FRIDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 120, 19 September 1885, Page 4

FRIDAY.

Germany and Samoa. The Agent-General has written ta the Premier, enclosing an extract from the " North German Gazette " on the Samoan question. The article denies Mr Stout's assertion that possession of Samoa is necessary to the welfare of this colony. It , points out that the distance between New Zealand and Samoa is about 900 milcp, while the discrepancy in aize and population is so great as to prevent Samoa ever proving a dangerous rival to this colony.

Defective Lighting of Parliament Buildings. Many members of the House who, during the session, have been suffering from ail ments of the eyes, lay the blame on the elecbrie light used for illuminating the Chamber. The House Committeehas reported drawing the attention of the* Government to the necessity of having some better system of heating, lighting, and ventilating Parliament Butfdings. A few days ago, through the defectivete/»8 of one of the chimneys, a portion of tLe library was diecovered to be on fire, and bad it not been for the fact that Sir F. . Whitaker noticed the flame?, it is probable that the most valuable collection of books in the colony would have been destroyed, if not the whole of "Korerorium," as Mr Wakefield has christened the House. I believe the Government intend .placing a I sum on tbe Supplementary Estimates to erect fireproof buildings for the library.

Liability of City Councillors. The Municipal Corporatipn Act Amendment Bill just introduced is intended to remove the disability under which members of local bodies labour in the matter of, supplying goods to the Council, etc., of which they are r members. When the second jreadirig 1 , of -the bill was moved there was considerable discussion, several members pointing out that its action would beVretroapectiv^and would meet tfie I cases' of members ot, certain looal bodies i who 1 had teoehtly been fined for breaches of .the^ Aofc. Eventually the, aecohd reading' wascairiecU : *?\ " ; .. „

U«eful Map of Now Ze*l*n<l. . A, map of New Zealand, on a scale of 8 miles to an inoti7 tiaeaeuring 7 feel by 10 fefct, and, designed to show the Rhy&ical feogwpby of the co^onyi id now |in . the anas of the Surveyor-General,' for the Colonial Exhibition, to be held in J^ondon ne*t'year, and a replica will show the tenure of lands in the colony. ' |

Seddon BliquftlifloAtion laqniry. If ia understood that. the Disqualification Committee re- the Kumara sludge channel will report yn Monday. I hear that the Committee will report that Mr Seddon hew not come within the scope of the Act,' mas muoh aa he derives no benefit from the land on which the sludge channelis situated, and of whioh he is the registered proprietor.

Mr W. T. Buokland'a Little Joke. Mr W. F. Buckland yesterday caused some amusement by giving notice to ask if the Government would offer £100 ior the best scheme of Local Self-Government.

Native Z and Surveys. The following, giving an account of the native surveys during the past year, is from the annual report of the Surrey Department : — Return for the year of surveys for the Native Land Court for investigation of title is 273 blocks, and a total area of 505,879 acres. Of this 151 blocks and 312,678 acres have been paid in advances by the Government, and the sum of £5,563 9s registered in lien to seoure a future repayment. Survey of 122 blocks and 193,201 aoree has been paid for by the natives to surveyors. Part of those surveys ■were executed in former years, but as they have only been brought to account, they appear for the first time in the returns for the 12 months endingthe 30th June, 1885. There have been numerous applications . by native's for surveys which have never ! been entered on, because the natives cannot pay the cost, and private surveyors, having no power to register lien, they have no security for future re- ! payment, and as a rule now decline to i execute native surveys. The Government I can register a lien, but as it also declines to advance the cost, the number of surveys of native lands for investigation of title has necessarily very much diminished.

