General Assembly.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 422, 6 August 1880, Page 3

General Assembly.

; PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS. : '■'■■' - In the House of Representatives on Monday, the amendments made by' the Legislative Council in the Elections Petitions BUI, were considered. Mr Hall moved—" That they be agreed to." Messrs Tole and Montgomery objected to the amendment which provided tfcat these petitions should be tried by one Judge of the Supreme Court, instead of two as adopted by the House. Mr Reader Wood said that the appointment of two Judges was «n adaptation of the English Law on the Subject; here the requisitions to be tried were as a rule ranch simpler thim they were in England, consequently hi thought the amendment should Be supported. The Hon. W. Gisborne took an opposite view ; it would be most irregular to allow any one Jtidge to discharge the'"functions as he would have to act in such cases, as both Judge and jury. Mr Stewart looked upon the two Judges as a cardinal point in the Bill, and hoped the amendment would not oe agreed to. The amendment oi the Council was dissented from. The second amendment, providing for trial of (ha petition, the wordß "in the district, or-at sotne place adjacent thereto," having betfn smirk out by the Upper House was likewise."dissented from, and a Committee was appointed to draw up reasons for the dissension in both oases. The remainder of the sitting was occupied by discussion, on three of the Government measures effecting Native Land. The Native Land Court Bill, th p Native Lands Frauds Prevention Bill, and the Native Succession Bill, were read a second time, and the House went into Committee on the first of these msasures, the discussion on which lasted till the rising of the House. On Wednesday in the Council, ' Replying to the Hon. J. N. Wilson, The Hon. F. Whitaker said Government were taking steps in conformity with a former resolution passed by the Council, as to purging the Commission of the Peace. On the motion for the second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Endownment Bill (Mr Stevens' measure, not the Government's).

Colonel Whitmore moved that it should be thrown out. So far from being able to lock up any more reserves, the time might be coming when they would have to reconsider those already made. Sir F. D. Bell was astonished that such a preposterous Bill had got through the Lower House. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse opposed the Bill, and Colonel Brett characterised it as a gigantic swindle. He blushed at Mr Miller's audacity in bringing it in just now, when they were bankrupt. It was proposed to raise five millions for charity. The Hon. W. Robinson said to pass the Bill would be obtaining money under false pretences on land already mortgaged for our national debt. Messrs Menzies and Bonar opposed the Bill, which was then thrown out by 30 to to 36. In the House of Representatives, At the evening sitting the Hon J. Bryce moved that the House go into Committee on the Native Land Sales Bill. Mr Reader Wood thereupon moved as an amendment—" That no system of Native Sale will be satisfactory to this House which does not confer upon the Natives named in the certificate of title

obiained from tbe Native Land Court absolute power lo dispose in the market by sale, lease, or otherwise of the - lands described in such certificate without any Government inteference." After a long discussion tha House went into Committee on tbe Bill. Clause 1 was agreed to. Mr Bryce moved that progress be reported. . ' Mr Hamlin, to protest against the Bill, moved that the Chairman leave the chair, but Afterwards withdrew the motion. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.15 4.ni.