POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 21 July 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE.

(by telegraph.) (from our own correspondent.) Wellington, July 21. Nearly the whole of yesterday was occupied by the discussion upon the Native Lands Sales Bill, by which the natives may sell their lands through the Waste Lands Board only. The native members spoke exhaustively and strongly against it, and in favor of free trade in their land. The opinion of the House was divided, and parties very much mixed in the lobbies on the question, which the majority do not profess to understand. It is a difficult one, and has baffled the most astute and well-informed of native doctors for a quarter of a century. The discussion was proceeding at 1 o'clock this morning, when a member of the Opposition moved the adjournment. The Government opposed it, hoping that the lateness of the hour would induce those who intended to speak to abstain from doing bo. A warm discussion ensued on the motion for adjournment, which aroused the few members, half of whom were asleep, from their slumbers. The native members spoke against time in order to tire cut the House. The Premier complained that they were educated by the Opposition. One of them thereupon rose and said that he had learnt the art of stonewalling from the member for Waipa, Mr. Whitaker, who had wasted the time of the House for a weelc previously. After discussing the question of adjournment till about 2, the House broke up at that hour. . The Oamaru Waterworks Bill went: through Committee, and passed its third reading yesterday, the Government having generously postponed the Orders of the Day to allow the Bill to be taken. It is seldom that such work is accomplished in so short a period, and Mr. Jones, the member in charge of the Bill, received the assistance and congratulations of all sides. It will now be brought before theUpper House by the Hon. H. J. Miller without delay, and there is little, if any„ . risk of it being rejected. Commissioner Weldon's report upon the Otago" Police points out that thei i > parties' accused of originating the fire afc Ross'; Buildings, Dunedin, and of the murder of the Dewar family, are expiree convicts from Australia. Mr. Ireland has given notice that he will move on Thursday, " That in the opinion of this House it is desirable to revert to the ballot instead of the auction system in connection with the sale of ordinary deferred-payment sections when ' more applications than one are received : for the same section, particularly i» the> '• Otago Provincial District." • Mr! Ormond presented a petition in the> House yesterday from the proprietors off ' the Shag Point coal mine, asking that thei '■ circumstances under which their linei was used by the Government might be# considered, and relief afforded.