At the time the road making was being vigorously pursued, the Boyal Commission was making enquiries regarding those claims. The report which embodies the results of these inquiries has met with all but universal approval. Even the member for the Thames (Sir G. Grey) said that it was " worthy the colony of New Zealand."- It evinced " a love of justice admirable in itself." It exhibited "a'judicial calm ness and fairness which deserved all pr__se. M He believed the Commissioners had " done thorough justice to the two races, and the report was worthy of themselves and of the colony in which they had so long occupied very distin guished positions." That report, as our readers know, recommended that powers of a very large nature should be given to the Government on account of the very exceptional circumstances of the case. And to prove that the circumstances are most exceptional, it is only necessary to j refer to the e_traordinary proceedings of Te Whiti —proceedings which have re sulted in filling our gaols with hundreds I of prisoners, sent there not for crimes, '"but for a political offence in which there is no sign of criminal in- 1 i tent." The Coin___-ioners saw nothing j for it but to recommend the giv ing of very large discretionary , powers io the Govern:ment, and the result was' the dr-fting of the West Coast Settle ments Bill In the preparation of that

measure the Government were assisted by the Com-_i£_ioners. In its passage tf-_Hgh ths House the Bill met with no opposition, except from one or two ia«mbers who oppose everything that emmatea from Ministers without any 1 reference Whatever to the nature of the proposition. As matters now stand, the Groven__.e_j; are armed with powers to deal with the West Coast difficulty practically as they please. 