogie carriages, and that the Government are in course of replacing the 381b rails on the Invercargill-Riverton line by others better adapted for heavy traffic. In reply to Mr. Hobbs, it was stated that the Government land purchase agents had not the right of buying land on their own account, and selling it to private speculators.

Mr. Gibbs asked whether the Government intended to take action for relieving the depression in the timber trade either by re-imposing the duty previously levied on timber or by any other measure. The Premier said the question would be discussed when the Financial Statement came down.

The Minister for Publio Works, in reply to Mr. Turnbull, said that when the Public Works Statement is brought down the attention of the House will'be directed to the question of fencing the main lines.

In reply to Mr. Turnbull, the Minister also said that the Government could not in all cases reserve blocks of land at convenient distances along tlio. proposed new lines of for village settlement with land for commonage, but the point was one to which attention would be directed and which would be legislated upon.

In reply to Mr. Murray-Aynsley, the Minister of Justice sqid he had riot carried out the recommendation of the Gaols Committee to increase the salaries of officers of gaols throughout the Colony, and he could not do so until a considerable sum for the purpose had been voted by the House. Several Bills were read a first and the question of privilege re the alleged tampering with a rar\p showing the proposed lines o,f railway o.n the Korth Island was referred to a Select Committee,

Mr. Richardson moved that it was expedient that the House be informed (1) Whether the conditions attached to clause 3 of " The Railway Construction Act, 1875," have been complied with in respect of the railway from Waikato to the Thames ; (2) if so, when plans and estimates, with a certificate from the chief engineer that the route open fo,r a line is the best available one, \yeye submitted to the Governor-in-Qoun'cil; (3) when the approval of the Governor-in-Oouncil was given ; and (4) what contracts have been let in the railway, and the date the same were let. The Minister for Public Works said the Government had no objection to the motion. The information was being prepared, and would be forthcoming when read} 7 '. All the work done on these lines had been done within the four corners of the Act. Then followed a short 4 but warm debate, after which the amotion was put ami carried. On the motion of Dr. Wallis, returns \v v vu ordered showing the income and expenditure of every Municipality, every County Council, and Road Board in the Colony during the year ended 30th June, 1579, and showing the amount of salary paid to the Mayors and County Chairmen, and other salaries during the aforesaid yoar. and showing the indebtedness or amount borrowed by every Municipality, Council, and Road Boaid C Jfck Jur.e, IS7O. Mr. Hursthouse's motion in favor of the supplying of copies of the Government Gazette, Hansard, sta'! A • and inuutnry papers free of ■: ...j to iiabyaries receiving Government aid was, carried. Ou the House resuming at half-past seven o'clock, The Hon. Mr. Sheohan resumed the debate on the Address in Reply and the non-conlidence motion. He said he would ask the indulgence of the House, inasmuch as he was laboring under an indisposition, which to some extent affected his voice. The custom for years past—for the hist seven years, at all events —during which time ho had been in the House, was tq allow the reply to the Address without raising any question as to confidence. That had also been the case for a long time previous to his going into the House. The questions embodied in the amendment had, at this time at all ovents, been most unfairly and most unjustly raised, insomuch as documents and stamped figures, on which the Government relied, had not been produced. Before proceeding to deal with the merits of thg case, ho would point out that gentlemen on the other sido of the House were entirely responsible for preventing the Government getting a supply of money requisite for carrying on the ordinary service. The} 7 had professed their entire concurrence in the policy set forth in the Address. In that case it was their duty to allow the reply to the Address to go by in which case it would have been quite competent for- them to have brought down a notconlidence motion the very tfexi day. No one, however, avqulc] believe these professions) however plausibly put—they were simply doing the wolf in sheep's clothing. Their statement about their acquiescence in the policy was simply an attempt to work that policy if possible. Whatever the result of this debate might be, either to the Government or to himself as an individual, he desired to express his personal admiration of the mover of the motion both as a public man and as Premier of the Colon}'. He had been before the Colony of New Zealand for 35 years. He must confess to a feeling of great disappointment at the turn the discussion took. Hjs speech wag devoid of those statesmanlike qualities to be looked for in a man of his standing. Various charges had been preferred against the Government, and \yliile he admitted that they were not in all respects the Simon Pure, they would compare favorably with those gentlemen on the other side who were so anxious to step into their place. The fact was that those gentlemen conl sidered they had a majority behind them, I hence this motion, and the talk about ! maladministration and all the rest of it I was simply put on for the occasion, The Hon. Sir W. Pox had told them that a Maori war was imminent. He would be able to show that the hon. gentleman was solely responsible for that state of things. They had been told that at the close of last session the Opposition was willing, or rather anxious, to help them in carrying through their measures. Now the fact was the Opposition last session spent their time in the attempt tq hurt the'measures of the Government. Sir W. Fox had dealt with the administration of public works. He would leave his charges on that head to be dealt with by the head of the department. The Minister for Public Works had proved himself ta be one of the most honest m e R in the House. With reference to Mr. C. 0. Davis, he had heard it stated all over the colony that he was to blame for not having dismissed him from office at once. He (Mr. Sheehan) had been six months in office before he made the charge, and he was surprised to find people in the House who would stand up and advocate the cause of Mr. Davis. He had found out most conclusively that he had attempted to sow the seeds of disaffection .amongst the natives, and if the dismissal of that man from office was the only charge he had to meet, he (Mr. Sheehan) would be perfectly content. Major Mair had in the first instance been a useful public servant, and first held the j office of magistrate at Waikato, and when j he came to Wellington to claim compen-

