WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3878, 3 June 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. Sir William Fox addressed his constituents last night. He denied the claim of Grey's parly to the title of Liberals, and referred in terms of great praise to the Ciril Service and Bail way Commissioners. He said the colony was on the verge of bankruptcy when the present Gorernment took office, and only a few hours further delay in proriding for the interest due would have involved financial ruin., Majgr .Atkinson had not exaggerated the gravity of the situation by half a farthingv Eeferring to the waste of time by Grey's no confidence motion, he adrocated the introduction of rules like those recently adopted in the House of Commons to prerent a waste of time. He accused Sir George Grey's Government of haring utterly rerersed the Natire Lands policy which' they proposed in opposition, and of haring no clear Views on the subject* at all. He doubted whether any native land legislation was possible in the fag end of parliamentary session. He defended the | action of the. Gorernment about Patetere, and did not think it desirable to meddle with:the; Education Act yet, but soon something would be done to reduce the expense which was now really paid out of the Property Tax. It was ridiculous however, to say the colony could not afford this when erery man who drank a glass of beer a day, threw away ten times his share of the tax into the pockets of i publican and the merchant. He thought the system of education should be made | more thorough, and a better class of teachers from normal schools gradually prorided He regretted that counties had erer been established, and larger highway' districts with larger powers were only required. The question of providing funds for local works was a difficult one, but the country must be opened up. He did not think the Government would more in the matter next session, but it was;sure to crop up and he would give it his best attention. A vote j of thanks and confidence was passed. Thursday. Gorernment hare decided to release all the Maori prisoners, and instructions are sent to that effect to Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Hokitika. The Hiuemoa conreys those confined South to Taranaki, and the Stella takes the remainder from Hoki- i tika. , . ,„, The whole returns of the share list of the West Coast Bail way Company (Worth Island) have not been received, but it is believed that the £50,000 has been «ub- , scribed A meeting of provisional directors will be bold on MomUj to arrange for the allotment of shares. I