PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5170, 17 October 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Toesdat, October 16. At 2.30 p.m. Mr. Leonard Stowe, Chief Clerk to the Council, announced that the hon. the Speaker was unavoidably absent. In the absence, therefore, of the Hon. J. L. O. Richardson, the Hon. Major Richmond took the chair. PETITIONS. Various petitions were presented by the Hon; Dr. Grace from. residents of Marlborough, Nelson, Kaikoura, Picton S.und, and other places, re the Education Bill now before the Council. - REPORTS. The Hon. Mr. BONAR brought up the following reports from the select committee on waste lands, which were read, and the Bills ordered to be committed next sitting day:— On tbe Town of Havelock Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute Incorporation Bill, the Clyde Public Reserves Grant Bill, and the Lawrence Reserves Bill.—The Hon. Mr. G. R. Johnson brought up the reports of , the Public Petitions Committee on several petitions re Bible reading in the public , schools and against the Education Bill, which were read. —The Hon. Mr. Pharaztn brought up the report of the select committee on the Wellington College Act Amendment Bill, which was read,, and the Bill ordered to be committed next sitting day. NOTICES OP MOTION. , Notices of motion were given for next sitting day by the Hon. Captain Fraser for an extension of leave of absence to the Hon. Mr. Campbell, and by the Hon. Mr. Bonar for. leave of absence for himself, on urgent privatebusiness. THE STATUS QUO. At this point the Hon. Colonel Whitmore rose and said that before proceeding to the business of the day he wished to make a few remarks as to the position of the Government in relation to the Council. Certain changes had taken place during the last week, which had resulted in the Hon. Sir G. Grey being appointed Premier, and that gentleman had offered him a seat in the Cabinet as the representative of the Government in that Council. At the time the offer was made he was absent from Wellington ; but, on his return, after taking time to consider the matter, he had declined the proffered honor. It was this fact of his having to take time to consider the matter, and not any want of respect to the Council, which had delayed the representation of the Government in that place. Negotiations were now being carried on with one or two gentlemen with the object of filling up the vacancy, but the Hon. the Premier had been anxious not to degrade tbe Council in the eyes of the country by appointing any hon. gentleman to a seat in that Council solely for the purpose of representing the. Government, but preferred to select from those who held a seat in that Council by right. It was not a matter which could be decided without due consideration, and the Hon. the Premier might require a few days before he could make a satisfactory selec-_ tiou. The Government must be responsible for their member in that Council, and it was therefore only fair that they should have full time to, make such selection. He again repeated that the Council must not imagine any disrespect had been intended towards them. If any blame -were attached to anyone it should be laid on him, as it was his absence and requiring a short time to consider the offer made to him, -which had delayed the filling up of the vacancy on the Ministerial benches in that chamber. He might say that the Premier had wished to take on himself full responsibility for what he (the Hon. Colonel Whitmore) said is the Council that afternoon in relation to these matters. He (Colonel Whitmore) proposed that the Council should proceed with the ordinary business, under his temporary guidance, until such time as a Minister should be appointed to a seat in the Council (which would be in a day or two at most) providing always that only ordinary business, such as that of private members, should be proceeded with, to the exclusion of any important measures which might evoke discussion or involve the policy of the incoming Government. In conclusion, as regarded the business on the Order Paper, there was only one order of the day which he must absolutely decline to undertake. As to all the rest he would submit himself to the Council, and do his best to assist in getting any business carried through that the Council decided to entertain.

