THE LOBBIES. [By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Native Matters.—A Lively Discussion.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1415, 28 July 1881, Page 2

THE LOBBIES. [By ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Native Matters.— A Lively Discussion.

Wellington, Last Night. At yesterday afternoon's sitting of the House, while in Committee of Supply, Mr Moss, member for Parnell, by way of venting his grievances/ took occasion to refer in a very disparaging manner to the opeiations of the Government in reference to native matters, both on the West Coast . and the Waikato. He alluded in-coarse, uncomplimentary language to- Mr Parri*, and then fell to ridiculing Tawhiao's visit to the vV'aikato townships, ana th 6 action of Major Mair. Mr Rolleston rose and gave Mr Moss a very severe dressing down, characterising his remarks about Mr P.irris as being , cowardly, and slanderous ; telling him the name of Sir \V. Fox, the West Coast Commissioner, would be enshrined iv one of the bpst pages of New Zealand history when the name of F. J. Moss had been consigned to merited and eternal oblivion. About this time the member for Wuipa entered the Chamber, and Mgns were not wanting that he too was feeling indignant at the uncalled for remarks of the member for Parnell. As soon as Mr Rolleston had finished, Jir Whitaker took the speech in hand, and proceeded to second the Native Minister's effoits to lacerate the cuticle of the member for Parnell. He said that he had been, in company with Mr Moss, at the Kopua meeting in 1879, and that gentleman must, have been as fully aware .is himself of the highly unsatisfactory nature of the interview that had taken place at that time. Mr Moss had done wrong in refusing to give credit to those who had brought about a grea change in the Maori mind, as was made manifest by the recent couduct of Tawhiao. Ho stated the very best judges of the importance or otherwise of the Maoi i &ing\ visit were the people of Waikato themselves. They were persons who had had to bear the heat of the battle in the early days ; they were the peeple who, even up to the present time, had to be the bulwarks between the disaffected Maoris and the settled districts of the north ; they were the people who lived on the frontier, and had been in daily communication with the natives, and were best able to judge of the .significance of what took place amongst the Maoris, and what had they done. They had welcomed Tawhiao with bands of music, triumphal arches, and great banquets, showing clearly they attached the very highest importance to the action Tawhiao and the chiefs had now seen fit to take. No doubt members would have observed from reports in trie newspapers that the settlers of the Waikato had, with thenusual hbeiahty, come forward practically on behalf of the colony to give Tawhiao and his people a right royal welcome. He felt certain the people of the country would belive the testimony of the Waikato people that what had been done by the policy pursued by the present Gov eminent was right, rather than the ciuel, ill-considered, and absurd statements of Mr Moss He further told Mr Moss it was unfair of him to make peisonal attacks upon a gentleman who had rendered such valuable sen ices m this matter as Major Mair had done, especially as that gentleman was not there to defend himself. For his pait, he should always consider this happy reconciliation between the races hid been brought about in a great measure, if not almost entirely by the exertions of that officer. In conclusion he desired to say that the member for Parnell should be more careful in future as to the statements he made in that House.

Te Aroha Petition. Mr Whyte presented a petition from settlers in the Te Aroha district piaymg that the district be constituted a licensing district.

The No-confidence Debate. It is generally supposed that the noconfidenee motion will end to-night and the division be taken. It will, however, be late. The debate drags along rather heavili and to all appearance it appears to be pretty well run out. The busiest part is the Lobbies Whips aie boating up niont mdu^trioudy, a fact which gives coloring to the opinion that the division is at hand. Mr Pyko who has beeu so anxioasly looked for, and respeotiug whom so many speculation" h.ive beeu made, has ju.it put in an appearance. It is reported thdt after all he is going to disappoint the expectation of his friends and vote for thf> Government. Pyke knows a thing woith more than throw in his lot with a sinking cause. The majority in favor of the Opposition is variously estimated at fiom four 10 seven. Compared with previous occasions cf the kind, there is really very little excitement. The galleiies aie pretty full, but otherwise matters quiet.