HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3299, 18 July 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30. j '■ ' PETITIONS. - ! , Mr Whitaker presented a petition from Mr Searancke, of the Waikato, asking redress for the loss of office of B.M. '■ Mr Tole, from Mr Hugh Hoskins re land, : ■■ '': ■■ •• - ■ ■ ■■■■'■ \- ;;' \ Mr Goldie from Mr C. Mack, Auckland, asking compensation for low of land. ' | NOTICES OF MOTION. Mr Hobbs asks what amount of money is required to complete all the purchases' of native lands; also if the officers of the .Government have a right to purchase lands for themselves. .:'■> .; Mr Bees to move that the conduct of the Hon Sir W. Fox, in accepting without reference to the' Government and without their consent the honour's recently conferred upon him, is unconstitutional. EQUALISATION OF THE LICENSE FEES. Mr Curtis asked Government if they 'will introduce a bill this session to amend the existing Licensing Acts, so as tto eqalise the license fees throughout the Colony, , ■ The Hon, Mr Sheehan- said that the fees were paid to local bodies, and the Government declined to interfere, but had no objection to ask the local bodies to reduce the amounts. ' '■■=■•■■■■: n THE LAND TAX BEVENUE. In reply to Mr George, the Premier promised' to lay information respecting Land Tax before the house shortly. JACkaON's BAT AND KAIAMEA SPECIAL SETTLEMENTS.' \ , r ,. . Dr Henry asked ; Government when theireport of the Royal Commission concerning Jackson's Bay , and ' Kaiamea Special Settlements will be before the Rouse? Mr Gisborne said that the evidence was voluminous, was now in the hands of the Printer, and would be ready in a fortnight, and then laid on the table. MANAGEMENT OF COAL MINES. . Mr Murray asked the Government if they will move for a commission to enquire into the working and management of local mines ; also, if they will bring in a bill to.secure the satisfactory working of coal mines and the safety of miners ? •Mr Gisborne said a report would be laid on the table, and n bill introduced to meet the case. THE SHIP BOYNS. Mr Woblcock asked why the captain of the immigrant ship lioync who, in defiance of repeated remonstrance from the surgeon, persisted in selling spirits to the immigrants during the voyage, was not prosecuted. Mr Gisborne said that, when the ship arrived, the Immigration Officer made a report that illegal acts had been committed, but the evidence was not sufficient ■ to prosecute, or to deprive the captain of] : ! the gratuity entirely. I NATIVE AFFAISB. . ! The Hon. Sir W. Fox asked Government if they will lay before! the House at las early a date as possible, the report of ■ail interview between the Native Minister, Te Whiti, and Hiroki, at Parihaka, in the montlrof March last; also a report of the great native meeting at Kopuaiti May last, and the events connected with the visit of the Premier and Native Minister there,, and including the invitations received by them to be. present at "such meeting ; also a report of the late interview at. Taranaki between the [Premier, and any deputation of settlers at that place relative to the recent disturbances : also a copy of all telegrams and letters sent by tae Premier or Native Minister to any body of settlers in Taranaki district relative to the recent disturbances. , The Hoii. J. Sheehan said that half-a---dozen clerks were at work preparing the papers to lay before the House. As to Hiroki no such meeting ever took place. The-Eopua meeting would be fully reported upon, also the settlers' telegrams, but not the report of the meeting at IWnaki, except such as appeared in the papers at the time. ' In reply to Major Atkinson, the Hon. J. Sheehan said, no doubt, the telegrams would include those from the X..M. of the district* ' • . SUPREME COUBT BUILDINGS. Mr Bowen asked Government on what terms the Supreme Court buildings had been disposed of; whether any modification of those terms have since been made ; what rent was now pcid for the Supreme Court Buildings by Government; and

