PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2292, 22 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

TVedxksdav, July 21. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In reply to questions, Ministers stated that Government would not lose sight of the importance of the telephone in connecting passenger and other important stations on the railway. Circulars had been sent to the electoral registrars, instructing them to make the rolls as complete as possible. The public works statement would be made next week. Mr Paunell, solicitor of Ashburton, who had been committed by the Resident Magistrate to seven days for contempt of Court, had been asked to make his complaint in writing. XATJLVK I.AXDS lill.L. The debate on the second reading of the Native Land sales Bill was resumed. Mr Tolc said Government had no right to allow estates to be disposed of to the detriment of the public. The Bill as it stood would enable large blocks of native lands to fall into the hands of private speculators. He objected to this being called legislation, Mr Montgomery thought it would be right to have two or three persons appointed by the natives to assist the

Waste Lands Boards in deciding in what manner lands should be dealt with —w hether under the deferred payment system or otherwise. He would support the motion, reserving to himself the right of suggesting amendments while in Committee. Mr Biycc replied. Regarding the remarks made by the member for Mount Ida (Mr De Lautour), he could tell them that when he took office he had quite .made up his mind for attacks of this sort. He referred to the circumstances under which the Government got mixed up with the block of native land referred to. The state of affairs was very unsatisfactory, there wasno chance of the Government securing the land, and he considered the best course was to get the advances paid and get clear of it. Nearly the whole of the land had been got through the Court. The title certified, and Government was in a fair way of getting advances repaid. Surely^the House would agree witii him in thinking that a most satisfactory conclusion to a very unsatisfactory piece of business. He had never told a lie or made a false representation in his life. Referring to the statement made by the member for Mount Ida, who said that Government had been guilty of making wilful and deliberate misstatements, he said that having done his best to damage the reputation of Mr Biycc he next attempted to damage the reputation of the Native Lands Court. One chief object lie sought to attain was to deliver the Maoris from the solicitations of agents sent out to got them to sell their lands. The motion wars put and carried on the voices. Sir George Grey said he hoped in Committee they would devise means by which the natives would have control of their estates. Mr Macandrcw reiterated bis opinion that the Bill should be sent to a Com iniKco to be reported on. He looked on the transaction with suspicion, men i’assud. The Dentists’ Bill was read a third time and passed. AIUXICU’AL COUrOKATTOXS lilll. In Committee the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill was further considered. The following addition was made to clause 21, sub-section b— and for re gulating and making provision for the construction of chimneys to carray away smoke from engines, and for the protection from sparks therefrom, and for the prevention of nuisances from smoke. Clause 21 was struck out on division, by 37 to 8. Clause 30, re gas works, was struck out. Mr Moss proposed as a new clause that instead of printing proposed bylaws in c-rtcuan in a newspaper, it should be sufficient that an abstract be published, together with a published notice that the by-laws or laws in e-efenso were posted in a conspicuous place within the Borough. The House divided —Ayes 11 Noes 10. A number of new clauses were added, and the Bill was then reported with amendments, and the report was ordered to he considered a month hence, so as to give the municipality time to consider the measure as amended. The House adjourned at 1.10 p.m.