sation for the loss of office, he (Mr. Sheehan) at first gave him all the assistance and countenance he could. He afterwards found out that Mair had been in correspondence with Rewi, and had used his best endeavors to irritate his mind against the Government. When taxed with this conduct, he admitted that it was true, pleading at the same time that his own mind had been irritated by the loss of office, i£c. He (Mr. Sheehan) overlooked the offence at the time, and told him not to let it occur again. A promise to that effect was made, but in face of that promise he found out that he had again been tampering with the chief. With regard to the case of Mr. Booth, referred to by Sir W. Fox, that officer had been reported against by a Public Works servant. The action taken at the time, lie (Mr. Sheehan) thoroughly endorsed. An inquiry was instituted, which in the main relieved him of the charges ; and nothing could have been fairer than affording Booth an opportunity of clearing himself, which he did. The member for Wanganui was incorrect in his statement- that Mr. Booth was buying land for the Government when the inquiry took place. The 140,000 acres referred to by Sir W. Fox were negotiated ■ for in 1574, since when all matters had boon in abeyance until the past fewmonths, the same as was the case with the Otamakapau and other blocks. The negotiations were begun fo.OT or five years ago by Sir D. M'Leau. Large sums had been paid to.lieaata, Kawepo, and Richard May, in 1575. From that date until 1577, nothing had been paid. Owing to these years' delay, the natives availed themselves of fancy prices for- land, and demanded a higher price than had been agreed upon. These negotiations were now in a iair- way of completion, and he ; hoped that by next month the land would be passed through the Court and purchased. In replying to imputations respecting Mr, Luckie's appointment, the speaker pointed out that Sir W. Fox, when Premier, had not only transferred members of that House into the public service, but men, strangers to the country, had been promoted over the heads of civil : servants of long standing. Touching upon the Cabinet dispute between Mr. Ballance and Sir George Grey, he denied the accuracy of Sir William Fox's statement to the House. The Government had been told that on their assumption of office there was no dissatisfaction amongst the natives. Sir William. Fox said there were no m ureters except when the young men went out in the shooting season. Tliv\s were the murders of Sullivan and Todd referred to, as if the unfortunate men had been game. He denied : that the negotiations with the King party had been a failure, and showed that the terms submitted were identical excepting in small particulars with those submitted by the lato Government. About 1877, although the natives had shown no inclination for war, the Waikato people had been sullen and living apart, aiid overtures had been made by every Government without any favorable ?esult. Now the Native Land Co.urt had presided in Waikato territory, and the extinguishment of the ! native title of the lands was quietly proceeding. The hon. gentleman shewed that, owing to the action of the late Government in allowing land speculators to go into the Waikato territory with surveyors, the country had for the past year been on tinverge of war. He himself was aware of armed parties accompanying the surveyors, i whereby the peace of the country was endangered. Not until Sullivan had been shot did the Government of the day step ill and stop this work. On 110 occasion were our relations in Waikato on so satisfactory a footing as now. He remembered Sir D. M'Lean waiting six weeks at Alexandra to see Rewi without any result being achieved. Every effort was made by previous Governments to improve matters. ; but they resulted in failure. On the present Government assuming oflice in 1877they were invited by Tawhaio, the Maori King, to go up to Waikato, and before tlulate meeting an invitation was received from Te Ngakau and Rewi Msni.opoto, the latter the largest land-owner and greatest chief of the tribe, who insisted upon their going. The evil advice given to Tawhaio by certain Europeans had caused the nonfulfilment of the negotiations with the King. Notwithstanding, the meeting was a success, as evidenced by the Waikato and Tempo natives' desire for carrying out public works. Now, though Tawhaio would not come to terms, Rewi determined to act for himself. He met the speaker at Kihikihi. First of all they settled what had been the source oi trouble, and what he believed was the cause of the murder of Sullivan, namely, the boundavy and Rewi and some of his pooplo had accepted the boundary laid down by the Government. He agreed ithat if the Government would consent for a- time to protect a certain area of country from being sold or leased he would do his best to settle and lay down the tribal boundaries. A man who had been hitherto against v.s ;i and who was

