THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3275, 19 August 1873, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, August 19. In the House last night the Premier moved the second reading of the Province of Westland "Bill, to enable the affairs of the County to be conducted as are those of Taranaki and Hawke's Bay ; the Superintendent to sit in the Council. -Mr Harrison seconded the motion with some regret. The County had not, been so great a failure as was supposed, and the Provinces had made worse failures. The County's financial arrangements with Canterbury were the principal difficulty. Under present circuinstances, however, he thought the Bill the be."t for the district.— MrLuckie supported the Bill.—Mr White was agreeably suprised at it. It showed how the country would now be able to manage education, licensing, and other matters which had been much neclected hitherto.—Mr O'Conor supported the Bill. —Mr T. B. Gillies protested against the Bill. Tt had only been circulated three hours previously, and was being hurried through the House. Suoh legislation was a farce. The Bill repealed clauses in the old Act wholesale. He believed no member knew what those clauses were. —Mr Sheehan supported the Bill, because it was good as far as it went. He advocated the consolidation of the Provinces. —Mr Wakefield and Mr O'Neill urged a postponement, to allow time for consideration.—Mr Vogel replied that the clauses were merely technical.—The Bill was then read a second time. On the motion of the Native Minister, the Rangitikei-Manawatu Crown Grants Bill was read a second time. On a motion for the committal of the Native Reserves Bill, Karatiana opposed the Bill as a bad one for the Maoris. They should define the reserves to be dealt with. There were too many Bills for the Natives. — Mr Sheehan said the Bill and two ethers were evidently prepared by different persons, and contradicted each other. The question of Native reserves was one of life and death to parts of the Colony. He objected to the appointment of a Native Commissioner, and to the power proponed to be given liim. The expense of machinery would absorb all the revenue of reserves. The reserves should be dealt with by Native Lands Court officers, without increased pay. He hoped the Government would withdraw the Bill.— Taiaroa opposed the Bill. He did not understand it, nor did he know why it was introduced. If wanted, he hoped the Government would bring in a simpler measure.—Mr T. B. Gillies said it was twenty years since he first took an interest from a Middle Island view of the Native matter. since then he had taken North Island views. He beiieved exceptional legislation on Native matters was bad. The s atives should be treated as men. not children. He objected to powers being placed in the hands of anyone the Government might appoint. One law for the Maori and another for the European was bad. The Natives were well able to treat with the reserves. —Mr T. L. Shepherd said the Natives were not able to protect themselves against such Europeans as were in the North Island. The Bill was to protect them from combinations of lawyers and land sharks. —Mr Fitzherbert considered the Bill a further step in the direction of the exceptional legislation the Natives' case required. He objected to vesting such powers in the Governor, and taking them out of the hands of the Government. The Bid dealt with the confiscated lands in an objectionable manner.—Mr Fox sairl that the Natives required protection against people anxious to prey on them. He presumed power would only be given to the Governor in Council. He supported the Bill.—Mr Rolleston said the Bill contained little that was new or good. Ho urged its postponement. —Mr M'Lean replied at length. —ln Committee the first eight clauses passed ; clauses 9 to 16 were postponed, and progress was reported in the middle of the discussion on clause 24, respecting the appointment of Native Chiefs as Boards of Advice. (FROM OUR SPECIAL COKKESI'ONDENT.) The result of the Nelson members' caucus yesterday is that Mr O'Conor moves to-mor-row— " That this House to-morrow resolve itself into a Committee of the whole, to consider giving leave to introduce a Bill to authorise the raising of a loan for the construction of works of public utility in the Province of Nelson, and charging the sums borrowed against certain lands in Nelson."