This Day's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3970, 19 September 1881, Page 2

This Day's Sitting.

Wellington, This day. THE WEST COAST DIFFICULTY.

Oil the House assembling at 11 a.ni., ou the motion for the further consideration of the West Coast Settlement Keserves Bill,

Mr Bolleston, after few preliminary remarks as to the Bill, said, bon. members hare no doubt observed iv the newspapers certain reports as to the existence of an unsatisfactory state of affairs on the West Coast, which has caused some anxiety as to their future course. They bare, however, every hope that the persistence in the course hitherto adopted may avert any serious difficulties from arising. At the saute time it iy only fight to jsay tbat

the position is one requiring great care and circumspection. The Government will, however, before the House rises afford members an opportunity of learning all that the Government know up to the latest moment, and they will ask the House to entrust them with such funds as may enable them to deal decisively on any contingency that may arise. Mr Turnbull considered that it was a great mistake to allow Sir F. D. Bell to leave the colony at the time he did, when the settlement of this West Coast question had rendered such a matter of critical moment.

Sir W. Fox regretted the loss of his colleague iv the West Coast Commission, still he did not think that this departure from the colony had any very material effect on the settlement of the question. Mr Brown said the aspect of the affairs revived the question as to how far the late Native Minister was right in assert ing that more energetic steps should be adopted.

Mr Ballance said the statement made by the Native Minister was calculated to create a feeling of alarm which might be toned down if further information should be given. He asked them to give such a statement, if not now, at all events when the proper time arrived.

Mr Sheehan blamed Government for not bringing down such an important measure until the latest moment. Fox ought to be on the Government benches, being instructed with questions involving as they do peace and war on the West Coast. In the present state of the case they had virtually two Native Ministers, aggravated by the fact that one of these was wholly irresponsible. In connection with this West Coast settlement they bad no ordinary person to deal with; they had one who claimed special inspiration, and who refused to be guided by the ordinary rules which govern ordinary humanity. He did not think that war was intended, and it would not arise unless they committed some great blunder. If however, it did arise, he for one was prepared to say let them go to the full extremity, so as to preserve the rule itself from the consequence of this ill advised conduct. He would have liked to have seen the force sent on the Coast, and located there two years ago, as he quite believed it would have tended to preserve the public peace. Tomoana complained that the Bill had not come down earlier, and that it was most extraordinary Bills of this importance should be invariably kept back till the last moment.

Mr Moss protested against the Colony being forced into hostilities with the natives. Moreover, he could not see the Bill was forcing them into hostilities. He thought the Bill, with some amendments he would propose in Committee, was a very requisite one.

Mr .Kolleston, in reply, denied the insinuations made by Mr Moss, to the effect that Major Parris was in partnership with certain West Coast native land transactions.

The question of the second reading of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill was then put and carried, and the House went into Committee on it. After some progress had been made it was reported, and leave granted to sit again. The House adjourned at 1.20. Latest.—3 p.m. On the House re-assembling Mr Ballance gave notice that he would move the addition of the Pension Bill to the Appropriation Bill.