Mr Stafford then rose to reply. He sa that last session the Opposition support the Brogden contract, because they felt th the honor of the Colony had been pledget and how Mr Reeves admitted this. I quoted the estimate of Sir Chas. Fox and others, and of the railways in Queenslan which cost about L 2,300 per mile. I reiterated that the Government had be< warned of the rise in the price of iron. Ii migration was unsatisfactory ; 11,600 pc sona were to arrive before the end of t year, and no prevision was made for th< settlement. He said his idea of settlemei and called by the Government confiscatio was to settle families at intervals along tl lines of railways, and between towns. I reckoned they could thus establish about ' villages, requiring 40,000 acres from the fi Provinces of the Middle Island. The owne of land would be glad of the project. I would propose a measure, tentative and pc missive. He next dwelt on the speeches the Premier, and explained that when 1 went to England,it was at his ownexpens He drew no pay. All the Ministers r mained at the seat of Government. I showed he had not drifted into two war He found war inevitable on his return fro England, and had nothing to do with tl war in 1863. He criticised the speeches members of Government. He had effecte while in office, the saving promised in h celebrated speech. The Native Minister sa he (Mr Stafford) had large funds at his d posal ; but the expense of the militia, volu teers, and Natives was one third of what was at present. The civil service was getth demoralised, and permanent officers we becoming political partisans. He referred the necessity for some Home postal servic and showed Mr Vogel's statements as to t necessity for his L 300.000 > reasury Bills be incorrect. He defended the member f Parnell (Mr Reader Wood) against the char of having employed 4000 British troops at L a head at the expense of the Colony. He h; received many letters on .Native matters, ai they all objected to the Native Lands Coui A continuance of the present system wou end in there being a swarm of pauper Maori in the' colony ."which would be highly da gerous. He objected to Koad Boards taki unproductive Maori land. 