PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4188, 22 August 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, Accost 21. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at two o’clock. A COLONIAL STANDING ARMY. The Hon. Colonel BRETT moved, —“ That, considering the extensive military organisation rapidly maturing in nearly every country in Europe, and the general apprehension that war on a larger scale than any that has hitherto existed is not unlikely to occur, most probably involving Great Britain and her Colonies, it will he a cause of the deepest humiliation to this Colony, and a grievous injustice to the mother country, if, under such circumstances New Zealand, from her utter unpreparedness, should be a helpless encumbrance, instead of being a willing and efficient auxiliary : Be it resolved—l. That with a view to meeting, as far as as we may be able, the obligations of duty, and obeying the dictates of prudence, it is expedient that the Government should, without delay, secure for a period of five years the services of an experienced officer of the Royal Engineers, having a small staff, attached, to inspect the several ports of the Colony, in order to recommend such defences against external attack as modem science demands and the circumstances of each may require ; and, further, to instruct a few well-selected men in the practical working of harbor defences. 2. That, with a view to efficiency in time of need, there should be immediately organised an Artillery, a Naval, and a Rifle Company at each port town, strictly limited in number, and composed only of men who have passed as thoroughly efficient, and are willing to submit implicitly to regulations regarding drill and exercise. 3. That while every encouragement should be given to efficient Rifle Associations and cadet drilling, no encouragement should be given to any further volunteer military organisation.” The hon. and gallant gentleman made a lengthy and highly characteristic speech in support of his motion. The Hon. Hr. POLLEN pointed out that the attention of the Government had been directed to the matter of Colonial defence. The Hon. Captain FRASER would give his hearty support to the third part of the resolution, but demurred to the rest. He was quite opposed to having a standing army. Let the Council consider for a moment what would he the result of having such an army, with Colonel Brett at the head of it! Neither life nor property would be safe. Torpedoes would be the best for the defence of our harbor, but the system of torpedoes had not yet been perfected, and they should wait until it was. For the present, it would be unwise to do anything else than to disband the volunteers, and * organise a more efficient force. The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND was glad to hear Colonel Brett making more temperate remarks than usual when speaking of the Volunteers. His principal objections to them seemed to be their want of discipline and irregular attendance. These causes probably arose from the want of respect for and confidence in their officers on the part of the men. Men who had held military commands were not popular with Volunteers, as the men did not like to be spoken to by military men in the style the latter were accustomed to speak to men who were hired at thirteenpence a day. The Hon. Captain FRASER moved that the hon. gentleman’s words should be taken dovvn. The SPEAKER remarked that such observations in the presence of men who had been for many years in the service of their country, were improper. The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND maintained that the Volunteers were superior to these hirelings. The Hon. Captain FRASER again rose to order. Was the hon. gentleman to be allowed to use such ungentlemauly and disreputable language ? The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND maintained that his language was not disreputable. If he was liable to be called to order for it, he must be called to order. The SPEAKER had not called the hon. gentleman to order, but it was out of taste for a member of that Council to speak in the style the hon. gentleman had done of gentlemen who had received commissions from Her Majesty. The Hon. Captain FRASER contended he had a right to object to the language that had been used. The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND said it was the first time in his life that his language had been stigmatised as ungentlemanly. (Captain Eraser : I hope it will bo the last.) He had been interrupted in such a manner that ho had lost the thread of his ideas. He wished to say that what tho Volunteers could do was shown in the Taranaki war, where in some cases tho Volunteers were actually abandoned by tho Queen’s troops. Tho Hon. Mr, MILLER did not think this an opportune time to refer to matters that were past, and called upon the Speaker to state that references of the kind were out of order.

