HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3171, 27 August 1881, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday. The House met afc 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the attention of the Government had been directed to a case heard in the R.M. Court at Oamaru, in which a man was charged with assaulting his wife under peculiarly aggravated circumstances —inquries would be made into all the facts of the case with the view of ascertaining whether or not a miscarriage of justice had taken place, or whether the offender should not have been dealt with by a jury ; tenders had been called for the conveyance of mails between the Bluff Harbor and Stewarts Island ; in the matter of the petition of Arthur Ellis and another the Government had already more than once replied that they did not intend to entertain the claim ; the Government would, during the recess, carefully consider the report of the Otago Pastoral Leases Committee, and would accept its recommendations as indicating the particular points in which amendments should be considered, but there were clauses in the report upon which there was likely to be a difference of opinion, and upon these the committee should further deliberate —the Government, however, had every confidence that they would be able under the existing law to have the runs cut; up and otherwise dealt with during the recess ; the Government, intended next sitting day to introduce the proposed Patent Act Amendment Bill; the Government did not propose adding fire insurance to its Life Assurance Department; provision would be made for dispensing with the stamped receipt on payment of Imperial pensions. NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time: —Port; Chalmers Dock Trust Bill (Hall) ; Counties Act Amendment Bill (Seddon). MR WAKEEIELD AND THE STONEWALLING. Mr Wakefield complained that the Press Association telegrams had represented him as having on Wednesday night assisted to stonewall the Representation Bill. Under the circumstances the mistake was excusable, and he did not think the misrepresentation intentional. The few remarks he made on the occasion were in fun, and were so accepted by members. They had not in all occupied a couple of minutes. He had been one of those member told off for night duty on the Government side. The same telegram also represented Mr Brandon as objecting to the bill instead of the amendment. MORE STONEWAtLING-. On the orders of the day being called Mr Speight moved the adjournment of the House, stating that he did so for the purpose of ventilating a grievance. Ho then commenced to refer to the pension question. Mr Bowen objected to the forms of the House being used for stonewalling purposes. The Speaker said he could not assume that such was Mr Speight's object, and refused to interfere. Mr Speight intimated that he did not wish the country to be put to tho expense of his speech being reported. Mr Speight's remarks.were interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Speight was ruled out of order in further referring to Dr. Pollen's pension question, as a message from the Governor was brought down inviting the House to consider

papers on the subject. He, however, continued to speak on other subjects. When the House resumed Mr Hall gave notice of motion for the adoption of tho crotuve standing order, similar to those adopted by the House of Commons. Messrs Gibbs, Scddon, Levestam, Pitt, and others, then continued the debate on the motion for adjournment, speaking on a variety of topics. The Premier intimated distinctly that the Government would not allow the minority to coerce the majority, and Mr Eolleston said the Government were not at all afraid to take the voice of the country. At 1.10 the motion for adjournment was agreed to, and the Houso rose.