The Hon. Colonel BRETT wished to record his opinion that the whole method of procedure would be most irregular and unprecedented. The Son. Colonel Whitmore’s position was a false one, he not being a responsible or accredited Minister of the ‘ Crown; He would therefore move, —That this Council do adjourn from day to day until a Minister is appointed. A lengthy discussion ensued, in which the following hon. members, among others, -took part-In support of Colonel Whitmore ; The Hons. Captain Fraser, Sir F. D. Bell, Messrs. Acland and Robinson ; in favor of Colonel Brett’s motion : The Hors. Drs. Pollen and Grace, and Colonel Kenny. Subsequently the Hon. Colonel Brett’s motion was put and carried ou the voices without a division. THE EDUCATION BILL. Before the Council lose, the Hon. Colonel Whitmore wished to correct a misapprehension which might have arisen in the minds of members of that Council from the report of the proceedings of the House of Representatives as given in-the New Zealand Times of that morning. In that report the Education Bill was mentioned as one of those which the Government meant to let lapse. As a matter of fact the contrary was the case, and he had great pleasure in announcing that the Government intended to offer every facility for going on with this particular measure. The Council then (at 4 p.m.) adjourned till the usual hour next day. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Tdesdat, Octobee 16. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. notice of question. Mr. BURNS gave notice that on Friday next he would ask the Hon. the Minister of Justice whether the Justices of the Peace in the McManus case had made reparation for their illegal action; also, whether the names of those justices had been struck off the roll, as recommended by the committee.

hawkb’s bay land transactions. Mr. BALLANCE laid on the table of the House the report brought up by the Reporting Debates Committee, showing the alterations made in the speeches delivered by hen. members on the subject of the Hawke’s Bay lands. —The report was read and ordered to be printed. RETURNS, ETC. A number of returns in relation to native schools and other matters were laid upon the table of the House. Mr. JOYCE asked the Minister or Bands, When Centre Island, Foveaux Strait, was purchased from the Maoris, and to state the names of the sellers of the sanfte ? The Hon. Mr. MAC ANDREW in reply, said ho held in his hand a list of the vendors who signed the deed of cession. In reply to questions put by the Hon. Mr. Gisborne in reference to the Needham case, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan stated that the Government did not approve of the course taken by the Resident Magistrate ; but as the case had been conducted before counsel it was not considered desirable that the Government should now take further action in the matter. Mr. PYKE asked the Minister for Public Works,—What action the Government proposed taking for the purpose of giving effect to the expressed will of this House in respect to the construction of the Otago Main Central K TheTflon. Mr. MAC ANDREW replied that directions would be issued as speedily as possible for proceeding with the works. Mr. J. O. BROWN asked the Premier, — When the Government intend to publish and distribute the usual balance-sheet of expenditure and revenue of the Province of Otago to the 31st December, 1876 ? Sir GEORGE GREY stated in reply that the officer whose duty it was to furnish the report had met with a severe accident, which was the cause of the delay. Mr. STEVENS asked the Premier, —What arrangements it is intended to make to provide medical attendance at the Christchurch Hospital, rendered necessary by the recent resignation of the Hospital staff ? , Sir GEORGE GREY replied that a Royal Commission would be appointed for inquuy into the subject.