Breach of Privilege. During yesterday afternoon's sitting, Mi Bryce said he had to bring before the House wbat he considered to be a breach of the privileges of the House. It might be within the recollection of the House that a message was received from the Legislative Council, asking that he might receive permission to attend before a committee of the Council, in order to be examined in a petition connected with imputations made on the Hon. Mr Taiaroa. At 10 30 on Friday morning, he accordingly attended as requested, and submitted himself for the purpose of giving evidence. A question was then put to him as to the power of the Crown over a certain sum of £4,000 over which some discussion had arieen some years ago. He said that he had no notice oi that, and having stated the terms of the notice served on him, he requested to be informed of the nature of the imputations on which he was required to give evidence, The Chairman of Committee then produced "Hansard," No. 21, of the present session, and turned to page No. 230, referring him to a speech made by Colonel Trimble. He replied that he was not present when that speech was delivered, and had not seen it in "Hansard" since, but that ta the question put to them affected c speech made by a member from his place in the House of Representatives, it appeared to him that that Committee had no right to examine him in connection with it. He further stated that he had always been particularly jealous of the privileges of the Legislative Council, wheneveran opportunity occurredfor taking theii part, but being an old member oi the House, he was equally jealoue of ito privileges, and, as the Committee were (ac it appeared to him) placing a member of tl«ifc House on his trial for words uttered in tbo Honse, he could not take part in the proceedings ; and, with evarj respect to thu Committee, he begged leave to withdraw. He also stated to them that, as ho conceived, they were committing a breach of 1 U privileges of the House, and he might v bly on consideration bring the n..i i- before the House. Having low brought the matter before the House, by stating exactly what took place, he would leave it to the Speaker to say whether anything further should be done. Mr Speaker said the hon. member had done his bounden duty in reporting the matter to the House. Members were not to be questioned anywhere or by anybody as to what was done in the House. It seemed to him that the matter was a serious breach of privilege. It was generally the duty of the leader of the House to propose some motion on such an occasion. The message received by the House was apparently an ordinary one, and had he entertained any suspicion that it was proposed to put on his trial an hon. member in regard to words spoken in the House, he should have drawn the attention of the House to it. The Premier thought that a breach oi privilege had been committed by the Legislative Council, and thought a similar action should be taken as was adopted in 1877. Ho moved that a message be transmitted to the Legislative Council that complaint had been made to the House of Representatives by an hon, member thereof that on bis attending, pursuant to leave granted to him, before a committee of the Legislative Council on the petition of the Hon, Mr Taiaroa, it was proposed to examine him in respect of words Bpoken in a debate in the Bouse, and this House considers it a high breach of privilege that any of its members should be questioned out of the House about anything said or done in the House. It has resolved to revoke the leave granted to the Hon. Mr Bryce to attend and give eviience before a committee of the Legislative Council on the petition of the Hon, Mr Taiaroa. MrHuusT wanted to know whether it would not be wise, instead of revoking leave to refer the matter, to the Council. Perhaps the Committee had acted under a misapprehension, and they should be afforded a chance of retiring from the position they had taken up. Sir Geo. Grey suggested that it would be better to give notice of motion to-day, and move it on the next siyting day, co that members might have time to think whether the course proposed would be the best to take Mr Maoandrew thought this suggestion ft very good one. While not williog to recede from the position laid down in case of breach of privilege, members would recollect that Colonel Trimble had used strong language respecting the Hon. Mr Taiaroa, and a chance should' be afforded members of finding out what truth there was in the accusations made. ; The Pbemieu did not' think Jt , was necessary for an adjournment, as there was a : general principle laid, flown io guide th^House., Of coursje,' t if , Mr Taiaroa had be l en "accused. wrongfujily^ he J v might exp~ecfc to.be allowed an opportunity of vindicating Mmifelf, ; but .the' courae adopted ,by the Council was not ft proper one 'to pursue. , TUe. resolution wftji then put and ,' carried. '•J.ii Lj^lzi Oil ; ;Y, ' t'-i'i <a : <?<«(/ £,i'^v t

VSr <» GSfcr-asked if-this "ftmae Had' power to . inquire* into the condu 3fc of a member "of the tTjiper Houee. \ '1 ' ] i v ThbS^ba?:bb .-replied in the ncgatiU/ They coulji only inquire into .members of their 1 own 1 Houae. ' Such member^ were responsible to this House for wbat%as said in it, and were not responsible elsewnere.