GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1693, 24 July 1879, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, July 23. petitions. Tawihi presented a petition for the appointment of a European magistrate for the Bay of Islands, also for an inquiry re certain lands. •' NOTICES AND PAPBBS. 'Mr Stevens gave notice of a question re remuneration to Mr Larnach as loan agent. Mr Sutton will ask if there is any report from Sir J. Coode re Napier harbor works. Mr Mubbay-Aynsley will ask whether police quarters fife to live in will he provided tor Port Lyttelton. Hone Nahe. gave notice to move—" That the name of Tamoana be added to the Native affairs committee." The Pbemieb laid on the table a statement of accounts for the period ending June 30th, asked for a few days ago. Sir R. Douglas gave notice of motion—- " That the petition of settlers North of Auckland, re railway, be printed." BAIL-WAY CARRIAGES AND BAILS. Mr Feldwick asked the Minister for «Public Works whether, with a view to increasing the comfort of passengers on the railways, his department propose to convert - the six-wheeled carriages upon the lines into 'double bogie carriages'; also if the Govern- • ment intend to re-lay the 281 b. rails placed upon the Invercargill -Riverton railway by ' others better adapted for the heavy traflio npon it. MtMaoandbbw said directions would be given to re-lay the line in question. ABHBTJBTON MAGISTRATE'S. COURT. Mr Habt asked the Government if they intend to place a sum on the estimates for a courthouse and offices at Ashburton. Mr Gisbobnb said the sum placed on the estimates last year was insufficient, but he would see to it this year. PITBOHASH OF NATIVE LANDS. Mr Hobbs asked the Government what aum will be required to complete > the purchase of Native lands on which deposits have been paid; also if the Government land purchase agents have the right or privilege of buying Native land on their own account, and then selling it to private speculators. Mr Gisbobnb said a return was now being prepared to answer the question. No Government officer was allowed to do so on pain of dismissal, either for themselves or their friends. CIVIL SEBYIOB APPOINTMENTS. Mr Goldie asked the Government if they will lay before the House a list of names of all persons who received appointments to the civil service during the twelve months ended 30th June, 1879 ; such return to specify the amount -of salary payable to each, and the names of the individuals upon whose recommendations the appointments were made, with all correspondence that has passed between the Premier and his colleagues in relation thereto. The Pkemieh said a list could not be prepared so far as he was concerned unless the appointments had been made by himself, nor could he furnish the correspondence asked for. WAXBARAPA BAILWAY PAYMENTS. Mr Sutton asked the Oolonial Treasurer whether there is any truth in the report that the Government has not paid progress payments passed on account of the Woodville. contract on the Wairarapa railway, and that in consequence of such non-payment to the contractor over one hundred working men have not been paid for seven weeks. Mr Macandhbw said it was true that a number of men were not paid in consequence of the death of the contractor, but since then an engineer had gone to pay the men. THE TIMBEB TBADB. Mr GibbS auked the Premier whether the Government intend to take any action towards relieving the depression at present existing in the timber trade, either by reimposing the duty previously levied on timber, or in any other manner. The Premier said the question wonld be answered when the financial statement was laid before the House. RAILWAY PENDING. Mr Tubnbull asked the Minister for Public Works if it is the intention of the Government to complete the fencing of the main line of railway in the Middle Island. Mr Macandbew said he would deal with •this question in the Public Works statement. RESBBVKS ALONG RAILWAYS. Mr Turnbull asked the Minister for Publio Works if the Government intend reserving blocks of land at convenient distances along proposed new lines of railway, suitable for village settlements, with sufficient land for commonage, and if so, the acreage of such sections and terms under which they will be •old. Mr Macandbew said the Government were alive to the importance of this, and would introduce a Bill to enable the Government to lay off blocks along the various lines of railway. SALABTBS OP GAOL OFFICERS. Mr Murray-Aynsley asked the Minister of Justice if he had carried out the recommendation of the Gaols Committee to equalise the salaries of the officers of the several gaols throughout the colony. Mr Gisbobnb, in the absence of Mr Sheehan, said it would be necessary to increase the expense by £750, and until this sum was voted by tho House they could not doit. SHABBBROKBRS' ACT. Mr Tole asked the Premier if he had received a communication from the sharebrokers of'Auckland making certain representations regarding the operation 'of the Sharebrokers Act, and whether the Government intend to take action in tho direction of such representation. The Premier replied that a communication had been received that day by telegram, stating that a letter had been sent, and when received it would be dealt with. NEW BILLS. Leave was given to introduce the following Hills : —Mr Hart, Ashburton County Counoil Waterworks Bill; Mr Swanson, Bill to declare and explain the trusts of the Auckland College and Grammar Sohool endowments and for other purposes ; Mr Rees, Bill to transfer the Powers of the Auckland Improvement Commissioners to the City Council of Auckand. pbiyilegb. Mr McLean, in reply to the Speaker, who said he had not yet been able to make inquiry re the misuse of a railway map, urged that the matter was of such importance that he hoped an inquiry would be made at once. Mr Macandbew was prepared to explain the matter, if allowed. Mr Rolleston thought the matter should be left in the Speaker's hands. Mr McLean wanted to know how the map got out of the possession of that House, and tho Speaker could inquire into that matter. He did not wish to point to the Government as blameable, but would move for a committee of inquiry to arrive at the fact. Mr Richardson suggested that it should be referred to the Standing Orders Committee.