The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND contended he was perfectly in dVder. What lie stated was a fact, and the thing had occurred more than once. The Hon. Colonel KENNY regretted the turn the discussion had taken. It was due to the very intemperate language used by the mover of the resolution. His allusions to the men were insulting in the highest degree to Volunteers, who not only gave up their time, but spent far more than ever they received from the Government. He (Col. Kenny) suggested that the hon. and gallant gentleman should terminate an unseemly discussion by withdrawing a resolution so indiscreetly and unwisely brought forward. The Hon. Mr. SCOTLAND said that, as an Englishman and a gentleman, he had_ no hostile feeling whatever agunst the British army. He had always stood up for them when he had heard the soldiers reviled and slandered, and called cowards. At the same time the Volunteers and the Militia had earned the gratitude of the country. If their valor was ever put to the proof to meet a foreign enemy on these shores they would prove themselves a credit to the name of Britons. The Hoc. Mr. MANTELL scarcely thought the mover would desire to withdraw his motion, or the Council would permit it to be withdrawn, after what had taken place, and he thought the best way of disposing of it would be to move the previous question. He had hoped there would have been a little place left for an old colonist to have draw upon his reminiscences ; but for the first time in his life he was afraid to say what he thought about British cavalry captains, &c., because the consequences might hardly be reconcilable with the usual Parliamentary practice. He must render this tribute to the British army, it gave him more amusement and less instruction than any other he had ever come in contact with. , (Laughter.) After giving some humorous instances of campaigning in the early wars of the Colony, the hon. gentleman said if the previous question was carried, he would, to use the excellent but somewhat poetical phrase of the hon. mover, be content to smoke the pipe of indifference in apparent security. He had only to remark further that they had hitherto had engineer and other officers, who had prepared illustrated by lithographs, which would be of eminent service to any enemy that might come to ourshores. If twenty resolutions were carried each day of the session they would be of no use until we learnt a lesson. We needed to get a good hammering before we would come to the conclusion that it was necessary to learn how to fight. The Hon. Colonel KENNY said this discussion ought to teach young members of the Council, inclined to bring in measures to reform tbe institutions of the country, that they should approach the subject in a temperate speech. Members of tbe Legislature ought to be careful not to call Her Majesty’s troops hirelings or mercenaries such expressions were utterly out of place. It was a Conservative Assembly, and he hoped they would never regard the British army with any other feelings than of the greatest respect. And with regard to the expressions that had been used towards tbe less military portion of the service—the Volunteers—of course it was difficult for some persons to look at the organisation as being satisfactory, but they should remember it was an institution of the country, and they were parties to it, because all that had been done was done under Acts, of the Legislature. When military men wished to remodel this institution they should approach it in a temperate spirit, such as would meet acceptance on all sides, and not in a manner calculated to wound the amour proprc of others. He hoped it would be the last discussion they would have on tbe subject. The Hon. Dr. GRACE wished to take the opportunity of supplementing Mr. Scotland’s remarks in praise of the conduct of the Volunteers in the Taranaki war. He had himself seen them behaving on the field with a gallantry that could not be surpassed, and described the conduct of Major Atkinson with a handful of boys as equal to that of any soldiers in the world. Mr. SCOTLAND observed that on reflection he was certain he had made use of a word in speaking of Her Majesty’s troops that he ought not to have used—(hear) —and therefore asked leave to withdraw it. The Hon. Capt. ERASER : And I ask leave to withdraw any expression I have used towards the hon. gentleman.' The Hon. Colonel BRETT also asked leave to withdraw his motion. His object had been gained by the matter having been brought under the notice of the Government and tbe country. There being a dissentient voice, Mr. Manteli’s motion could not be withdrawn, so the previous question was put and carried. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence from the date of sailing of the steamer to the South, to the end of the session, was granted to the Hon. Mr. Robinson. WARD-CHAPMAN INQUIRY. The report of the Joint Committee, which appears elsewhere, was brought up, and adopted. THE PUBLIC WORKS AND IMMIGRATION LOAN BILL. On the second reading of this Bill, Mr. \Vaterhquse moved, as an amendment, “ That while this Council is prepared to sanction all loans necessary to complete the works already sanctioned by the Legislature, it declines to read the Public Works and Immigration Loan Bill a second time, because it is not confined to such objects, but would sanction loans for undertakings not essential to carrying out the Public Works policy.” After a considerable debate (our report of which is held over), the amendment was negatived. The voting being— Ayes, 24 : Messrs. Acland, Baillie, Bonar, Brett, Buckley, Campbell. Chamberlin, Edwards, Fraser, Grace, Hart, G. R. Johnson, Kohere, Lahmann, Menzies, Miller, Ngatata, Peacock, Pollen, Renwick, Richmond; Robinson, C. J. Taylor, and Williamson. Noes, 9 : Messrs. Gray, Holmes, Kenny, Mantell, Nurse, Paterson, Russell, Stokes, and Waterhouse. BILLS. The Nelson Waste Lands Bill was read a second time. The Canterbury Waste Lauda Bill, the New Plymouth Exchanges Validation Bill, and the Naval Training Schools Bill passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, August 21. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. petition. Mr. White presented a petition from the inliabitants of the Borough of Hokitika, praying that fees derived from licenses, &c., should be handed over to the funds of the Borough. ABOLITION os- PROVINCES IN THE NORTH ISLAND. Mr. Fitzherdert gave notice 1 of the following motion :—“ 1. That this House having resolved that (taking the circumstances of the Colony into consideration) the Provincial form of government in the North Island should be abolished, this House' further declares its opinion that an organic change in the Constitution involving the establishment of a central bureaucratic authority for the administration of Provincial affairs in the Northern Provinces, in substitution for the rights and powers conferred on tho people of the Colony by the Imperial Parliament, ought not to be made without first testing the opinion of the people through their constituencies, 2. That in order to give effect to the foregoing resolution, a respectful address bo presented to His Excellency, praying him to dissolve the present Parliament." NOTICES OP MOTION. Messrs. W. Kelly, J. C. Brown, and Sheehan gave notices of motions, the purports of which were not understood in the gallery. WAITEMATA ELECTION. Mr. Walter Johnston brought up a report from tho Committee on the Waitemata election, declaring that they found tho election void. The SPEAKER mentioned the practice in such cases, and tho usual forms having been gone through, declared that a writ would be issued at once, and information telegraphed to Waitemata. In answer to Mr. Maoandrbw, The SPEAKER stated that the House had no discretion in tho matter.

REPORTS. A variety of reports were brought up by Mr. T. Kelly aud by Mr. Richardson. NEW BILL. Sir D. McLean obtained leave to bring in a Bill called the Walsh and other Pensions Act Amendment Bill, which was passed through all its stages. Its object was to enable a person entitled by Act to make a selection of 100 acres of land to which he was entitled. EXPLANATIONS. Mr. O’RORKE explained that he was accidentally absent when the division on the resolutions of the Government was called upon last night. His vote would have been for the amendment. Mr. White and Mr. Harrison made a similar statement. Mr. WALES said he was accidentally absent. Had [he been present, he would have voted for the resolutions. PACIFIC ISLANDS TRADE ENCOURAGEMENT BILL Hr. VOGEL stated that the Government did not intend to proceed with the Bill this session. QUALIFICATION OF ELECTORS BILL. Mr. VOGEL withdrew this Bill, regretting that he did not see his way to proceed further with the measure this session. Mr. WALES opposed the withdrawal of the Bill, which he regarded as of very great importance. He hoped the Government would alter its decision. (Cries of “No, no.’’) He gave his reasons at some length, supporting the view that universal suffrage should be the law of the Colony. Mr. TRIBE took the same view as tbe hon. member who had just spoken, but thought the session was now too far advanced for the discussion of the measure. He hoped the Premier would give a promise to re-introduce the Bill next session. Mr. VOGEL did not think it would be wise on his part to give the promise asked for. The Bill had the support of the Government, hut they did not see that it could be carried this session. Mr. WALES said he desired that, if there was to be a general election, it should he taken under the provisions of a new electoral law. The Bill was then discharged, from the paper. VOLUNTEER ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Sir DONALD McLEAN moved the second reading of this Bill, the object of which he explained. The Bill was read a second time, and at a later period of the day was committed and passed through all its stages. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY BILL. The amendments made by tbe Council in this Bill were agreed to. PROVINCIAL PUBLIC W'ORKS ADVANCES, AND OTHER BILLS. This Bill, and the Immigration and Public Works Act Amendment Bill, and the Railways Bill, were committed, reported, read a third time, and passed. RETIRING PENSION TO MR. WILSON GRAY. A message was brought down from His Excellency, recommending an appropriation in the form of a pension to Mr. Wilson Gray. Mr. VOGEL stated that Mr. \Vilson Gray had been a Judge of the District Court of Otago for a period of ten years. He had obtained the good opinion of all persons, and had repeatedly refused a higher position. • His health had now thoroughly broken down, and it was feared that a continuance of his services beyond the present year could not be depended upon. He was entitled to a retiring allowance of £2OO a-year, and it was proposed to increase it to £3OO. Mr. MACANDREW bore warm testimony to the services of Mr. Wilson Gray.. His health had broken down through his devotion to the business of his office, travelling night and day in all sorts of weather, over the Province. He hoped a larger amount might be voted. Mr. Fox, and Sir F. D. Bell ‘also bore testimony to the value of Mr. Wilson Gray’s services, and expressed a similar hope. Mr. VOGEL said it was proposed to offer Mr. Gray a year’s leave of absence, on full salary, with this retiring