PARLIAMENTARY (From "Star" Reporter) THE AUCKLAND "HERALD" AND HON. MR LARNACH. Wellington, August 15.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 291, 18 August 1888, Page 5

PARL I AMENTARY (From " Star" Reporter) THE AUCKLAND " HERALD " AND HON. MR LARNACH. Wellington, August 15.

*r was current gossip in the lobbicfa yc&terday that when the House met the Hon. Mr Larnach would draw attention to an articlo in a recent issue of the Auckland " Herald,'" reflecting on himself as a breach of privilege This pro\ed to be the case' and the article was discussed in very warm terms. Mr Larnach said it would be in the re collection of members that he recently had suddenly to go to his home in tho South in consequence of illness in his family, and tho "Herald ' had taken up a circumstance which occuried while he was away in a must libellous and sournlous way, leiomng to him as though his absence was on business, and^ that his statement about illness m his family was only an excuse to be away attending to his own aifairs. He was detained in the South until a \ery serious operation bad been pciiormed, and to his surprise, when he returned, he found that this article had been published. He was leaving ISTew Zealand nhoitly, and >f this article was to be pub-ished in the papers ot Australia wheio lie intended to reside, it would do a veiy great injury to his character. He had, theiefore, brought the matter up in the House, and allied that the article ol which he complained should be read by the clerk. The clerk then read the article, being frequently interrupted by membeto expressing disappioval of its statements. It was based on a qucotion asked in the Ho^e by Mr Hobbs, as to whether Mr Larnach was to draw his honorarium while he was in Australia. The article assumed that Mr Larnach had leally gone away on business, and said Mr Hobbs deserved the thanks of New Zealand ior biinging the mattei forward. (Hisses.) Mr Larnach remarked that during tie 12 years he had been in the House he had never drawn his honorarium when he was away from the countiy, and he thought that when there was sickness in the family such a question should not have been raised. (Hear, heai.) He moved that a breach of the privileges of the House had been committed. Mr Hobbs said he had, when he found what was the cause of Mr Larnachs absence, at once telegraphed expressing regtet that he had bi ought the matter up, and received from Mr Larnach a telegram accepting hi ■> apology. He regretted very much that, he had mentioned Mr Larnachs naire. With respect to the question as a general one, he should make further inquines with a view to finding out whether other members had done the same thing. The Premier said there was no doubt this was a shameful and gross libel, and Mr Larnach had done right in biinging it up. He should be veiy glad to assist the hon. member in clearing his character if it was nece-sary, which he did not think it was. The hon. member was too well and widely know n for any explanation to be necessary. Ho thought Mr Hobbs was unfortunate in the way he brought the matter up, for it was not for a private member to take these steps. We should not be always foaling our own nest (cheers), and that was what he objected to in the press of the colony. There seemed to be a tort of desne to hold up public men to reprobation. They could not so much complain of that sort of i hing if the members of the House started it Anythiug the hon. membei did he would a.— sisthim in, but w hat he should like toseewas the House declare this a breach of privilege and then Mr Larnach could bring an action against the papei. Mr Downie Stewart censured Mr Hobbs for bringing the matter up originally, but he did not think it would be well for the House to go any further into the matter. Mr Bruce expressed deep 1 egret at the bare and cruel charges m ide against a gentleman so respected as Mr Larnach, and he ventuied to say that when the hon. member went to his new home in Australia he would carry with him the respect and e&teem of every member ot the House. iCheers.) Mr li. K. J. Reeves spoke in a similar strain, censuring Mr Hobbs. He read the telegram in which Mr Larnach accepted Mr Hobbs's apology as follows : — " Sir, whether on public or other grounds, your reference to my short absence was unfriendly, unmanly, and contemptible ; but as a fleeting shadow of delicacy has passed over you I accept your apolugy." Such was the magnanimous way in which Mr Larnachacceptedtheapologies. (Laughter. ) He suggested that the correspondent and his satellites be bi'ought befoie the bar of the House. Mr Levestam hoped the House would not allow the mater to drop, but that an example would be made of the member for the Bay of Islands (Mr Hobbs). Mr Allen did uot suppose there was a man in the Hou^e who had more generosity about him than Mr Larnach ; he thought on the other hand that this affair would have a good effect in arresting what he called a downward progress in the House, and would have the effect of putting them on a higher and more gentlemanly feeling. It was then resolved that the article was a breach of the privileges of the House. Mr Larnach then moved that the proprietors of the paper, Messrs William Scott Wilson, Joseph Liston Wilson and Alfred George Horton, be ordered to attend at the bar of the House at 2.30 p.m. this day week. The Premier hoped the hon. member would not pi ess ihis motion. He pointed out that t^is mode of procedure had been tried before and never had any good result. At the saoie time he should have to vote for the motion if it were pressed. Sir John Hall a's-o hoped the motion would nob be proceeded with. If he thought anything further was needed to clear the hon. member's character he would not for a moment object to it. Mr Fulton and other members .spoke to similar effect. Mr Turnbull thought the person to blame was the member of the House who had given the information en which the article had been written. Captain Russell thought a man of Mr Larnachs established position could defy such a libel as this. Moreover, he thought the punishment the member who had originated this libel had undo gone that afternoon was very much more than they could inflict on the proprietors of the paper. Mr O'Callaghan observed that when Mr Hobbs prayed, for members of the House he added that he would not sit in the House if it were not the will of the Lord he should do so (laughter). Mr Larnach said»that, after hearing what was aaid by the Premier, he would leave himself entirely in the hands of the House, and would withdraw the motion if members wished it. Mr Moss said [that, knowing the proprietors of the paper, he was certain that no one could moro^regrefclthie affair than they did.

