I am at a loss to understand how the hon, member can say that he is anxious that our proposal to acquire land in the North Island shall not be carried out. I know the hon. member is very anxious, as Superintendent of Auckland, to buy land in that province, and that he is doing so. Does the bon, member think that the people throughout the colony, or those of his own province, would not prefer to know that such land-purchase negotiations with the Natives were in the bands of one thoroughly qualified to conduct them, rather than they would know that such negotiations were being car ried on by himself—he being utterly in experienced, and having, in every stage of what be does, to depend upon Fakeha-Maoris, and others ? Surely, it is to be preferred that Native land purchases should be under one competent official head, who can conduct the negotiations himself, like my hon. col league the Native Minister, rather than in the bands of one who, from inexperience, must trust to subordinates as to almost every detail. However, the hon. member justly says that he has a right to speak on behalf of his province ; and, as I understand, he is so frightened of interference within that pro vince, that he would sooner buy land himself and not have the money found for him, than have it bought by the General Government out of money specially provided for the purpose. The Government do not desire to press land upon the hon.memberor to press money on him; and so we will not object to a reduction of the amount which we have proposed shall be appropriated for the purchase of land in the North Island. We recognise his right to speak for the Province. of Auckland ; and we will neither force a landed estate upon him, nor interfere with him in his efforts to acquire land for his province. I shall have another opportunity of speaking upon the objections raised by the hon. member on the question of what he is pleased to consider protective duties ; and with regard to his objection to borrowing for war purposes, 1 will only add, that 1 defy the hon. 