allowance behind. He believed a larger pension would not be acceptable to Mr. Gray. Mr. McGLASHAN said it was pitiable to see the state of ill-health to which Judge Gray hajl been reduced. He had often advised him to retire, but he always answered that he preferred to die in harness. Mr. O’RORKE suggested that the pension should be made £4OO, and that the case of Sir William Martin should also be re-considered. Sir D. M'LEAN testified to the''” value of Sir William Martin’s services, and said he would consult with his colleague (the Premier) on,the subject. A Bill was subsequently brought down and read a first time, aud ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday. MANAWATU-RANGITIKEI claim. A message was brought down from His Excellency, recommending an appropriation of £15,000 to the Province of Wellington,'in connection with the Manawatu-Rangitikei claims. Mr. VOGEL quoted the opinion of Sir Eranois Dillon Bell, that this sum should not be given to the Province as a free gift, hut should be charged to the Province, and reminded tho House that a recommendation only, and not an award, had been made upon figures supplied by the Provincial Government alone. The Government, guarding the interests of the Colony, opposed the payment of that sum of £15,000 as a grant; though they were willing to advance it as a loan. He did not feel that he would be justified in any other course. The money, if paid, should he expended in public works, under the Provincial Advances Bill. The Government, in obedience to the wish of the House, had brought down a clause embracing the amount, but they would not support it. Mr. BRANDON asked if the Government desired to have the discussion over again ? Mr. ROLLESTON asked Sir Francis Dillon Bell whether he had not understood from the Native Minister that it was desirable that he should inquire into the whole subject and make an award. Sir FRANCIS DILLON BELL felt himself in a particularly uncomfortable position. If anything was wanted to make him regret ho had had anything to do 'with this matter, it 'was that he saw the whole subject was about to be re-opened. Ho understood tho matter was left to him—so he understood from the Native Minister—to decide in equity and good faith, else ho should have had nothing to do with it. Ho had not made an award, but a recommendation. Sir DONALD McLEAN stated that the observations of Sir F. Dillon Bell were correct so far as reference was made to him. Mr. MACANDREW thought the question had been settled last week. The Govei-ument should accept the decision of the House. So long as tho Province of Wellington remained a Province, let tho money, if it was due to it, he expended as the Province desired. Let it throw it into the sea if it thought proper. (Oh ! oh !) Mr. VOGEL said at once that the Government would not consent to borrow money over the expenditure of which it had no control. The choice of tho works was left to the Provinces, but the approval of them must be left to tbe Minister of Works. The Government would not be a party to borrowing money for public works on any other condition. They would not consent to put themselves in the position to borrow' money that other persons might spend it. Sir. FITZHBRBERT said the House had decided that £15,000 was due to the Province by the General Government—(No, no), —and then down came the Treasurer in a vindictive spirit to say you shall not have it. Such a course would soon convert tho Minister’s majority into a minority. He accepted, however, the clause as it was proposed by tho Government—hard linos as it was for the Province ; but when the Premier asserted that he would still resist the vote, he thought the hon. gentleman was going too far. Mr, VOGEL said the hon. member for tho Hutt had so often attempted to deceive tho House in this matter that now he was attempting to deceive himself. Ho stated once more, in the most emphatic terms, that tho Speaker had not decided that tho General Government was indebted in a sum of £15,000 to the Province. It should be quite enough for the hon. gentleman, at his stage

of political life, to occupy the position he held at the present moment in public estimation. It was utterly impossible, after what occurred, that the Government could have any confidence whatever in the authorities of the Province of Wellington. No man had ever done more than he (Mr. Vogel) had done for the Province of Wellington. It was not for the Province that the hon. member for the Hutt cared in this matter, but for the personal power of' expenditure of the money. The hon. member was Provincial when it suited him, and Colonial when it suited him, and at present he was Provincial. He (Mr. Vogel) was not to be deterred, however, from doing his duty to the country by anything the hon. member might do. The Province of Wellington gave the General Government more trouble than all the other Provinces together. He denied that he was animated by any vindictive spirit towards the Province of Wellington. He knew that if the House had been asked to remove the Superintendent of Wellington in consequence of his action in the matter lately before the Court, the House would have done so. Mr. FITZHERBERT asserted that there never was a more bitter enemy of the Province of Wellington than the hon. gentleman at the head of the Government, whom he accused of an insensate greed of power. He accused the hon. gentleman of conduct disgraceful to any Premier, in having conspired with members of the Provincial Council of Wellington as to the rejection of the Public Works Bill. In public life, he had been able" on more than one occasion to check-mate the hon. member-. Poor as tire Province of Wellington was, and