GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 35, 10 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(Per Anglo-Australian Press Telegraph Agency.) Wellington, July 9.

lu the Legislative Council to-day, Mr Waterhouse, in moving that in the opinion of this Council the mode of selling and disposing of lands under the New Zealand Settlements Act be regulated by an Act of the General Assembly, and not as at present by regulations made at the will of the Government of the day, said the regulations as to the sale of land had never been adhered to. and too much discretionary power was left in the hands of the Government. He instated the sale of 150,000 acres in the Waikato to Mr Cox, and what might have been the result of the negotiations with Yesey Stuart. He also instanced the sale of a large quantity of laud in the Waikato to Messrs Russell, Taylor, Murdoch, and others, at 3s Gd per acre. Though the character of the negotiations could not fairly bo accused, it was in contravention of the regulations, and it would be necessary to validate it by another regulation. He thought the discretionary powers should he limited and full publicity given of land transactions. The Colonial Skckktaky said a statute gave the Governor in Council power to make

regulations for the disposal of all lands except by actual sale, provided they were published in the “ Gazette,” Seeing that a large discretion was necessary during the recess, he thought the Legislature should not arrogate too much authority in the matter. In the case of the sale of a large quantity of swamp land in the Waikato, the money had been used to make valuable roads through the district itself. Colonel Kenny asked if the names of all persons interested in, and the circumstances of each transaction should be published. He had heard of land sold by the Government at a low price being repurchased by a Melbourne firm at a much higher rate and converted into a valuable property.

The Colonial Secretary said the information only would be supplied on the resolution being passed. It would be absurd to mix up the names of all private persons interested in land transactions. As to the repurchase by a Melbourne firm, he would like to see much more swamp laud taken up in the same way. Mr Waterhouse in reply said, certain discretionary powers should be left to the Government, but they should be stringently debarred from having any option as to giving publicity to all transactions, or as to the minimum price per acre. The motion was agreed to. Mr Waterhouse moved without remark —“ That copies of all correspondence and telegrams which passed between the Government and Judge Ward, in reference to Judge Chapman, be laid on the table.” The Colonial Secretary said the Government had no objection. On the meeting of the House of Representatives to-day—

Mr T. Shepherd called attention to an offensive personal telegram published in a paper by a correspondent (“ Auckland Star.”) He said if similar attacks were continued members would have to provide themselves with horsewhips. The Speaker said if he had the control of the reporters’ gallery he should certainly exclude the author of so offensive a telegram. Members should be protected from such insolence.

Replying to a question put by Mr ■Williams, Mr Richardson said that the Government had under consideration the question of erecting a new Court-house and Customhouse at Hokianga. Mr O’Neil asked the Premier as to whether the Government intended this session to introduce any Bill to amend the Representation Act, 1871. The Premier said the Government did not intend to do so. The question was one which should not be interfered with unless upon very good grounds, or something more than a few trifling inequalities. The following bills were introduced and read a first time ; —A Bill to Amend the Conveyancing Ordinance ; a Bill to Amend the Canterbury Domains Act, 1872; a Bill to Extend the Time for the Registration of Births in Certain Cases; a Bill to Amend the Marlborough Waste Lands Act, 1867,

On the motion of Mr C. Parker, returns of the exports and imports between New Zealand and Tasmania between 1870 and 1873 inclusive were ordered to be laid upon the table. On the motion of Mr Sheehan, a return was ordered of all business transacted by the District Court at Napier since the appointment of the present judge. Mr Fox moved for copies of all instructions issued to resident magistrates or licensing Boards, and all correspondence relating to the Licensing Act, 1873, which was agreed to.

Some debate ensued upon Mr Wakefield’s motion for a return of the cost of producing the Handbook of New Zealand, distinguishing the literary labor, and cost of setting up the type ; also to state whether the type was distributed or not. Mr Wakefield in his remarks sharply criticised the manner in which the book was compiled as not doing full justice to New Zealand as a united country, and not being put in such an attractive form as would be likely to have a beneficial effect upon the class of men required by the colony. Mr Vogel explained that the trouble and labor entailed by the production of the book had been so great that had he been aware of it beforehand he should not have readily burdened himself with so onerous a duty. _ It was impossible for him to do anything with the mass in manuscript, and scarcely safe to send it home for printing in manuscript. Only a few proof copies of the book had been struck off in New Zealand, and though it was intended to have printed a greater number than was at first struck off, unfortunately the type was broken up before the order was given. He was sorry a larger number of copies had not not been provided for the colony, but had been expecting that a supply would have been received from England before the session opened. He hoped they would be out soon for distribution.

The return being opposed, a division was called for ; the result being eleven votes for and 29 against; Mr Vogel then said he would furnish a return of all the different payments made on account of the hand-book before the end of the session ; only a few having as yet been made.

On Mr Gillies’ motion for the production of the correspondence relating to Judge Ward and Judge Chapman, he thanked the Government for so readily and courteously acceding to his request. The Premier hoped that the whole matter would be allowed to pass into oblivion as soon as possible after the information should have been supplied. He did not consider it necessary that the documents should be printed and appear upon the minutes of the House, but would lay the necessary papers upon the table for the use of members only. Mr Fox thought the quarrel between the judges a very petty one as it flood; but it was not necessary for the public to interfere, inasmuch as no complication or anything detrimental to the public interest was involved in it, though perhaps it might suit many Otago people to hear more of it. But one aspect of the case which he thought the House should search more into was, by what means the “Otago Daily Times’’ became possessed of the contents of those telegrams which were admitted by the Premier to bear a close resemblance to the originals. It was perfectly certain that there had been either gross negligence or a gross breach of faith by somebody, because he was assured that neither of those engaged in the quarrel had in their private capacity furnished the information: He must the.efore conclude that it found its way to 1 lie “ Times” through the Telegraph Department, though he had no reason from his acquaintance with the department to doubt the honesty and trust-

worthiness of the operators in such matters. Mr Fox then referred to the various wavs by which telegraphic information sometimes leaks out, instancing the case where some important financial information was taken off the wire in transmission by a person listening through a wall, who took the substance of the message and operated upon it for speculative purposes. The Premier had spoken of the matter as if it was like Junius’ letters, or the Man with the Iron Mask ; but he felt certain if the House would follow the matter up they would succeed in stripping the iron mask from the brazen face of the right person, and discover the means by which the telegrams appeared in the 11 Otago Daily Times.” Mr. Fox referred at some length to another telegram mystery in which the same paper figures. The information had been supplied by its Wellington correspondent, and he regretted his connection with that matter. During his visit South he felt compelled to characterise the affair in such strong terms as a double-dyed transaction. Unfortunately they had never yet been able to discover how that knowledge escaped the Government; but he had no doubt he would have been able to do so had the correspondent in question carried out his threat by entering an action for libel. He was sorry he never was afforded an opportunity of extracting evidence regarding the channel by which the information leaked out by means of a judicial examination in the witness-box, and so have discovered the guilty party. It was clear that, unless the recipient had been guilty of sheer negligence, there must have been gross negligence on the part of the department. He hoped Mr Gillies would move for a committee to enquire into the higher part of the question, and one in which the public were more directly interested, and enable the House to discover whether the affair was the result of a breach of confidence, or want of precaution on the part of the recipient. After referring to the case of Macassey and Bell, he said telegrams should not be kept any more than the letters left in the post office, and except in the case of business telegrams involving large monetary transactions, all should be destroyed as soon as possible, •• Mr T, Gillies hoped the mover would not be led astray by the ingenious speech of the member for Rangitikei, but would ascertain whether there was any truth in the charges of gross favoritism made by one judge against another in the telegrams, that though called impudent forgeries by one person, were admitted to be substantially correct by another. As for the insinuation made against the department, it was the first time he had heard of such a thing in connection with this case.

The mover said the Otago public felt considerable interest in the question, but, on public grounds alone, it was impossible a question involving such grave charges should be allowed to sink into oblivion.

The documents were ordered to he produced.

The Nelson Loan Bill was read a first time.

An Imprest Supply Bill for two hundred and fifty thousand pounds went through the first stage; Drafts of the following Bills sent down by message from the Governor were reported to House: —Bill to amend the Supreme Court Judges Act 1858 ; Bill to make provision for the establishment of State Forests and the application of the revenue derivable therefrom ; Bill to amend the law relating to; the Civil Service ; Act to amend the Westland Loan Act 1873 ; Act for amending the Post-office Savings Bank Act 1867 ; Act to repeal the New Zealand University Act 1870. The House then adjourned.