At the same time thoy musb remember that Mr Hobbs was a gentleman surrounded by an odour of sanctity as leader of a religious movement, and that such a gentleman would nob act the part of Paul Pry. (Laughter.) He was certain the people of Auckland would not endorse this attack. Mr W. P. lleeves, a^ a newspaper man, knew the way these things gob into newspapers, and was suie proprietors would not endorse it. He doubted whether those gentleman ever knew anything about the article until it was in print. Knowing the proprietors of the " New Zealand Herald," he felt sure that they wouJd at once apologise, and ho suggested a motion to the effect that the article was untruthful and improper, and that the atten ion of tne proprietors be called to the matter. Mr Lance advisod Mr Larnach to withdraw his motion. Mr Hobbs denied that he had supplied information to the newspaper concppondents in Wellington. He denied Unit ho had said members were past praying for. What he said ab a meeting at Wellington some time ago was tyiat members wore " not past pi ay ing lor* (lauerhter). Mr Larnach said he would go further now and ask loavo to withdraw the motion. (Cheers.) The motion was then withdrawn. Mr JSeddon thought the House should express its sympathy wMi Mr Larnach, and he moved, "That this Houso expresses its sympathy with the hon. member for the Peninsula, and regrets that buch an untruthful, libellous article should have been published in the newspaper in question." This was seconded by Colonel Fraser and carried. After son,e further remarks, Mr Hobbs gave notice to mo\e for a return, givi q tho names oi members of thu Geneial Assembly who have during the past seven years dtawn their honorariums when ab-ent from the House or during illness in thoir families. The motion was reeehed by the House A\i\h expressions of disapprobation.