master of millions as the Premier was, he (Mr. Fitzherbert) would yet beat him. Mr. FOX did not. desire to increase the already too great acerbity of the debate. As for the threats applied to the Premier, he would only remark that threatened men live long. Mr. FITZHERBERT ; Superintendents especially, (Laughter.) ' Mr. FOX asserted, without fear of contradiction, that when the Premier and himself were in office, everything possible had been done for the Province of Wellington, which they found in the very depth of poverty, the Superintendent (Dr. Featherston) actually afraid to walk out in consequence of the importunities to which he was exposed, with his Treasury empty, his own salary unpaid, and his whole staff disorganised because they were unpaid, and even its trust funds appropriated. They assisted the Provincial Government out of its difficulties, and in doing so lost the support of many members who represented other 5 Provinces, on the ground that they had unduly favored Wellington. He had not known of anything that had since been done to justify the cry of persecution of this “ poor Province of Wellington !” There might be a feeling of hostility towards the Provincial Government of Wellington on the part of the General Government, but there was none towards the Province ; and he reminded the hon. member for the Hutt when he spoke of the approval of the people of his conduct, that a very large number of the people of the Province, and its northern part in particular, had no confidence whatever in the hon. member as Superintendent' or his Executive. He denied altogether that this sum of £15,000 was a debt due to the Province. Mr. VOGEL had no wish to prolong the discussion, but thought it necessary to explain the circumstances which had led the hon member for the Hutt to accuse him of conspiring vdtli members of the Provincial Council of Wellington in connection with the proposed loan of £50,000 t6,the Province. Mr. D. REID thought it was singular that the Government should accept the decision of this House, bring down a Bill to carry it out, and then intimate that they would oppose it! What was the intention of the House in asking Sir Francis Dillon Bell to undertake the inquiry? He thought it must have been intended that the matter should be closed ; the subject had now been discussed for three years, and should be settled. Mr. PEARCE thought it was to be regretted that the Hon. the Premier and the hon. member for the Hutt could not speak of each other without personal feeling. He held that the money was due to the Province ; was neither a gratuity nor a loan, and he did not see why the Provincial Council of Wellington could not be entrusted with the expenditure of the sum. The question was then put, when Si voted with the Government against the clause, and 25 for it. MEMBERS’ HONORARIUM. The report of the Committee on this subject was brought up by Mr. Vogel, and ordered to be considered on Monday. WARD-CHAPMAN COMMITTEE. Mr. J. L. GILLIES asked leave to bring up a further report from £his Committee without the evidence. The Committee thought that matters had arisen that required further investigation, which they thought should be inquired into by a Royal Commission ; and that, therefore, the evidence should not be laid before the House. Mr. T. L. SHEPHERD thought the report should be > read and the evidence laid on the table, otherwise the public would jump to the conclusion that the evidence had been suppressed in the interest of certain parties. Mr. VOGEL approved of the course proposed by Mr. J. L. Gillies. He was opposed to the inquiry in the first instance, but now there was such manifest perjury on one side or the other that further investigations were necessary. It would be most inadvisable to lay the evidence on the table, affecting as it did many parties who were not examined, and who were not represented by counsel. Major ATKINSON remarked that if the report were laid on the table members would be able to judge for themselves whether farther inquiry was necessary. Printed copies of much of the evidence were in existence. Mr. J. L. GILLIES said there was no part of the evidence printed which might not be submitted to the House. That which was not printed as yet was that which it was not considered desirable to print. The printed part, as well as the unprintcd, should be considered sacred by the members of the Committee. Mr. SHEEHAN said the evidence was so intricate, the perjury of so bold a character, that further investigation was imperative. The SPEAKER said the House would be able to form an opinion, after the report was on the table, whether it was desirable that the evidence"should be produced. Leave was then given to bring up the report, which was brought up and read. It stated—lst, That it had been ascertained that the telegrams had been given to the Otago Daily Times by Mr. Macassey; but how they had passed into his possession, had not been satisfactorily explained; 2nd, that the evidence , showed that gross perjury had been committed by more than one of the witnesses; 3rd, that the Committee should be freed from the necessity of bringing up the evidence, which should be remitted to His Excellency with an humble address, recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission, and that if necessary a short Act should be passed to empower the Commission to enforce the attendance of persons whose evidence was considered necessary. The Committee added that in their opinion irregularities had occurred in the Post and Telegraph offices at Timaru, but that as the evidence of the officers there had been given in a straightforward manner, the Government should overlook their past misconduct.