Mr McLban"moved—"That a committee be appointed to inquire and report on the matter."

Mr Macandbbw seconded, and in doing so

said the Under-Secretary for Public Wor told him that the maps in question had not been altered. They were Bent out by the Government printer to prepare for stones, but not altered. He thought tho map refeir.>d to was the ono referring to the line to Te Aroha, which was altered to suit the line to Grahamstown, in accordance with the Publio Works Act.

Mr Richardson said he had not made any mistake. He knew of the two maps, and still thought no map should have been altered, and the coloring on the plens showed that it had been altered'at different limes. The motion was carried. MANAGBMBNT OF COAL MINES. Mr Murray obtained leave to withdraw his motion —" That in the opinion of this House a Parliamentary Commission should be appointed to inquire into the working and management of coal mines, and the causes of the Kaitangata colliery accident." He said he had ascertained that the matter was to be dealt with. PAPBBS TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES. Mr Hursthouse moved— -" That in the Opinion of this House all _ libraries in the colony receiving Government aid should be supplied with a copy of the Government " Gazette," 'J Hansard," the statutes, and all Parliamentary papers free of cost." Carried. native petitions. Mr Nahe moved—"'That all Native petitions, which were not dealt with by tho Native Affairs Committee of last year, be referred to the committee of this session for consideration." Carried. ALTEBATIONS IN COMMITTEES. On the motion of Mr Bryob, the name of Captain Russell'was added to the Native Affairs Committee. On the motion of Mr Kelly, it was resolved that the number of the Public Accounts Committee bo seventeon, and that Messrs McLean and Murray be added to the Waste Lands Committee. THAMES BAILWAY. Mr Richardson moved—" That it is expedient the. House be informed (1) whether the conditions- attached to clause 3 of the Railway Construction Act, 1878,- have been complied with with respect to the railway frem Waikato to Thames ; (2) if so, when the plans and estimate, with certificate from the Chief Engineer that the route chosen for the railway is the best available, were sub-, milted to the Governor in Council; (3) when the approval of the Governor in Council was given ; (4) what contracts have- been let on this railway, and the date at which the same were let." The mover said last year he asked this question and was not.satisfied, and he considered it of importance. He then moved that no money should be expended until an appropriation was made by the House, and in the face of this he contended that the line in question.had been commenced. The .line brought forward was to the head, of navigation at Te Aroha. No extension beyond that had been brought before the House, or any vote taken for the same. In last year's Publio Works Statoment it was thirty miles, and Ministers said it was the only lino of whioh they had accurate data to go upon. It was to cost £168,000. The only other statement was when the Minister of Works, referring to the benefits of the railway, said that additional value Would be given to the lands of the Thames by the extension of the line from Grahamstown to Waikato. In the report of Mr Stewart, engineer, it was said that the length would be thirty miles and the terminus at Te Aroha, and, he concluded by stating that the cost would be £178,000, including the branch to Hamilton. The only other report was Mr Simpson's in 1873 J being ' the result of a petition from the Superintendent of -Auckland, in response to which a survey was ordered. Mr Simpson proposed to make a - line from the head of navigation. The House was led to believo, when voting £178,000, that it was for tho line thence to Waikato. They now learned that contracts had been let for works some thirty miles away from the line intended, and the country was committed to a line of sixty miles instead of thirty, at a cost of some £400,000, instead of the sum voted, £178,C00. He also asked how the line became altered on the plan without the consent of the House. There was an Amendment Act introduced, but they were then told it was only of a technical character, whilst they were now told it was to give Ministers power to make any line they thought proper. He looked upon this as exceeding the powers given by the House, and very reprehensible. Mr McLean seconded the motion. Mr Macandbew said the information would be supplied in the Public Works Statement, when he thought it would be seen that the statements of the last speaker were a myth. He would not deal with the matter until then. The work was quite legal and authorised under two Acts. The whole objection was a farce, as would be Been when the plans and statements were laid before the House.

