Parliamentary.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 100, 22 October 1894, Page 2

Parliamentary.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 20. The Council met at 11.30. The Banking Bill was read a first time. The Public Trust Office Consolidation Bill was slightly altered in committo, and then pat through its final stages. The Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill was read a second time and the committal set down for Monday. At 1 p.m. the Council adjourned till Monday. This Day. The Council met at 11 a.m. Formal business having; been disposed of Sir P. Buckley moved the Council adjourn until 2.30 p.m. as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr Dignan. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Heuse met a 2 30. The report of the Conference on the Native Land Court Bill -was agreed to. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Seafisheries and Public Trust Office Bills were agreed to. Hon. Seddon moved that the report of the Conference on the Criminal Code be agreed to. He intended to introduce another Bill next session to fix the age at sixteen. The Conference struck out the clause in the Bill providing for a re-hearing in the Chemis murder case. Mr Mills spoke strongly against the action of the Council in refusing to allow Chemis a fresh trial, and a general discussion on the whole case followed. Eveutually the report was adopted. Hon. Ward gave notice to introduce the Local Bodies Loans Conversion Bill, which he explained Government wished to have circulated. Hon. Seddon announced the death of the Hon. Patrick Dignan, M.L.C., at New Plymouth, and as a mark of respect to one who had done his duty to the country, he moved that the House adjourn till 8 p.m. Captain Russell, Sir Robert Stout, and Mr Lawry bore tribute to the sterling qualities of the deceased, and at 5.25 i p.m. the House adjourned till 8 p.m. The House resumed at 8 p.m. The Hon. Mr McKenzie moved that thfe report of the Pomahaka Purchase Committee be adopted and entered on the Journals of the House. He did not know that it was necessary for him to move this motion at all so far as he was personally concerned, but as some odium bad been cast on his Department he felt bound to defend his officers. At his request the charges were investigated by the Waste Lands Committee, who had found that nothing whatever was proved against either himself or his departmont. These charges were prompted because it had fallen to his lot to expose the doings of some of the financial rings in the colony, and nothing would have pleased certain people better than the defeat of the Minister of Lands at the last election. His opponents' charges should have been withdrawn when they were proved to be incorrect. Sir Robert Stout complained of the way the report had been drawn up, and said there was no difference between the speech of cousel and the report of the committee. Messrs Mills, Geo. Hutchison, Allen, Hogg, and other members also spoke a few minutes before mid-night. Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House adjourned until 11.30 a.m. on Monday. This Day. The whole of the afternoon sitting of the House was taken up with a discussion on the Pomahaka land purchase question.