ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 671, 24 June 1882, Page 2

ABOUT THE LOBBIES.

[from our special correspondent.]

[by telegraph.] Wellington, Yesterday.

Mr Oliver was to have moved to-day in the Legislative Council that a Select Committee be appointed, to consist of five members, to consider and report upon the propriety of giving the consent of the Government to a reference of the Brogden claims to arbitration, under the provisions of The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872, the committee to report within one month, and to consist of Messrs Miller, M'Lean, Pollen, Stevens, ani the mover ; but there was so much opposition displayed by the Council to the constitution of the committee that the motion was put off. It was felt by many that it was too strong on the Government side. Brogden agents are, however, very active in canvassing both Houses to support the Brogden claims. The following protests have been lodged in the Legislative Council:—“l protest against the passing of the West Coast Peace Preservation Bill, 1882, for the fol--1 iwing reasons : Because it appears to me inconvenient to pass a measure so seriously affecting the liberties of many of Her Majesty’s subjects, without full and complete evidence of its necessity and justice, and because from the refusal or omission of the Government to place before this Council any official reports of those recent occurrences on the West Coast which are alleged. To refuse such legislation, it can only be inferred that these occurrences have not been of a nature to justify such severe proceedings as those contained in the Bill. (Signed) \V. B. D. Mantbll. June, 1882.”—“I, the undersigned member of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, record my protest against the passing of the West Coast Peace Preservation Bill on the following grounds : —(1) I believe the Bill to be ultra vires of the General Assembly of New Zealand, as much as it is repugnant to the English statute law, and deprives British subjects of the privileges granted to them by the Habeas Corpus Act; (2) It declares men guilty of sedition without trial and without any evidence of their guilt being produced before Parliament ; (3) It declares men guilty who have not been allowed to be heard in their defence before Parliament; (4) It will

create disaffection amongst the Maoris, and foment bitterness and strife again; t the colony ; (5) It is punishing Maors who, if guilty, would be punished by tfca judicial tribunal of the colony ; (6) There is no reason for suspecting that if any evidence could be produced against Te Whiti and Tohu before the Supreme Court, a jury would not commit them. (Signed) T. Fraser.’’

Sir Arthur Gordon went away and did not assent to the Peace Preservation or Indemnity Bills, leaving Sir James Prendergast to do so. Vesey Stewart arrived here this morning in que.t for more land for himself first and the people afterwards. His advent as a public benefactor had been duly chronicled by the Press Association. But Mr Stewart is well-known here and his philantrophy understood by people on both sides of the House, so his chance of success is very small. Besides, I believe the House is inclined to look on these special settlements as a mistake.