whether any steps had been taken for building a new Court House and offices. The Hon. J. Sheehan said the site wag sold for £16,000 in 1868, part irt cash, £3456, and the rest in bills at 6, 9, and 12 months. The Government had the privilege to occupy the building, which they did, and had an extended term for occupation at the present until the new courts were erected. Preparations to construct the same were in progress. dißtbibution of aemß on the west ..,....,...-.,.- .. . coast; •.•".•.■«",-»-««,■ Captain Morris asked the Government howfpnariy of;,Che Volunteers recently enrolled on the West Coast were armed with breech-loaders or otherwise" f aid if with muazle-loaders if Government will communicate with the officers command* ing Volunteer corps removed from tie scene of disturbance with a view to t]ieir corps handing over the breech-loading arms to the Taranaki and West Coast Volunteers. , s The Premier said the Volunteers, were of two classes. There were "those in the vicinity of their homes who had Snider rifles and others Enfold. If required, the rifles would be called in for the par* pose of distribution there: r'w** '^'•"o® THE PABCEL POST. ..,, Captain Russell asked the Postmaster General if, in conformity with his promise on the 9th August last, that the matter should not bo lost sight of, any efforts have been made daring the recess to introduce a system of •' parcel post." The HonJ.T., Fisher said the matter was under consideration. * * d 0 I BILLB INTRODUCED. The following bills were introduced by leave of the House:— By Mr Shrimski, the Oamartt Town Lands Exchange Bill, and a bill to amend the . Oamaru Harbour Board! Ordinance Amendment Act, 1878. By Mr Beeves, a bill to amend the Mining Companies' Act. By Mr Murray, the Kaitangatt and Waingahau Athseueutn Trusts Reserve By Mr Feldwick, the Local loption Bill. , F <?'■ iobJtMiTTEB ok :&M*e IpiTiTidii§.:€. The Hon. Mr Sheehan moved that the Select Committee consist !of 17 members be appointed to consider all petitions, reports, 'returns,' and other documents relating to affairs specially affecting the native race, that may I)e'brought before the House, this session, and report there* 'M ' Carried.' "'' "■ ri J I::i ' T- n-ft-"'-'7* KELSON PUBLIC WORK! DEPARTMENT., Dr Henry moved that in the opinion' df this House it is desirable that the public works in Nelson south-west goldfield should be under the direction of the Public Works Department at Wellington instead of at Dunedin. He said great delay arose in consequence of sending r| tp Dunedin for papers. ' '; "'| Mr Woolcock seconded the motion. Carried; . . / THE HOUSE COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr feldwick, the name of Mr Reeves was added to tbJb •House Committee. ■ '■''' MONGONOT ELECTORAL ROLL. Mr Williams moved that the report of the Royal Commissioner on the Monganui and Bay of Islands Electoral Roll enqairjr together with the minutes of the evidence. be laid before this House. ... .'' ', f TKe Hop J. Sheehan said the .minute.! would be laid on the table. \ "'" "), Carried. ■ ,-" , p ..,' r!ji PATRICK BBENNAN, #?J Mr Reeves moved that the' petition of Patrick Brennan and others be. referred to the Classification Committee.—-Car-ried. ' '' ' ' ';< >"' "■'■'• : ACCOMODATION FOB THK'PBBWft''."*^ * Mr Reeves moved it be an instruction from the House, to the' House Committee to provide for the better acoomodation of reporters for the Press. .; PAOBI TAUHEBE's.PARLIAMENT t f Mr Sutton moved that a copy of jpftj vouchers for money expended in conneo* tion with Paora Tauhere's Parliament at Orakei be laid before "the House, and printed, together with the papers on the same, ma.tser that were aleady : oA[ the table.—-Carried. ' ' ; CC3T OF NATIVE LANDS. Mr Suttoq mo,ved that the following papers be laid before this House: —A ■ return of agreements in respect of the [occupation of certain native lands for 1 railway purposes between Napier and jKopua ; a return showing; what a,m.pvuits have been paid, showing in each case the names of natives claiming and the names of persons who hav^ received'pf-jme^.f-■Carried. NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. i Mr Murray moved that the[nuibib*rnt)f the Native Affairs Committee be increased 'to 20, and that the names of Messrs Mac* ifarlane, McMinn, and Swanson bi idttid 'thereto.—Carried. j WASTE LANDS COMMITTIE\ ' On the motion of Mr'Barff.tnenatrie of Sir Robert Douglas was added to the 'Waste Lands Committee. | On the motion of Mr Mabf/tlftikeVtUe Barnes of Mr Cutten, the Hon J. Fisher. Mf, Feldwick, and Mr Pyke were added jto 'the Telegraph Committee. 4 ■' '"->' ' > ''"' | The House adjourned at 3 30.