BILLS INTRODUCED. The Biverton Harbor Board Bill and the Biverton Grammar School Bill —Hr. Hodgkinson. The Roxburgh Reserve Amendment Bill— Mr. Bastings. A Bill to provide for the establishment of Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools for the Education District of Southland —Mr. Lumsden. Patea Harbor Board (Major Atkinson). The House went into a committee of the whole to consider this Bill.—Leave was granted for its introduction, and the second reading fixed for this day. _ Leave was granted to introduce the Town of Havelock Commonage Bill (Mr. J. C. Brown), and it was ordered to he read a second time next day. , The Strath Taieri and Clyde Bailway Bill (Mr. Pyke).—The House went into a committee of the whole upon this Bill. —The Bill was reported from committee, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday next. THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained its leading provisions. The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on "Friday next. PUBLIC RESERVES BILL. The House went into committee on the Public Eeserves Bill. —A long discussion followed on clause 12, providing for the'leasing of racecourses tor extended periods.—The clause was eventually struck out of the Bill. —A new clause, proposed by Mr. Stout, forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquors on recreation or other public reserves, was lost on a division by 34 to 24. —The Bill was reported from committee with was ordered to be read a third time on Friday next. PUBLIC RESERVES SALE BILL. On the motion to go into committee, the Hon. Mr. Reynolds opposed the principles of the Bill, on the grounds that it proposed to sell the present Court House' reserve and devote the proceeds to erecting a Court House on a site on the. reclaimed laud. He thought the Provincial Buildings were quite sufficient for the purposes of the Court. Mr. BUNNY, hoped the Government would not listen to the suggestions of the hon. member for Port Chalmers. The proper course to pursue was for the Government to sell the Provincial Buildings, and place the amount realised from the sale thereof against the provincial debt. It was useless to attempt to adapt buildings to purposes for which they were altogether unsuitable. He had, along with the Chief Justice, gone over the Provincial Buildings, and his Honor the Chiet Justice was of opinion that they would not be suitable for a Court House. If the present site for a Court House reserve were sold, the amount realised by the sale would be more than sufficient to cover the expenses of erecting a suitable building on the reclaimed land, having every convenience that should be found in such a building. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN said the Government were convinced that a better site than the present should be fixed upon for the purpose of having a Court House erected on it. He would assure the hon. gentleman that proper steps would he taken to ascertain the place, best adapted. He assumed that the steps taken by his predecessors were as judicious as could have been adopted in the matter. He considered the Bill before the House proposed the best means for dealing with the question. The House then went into committee on the Bill.

It was proposed to alter clause 4 so as to have the proceeds arising from the sale of reserves paid into the Treasury and become part of the ordinary revenue of the colony. The proposition drew down much dhcussion. On the motion being put to alter the clause in the direction stated, a division was called for, when the motion was lost by a majority of 36 —ayes, 42; noes, 8. The clause as now remaining provides that the money arising from the sale of certain reserves shall in the first instance be applied in payment of the expenses attending such sale, and then in the manner as hereunder with respect to Wellington—“ As to the purchase money of the allotment, being part of section No. 513 on the plan of the_ city of Wellington, in or towards the erection of a Court of .Justice in the city of Wellington.” The Bill was reported from the committee without material amendment. NATIVE LANDS SALES SUSPENSION BILL. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN moved that the Native Land Sales Suspension Bill be discharged from the Order Paper. He said it was well known that this Bill was most unpopular with both races. Numberless petitions had been received from natives in all parts of the colony protesting against the Bill. The present Native Lands Act of 1873 would fully suffice to prevent undue and illegitimate speculation in native lands. The Act of 1873 contained provisions that would fully carry out all that was intended by the Native Land Sales Suspension Bill. By the Act of 1873 any portion of the colony could be excepted from the operation of sales, mortgages, leases, or other negotiations. When the House was made aware of that fact, it would fully concur in the advisability of having that Bill withdrawn. Sir Robert Douglas entertained quite a different view on the subject. He would regret to see the Bill discharged from the Order Paper. Mr. MORRIS agreed that, the best course was for the Bill to be discharged. In the district along the East Coast which he represented the greatest dissatisfaction was expressed by the native population respecting the suspension of all operations in regard to dealings with native lands for the next twelve months.

Major ATKINSON thought that applying the fifth and sixth clauses of the Native lined Act, 1873, for the purpose of carrying out what was intended by the Native Land SaUs Suspension Bill would be productive of evil to the colony at largo. Great discontent would arise among the native population by such an arbitrary proceedings as putting into operation over native lands the clauses referred to in the 1873 Act. The with-

