"Dr. Featherston, who was received with loud applause, said—

* * * "The course I pursued then was the same as that which had for its object the promoting of what I believe to be the true interest of this Province, as in getting rid of the difficulties which lay in the way of purchasing the Manawatu block of land, and more especially in rendering my assistance, however humble it may have been, in subduing the rebel natives on the West Coast, and bringing them to submission.' (Hear, hear.) * * * 'Is the British army degenerated? Was it not composed of men having the same mettle and courage as those who have fought and conquered in every country and under every clime? I consider the Imperial troops to be the finest in the world; I say that the British army stands far higher in every respect than that of any other country. Look at what has been done by any of the regiments now in New Zealand, and then tell me that those regiments are unable to cope with the Maori, and are unequal to New Zealand warfare.' (Hear, hear.) 'sir, I ask you, who long remember your gallant friends of the 65th, and many another regiment, whether you believe that they were not the same men in this country as they have ever proved themselves in other countries? Will one of you is this room say that men who have fought and lost their lives at Rangiriri, at the Gate Pa, at the Orakau, were unable to cope with the Maori and unfit for New Zealand warfare? But if you dare to make such an assertion, what will you say to the signal success of General Chute, between Wanganui and Taranaki, with a flying column of some four or five hundred men? That gives the lie at once and for ever to any aspersions on the English troops; that settles at once and for ever that Imperial troops, if properly handled, are equal to any emergency, and instead of being unequal to the Natives, those Natives are terrified at them, and dare not make a stand against them. (Hear, hear.) 'sir, I confess I never held any faith in the elaborate Native policies which have been at various times propounded by statesmen in this Colony. I have always adhered to the principles I enunciated twenty years ago, that as it is utterly impossible to preserve the Native race from ultimate extinction, from annihilation through their connexion with a civilised people; our chief duty consisted, not in attempting elaborate theoretical policies, but in rendering the dying couch of the race as easy and comfortable to them as possible., (Hear, hear.) * * * 'sir, the same course, which was a good policy twenty years ago, is, it appears to me, only gaining daily more strength. Twenty years ago these Natives amounted to from eighty to a hundred thousand, whilst now how many are they? Not more than forty thousand at the page lxxvi outside, and in twenty years to come there will be but a mere handful left. What then is the use of hatching Native policies for a race which you cannot possibly preserve?'"