PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 437, 21 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(by telegraph.) 0 Wellington, September 21. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Replying to Mr. Nahf, Mr. Whitaker said that the native lands held everywhere under the Crown graufc were not liable to highway or county rates. Replying to Mr. Sutton, Mr. Whitaker said the Government did not intend to propose any alteration in the law relating to the sale of spirits to natives. On the motion of Mr. Whitaker, Messrs. Gisborne, Stout, Macandrew, Stafford, Harper, Rees, and the mover, were appointed a Committee to inquire into the alleged disqualifications of Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Fishei - .

Mr. 'Fyke moved, " That in the opinion of the House the report of the Otago Main Central (Committee should he given effect to forthwith.'' He reviewed the seven route" which had been consider; d by the Committee, and said they had tried to fix on the line which would prevent the fewest engineeitug difficulties and open up the largest extent of Crown Land, and be in the true sense a Middle Island central ttunk line. They had decided on the Strath Taieri line as pos-essing these advantages, as well as being the most central. The Strath Taieri route was the shortest one from Dunedin to Cromwell. At Hindon it would pass through rich country, where antimony was known and copper was supposed to exist. Splendid agricultural country would afterwards be opened up, and also fresh gold country. The line presented few engineerin" difficulties, even if carried to Jaikson's Bay. on the West Coast. One million rive hundred thousand acres of splendid agricultural land would be opened up. The Committee asked the Government to make it, or bring in a iiill to enable a private company or the Counties to make it.

Mr Joyce opposed the proposed report, which was dratted entirely from a Dunedin poim of view. It was a one eyed report, while Otago had two-eyes. A fresh and fairer Committee should be appointed to consider the matter before anything was done.

Mr. Shrimski thought the report entirely one-sided and conceived from a purely Dunedin point of view. Mr. Mandcrs moved the adjournment of the debate, Mr. as a member of the Committee denied the report to be either partial or unfair.

After some discussion the adjournment until Wednesday was agreed to. ]\lr. Murray moved that a Committee be appointed to inquire into certain land transactions in connexion wi'h the purchase of Fauri or Hunia Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4, and other lands in Waitohi district by Mr. F. "Whitaker, jun., and by Mr. James Mackay, the (Government Land Purchase Commissioner, in the purchase or other negociations in connection with these or other lands in the Waitohi district; and also any proposed exchanges between the Government and Mr. Whitaker, sen., and any alhged sales to one Fraser—the Committee to consist of Messrs. Brdlance, Grey, Reynolds, Wakefield, and the mover.

Mr. Whitaker said he was quite willing the Committee should be appointed. He desired that there should be added to the motion an instruction to inquire whether any compensation was due to him for a breach of agreement by the Government with him in regard to these lands. Mr. Murray accepted the amendment, and the motion was passed. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.