PARLIAMENTARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 192, 15 August 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Tuesday. A petition was presented on behalf of Mr Barton, solicitor, praying that the House enquire into certain allegations against the Chief Justice and Richmond. Mr Whitaker told Mr Travers that the Government, did not intend to alter the representation during the present session. In reply to Mr Reynolds', Mr M'Lean said the results of the Training School at Kohimarama had been encouraging enough to induce the Government to 3tart anolher. Mr Bowen, replying to a question, said the Government were considering the advisability of making provision for establishing a Reformatory for the Colouy. Coming to the first order of the day— the adjourned debate on the Native Laud Court Bill— fche Premier stated in effect that he would ask that the order be discharged from the paper, aud then to-morrow he would move to introduce a Bill prohibiting the purchase of native lauds by private parties for twelve mouths ; that during the recess the Government would ascertain the wishes of the natives regarding the dealing with their lands, aud next session would broug down a measure in accordance with their views aud to facilitate settlement. A long discussiou ensued upon a poiufc of order raised by Mr Stout. The Speaker twice ruled against Mr Stout. Many members spoke and Mr Lusk afc length gave a new turn to affairs by speaking strongly against the Bill— and moving an amendment tothe effect that the Government take the Bill back, and bring down another this session. Mr Sutton strongly supported the Bill. The debate was interrupted by 5.30. Wednesday. Mr Sutton resumed the debate. He' thought the preseufc powers of the Chief Judge should be curtailed rather than extended, and that to give the Natives confidence in the Court increased power should be given to the assessors, making them equal judges of title He would like to see the Government undertake all fche Native surveys. While sympathising with Mr Balance's amendment ho thought it would not effect the object in view, aud therefore he would not support ifc. The Natives would not consent to place their lands under any Board_or to adopt the auction system. Mr Fox greatly regretted that the Crown ever abandoned the right of presumption, but it was hopeless now to seek tore-establish it. Die Bill seemed introduced to individualise the Native title which lasfc session was insisted upon by the present opponents it was au improvement ou the 1873 Act He agreed with Mr Sutton regarding the relative positions of the Chief Judge aud the Assessors. He would throw the chief responsibility of proving their titles on the Natives

themselves. The Natives objected to the progress of colonisation on their lands, and the amendment would not accomplish this object;. He urged suspending all legislation till they had clearer indications of what fche Natives really desired, but to prevent fche Act; of .1873 coming into force, under Which every acre iv both islands would pass fco % Islands would pass to speculators, it would . be necessary to suspend fche operation of that Act. Mr Gisborne said fche Bill would endanger the peace of the colony, and result in the. spoliation of the Natives and. stop settlement It compared unfavorably with previous Acts and he believed that Sir Donald M'Lean would have cut his hand off sooner than introduce a measure which would place the interests of the Native race in the hands of a gigantic land ring. Mr Travers objected that to suspend legislation would be a play into the hands of speculators who were already owners of land. He strongly condemned the system of the - laud monopoly already existing, and -viewed with alarm its future exteusion.' He narrated the history of several Hawke's Bay transactions,; showing how the Natives were done out of their land aud pauperised. He believed that even yet the restoration of the Crown's right of presumption was possible if the Natives were given confidence in the Government and the Court. The latter should be amenable fco public opinion, and nofc be a political tool. Ifc was their duty to protect the Natives from being tricked out; of their property as they had been. • - Mr Morris. could nofc have supported the Bill as- it stood, but thought ifc easily' amended in Committee. Wifch others he was prepared fco "make the necessary amendments. He denied fche existence of a race of Maori paupers.- The failure of the military settlement at Tauranga showed how difficult all farm settlements' on Native lands were. He urged giving, the Natives the most complete control over their property. Mr Thomson strongly condemned the action of the Government in the whole matter aud said ifc showed a want of unity and Consultation. Mr Shepherd supported fche amenduenfc. Sir 11. Douglas urged delay to give the Natives full time to consider what was proposed to be done. He proposed therefore as a further amendment the amission of > the', words " during this session." Mr Rees entered frilly into the Hawke's Bay transactions where the Nafcives had been cheated and robbed of their patrimony, ; and accused Mr Ormond of privity with these transactions. The petitions on the table sufficiently showed what the Natives .wanted, aud the plea for delay was all moonshine. Ministers simply wanted to escape the consequences of their own deliberate act. ! Mr Russell refuted the gross libels thrown on fche people of Hawke's Bay, and warmly defended Mr Ormond, quoting largely from official documents to show that Mr Rees' accusation was groundless. The Bill required amendments in certain particulars, but thafc could be done in Committee. Small settlements on Native lands were practically impossible, and the Natives really desired free trade in land. The Maoris had nofc been pauperised in Hawke's Bay. > Mr Takamona. moved the adjournment of the debate. i Tbe Government insisted that it he resumed on Thursday afc 7.30, and on a division this was carried by 36 to 26.