Mr Bowen thought it showed a loose way of conducting business, and if the work was authorised, it showed how careful they should bo in admitting any alterations suggested by Ministers. The House thought the Public Works Minister had given them everything in his statement, and if such works as these were to be undertaken afterwards they would have to watch narrowly every piece of paper brought before them. The whole country wa3 astonished when the sod of this railway was turned, and he believed the Publio Works Minister was himself surprised. He thought it would be found to havejbeen illegally entered upon from beginning to end.

Mr McLean thought the Premier of the colony would have felt called upon to offor some explanation as to this Happy Yalley railway for his constituents. It would be simple enough to answer without waiting for plans and papers. He voted for the line to To Aroha, but he did not do so because he thought it would be a paying railway, but to settle Native difficulties in accordance with the policy of the late Sir Sir D. M'Lean. But to have the House set at defiance for this railway was not right, merely to fulfil the Premier's dream of happiness for this valley. If they wished to do a kindness to the Thames, let the Premier take steps to assist the people of that district over their pumps, and then he would receive their thanks. If the line had been made to Te Aroha it would have been equally serviceable to the Thames, because it would give them communication with a navigablo river. He hoped no railwsy would be made without the sanction of that House. He did not care if it paid or not so long as it received full sanction. He hoped to have an answer to the question without reference to the plans and without setting the House at defiance. Mr Turnbull said the fullest information would bo furnished, and it was unfair to ask for an immediate answer, in the absence of the necessary papers. Mr Rolleston did not see any reason why a simple answer should not be given. The Premier had an opportunity to make some extraordinary statements on the occasion of turning the sod of that railway, which were telegraphed all over the colony, and a copy of which he hod before him. It was a political railway which, from his statements in that House, ought never to have been undertaken by the Premior. Sir W. Fox said they did not oppose tho railway so much as the making of unauthorised railways. The Premier, no doubt, had good reasons for making this lino at tho wrong end, and he was surprised his hon. friend, the member for Waikato, had not said something in defence of his constituents, who were not served by the alteration. The motion was then put and carried. NELSON WASTE LANDS BOABD.

Dr. Henby moved—" That in the opinion of this House it is highly desirablo for the more satisfactory administration of publio estates in Nelson South-west gold Gelds that periodical sittings of the Waste Lands Board be held at Westport." Mr Gisbobnb said the Government had arranged that the Chief Commissioner of Nelson Land Board would visit Westport every three months, and tho wardens had been provided with maps so that they could furnish all particulars. The Board could not visit Westland without great inconvenience. He did not think they had power to establish branch Boards, but legislation could be introduced to deal with this matter.

Mr Curtis s lid tho survey office was independent of the Board, and unless assistance was given the work would go behind. There was no delay, however, on the part of the Boaid in dealing with applications brought before them.

