PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 727, 8 August 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[by telegraph.] Wellingtox, August 7. In the House of Representatives today. Mr. Sheehan read a telegram to the House from the Judge of the Land Court at Tuaketu, stating that the Natives were conducting themselves very well, and were heartily ashamed of what occurred yesterday. Mr. Fox asked whether the Maori who maltreated a woman at Opunake a year ago and was released from the custody of the police by a body of Maoris, has been recaptured and brought to justice, and whether any proceedings had been taken against the Maoris who rescued him ; if not, whether the subject was brought under the notice of Titokowaru, Te Whiti. or other influential chiefs on the V>'esi. Coast by tls- Native Minister at his late interview »• ; th them. Also, whether, if . 'ii;i.-- !.:.: been done in the matter • niiv that peaceful relations had been at established, and the native race was no longer estranged," the Government intend to take further steps to make the Queen's writ run, and ro vindicate the power of the law in the case referred to. Mr. Sheehan said that the Maori had not been recaptured ; no proceeding had been taken against the Maoris who had rescued him, nor was the matter brought under the notice of Titokowaru, who was visited for an entirely different purpose. He might say, generally, upon this question that he thought it would be unwise at the present juncture to state the policy and intentions of the Government respecting these matters, as it might be the means of indefinitely postponing the result which was so much desired. Mr. Fox asked the Government whether they have, during the recess taken any steps to secure the capture of Winiata, who, after killing a man near Onehunga, escaped, and was supposed to have taken j refuge amongst the King natives ; and whether if he had not yet been brought to trial, the Government were prepared to ! take steps to secure that event. ! Mr. Sheehan said there were grave objections to give the information asked for, but the House might rest assured they would do nothing in the matter of which the House or the country would be ashamed.

In reply to Mr. Kelly, Mr. Macandrew said Ministers had under consideration the question of introducing a Local Government Bill. Mr. Woolcock asked if the Government intended to introduce a Bill this session for placing the representation of the Colony on the basis of population, as propounded and promised by the Premier. Mr. Sheehan said all the information required would be furnished on the second reading of the Electoral Bill. Mr. Bowen asked the Government whether it is their intention to require that the payment at the rate of ten shillings per annum for every child in average daily attendance at public schools, to be made in excess of the statutory grant of L 3 15s. per head, should be distributed by the Boards to School Committees according to a pre-determined scale. Mr. Ballance said it was intended" to dirtribute the money by a scale, the nature of which thuy were now considering. Mr. Whitaker moved for leave to introduce a Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to the election of members -of the House of Representatives. He asked that the Government would allow their Bill and his to be referred to a Select Committee, so as to put the whole into such a shape as would render the question fit to be dealt with by the House. The Premier objected to sending the Government Bill to a Select Committee. The Bill was then introduced and read a first time. Mr. Barton moved "That the large powers which the police possess for the protection of the lives and property of the community should be watched by those in authority. That the House learns with regret that serious charges made against the police by a member of the House, when addressing his constituents, do not appear to have been properly ininvestigated, and that the Government be requested to investigate those charges without delay." He instanced several cases of cruelly perpetrated by the police, and said that the state of the Police Department was such as to demand examination. His speech was cut short by the adjournment at 5.30 p.m. On the House resuming at 7.30 the Cruelty to Animals Bill was read a first time. Mr. Wakefield moved the second reading of the Milford Harbor Board Bill, which was agreed to. The Rill was read a second time. Mr. Sheehan moved the second reading of the Land Claims Final Settlement Bill, which was drafted for the purpose of closing certain land claims which had remained unsettled since the foundation of the colony. The Bill was read a second time. The Kelson Harbor Board Bill was read a second time. In reply to Major Atkinson, Mr. Ballance said he hoped the Bills embodying

the proposals in the Financial Sjtateia&nt would be ready next Tuesday. '-,, ~*>>. Mr Barton !(.*3uiii.d his-.speech. ing the ponce of Wellington. Respeetiqg.j the way in which publicans' licenses weiuK granted, he said he believed .he could advance ample evidence to show that licensing should be taken out of the hands of the police altogether. The hon. gentleman asked to have his second resolution altered as follows:—In the opinion of this House, serious charges made against the police by a member of this House in a speech to his constituents, and made suhject of strong comment by the press of j flie colony, do not appear to have been | sufficiently investigated. Mr. Sheehan said if the statement made was borne otit by facts, it was clear there existed a state of things that ought to be abolished at once. At the same time, something was due to the officers j I complained to. At least, they should | ibe afforded an opportunity of giving I their account of the charges made j against them. There was no inten j tion of burking the matter. He j thought the best thing to do was to refer the question to a committee of the House. In the meantime; and in order to make some inquiry into the matter, lie moved the adjournment of the debate till to-morrow. Mr. Fox moved for all communications relating to outrages committed by Waikato natives at Waitara, immediately after Sir G. Grey's visit there, and as to the release of the ringleaders by the Magistrate, and any communication received from Rewi, respecting the policeman who arrested the ringleaders, that he should be removed from Waitara, as his life would otherwise be in danger. Mr. Sheehan said several of the statements made by the hon. member, though made in a calm and courteous manner, were inaccurate, and to-morrow he would place evidence on the matter before the House. Mr. Sutton moved for copies of any reports from the Resident Magistrate at Wairoa, Hawke'a Bay, in reference to the refusal of certain natives at Mahia to allow the hearing of a charge of break ing a public pound, and any instructions issued thereon. >!" • Sheehan said it was a small section of one natives at Mahia who refused to .-show the erection of a pound, yet these very natives had been fed and pampered by previous Governments. He assured the House the matter was very trilling, and only required some person to go and talk to them in a friendly way. . The motion was agreed to. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Curtis, to furnish a return showing the amount received under the Laud Transfer Act into the guarantee fund ; also, payments made out of such fund. The House adjourned at 9.20 p.m.