PIAKO SWAMP DEBATE.

Waikato Times, Issue 640, 27 June 1876, Page 2

PIAKO SWAMP DEBA TE.

Mr K(\ul >r Wood t.v.mtnil the Government with Jiavur,' as yet produced no proof tli it tho ti'aiiMiuliun was Jo>/il, though dofioi t<» do po. Ho repliol to Mr Stafford* .ittne'c on Sir Goorge Groy as unjn-»tifi.ible, !iu I quo led Mjl Biiaaondon's evidouco to bh).v how certain persons worn unduly f-ivouiud b\ r tlie conduit of the Goveinlaoiii'rt Nati\ o Lauds Piavhase Agents. ]n tho Pnlco sw.i'iip case ha did not a^orib 1 ; corruption to tho Glovmuuciifc in tho sonsu that any of them roeoived any benolicial iiit"resb from tho transaction, but, that they gave to fi-iouds and supporters, without dv'; publicity, wJuit would havo been refiwed to him if ho applied for it. Mr Oruiond characterised tho speeches of tho Opposition as simply amusing and discursive. Thoy had substantiated nono of tho gravo charges which had beeu recklessly made Ho regretted the course the matter had taken. Nothing now had boen adduced .siuco tho lnsfc onquir}'. t Theio was then not a p.u'ticlo of ovidenco to support tho cii.ugj of corruption. When tho member for Auckland City Wait reopened the^e chargej this session, he nttturalSy cxpeclcd ho would have evidence to adduco that w.is not obtainable before, but he did nob do so. Now the member for Auckland City West aivr.iys harped upon llio promotion of settlement, but what had he ever done to promote settlement ? Siuco he was Superintendent, Sir George Grey's Government took vovy good caro that their frionds* should have all tho land. (lau^htoi .) Touching tho &ie, ho was of opmi )'i that tho regulations were not slrictly oompliod with, an 1 that it would havo bocu hotter/ r • ' '•• ' '■■■ r ...t... l I,*!

cut \\h it was <lo:ic i.'iV^ul.irh'. Ho, liovvevo", fjlt tijiib tha lovalt oi the debate would pl.vcj tho OpoGS'Uon in a rauoh worse position thin the/ oec ipied before, boc.uiso it \. oaid bo ahe.vn that ile^e c'lav^a weie utterly unfounded, and the Hou->u would not be thaukfulto the leader of tlu Opposition for occupying them in this way. The ilouso resumed at 7.30 p m. Mr Be La Tour opened the ball on the Government sido, and was followed in the same strain by Mr Bryeo. Mr Stevens considered tho refiolution imperative, inasmuch us the Government had pledged thj Colony to the bale, and ho should vote with the Government. Hv liees protested against the illegality of the transition and caused profound sensation in the House, v hen ho staked his professional reputation on the ibsuc. lie askod filiniatois to withdraw the resolution, tiud, if not, mem'oou to walk out of (he honS'j without voting. Mi- \V Kowe had sailed over ten miles of the Pi iko Swamp in a boat. Tho Sw.itn;) was unfitted for any kind ofsettleuio'it a-hl cjuid on'y be dealt with by capitalists. iTe warmly defended the asp »rsio:i!» tfcvown upon tho cliaracfcur^ of both [ .Mr Whitakcr and j\lr Kus.-cll in coiiiieciou witiithe tr.-tnsaciion. Jrir Mic p arlaue £>ivo a diroot denial to Sir Go u'!;'j (Jiey'a allecrations about an ailognd 3>ilo of eo*t lav.l in Waikato to Mr Jt. is.se! 1. Mr .MouL^omiry would vjta with the Government. '< Mr Whitakoi 1 traced the wliols U-an-s.iction from boginniiiy to ond and'faaid that whethor vi»hfc or wrong it rcated with him. Ho B[ioke of the unremunorative nature of tho speculation to purchasers np to tho present and of the advantages likely to acme to residents in Waikato. He showed that purchasers had got les3 land than they had a right to expect, according to tho agieemant and finally den.cd that until an order in Council was issued the purchasers of tho swamp had any engagemout whatever with Government except such as was grounded on a sense of honor. Mr Cox said he never knew a government that had done more to justify a belief in their honesty and i^oo-l faith than tha present Ministry. Tha House thon adjourned till half past two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon.