GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1000, 8 September 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

♦ [By Telegraph.] [pee peesb agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, September 7. The House met at 2.30 p.m, QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr J. C. Brown, Mr Reid said that a synopsis of all intended land sales would be advertised in the local papers. Replying to Mr O’Rorke, Major Atkinson said the publicans’ fees for the borough, of Onehunga had by mistake been paid*to the county of Eden by the Collector of Customs. The error would be rectified. Mr McLean, in reply to Mr Swanson, said that local bodies addressing the Government on public service need not pay postage. NEW BILLS. The following new Bills were introduced— Provincial Laws Evidence (Whitaker), Nelson Rille Prize Amendment (Curtis); Sale of Food and Drugs (Wason.) hawke’s bay land sales. The debate on Mr Rees’s motion and Capt. Russell’s amendment regarding Hawke’s Bay Land transactions was resumed. Mr Whitaker said he had communicated with Mr Locke and Mr Russell. He was now at liberty to place the letters on the table, having obtained the permission of Mr Locke and Mr Cox. But the House had resolved that Captain Russell’s consent must also be obtained, and that he had not got. Captain Russell had refused, saying that the letters were his and he would lay the matter before his lawyer. Sir George Grey asked that telegrams to and from Mr Cox should be laid before the House. The Speaker said he did not think the debate could be proceeded with till the letters were produced. The House could not rest satisfied till this were done. He thought also that the telegrams to and from Mr Cox should be read, Mr Whitaker read the telegrams. Mr Cox said the letters belonged to Mr Locke, and should be given to no one else or be used without his permission. Personally he had no objection to their production, and he was, if required, willing to give evidence before a Select Committee, The letters were at this stage laid on the table. Mr Rolleston asked if Mr Locke had consented to the letters being read. Mr Whitaker read a letter from Mr Locke assenting to the use of the letters, if his principal were willing. ! Considerable discussion ensued as to whether the letters could be read without Russell’s consent. Mr Swanson thought that Mr Locke should bo called to the Bar of the House, and asked whether he regarded Mr Cox or Capt. Russell as his principal, whose assent he considered necessary to the letters being read. Major Atkinson said the letters were laid on the table by Mr Whitaker by order of the House, not by the Government as ordinary papers. The Speaker said he understood the letters to be laid on table by the Government. Mr Whitaker denied that Government had anything to do With them. He had the letters in his possession as a private member, and in deference to the wish of the House he put them on table, but they were not Government papers, and the Government had nothing do with them. .If they were returned to him now he would not allow them to be used. The Speaker asked the House whether, as the Government disclaimed all connection with the letters, they should be handed back to Mr Whitaker, Mr Montgomery thought no papers could be laid on table except by the Governor’s command, without a motion that it be received. After further discussion the Speaker read a letter from Hon. H. Russell respectfully but decidedly objecting to his private letters to Mr Locke being read. Under those circumstances, and the Attorney-General having stated that all the letters were not|laid on the table by the Government, lie ruled that the letters were not properly in the possession of the House, and accordingly he ordered Mr Whitaker to resume possession of them, to deal with them as he thought proper. The letters were accordingly returned to Mr Whitaker. Sir George Grey said he held in his hand a letter from one of the partners in the company referred to, stating that he (Sir George Grey) had no connection with the company. Mr Takamoana spoke to the main question, saying that Mr Ormond had done noth mg right in regard to Natives and their lauds in Hawke’s Bay. ADJOVKNMEM. the House adjourned before the usual hour in consequence of a bad smell of gas. If there be no improvement at hitlf-puipt gevejj it wjJJ agaia vfyovursi.