drawal of the present Bill would fail _to carry out the objects. He warned the Government that by discharging this Bill, and relying upon the two clauses of the 1873 Act, the result'would be to shake the _ faith of the natives in our even-handed justice. • .The Government would be laying themselves open to a far greater reproach than the late uovernm Mr. STOUT did not understand the Hue of .argument adopted by the hou. member who had just sat down. If the Act of 1873 provided that lands could be exempt from the operations of the Native Lands Act generally, the same could be applied to special circumstances, such as in the case of the Munmotu Block The Hon, Mr. REYNOLDS would oppose the Bill being discharged from the Order Paper unless the Government were prepared to substitute some other measure during the present session. , ... Mr. NAHE supported the withdrawal of the jir, ROWE desired to know whether the Government intended continuing the purchase of the native lands ? He thought it would be well to suspend all transactions in native lands for a while. To enforce the provisions contained in the Act of 1873 would be productive of much evil. This would be found in the case of the Murimotu Block. . Mr. READER WOOD said the people m Auckland viewed the Bill with alarm. The Bill suspending all transactions in native lands would to many be ruinous—to those persons who were engaged in partly completed transactions; The late Government had been quite content to keep the powers of the Act of 1873 in their hands, although they now said these provisions would be dangerous in the hands of the present Government. He would ask, what would Europeans think of a Bill to suspend all traffic in wool ? The Maori race regarded the Land Sales Suspension Bill much in the same light. , • Mr. TAWITI condemned the Bill, hut thought some measure should be introduced in order to prevent grantees whose respective interests are not iudividualised from disposing surreptitiously of the land. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN replied at some length. He further urged the withdrawal of the Bill. When the House would go into the question of the Estimates, he would then explain fully what the views of the Government were with respect to the land purchases by the Government, and matters generally relating to the native race. Until, then he trusted the House would bear with him. The Bill was then discharged. SETTLEMENTS WORKS ADVANCES BILL. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN moved the discharge of this Bill from the Order Paper. Mr. REID expressed regret at the proposed abandonment of this measure.

Captain Bussell and Mr. Carrington opposed the withdrawal of the Bill. The. Bill was withdrawn. SPECIAL CONTRACTS CONFIRMATION BILL. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN moved the second reading of this Bill. The Bill passed the second reading, and was ordered to be committed on Friday next.

COMMITTEE OP WAYS AND MEANS. The order, for the House to go into a Committee of Ways and Means was postponed until Friday next.

OTHER BILLS. : . The Misdemeanants and Other Offenders Arrest Bill was withdrawn. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN moved, and it was carried, —That the Land Drainage Bill and the Fencing Bill be discharged from the Order Paper. He proposed that the Fencing Bill should during the recess be distributed throughout the different county councils of the colony. Mr. BOWEN trusted that the Government would not withdraw the Fencing Bill. The House had given some considerable attention to it, and it had been considered by a select committee of the House. Mr. REID opposed the abandonment of the Bill- ~ Mr. STOUT hoped the Government would not go on with the Bill. It was a long Bill, and would occupy too much time for the House to deal properly with it. Besides, in Otago the people there were, he believed, satisfied with the present fencing law. Dr. HODGKIN SON hoped the Government would withdraw the Bill. After some further discussion the Bills were discharged from the Order Paper. The Dunedin Gaol-street Cantractiou Bill passed the second reading. The Hon. Mr. EEYISI OLDS moved the with-’ dfawal of the Constabulary Bill. It was quite unsuitable tor the purpose it was intended for. The colony did not want an Armed Constabulary Force, it required a Civil Police Force. He would withdraw the motion if the Government desired. The Hon. Mr. SHEEHAN stated on behalf of the Government that there was no objection to the Bill being discharged from the Order Paper. . Mr. B.A.BFF referred to the demilitarisation of the colonial forces that took place in 1870, when our soldiers were converted into police. He strongly opposed the Bill. Mr. Pyke and Mr. Stout opposed the Bill. The Bill w«s withdrawn. On the motion of Mr. Stout, the House went into committee on this Bill. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Cromwell Athemeum Reserve Bill and the Kaiapoi Cemetery Bill were considered In committee, passed without amendment, and were reported to the House. The Bills passed their third readings. The House adjourned at 11.40.