NATIVE BILLS. The House was engaged all last night in consideration of the Native Land Court Bill in Committee. The Pienuer said ho believed the amendment made iii clause JB, causing it to apply to past transactions, had been made under a mia>tpprthenMnn. He asked that the clause be passed as it stood, and consequently he would mo\ olorits re-committal to consider the alteiation made. The intention ot the Government with respect to past transactions was? to appoint a committee to deal \\ ith them. New j clauses were added to the bill to the following eliect. 1. That no purchaser or lessee j shall occupy land till he has legisteted his title. 2. To enable ce< in que trusts in the i>ay of Plenty district to become the ceitiheated owners of land to which they are entitled. 3. That; every application lor a rehearing shall be determined by the Chief Judge sitting with an assessoi. 4. That all reheaiing shall be dctei mined by not less than two judges and assessor, none of whom shall ha\e adjudicated upon the case at any former time. 5. That a copy of every application for investigation of title, partition, or succession, or other business, shall be forwarded by the Registrar of a Court to the Chaiiman of each Native Committeeinthedistri (.concerned 6. That any report by a Native Committee shall be considered before dealing \\ ith a ca^-e. A lone; discussion took place upon the clauses to enable the re-opening of cases already reheard by the Natixe Land Court in reference to the Porongahau, Mangamire, Waipho and Ngara blocks. The nath c mtsmbeis mgecl that the (joveiim.ent should not select the cisc- of paiiiculai claimants for favour, but should legislate to enable the re-opening of all cases in which injustice is inflicted. Ultimately the clauscwaspafrsedas printed, buta pLO\ i&o was added that any ie\ eating undei it should be without piejudice to any bona /uk demise of land prior to 14th August, 1888. The Premiei distinctly lepeats ins promise that a Commissfcion should be appointed eailv i:i the lecess to inquito into all past native land transactions-, and that the clause <o that eflect wculd be inserted in the Legi-lathe Council. On this undei standing Mr Hutchison agreed to the recommittal of the Bill to rcveite his amendment of Monday night, and the measure was then passed tlnough its iinal stage.

FOOTBALLERS PASSES. Mr \V. P. Reeves ifc to ask the Minister for Public Woiks whetliei tiec passes on the colony"? lailways were granted to the pelf-styled " Native " football team, and if so, why ? Also whether it ib the ra-^e that iiee passes on any line of the 5-aid tailwa^s have been promised to Lillywliite's foot ball team on their return to the coluny ?

SEACLIFF ASYLUM SLIDING OUT TO SEA. Mr P. S. Hay, of the Public Works, has jusb returned fiom inspc tinjr the Seaclift" Atyium building with a view to abcertaining- whether there hat been any further sub&idence. He report-* that the north wing has gone seaward since February last from two and a quarter lo three inches. This conCims the position taken up by Mr Lawson, the arch tcct for the building.

A NEW RAILWAY WORK. With a view to preventing a recurrence of railway accidents at Purakinai (Jliilfc. .i tunnel is to be cut through the lulls a few chains inland from that portion of the lino where slips arc occasionally occurring.

JOTTINGS. Lord and Lady Alfred Churchill were in the House during yesterday afternoon's pioceedinge. The Native Minister has received a telegram from the We&tern Maori District, disapjitovinpr of the stonewalling tactics, in which their representative, Mr Taipara, took p.irl-. The Government have not vet determined what legislation shall be proposed in view of the fateof the Fair Kent Bill, but will probably make some proposal on the subject shortly. Ifc is intended to expend a largje sum of money on the PuraUnnui CliUs on the Dunedin - Christchuich line, in order to pi'event rccutrence of a similai accident to that by which Eden Williams, a surfaco man, leeently lost his lite. The discussion ot the San Frisco and Ocean Mail Services has been deferred till to-day. Ministers cannot &cc their way to adopt Mr Andersons suggestion that with a view to replenishing the Treasury they should tax racing clubs, theatrical companies and skating rinks. The Council has directed the Live Stock Committee to consider the importation of live stock from Australia. The Maori Real Estate Management Bill and Native Land Frauds Prevention Bill has been read a first time in the Council. Mr Lance is urging the Government to vote a sum of £500 for the representation of minerals of the colony at the Paris Exhibition next year. The following bills were passed by the Council yesterday : — Proclamation Validation, Sheep Act Amendment, Custom Duties Consolidation, and Tobacoo Bills.

The Premier declines to adopt Mr ft. Thompson's suggestion bo appoint commercial oxports from Dnnedin, Christ - church, and Auckland, to prepare a scheme for the le-organiaation of tho Civi Service. Ti o Wa&te Lands Gommittoo will report that the Manawatu 'Railway Company have no further claim against tho colony. Mr Hutchison, member for Waibobara, visits England at the close of this session.