WANGANUI.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 28 March 1881, Page 3

WANGANUI.

March 24 Bryce, late ISitive Minuter, made fin effective speech last night His explanation of bis defection from the Ministerial ranks was simply this : His fellow Ministers did not recognise to the extent he tried to impress, the necessity for breaking, at once and for ever, the power of Te "Whiti. He was not premitted to visit, the Prophet with a force at his back which would have commanded respect, but instead of this , temporising measures were adopted, a Royal Commission appointed, And the position of Te Whiti, as leader of the Maoric, recognised, instead of being once and for ever crushed. He (Bryce) had, on accepting office, laid down certain principles of action for the settlement of the Maori difficulty and advancement of law and order, and is the settlement of the We^t Coast difficulty he had brought things to such a position that be thought the fruit of his anxious labor might be gathered, but bis coaMinisters would not sea things in the light he did, and he had to turn away disappointed. In

his opinion, though the Government had done much during the last fourteen months to settle disputes and establish law andautbority,"the Royal Commission had not suceeded in detaching a single man from Te Whiti or lessening his influence. .