PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2993, 18 September 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Pbess Agency.) '

iiOUSE OF EEPKESEETATIVES,

WELLINGTON. , , Tuesday. LANDS FOB THB, KINGITEB. . , In the House this afternoon, ' '' ' ■ Mr McMinn asked' the Hon. the Native' Misister if he will state 1 the intention of the Government^with regard lo certain lands in the dißfcrict'of Pii'ongia^ VV'ajkato, purchased from Europeans and oiliei-s.by the late Wative^Min^sier (Sic Donald M«j<^.ean) ( , r 'for ln the' purpose .of returning' the, said lands.,to th.c y King natives. '„.,.' ■.„';.■''..'.: ;' -.<•''••'',■, „// The Hon. J. Sheehan said it was per? fectly true that a considerable area of limd was bought by Sir .Donald. MeLean viith the intention .of, handing it back to tlie .King natives, but the present Government made up their minds they would nol give the land back. ~ The King natives themselves, in fact, did not. care to take the labd on account of it being a small piece amongst the Eurppean settlers. It was also true that certain other adjoining lands in the same district had been withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the Waste Lands Board, but whether they would be given back to the natives' depended upon future events. ' ■ -••,.! ,;;

In' the House, several' petitions - from Catholics re the Education Act were presented. ■• ■ " ■■''• •-■ ■• ••'

; , ' THB^ELBCTOBAL'^Ltl 1; -: ■" .";' I Mr Montgomery will moW; ah alijaendment in the. Electoral to prerept electors Voting in more than bne fl ej«pfc«r§l district. ■ PLANS OF TOWNSHIPS. ■ The Government .promisedl to\ consider during the recess the! laying'out of towns by private.persons. .-.,,, | THB 8.8. HINEMOA. ' ] Mr Fitzroy asked asked for on the 2nd of August; re the s.s. Hinemoa and those whof travelled in her at the expense of the Colony; besides the (Governor and staff, and Ministers, would be furnished. / .!,";-, ;„',. -'," '{> > ! The Premier- .said great difficulty was experienced in obtaining the information required, but as soon as obtained it would be laid before the House. ! THE BtBCTOBAL BILL IN COMMITTEE. ! The remainder'b£l&e sitting wis spent in committee on th«v;£le>etoral Bill. An 'amendment-by Mr Sharpi/vto^exclude female ratepayers from toting was rejected by 41 to 23. A; olause entitling Maori ratepayers to rote, and a clause relating to convicted persons, were post* poned. In clause 22, relating to persons eligible for election to the House of Be* presantatives, woman were excluded by 38 against 26. The business was interrupted by 5.30.