HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3022, 22 October 1878, Page 1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

WELLINGTON.

Monday.

PETITION FBOM PAEBOA. In the House to-day Mr Bowe pre< 1 sented a petition from Michael, Alley (of i Ohinemuri), praying for compensation for ;. the remoTal of a township at Paeroa after he had erected his hotel and* taken out his liceme. NATIVE PETITION. Mr Rowo also presented a petition from Hoani Nahe and others, praying for compensation for lands illegally confiscated at the Wairoa. SMOKING IN THE LIBBABY. Mr Tole gave notice of motion to aalt. the Government whether they will prerent smoking in the library, and provide suitable accommodation for the purpose in another part of the premises P . ' '■ SPECIAL TBAIHS. Mr Barton presented a petition in' favor of running special working men's ; trains to Petone and the Hutt at reduced, fates. ■' • , ' ■. ii ; BARTON AND HIS CHABGES.;' I .' .! ■.',) Mr Douglas gave notice to ask Mr Barton whether, in the event.of his charges against the Judges being proved ".. to be false, he should not be debarred from practice ?• BALE OF ADULTEBATBD LIQUOBS. ■.-.'> , Mr Reeves asked the < Government if they will during the recess frame a bill for the more effectual suppression of the i. sale of adulterated liquors and the punish* ment of the vendors of such liquors P He presumed the Government would give a favorable answer to this question. .The ' present Act was a dead letter. He trusted t the Government would frame a bill during the recess to put an end to, one of thu most abominable practices existing in. the ponntry. , ' The Hon. J. Sheehan replied that if the lavr now existing is not sufficient Government will introduce a bill'next session. His impression was the existing' law was sufficient if properly enforced. TOBY CHANNEL LIGHT. Mr Reeves asked the Commissioner of Customs if it is his intention to have leading signal lights placed at the entrance, of Tory Channel. He looked upon this as one. of the most dangerous parts of. the coast. Signal lights had been ordered by Mr Reynolds when in the Ministry, but were lying in the store, and had never 'been utilised. The cost of keeping lights, burning would be small, and would be a great benefit to traffic on that part of the coast of New Zealand., • The Premier said the' Government , would take the matter into consideration I and give an answer during the recess. . WAIMATE LAND.. Mr Barton asked the Minister. for ! lands—(l.) When land being surveyed at 1 the Waituate plains in Taranaki will be sold? (2.) Whether the sale will 1 take place at New Plymouth, Wanganwu ;or ;'. Wellington? (3.) Whether any of the land is intended to be thrown open oh the deferred payment system P (4.) Whether, if put up to auction, all the money will have to be paid at once, or in. what manner? . I The Hon. J. Sheeban replied .that it was rather difficult to tell as to the pre- - cisc surveys. There were six parties of .surveyors at work, and a large urea was being surveyed and subdivided, and could be brought into the market at once, but the Government thought it better not to sell until the surveys were completed. The sale would take place early next year. It was not settled whether the sale will take place in Wellington or Wanganni, but for choice the Government preferred Wanganui, as most, central. . Land on the deferred payment system would be sold both in the Waimate Plains and Waitotara. In the case of lands put up at auction a deposit would be. required, and at the end of one month the remainder must be paid. Where land were sold on deferred payment the terms of payment in the Aot would tie . adhered to. . - FALSE BEPOSTB. The Hon. Mr Sheehan said, with reference to a reported disturbance on the East Coast, in which two natives^ were said to be killed, he was in receipt of authentic.information that no; person! were killed. A. conflict had taken plaoe about a tmall piece of land. The fighting < pahs consisted of nine men in one and ten in another, at a safe distance from

each other. The disturbance was a mere attempt to induce hinjFto visit the district and spend money, which he would not do until the powder was exhausted. ; BATING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The bill was read a second time. WHAKATANE GBANTS VALIDATION BIIiI : A GBAVE CHAEGE. On the question that this bill be committed, Mr Eolleston expressed regret that the Native Minister had not adopted the principle of putting up native reserves for Bale by public tender or auction. The system of disposing of land by orders in Council was likely to lead to abuses. Confiscated lands should be placed on the same footing as waste lands of the Crown. There was a time coining when they must revert absolutely and exclusively to the pre-emptive right of the Crown, or absolute free trade in native lands, with reserves made absolutely inalienable or only, alienable by the Ijtouse in a most publio manner. The Premier expressed concurrence in these views. He had been anxious to bring native lands under some fair system, but the. Government had. to contend against most powerful interests in the country. The Government would give the whole subject their consideration, and endeavour, to give effect to the principles recommended. Mr Douglas said it was in evidence that the Ministry had an interest in the Btook on the Whakatane lands for which these grants were issued. . „ The Premier said.no member had any interest beyond enabling the person to start in life. Mr Douglas contended that Colonel Whitmore had admitted in evidence he had stock running on the land, and. it was currently stated that Captain Swindley, the Owner of the land, is Colonel Whitmore's partner. Mr Eolleston said Colonel Whitmore admitted to the committee he had advanced money on the land to Captain Swindley, and had stock funning on the land. Mr McLean accused the Government of illegally issuing Crown grants, and moved the postponement of the committal until the evidence taken iiv committee on the bill had been printed, f Mr Macfarlane said „the bill was introduced to validate grants issued by the late Government. The Hon. J. Sheehan said application for the grants; was made in; 1866. The? Government j would undertake that the leases should not exceed twenty-one years, ! and also that the lands should be offered by auction or public tender. The Premier challenged! any - member of the House who believed he had com-;, mitted any illegal act to move fora committee of enquiry.- The result would be to show that he (the Premier) had no knowledge of these matters. The Hon. J. Sheehan consented to an adjournment of the debate until Tuesday, which was agreed to. , CEMETEKIES p&AX AGEMENX AMENDMENT Bill. The House went into committee on this bill.'"Clause".four was''amended;. by' the insertion Of the words '." at the instance of the body or bodie3 concerned," after "may" in the sixth line so as to render the placing of portions of cemeteries apart from the burial of bodies of poor persons, ' dependent upon the consent of local bodies. A further amendment was inserted exempting the Jewish cemeteries in Auckland from being closed. Mr Tole moved that the Catholic cemetery, Auckland, be exempted, which was negatived on a division by 15 to 27. MIMTABT GKANTB BILL. Mr Ormond's Military Grants Bill was read a second time, and passed through committee. BATING ACT AMENDMENT BILL. There was considerable discussion in committee on the Eating Act Amendment Bill. Dr. Hodgkinson moved that the chairman leave the chair, which was interrupted by the half-past five adjournment.