GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1810, 9 December 1879, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, Dkoesibeb 8. In the Council to-day, after the routine "business, Colonel WlllTirOßS gavo notico that agentgenerals ought to be appointed for a hmitea term, Stable by Parliament. First reading—Mr Wbitaier'fl Goneritl Harbor Act Amendment Bill. Second reading—Awatere Shearing Reserve Bill. , „ , ._ . Third readings—Hawio's Bay and Marlborough Rivers Act Bill, and Kumara Education Rraerve Bill. The Council went into CotaniiUeo on various little Bills. The Native Affairs Committee reported on a petition re the Kinross-caw, that the Council ought to allow its officers to appear as witnesjes in any future trial, or itself institute proceedings against Mr Kinross. This report was objected to by some hou. members, who asserted that it condemned Mr Kinross unheard. There was upon this a discussion, lasting over an hour, in which twelve members took part, after which the debute was adjourned on division by twenty-two votes to ten, Tho Council rose at a qunrter to five. HOUSE OE EEPRE3ENTATIVE3. Monday, Dkckmbbb 8. The House met at 7 30. THE AGENT aKNEI!AI. Mr Hislop gave notice of motion to tho effect that it is incompatible with the office of Agent-General for the colony to take part in Imperial politics. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr McLsan, Mr HAM, stated that, definite arrangements being made with certain newspapers re the special wire, business arrangements had boen made for enabling these papers to obtain telegraphic information. Replying .to a question by Mr Kidly, Mr Bbyce said his attention had been directed to a letter which appeared in a newspaper, to the effect that Rewi had joined the King party. He did not believe that there was any truth in tho statement. A request had been received from him some time ago that, as he was going to the King Country and had met with an accident, a carriage should be placed at his disposal. That request was complied with, and tho Government had no reason to believe he was in any way displeased with the Government. The letter in question had been received by one of the Maori members, and was not from Rewi but from a friend of his. The letter had been left in the member's office, and in that way it had been got hold of by tho newspapers. The member himself had not given the letter to tho newspapers. Te Wheobo said that he was the momber referred to. The letter stated that Rewi was displeased with the Government, and that he would not return to the European side, and that those chiofs who had been instrumental in turning out Sir G. Grey from the Government must be left to carry on tho Government of the country. These were the contents of the letter, but he did not know how they got into the newspapers. In reply to a question by Mr Gisborne. Mr Hall stated that Sir Penrose Julyan had retired from tho Loan Agencyship on a pension, and there was no truth in the statement which appeared in the newspapers to the effect that a difference of opinion had arisen between him and the Government, such difference haviug occasioned the retirement. Replying to Mr Macandrew, Mr Hall stated that he would be prepared to state to-morrow what business was to be dropped, so as to bring tho session to a close within the next few deys. Mr Macandbew suggested for the consideration of the Government that the business so dropped should be taken up next session, both public and private, as it stood on order paper. BEVISION OP STATUTES. Mr EilL moved the second reading of the Revision of Statutes Bill. Mr Stbwabt called the attention of the Government to the importance of making pecuniary provision for the publication of the "Jurist." He pointed out that in the absence of such a publication there could be no uniformity of procedure in the various Courts. The work could not be efficiently done by private enterprise. No one whose reports were at all trustworthy would undertake the work unless well paid, and in the present Btate of the colony the profits arising frou such a publication would not be sufficient to warrant a suitable person undertaking the task. The Bill was read a second time. CONFISCATED XAND3 AND MAOBI PBISONEB3. The adjourned debate on the Confiscated Lands and Maori Prisoners Bill was resumed. Mr Tr/BNBtttL opposed the Bill, and spoke stroDgly - against tho Maori prisoners being kept in prison for such a length of time without being brought to trial. Major Te Wheoho also objected to tho Bill, and stated that if it was passed the Maori prisoners might be kept in custody without being brought to trial for years. They had been already in prison for a period of six months, and after all it might turn out that they were in the right, He argued that they ought to be brought to trial forthCaptain MobbiS supported the Bill. Taintti opposed the Bill, and argued that the prisoners should be brought to trial at once, and the charge not kept hanging over their heads in the way it had been. Mr Sutton supported the Bill. Sir Geo. Gbby said the measure was calculated to shake the confidence of the Native race in the justice of our Courts of Law. Mr J. B. Fishbb contended that the men HOW lying in prison had done nothing to render them amenable to criminal law, as they had simply asserted a fancied right. The Bill as it stood was not calculated to obviate the abuses complained of. He moved as an amendment—" That the Bill be read that day six months." Mr Sbddon supported the second reading, and expressed the hope that when it became law it would do justice alike to all. Mr Shbehan supported the second reading. If they refused to pass the Bill and allowed the Natives to return to Pm-ihala, a Native disturbance was imminent. Certain mistakes in the Bill could be remedied in committee. He considered the policy enunciated in the Bill was the policy of the late Government, and one which was absolutely necessary if they desired to prevent a Native war. Mr Hislop opposed the Bill. Mr Bbyce, replying, said it was the opinion of the Government that it would be a most dangerous thing to release the prisoners under existing circumstances. The late Government had a similar opinion. The motion for second reading was then put, and on division was carried. The ayes were 57, and the noes 12. The House then went into committee on the Bill.