Mr Qisboenb said the want of localisation was an evil which should be dealt with. It was essential that every convenience should be afforded in the selection of lands. Sir B. Douglas pointed out an inconvenience of the same character experienced north of Auckland, end said he was glad to hear the favorable remarks of tb.9 Minister for

Lands on the subject. They wanted subBoards to deal with this matter, and he hoped provision would be made to admit of thes > Boards for the colony. Mr Moss. thought the responsibility of those Boards was a sham and delusion, and they would be better done away with in favor of some officer responsible to tho Government. Mr Thomson suggested that, as the Government were desirous of assisting in the matter, it-would be as well in the meantime to withdraw the motion. Dr. Henby accepted the suggestion, and the motion was accordingly withdrawn. NEWSPAPEB TBIEGBAJIS. Mr Swanson moved—" That Mr McLean be added to the committee for enquiry into the facilities to be given to newspapers for the use of the telegraph." Carried. LOCAL BODIES* FINANCE. Dr. Wallis moved —" That there bo laid before this House a return showing the income and expenditure of every municipality, every County Counoil and every Road Board in tho colony during the year ended 31st March, and showing the amount of salary, if any, paid to every Mayor, every county chairman, and other salaries during the aforesaid year, and showing the indebtedness or amount borrowed by every municipality, by every City Council, and by every Road Board, on the 31st March last." Mr Gisbobnb said the information would b) found before the House, but the table would be prepared. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. ADDBBSS IN BEPLY. The House resumed at 7.30 on the address in reply. Mr Sheehan, who was received with cheers, before proceeding to the debate wished to say that a telegram from Taranaki had just been received, stating that twenty-four more prisoners had been taken. He thanked the Opposition for the privilege of addressing them that evening, as owing to his indisposition he had been absent last night. He thought tho step taken in moving the amendment was a peculiar and unwarranted one, and such as placed the Government in an awkward position. They might have allowed the address to go by default, and have brought - down a no confidence motion next day. He did not accept the professions of wolves in sheep's clothing. They attempted to delay tho carrying out of the policy which they had objected to. He had not been able to attend through the debate, and could not therefore reply to all the charges made. But he intended to reply to the charges preferred by Sir W. Fox. He hid a respect for the hon. gentleman from his long connection with the colony, and thought he deserved his honors. But he objected to the backstairs way in which he had procured the same. Nevertheless he hoped he would live long to enjoy the honor. He did not see the 'necessity for the theatrical effects which the hon. gentleman attempted in his speech, because they were well supplied with such talent. The real fight was not against policy or administration, but to get into office." He did not intend to allow the statement to go unchallenged that they were tho real Simon Pures, and the Government all that was- bad and objectionable. The hon. gentleman told them, in his opening speech, that a Maori war was imminent; a statement which carried some weight coming from such an authority, and if it was true, they knew who were responsible for it. They had been accused of maladministration, and this was a charge which ,they could hurl back to their accusers, because they were most guilty of such a charge. After twenty-five years of political life, a man assumed a very grave faoe, and he was not surprised at the gravity with which Sir W. Fox made the extraordinary profession of his own good qualities in contrast to the failings of the present Government. He was the arch Bchemer of former sessions, who used every effort to keep in office, and now sought to get back to the Government Benches. They bad heard much of appointments made by the Government. He contended that they had a perfect right to make appointments according to their Own choice. He was charged with demoralising the public service by removing Major Mair Co. He would show that he could not do otherwise in the interests of the department. He was urged to take advantage of his office by dismissing a number of those who had been strongly opposed