HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 212, 7 September 1877, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TT Wellington, Thursday. The House met at 2..0 ffofe .afternoon. Replying* to questions, Minister? -#Jtl— (1) that it was intended to appoint a commission to euquire into the Dunediu High School disputes; {2) that the Government would make •enquires about establishing a post-office at Dellmaintown, near Kumara*. and (3) that endeavors wonld be made to improve the navigation of Kajpara Harbor. The Native Land Si^gsj Suspension Bill was introduced by Mayor Atftngpp. A long discussion took place p,n Mr Wakefield's motion that tiie manuscript "statement

read, by George Jones at the bar of the House and furnished by him to the Clerk for the convenience of the Honse, be returned to Mr Jones. This was ultimately agreed to on the voices. Mr Fox's motion for returns .connected with gambling and selling liquors to the natives — the debate on which was interrupted yesterday— waa agreed to. Dr. Wallis' motiou for papers relating to the statement of Alexander Grant, teacher at Onehunga.about copyingat teachers' examination, was agreed to. Mr Rees briefly moved for a Select Committee to enquire into Hawke's Bay land transactions, when Mr Ormond took the opportunity of replying to charges previously made by Mr Rees aud Sir George Grey against himself in connection with these transactions. He declared the charges and imputations to be utterly false, and quoted largely from the report of the Commission of 1872. He also attacked Mr Rees as being from his own transactions an unfit mau to make charges against anyone. Mr Ormond was interrupted by the dinner hour, but is to continue npon the House resuming. Friday. Mr Ormond resumed the debate. He challenged Mr Rees to resign his seat and contest tliat for Clive with him. He said that the native laud actions in Hawkes Bay had been trumped up by Europeans and the natives had repudiated connection with them. A Bill to suppress all land dealings for twelve months would be a great blessing, as it would starve out these pakeha Maoris and low class practitioners. The Committee was only asked for to enable Air Rees to get afc evidence to use elsewhere He alluded to the resolutions passed by old settlers afc meetings, that Sir G. Grey was unfit to represent the Crown because he could not speak the truth. He accused Sir G. Grey of having prostituted his position as Governor to go into partnership with Mr Russell and Colonel Whitmore to obtain 300,000 acres of land near Taupo. He quoted letters referring to the transaction written by Mr Russell to the firm's agent, Mr Locke, of Napier, and said that the original letters would be produced if asked for. Ha also recounted another land transaction of Sir G. Grey's. He opposed the appointment of a Committee, but would agree to the House appointing a Commission with judicial powers to settle all laud transactions once and for ali, if those who demanded the investigation gave security for costs. Mr Sheehan defended himself from the implied accusations of professional misconduct. He referred to the verdict in the Waka Maoi i case as giving the absolute lie to Mr Ormond, and flatly contradicted many of Mr Ormond's statements. He accused him of improperly acquiring the Keretanga block with othera. It was Mr Ormond's fault that the Commission of 1873 had not judicial powers. He warmly defended his own conduct as a professional adviser of the natives, and narrated many of hia transactions to show his disinterestedness. He denied the statements regarding the misappropriation of money obtained from Mr Watts, and maintained that Mr Ormond would not object to. the appointment of a Committee if he was not afraid of what it might reveal. The Government, to ehield the private transactions of one of its members, was making the question a Ministerial one.' He had himself been offered large bribes to betray or abandon his native clients. Mr Russell denied many of Mr Sheehan's statements, and defended Mr Ormond. He denied that Mr Ormond took any part in the Keretanga purchase; He did not think a Committee could conduct such au enquiry. He would move an amendment that a Bill be introduced to appoint a Commission to settle the lanrl question once and for all. Mr Joyce felt ashamed of the debate, and thought that the Government would not object to a Committee unless they were afraid of what it would reveal. A full enquiry was necessary. Sir R. Douglas moved the adjournment of the debate, to allow men's passions to cool. Mr Header Wood asked that the letters quoted by Mr Ormond be produced. Mr Whitaker said he had received them from Mr Cox, and could not produce them without his consent. He would telegraph for it. " * Sir G. Grey urged the immediate production of the letters. A warm and lengthy discussion ensued, and Major Atkinson said the Government would produce them if ordered to do so by the House. Ultimately a motion for their production if Messrs Lock and Russell consented, was carried by 36 to 12. - The debate was then adjourned, and the House rose afc 1-55 a.m.