PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 770, 11 October 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Y ESTERDAY 'S SITTING, Wellixerox, October 10. The House met at '2.30 p.m. to-day. Mr. Joyce asked the Minister for Lands if lie will cause an inquiry to be made as to the truth of a statement published by the New Zealand Times as a telegram on the sth inst. to the effect that the Southland Waste Lands Board had the y>revious day sold to Messrs. Buttcrworth and Co. 5230 acres of land which had been marked or colored on tiie reference map as a reserve, and whether, if it should prove to be correct, he will order the stoppage of all land sales in that district, until such investigation has been made as will place beyond doubt the validity oi" otherwise, of all the reserves marked or colored as such upon the maps exhibited t> intending purchasers at the Southland Lair Office. Mr. Stout said he had made inquiries o; the Chief Commissioner for Southland, who, considered that the land had been purchased at more than it was worth, being mostly barren country. The Government had bee; advised to reserve certain portions along th river. He would inquire further and com munieate. Mr. Joyce said the Attorney-General had not answered his question. Mr. Stout said he could not give a! opinion as to the validity of the sale, excep so far as given by the Supreme Court in tb ■> case of Webster, and in other eases. Mr. Joyce asked whether the AttorneyGeneral would make specific inquiries as to whether the lands sold were marked or colored when the land was sold. Mr. Stout said yes ; if the hon. gentleman would see him privately he would refer to the map and answer the question. The Land Amendment Bill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for tomorrow.

The Disqualification Bill JS"c. 2 was read a third time, and reported.

On the motion to go into Committee on the Native Law-Suits Bill, Mr. Whitaker said negotiations were proceeding which would probably result in an agreement being come to on this Bill between all parties in the House, and he therefore suggested that its committal should be postponed. Mr. Stout acquiesced in this, and the committal was postponed till to-morrow.

The House then went into Committee on the following Bills : —Repeals Bill, Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill, Public Resei'ves Sale Bill, Dangerous Goods Act Amendment Bill, and I 'taeo and Southland Education Reserves Leasing Bill.

Mr. Stout, in referring to the Societies Bill, said some Societies were in the habit of making the expense of banquets. &c, a loan on the sick fund, which was never repaid. Therefore it became necessary to keep the expenses of management, sick, and benefit funds separate. lie believed if it were not for the number of honorary members many Societies would become insolvent. On file motion of the Colonial Treasurer that the House go into Committee on the Literary Institutions and Public Libraries Bill, Mr. Bowen said the Bill was unnecessary anil oppressive, and moved that it be committed that day six months. After some discussion. The oueation was put that the debate !>c adjourned, and the House divided with the following result : —Ayes, "Jfs : noes, 2S. Some further discussion took place. Mr. Gisborne raised a question of privilege, as to whether the Council was justified in repealing clause "2 of the former Act, containing provisions under which the House made appropriation. The Premier moved th it it was undesirable to proceed further with the Pill until the Speaker had given his riding on the important question of privilege raised by the member for Totara. Mr. Bowen withdrew his amendment, and the Premiers amendment was carried on the voices. The House then went into Committee on the Public Reserves Pill. Oil ' 'iau.ses 4 and .">, the expenditure in <'■<.- "<•:- of. or without appropriation, not to e\-.-ed LlOiJJXir :-.: ,-oy one ;!:s;\nci:il year, Mr. •NPintgomcr'. !■.••!.! Lii.-J: thi-- power of incurring exceSM\e ■vpendiiure' prevented the : !■■.-' eon openin- until duly, whereas it was lie v on re; id jd tint ih- words " in one linancial \o-tr' would enable the Government to .-r.oi/d ;..J(')0.0:;i». viz.- LIOO.UW before the ..'lose oj the hnau.-;::! \.;' r - ;1 "M ;l second .-'uiiiiai 1 amount after it. The Treasurer .-aid the cecum! hundred thousand pounds v.;'-' reidiy anticipating a vote of file Hor.se in the following session. The present period for commenciue; the session was oee ; 5. ;: ,.y ;,, ~,-.],)• to enable the last quarter's liiriee.,, v; turns to be in the possession of tile Government. Mr. Bowen and Major Atkinson thought the financial year should close earlier. The clause passed! without amendment. Mr. Stevens moved that clause ;"ith— "if the Audit Office objects, the Governor in Council to decide"-—should be expunged. The amendment was negatived, and the Bill was then reported.