to him, but he.did not do so, although he claimed to be' responsible for his department. He was surprised to find hon. members able to attempt any defence of C. O. Davis, who had been false to the European population of the country. He found that all the difficulties absut reserves, which he was employed to settle, were caused by himself (Diyiß), and had written proof that he attempted to procure for Europeans lands -which he was empowered to buy for the Government. Therefore he (Mr Sheehan) was justified in giving him his quietus as soon as possible after he went into office. As to Major Mair, he was a good officer at one time, but he had proved himself unworthy of trust, and was, therefore, dismissed. He had an appointment with Rewi, and was frustrated through Major Mair's interference. He had confessed his fault, and was restored to confidence again, but he was again guilty of the same attempt to undermine the Government position with Rewi and the Maoris of his district, and they had, therefore, refused to have anything more to do with him or to support his claim for compensation. As to Captain Booth, who was also a good officer, ho would tell them he was now in a better position than before, the inquiry, out of which he came with flying colors, referred to by tho hon. gentleman, and Mr Booth had told him that he was never treated so considerately as at the hands of the present Government. 'The charges were without foundation, and the land was in a fair way for completion cf purchase. Referring to Mr Luckie, he said they were charged with taking a stranger and placing him over the heads of older servants. Why that was precisely what tho hon. gentleman had been notoriously guilty of. The hon. gentleman brought a man from homo to plaoo over the heads of old civil servants. He could say that he had never done this, but he had given his officers promotion since he came into office. He was going to express his opinion pretty freely. He would not deal with the prison house secrets, nor ask how the dispute between two members of the Cabinet arose, and he did not think the hon. gentleman was justified in referring to it on the strength of a newspaper account of the same. He would have held Mr Ballance up as a martyr if he had taken the side of the hon. gentleman, instead of holding him up to ridicule as ho did. They wore told that negotiations with the King party wero a complete failure, ard that if they wanted to deal with the Maoris, they should not appear anxious, or they might loso what they wanted to gain. A good deal was said about Government crawling upon all-fours into Kopua, and in order to deal with these charges he must carry them back to 1874. At that time there was no fighting, but all overtures for peace and opening land were futile. They then attempted to get certain lands but failed, and when speculators attempted and a surveyor was shot, the Government stepped in and closed the lands against surveys. In 1877 the Government was asked to visit Waikato, and established the fact that the King party were willing to come to terms, the only reservation being that the King should have some control in the allocation of the lands. That was the stumbling block which they sought to remove at Hikuranga and Kopua. But evil advisers had stepped in in the interval, and the failure was no doubt due to them. The King talked of the employment of his people in road making, and other stipulations, which could only have beer known to them through the advice of interested persons to whom he might yet feel called upon to refer further. It was not true that no invitations were received to attend the Kopua meeting, for Rewi Maniopoto asked them. He owned tho largest portion of the land, and waa equal in influence and power to the King party. They went up and were received openly and hospitably. The Government were not prepared to truckle to theso people, and had no intention to do so at any timo. The demand made by Tawhiao for supremacy over the land was resisted by Natives of influence, and that was worth striving ofter. Rewi told them that, as Tawhiao had not come to terms, he would settle the matter himself, and he decided the boundary which was the causo of the murder of Sullivan. He said if the Government would settle tho bmndaries he would see that his people respected it and maintained any arrangement which might be made. The men who had been in rebellion against them were thus brought to the Lands Court as ordinary suitors with others, and the importance of

