PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 129, 5 July 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PER PRESS AGENCY.] HOUSE of' REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, July 4. The House met at 2.30. Leonard Harper was sworn in. The Premier announced that Mr George McLean had joined the Ministry as Commissioner of Customs. The report of the Committee, to inquire into the circumstances of the East Coast election, was brought' up. It recommends that a new writ be issued, as the fairest and speediest solution of the matter. The remainder of the afternoon was occupied by a debate upon the question which followed. Some were advocating strongly that as Karaitiana polled the largest, number of votes he should be called to bis sertt in the House, at least until some aggrieved person instituted proceedings against him. On the other hand it was maintained that, if he once took his seat, then no petition could lie, but principally that he had no right to sit there inasmuch as he had not been declared elected, ami that as a largo portion of the electorate had been prevented from voting owing to the heavy Hood, and that as the votes, if given, would have turned the election in quite a different way, the fairest course would be to issue a new writ. The dis cussion was kept up until just before the usual hour for rising, when an amendment of Stout’s was carried, to the effect that the interim report be referred back to the committee, with instructions that they take evidence and report whether any persons had been prevented from voting. If so, what member, and what effect that had upon the election. Mr Larnach asked what the Government intended to do about Supremo Court accommodation. The gist of the answer was, that they did nothing lately, waiting to see how the proposed governmental changes would affect the matter. Mr Stout asked what the Government intended regarding the apprehension of of Wiuiata the murderer. The Naiive Minister was explaining that the Government did all that was possible under the circumstances, and that ho never sat at a meeting at which Winiata was present, nor would he, when 5.30 was called, and the House rose. A committee is to be moved for to consider what alterations, if any, should be made in the San Francisco Mail Service.