unquestionably or,o of their greatest men. and certainly a most influential chief, came into our Land Court as an ordinary j suitor. Although it appeared a simple thing it. v.'aa of importance, as the Maoris laughed and scoffed at Native Land Courts, and would not allow the land to be put through the Court. He-wi, showed his sincerity to his people, to. meet the Government of the oc.uiitry 011 fair terms again. Certain persons, whether Europeans or Maoris he did not know which, j tried to produce a want of confidence in i his mind as regarded the Government. Rewi, however, kept his own opinion in the matter. He would now refer to the Waimate Plains survey. After he came came into office he telegraphed to Major Brown to stop the survey of those plains, and lie did not think that his hon. friend would be prepared to. go on with the survey, I'roui the time the surveys were commenced he had always acted in perfect faith. The Civil Commissioner had retained the good faith of the Government, He informed Te Whiti personally that the Government intended to survey the Plains. The Natives had abundant opportunity to meet us and settle as to their views, but they refused. The, Government were prepared tq give the natives conriderable portions of land from reserves. It was not the case, as alleged, that the survey went on without provision being made for the natives in the way of i reserves. The first mistake was that, having taken the land, no provision was made for holding it. He did not admit that this violated the confiscation, but it would have been better had actual possession been taken. This was, pointed out at the time, but no. action was taken whatever. The claim to sympathy the Maoris had at first, they lost by that fierco rebellion of 1869 with its horrors. The Government felt bound to proceed with the survey of these lands, and to make proper provision fop the support of the original owners ;• but when they attempted to do this it turned out that from White cliffs to Waitotara the whole country was a mass of unfulfilled promises. In 1870 a Court of Inquiry sat, and made awards on a somewhat arbitrary basis, which was an unjust one. Awards were made to the loyal and to the disloyal natives. The years passed, and these awards were left unearned out. It one case in December last a Maori in New Plymouth showed him a certificate for 50 acres from the Compensation Court, and he had been twelve years vainly trying to get his Crown grant, while Europeans got theirs without difficulty. There were lots of these oases where natives had only the compensation scrip, and could neither identify nor deal with the land. One main cause was in the vicious system of allowing Government officers to buy land. The grants vere kept back frequently to ctis--gust the natives and force them to. sell their claims. He alluded, to Q. B, Worgan

dealing as a Government agent on the West Coast. It was proved that Worgan, had not only dealt with the natives unjustly, but had defrauded the Government, which, notwithstanding his previous well-known character, had placed him in a confidential post. Sir William Fox's Government actually bought land from the natives, the very land which had been taken as a punishment for rebellion. It was true that Te Whiti had called him a thief, but then ho was speaking of the action of the Government in 18G4, and instead of being held up to ridicule on that account, it was Sir* William Fox who. ought to have been. All the trouble had been occasioned by the action of the Government of which Sir W. Fox was a member, and no matter who sat on these benches, it would be necessary to got the promises made by previous Governments redeemed regarding the Waimate Plain block. There was not a single promise unfulfilled, or any other cause existing to compromise the Government in the matter. He (Mr* Sheehan) had followed up the charges of nial-administration as stated by Sir W. Fox. He would point out that ho considered many of them were most ungenorous. A great cause of the trouble was the condition in which they, as a Government, found the native land purchases of the late Government. During the past twelve months theadministration of nearly half a million acres of land had been handed over to the Waste Lands Boards, and during the next twelve months as much more land would bo put through theCourt as had been done during the recess. He thought he was entitled to bring these: facts before the House. The policy of: the Government had been to acquire as much estate on as fair means as thev could for the sake of the whole country and ho hoped that policy would not be reversed, and that care would bo tafco' a make suitable native reserves. In W-* j,no-a-nui a great change had been w:rot& 'j n the native mind. At one tiaie they -would not part with a single acre, and • Ilo w the Government could not find me n ey fast enough to pay for all they w ou id se n. That went to show that the ■ policy pursued by the present Governing' u t had been so far successful. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Harbor Board will be, held a t 11 o'clock tomorrow.