this action could not be over-estimated. His efforts were made to show this Government that he (Rowi) was sincere in his desire to secure the peace and settlement of _ his country, and whatever Government came into office he had no doubt they would find him true to the position he had thus taken up. There were persons in the House who would admit the faithfulness of the reports furnished ot these meetings, and no one could say that the Government did not afford the fullest facility for the publication of these reports. He would now refer to the Waimate affair. Major Brown had full power to deal with these plains surveys, but circumstances arose which rendered it necessary to suspend the surveys until reserves were made, and he was instructed to mark off some thousands < f acres for reserves. The great mistake made was in taking the land before they were able to hold it. Whatever claim these Natives had over the land up to 1869 was entirely forfeited by the conduct of Titokowaru and his people in that year. They did not know the exact position of these lands before that year, and the Courts held to decide it did not help the matter. Eleven years had passed, leaving promises unfulfilled. Only in December last the Maori Taranaki came to him for Orown grants for fifty acres, which had been defined. Ho had no Orown grant, although part of the land" had been sold to Europeans, who had obtained their grants through the Government officer, who negotiated the sale when Sir W. Fox came to office. A man who had been exiled from Hawke's Bay, and was now in g»ol, was empowered to deal as ho liked with the landß. He took a partner, and if the Maoris were willing to sell to his partner they got their lards and grants and the selections were mads, but if they refused no blocks were set apart for them, or grants issued. He could multiply instances of gross irregularity of which this officer had been guilty, but it was not necessary. They should be glad to find out these faults and rectify them. The fact was they were blamed for the faults of the administration over which the hon. gentleman presided. Before the hon. member for Egmont came into office the Government were buying these lands, and giving back certain portions. The hon. gentleman referred to his interview with Te Whiti at Parihaka, and said that Native called Mm (Mr Sheehan) a thief. That was quite true, but the hon. gentleman referred to one piece of land which the hon. gentleman had taken under pretence of giving back certain reserves, which he had not done. So that, instead of holding him up to derision as a thief, he ought to have taken the accusation to himself, as ho was the cause of it. They had contributed to the failure of the policy, if it had failed, by the nonfulfilment of promises and neglect of the duty devolving upon them. When the stoppage of the survey took placo it was done to inquire into the position of the reserves, arid a Commission would be deputed to enter upon that work, a work which should have been done by the administration of the hon. gentleman who charged them with failure. Leaving the Waimate they came to the Opunake block of 150,000 acres, which was to have been given back with the exception of a small reserve. It was with the greatest difficulty they found any reference [to this promise to give back these lands, but after great search they found a document in Mr J. O. Richmond's writing, undertaking the restoration of this block. It was true that these Natives had received certain sums of money, and were also entitled to oertain lands, but there was no actual payment, only blocks, the payments being in extinction of their claims over the whole lands. He thought he had shown some reasons why the charge of maladministration was unjust and untrue. He did not think the gentlemen of the Opposition should overlook the services rendered, a great part of which had been in repairing the evils arising from the neglect or incapacity of former Governments. He had endeavored to secure the public estate, and the Auckland and Taranaki Railway through the Waikatp oountry. The new lands under negotiation in one district and handed over amouated to some six millions of acres, and within the next twelve months as much land would go through the Court as within the past five years. The colony had suffered through carelessness in acquiring these lands, and in the neglect of the work by former administrations. It would be found that the policy they were now engaged in carrying out was the very best. They could not be interfered with. At one time they could not get lands offered to them for purchase. Now the difficulty was to find money to purchase all the lands offered. These were signs of progress which ought to be appreciated and taken advantage of. If they were undertaking the purchase of land or any negotiation, they had the Press on their heels, and all the colony knew what they were doing. Sometimes they were correct in their reports and at others incorrect, but it was a good sign to see this interest shown in their proceedings. At Waikato Tawhiao took his own time, and could not be driven to any terms hurriedly. But Rewi did good service both there and at Cambridge in deciding which route should be taken for the main trunk line of railway to Taranaki. He had not suffered much through confiscation himself, they should remember, and had therefore considerable influence in deciding these matters. He contended that the opposition to the peace and settlement of the country did not arise from those largely interested in the colony, but from those who held least interest in it. He referred to the reports of disputed claims to land in the Wairarapa district as an instance of the difficulties they Lad to meet, and had been meeting for some time past. If they had to fight it would be a mortal struggle, and should only be engaged in in the interest of public peace. He wonld refer to the personal remarks made by the hen. gentleman at the close of his speech. He considered they were unfair and unmanly. He did not profess to be without guile or infallible, but much of this charge arose from the fact that he had perhaps been the most successful Minister of the present administration, and had never attempted to put on what was known as " side." If ho had attempted to do so, he would not have spoken to many of those who spoke against him. He had done no improper acts since he came into office. He had not a single acre of land himself, and had not sanctioned hiß friends getting a single acre either, although pressed to do so. On leaving office he would do so a poorer man than when he entered it, if possible._ He had given up all his time without receiving a single bonefit, and did not think after that he should have been attacked in the way he had been. He would say, in conclusion, that the bulk of the trouble on the West Coast did not arise from this, but from the action of the late Government. The North Island waß nearly going to the wall through the neglect of that administration during the years 1869 to 1874, and nearly all the evils they had complained of originated during that time. He did not think they would have to go to war, but if if they did so, it would be with clean hands, and "thrice armed was he who had his quarrel just." There were persons in Wellington Gaol who had fought on their side, who had received a promise that their lands should be given back, but who had not seen a single acre returned, and were now incarcerated because they took such a step as they did to bring about a settlement of their claims. He concluded by thanking the Houso for a patient hearing. [Loud cheers.] Owing to want of space Mr Wakefield's speech will be held over until to-morrow's issue.

Hr Macandbbw moved the adjournment of the debate at 1.25.