Mr McCOMBIE, 1 February, 1859

in pursuance of notice moved -

'1. That an humble address be presented to His Excellency, praying that he will be pleased to grant portions of land in suitable localities in the various districts of the colony for the use of the aborigines.

2. That he will also be pleased to place upon the Estimates for this year a sum of money sufficient for affording the various tribes food and clothing; for defraying the expense of erecting mission houses, or other buildings on the reserves; and for paying missionaries, either lay or clerical, for taking charge of the various tribes of aborigines."

The facts alleged before them had not been overstated and there were no doubts about the great and increasing mortality among aborigines. It was their duty to give the greatest attention to the subject, and to take care that something was done for the good of the aborigines. They must provide for their wants, and do all in their power to lead them to Christianity and civilisation.

There could be no doubt that it was a stigma upon the colony that nothing had been done for these unfortunate natives.

There were many gentlemen in that house who had made large fortunes in what had once been the property of these aborigines, and it was but right that these unfortunate should now look to them for help and assistance.'

Mr FAWNKER, 1 February, 1859

'was prepared to support the first portion of the proposition: but he thought that House possessed no authority to call upon the Government to set apart any sum of money for the aborigines. It seemed a law of nature that the aborigines of the various colonies should fall before the whiteman. Wherever they came in contact with them they died off, independent of their loss through warfare. He might state this of his own knowledge, from his experience in Van Diemen's Land. He might also refer to the impossibility of civilising them, or teaching them the arts of civilisation. He had great pleasure in supporting that part of the proposition requesting that a grant of land should be given them; but he thought they would be over-stepping their duty in requesting a money grant.'

Mr STRACHAN, 1 February, 1859

'was prepared to go with the mover in a portion of his resolutions; but, as respected the proposal to establish missions and to send missionaries, he thought it was perfectly useless. Their previous efforts in that respect had been without the slightest success. There was no question that the most powerful tribes had now dwindled away to very few and such establishments as they were proposed would be thrown away upon them. He would move that all words after the word "clothing" in the second resolution be struck out.'