Last Night's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3972, 21 September 1881, Page 2

Last Night's Sitting.

Later, This day. Clause referring to the rebate duty on tobacco was carried by 35 to 15. Clause 6 relating to distillation was on Atkinson's motion struck out by 35 to 16, and the remainder of the Bill was then agreed to.

Hall announced tbat Government intended dropping the following bills, and they were accordingly discharged:— Pensions Valuation, Education Reserves Act Amendment, Leaseholders Qualification, Counties Suspension, Fisheries, Friendly Societies, Inspection of Machinery, East Coast Land District Land Act Amendment, Land Claims Settlement Act Repeal, Sank and Bankers Act Amendment, New Plymouth Harbour Commission.

I he Land Tax Bill and consolidation of Stock Bills were passed through committee, read a third time and passed, and the Native Lands Act Amendment was read a second time.

After 1.3U in Committee on the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill, a motion by Te Wheoro to have two trustees, one^ .European and one native, was lost by 22 to 14. Clause 17 was struck out, and several amendments were made in other clauses. The - bill was then reported, read a third time, and passed. The Native Land Act Amendment Bill also passed through all its stages, and progress was reported on the Native Reserves Bill.

A NATIVE VIEW OF THE WEST COAST DISTURBANCE.

Before the House rose, Te Wheoro referred to the reports published in the newspapers about the state of native affairs on the West Coast. He did not believe in them. He would not say to the Government to cease being careful, but at the same time he did not think there was any well founded ground for alarm. They should, however, look carefully after Te Whiti. He believed the alarm was got up by Europeans for their own purposes. They wanted troops sent lip there, because Ta.ranaki was really supported by the expenditure on soldiersT Tomoana thought , the Government should prevent the newspapers publishing statements which were likely to alarm both Europeans and Maori?.

Tawhia agreed that thejiewspapers had grossly exaggerated the facts, the object was to get troops sent up to the; district. The Government should not be alarmed by these reports. Hall asked the native members if they had any special information from which they spoke. Te Wheoro said he did not wish to throw the Government off its guard, but he had been informed the reports in question were unfounded, and they would have been sure to have heard of it if any cause for alarm existed. Had there been real cause for alarm the European settlers would not have continued on their land in the district. He had telegraphed to the district, and would have been informed if there was anything 6erious, but at the same time Government without being alarmed should be on its guard. Hall said the Government was alarmed; they knew what was being/sajd by those at Parihaka; they were on their guard; and nothing more, as they knew they were strong enough to deal with any emergency, therefore they were not alarmed. If trouble came, they knew how to deal with it, but they would not meet it half-way. He was sorry the Maori members had attributed the alarm to a desire to get expenditure in the district; the Government had information proving that was not correct, and trusted to the good sense of the natives to prevent any disturbance, and at the same time every precaution was being taken to prevent trouble arising.—At 230 the House rose till 11 to-day.