PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4225, 11 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[By Telegraph.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MORE EXPLANATIONS. On Thursday evening on the Canterbury Leasing Bill Mr Stafford drew attention to the speech of the member for the Thames on the Separation question, in which he alleged that there had been a compact between him (Mr Stafford) and the Colonial Secretary about the Canterbury runs. That allegation he (Mr Stafford) wished to give a flat contradiction to. He could only account for the assertion by attributing it to the too fertile imagination of the member for the Thames. Not only had there been no such compact, but he never even spoke of any member of the present or past Ministry on the subject. Referring to the complaint that Canterbury members had come up pledged to support a particular course, by an hon. member who was continually talking of the rights of the people, he should regard it as an incontestible proof that the people of that Province at any rate were represented. As to his having pledged himself by a compact, he denied having communicated with the late or present Government, either verbally or by letter on the subject. It was an unworthy accusation. Sir G. Grf.y rose and said he had been informed of the gircuinataucej by the hon. member for Timaru himself, and that the bon. member could not deny it. Mr Stafford : I deny it altogether. Sir George Grey remarked it was a question of memory against memory, and went on to relate how he had heard that the hon. member for Timaru and the Hon. Dr Pollen Lad met at Christchurch, for the purpose of settling what was to be the future of the country as to the abolition of the Provinces, and upon ashing the Lou. member for Timaru whether the repott was correct, he lud admitted it was. The details of the conversation he had not given, but be bad'.

admitted that be had met Dr Pollen, and a compact was entered into, by which the bon. member bad bound himself to vote for the Government on all points which affected the existence of the Government. Mr Stafford said he bad never nsed such words, and never had made and never would make each a compact with any member.

Sir G. Grey said he could trust his memory, and was quite sure the hod. member had told him so. Mr Stafford said it was quite true that an interview had taken place between himself and Dr Pollen, and that the question of Abolition was talked of, and it was true that he had mentioned that to Sir George Grey; but be had only told the hon. member what he had told the House on the first day of the session. He had on that occasion said,.that in consideration of the Government liaving extended the question of Abolition in both islands, he should, on all questions affecting the continuance of the Government in office, give them a loyal and cordial support. 1 A member of the Government who immediately followed him said they* had heard -Ihat-de-claration for the first- time, and that was true. So much for the Compact. It .was true he had spoken to Dr Foueh about Abolition, and pressed him to extend it to both islands on the occasion at the meeting, but that was not the question Dr Pollen and he had met to talk over. What the subject was none bnt Dr Pollen or his colleagues, and he (Mr Stafford) had ever known np to the present day. ABOUT THE LOBBIES. Sir J. Vogel has sent in his resignation of his seat for Wanganui, and wiU : publish his farewell address to them. " ' The Public (Petitions Committee haw reported in favor of Mr H. W. Faraell receiving a sum of L 139, as compensation for dismissal by the Agent-General from ,;hia position as an immigration agent ih the United Kingdom. 1