PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 269, 12 October 1875, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Monday. ; la the, House of Representatives MrLuckie : gave notice to ask whether the Government 7 7 would relax the present telegraphic charges '■Yf oa Pews telegrams received and seat daring 7 the day, so as to allow of flre hundred words

The Taicua report shows that O'Halloraa and Crippen, clerks to Mr Mackay*, received a tall share of a claim between them from one of a pa,tty to a auit which' Mr Muckay was to decide. The share was offered ti Mr Mackay flfst, bufc be declined on the grounds of bfing a Government oitiiier. O'Haliorau admit a , having subsequently soli hia half share for ,£Boo.v ■:■ •> The Committee considered' the proceedings highly improper. With regard to land purchases by Mr Mackay, the Committee considered O'Ha'lcran and Crippen occupied an anomalou. position in having access lo all information regarding the Government's transactions' in land, aud yet were not unler the control ofthe Government, Mr Mackay b-rinjj employed upon commission. The Committee augg* sted that a legislative measure should be introduced to remedy and prevent such a state of thing-*, A Bill was read a first time enacting that any purchaser of land from natives skill also pay so much per aore to tbe state. The Stamp Duties Act pieaed. Bridges, the manager of tbe National Bank, was broaght before the Bar of the Houae attended by counsel. After being questioned by the Speaker, he made a statement that the statement he made before the Committee had been made upon erroneous information, though at the time he thought his statements well founded. He now wishei to retract all he had sail. Macandrew said tbe only pressure brought to bear upon the Government in the matter of the Port Chalmers railway, had been by himself, on the behalf of the Provincial Council in the interest of the public. The bargam was an exceedingly advantageous one for the Government, arid the Bank had nothing to do with it. Messrs Richardson and M'Glashan corroborated Mr Macandrew's statement. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer was not satisfied with the explanation of 60 grave a matter, and hoped the House would sift the matter to the, bottom.* . , ' - A Bill is to be brought in indemnifying any witness who may give evidence before the House from all consequences, except perjury. Whea the Bill ispassed Mr Bridges will have to go before the Committee again, and disclose ali he knows, if he has anything to disclose. Great interest was felt in the case, and all the gall.riea were filled. The public gallery wascrowdeJ.