THIRD READINGS. The House then wont into Committee on the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill, the Volunteer Act Amendment Bill, and the Provincial Public Works Advances Act, which were afterwards reported and passed. AWAHURI NATIVE GRANTEES BILE. This Bill was discharged from the paper. NATIVE LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Sir DONALD McLEAN moved the second reading of this measure, which was agreed to and ordered to bo committed on Monday. GOLDFIELDS ACT 1866 AMENDMENT BILL NO. 2. The report of the Committee was adopted, and the Bill read a third time and passed. municipal Reserves bill. The amendments of the Council were agreed to. WANGANUI FORESHORE GRANT BILL. Mr, REYNOLDS moved the second reading of this Bill, which he explained.

Sir DONALD McLEAN hoped he would receive an assurance from the hon. member for Wanganui that a reservation of say one acre would be made for the Natives who came down the river to sell their produce. Mr. BRYCE felt perfectly assured that the Borough of Wanganui would make the reservation referred to. It was to the benefit of the Burgesses that every facility should be given for the trade of the Maoris. Mr. SHEEHAN pointed out a case of hardship to the Natives at Auckland from the want of such a reserve. Mr. KATENE said a similar reserve was wanted at Napier. Mr. FOX thought the Government should retain in their hands some portion of this foreshore at Wanganui. Mr. SWANSON said care should be taken to inform the Maoris of the necessity of keeping their market reserves clean. Sir DONALD McLEAN had no objection to passing the second reading, but would pro23ose that the control of some small portion of the reserve should be left in the hands of the General Government. After some observations from Mr. Reynolds, the second reading was agreed to. RIVERTON HARBOR. In answer to Mr. McGillivray, Mr. RICHARDSON said the Engineer-in-Chief would be directed to report upon the requirements of the harbor at Riverton. CLAIMS OF THE REV. T. S. GRACE. Mr. W. KELLY moved that the Government be requested to carry into effect the recommendation of the Public Petitions Committee of 1870 and 1871 on the petition of the Rev. Thomas Samuel Grace, for losses sustained in the Native war. He would be content to leave the matter in the hands of the Government. Sir DONALD McLEAN said it was reported by the Committee that no compensation was due. The Natives, however, had agreed to give Mr. Grace a block of land to recompense him. Whether that had been done or not, he was not aware. He had no objection to send an officer to see how the matter stood. Mr. FOX supported the claim, there having keen an award in Mr. Grace’s favor. Major ATKINSON said that the House had never resolved that no more compensation should be granted in such eases. It was only a recommendation from a Committee, which had never been adopted. He would support the motion, as he would every other of the same kind. Mr. T. KELLY also supported the claim. Sir D. McLEAN would inquire further into the motion. Mr. W. KELLY withdrew the motion on that understanding. LAND ALIENATED FROM THE CROWN. Mr. T. L. SHEPHERD submitted the motion on this subject of which he had given notice,, which was agreed to. WANGANUI MAORIS. The motion of Mr. Fox, that the petition from the Wanganui Maoris against the sale of intoxicating liquors, and praying for a stringent Act to prohibit it, be printed, was agreed to. The House then adjourned till Monday, at half-post eleven o’clock.