HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3376, 17 October 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. .; . ■■.',' THE WOBKING 3IAN's WELFARE. Sir Geo. Grey gave notice that ho would ask leave to introduce a bill authorising the Government to provide sites for working men's clubs. Mr Murray gave notice of a question as to what provision the Government proposed making for the safe working of coal mines. MOKATJ JONES.

Gol. Trimble put the following questions :—Was, or is, Mr Joshua Jones of New Plymouth, or Mokau* an agent of the Government ? And if so, what are, or were, his duties ? Have any payments been made to Mr Jones ? And if so, what are the respective amounts, and for what special service done ? Had Mr Jones free use of the telegraph wires'? And if so, on what pretext ? The Premier replied that he was to some extent recognised as an agent of the Government; he was not, in the strict sense of the word, a recognised official. At various times sums amounting in ail to £300 had been paid to him for services rendered. There was no correspondence to show the exact nature of the services he had rendered. Instructions were also given that hi was to be allowed to frank telegrams free of charge addressed to Ministers.

Mr Moss complained that this was simply one of many questions of a similar kind due to a desire to impugn the doings of the late Government; He knew that the services rendered by Mr Jones were of great importance to tho colony, and would have been paid for at a much higher rate by the present Government

Col. Trimble said the question was put in perfect good faith, in the interest of his constituents, for the purpose of obtaining information. f

Mr Sheehan said ho hoped there would bo no objection to allow the answer to be printed, the employment of Mr Jonei, and

the services rendf-rod siy him, would bo Cully justified when the mailer came to be furt!u?r dealt will).

Major iHkiusou said ilia!, tho saua question had. been put by himself to the hite Government and he received uo direct answer, This 'Government did not intend to follow that course, but answer all questions put. All information on the subject would be afforded, not only to the Government party but likewise to gentlemen on the other side of the House. FffBTHER 3IATTEKS AT 3IOKATT.

Col. Trimble asked if the Government has or ever had any pecuniary interest or liability in regard to the steamship Hannah Mokau; if so under what circumstances did tho Government ucquire such interests, and has Government received any dividend or interest upon its shares or mortgage or advance upon the said Hannah Mokau ; has Government paid share of their interest in the said ship held in name of liewi, Te Wetere, or other native; if so what amount has Government thus paid, and what security is held for the repayment-

Mr Brjce replied that Government held a mortgage of £865 over the vessel, a subsidy of £300 per annum was pro. raised so long as the steamer's services were properly rendered. The subsidy for tho past eight months' had been withheld in consequence of services not having been properly rendered. The circumstances under which the interest was acquired by the Government -were these i—The vessel was seized by a party to whom it was mortgaged, and as several natives held shares in the vessel it was thought advisable for political purposes that the vessel should be released. The Government had.received no payment or interest on the mortgage. HewiandTe ' Wetsre had each £100 for their shares. THE POSITION OF PUBLIC WORKS.

, Beplying to Mr Macandrew, Mr Oliver said he would lay before the House a return showing the whole of the Colonial public* works under his department at present contracted for within each provincial district, the name of contractor and date of contract in each case, time for completion, amount of lender, and the progress, payments to date; also the number and date of the appropriation by Parliament or other authority by virtue of which such contract has been entered into. . POBT CHAMIEBS. Eeplying to Mr Macandrew, Mr Hall «aid the Government proposed to remit to Sir John Coode a petition from the inhabitants of Port Chalmers and the surrounding districts praying'for an enquiry, into the present condition of the Otago harbor. I POOR JOKES TIP AGAIN. ,

Colonel Trimble asked whether the Government has authorised or assisted Mr Joshua Jones to lease or purchase a tract; of laud to extent of abou 1) 30,000 acres from the natives of the north-east of Mokau river, and whether the surveyors now engaged in deGning the. boundaries of the said land are in the pay of the Government, or have been instructed in any way as to their procedure by the Government. Mr Bryce replied that the late Government informed Jones that they would not interfere with him in his attempt to • acquire a lease of a very considerable block of land. The survey was conducted by Government surveyors. He (Mr Bryce) had endeavored to ascertain if any bond bad been deposited, but -had not been able to find any, Perhaps, however, it might be in the Land Office at New Plymouth.

GOVERNMENT CONTBACTOHS, Mr Sutton asked—lst. What amount has been paid since Ist July last to Messrs Guthrie and Larnach for a supply of railway iron and railway rolling stock, and what amount is, still owing on the same account? 2nd. Whether the arrangement was a pritate one, or was it open to competition ? 3rd. Whether they will lay before this House all correspondeuce between the Government and the Agenl-General, or any other officer, and Messrs Guthrie and Larnach in reference to a supply by that company of railway material. Mr Olirer replied—lst. £12,445 17i 6d. 2nd. By public tender, duly advertised. 3rd. Government had no objection to do as requested. '

THE THAMES KAIIWAY AGAIN.

Replying to Mr McLean, Mr Oliver said he would lay before the House a copy of the plan and estimate, and certificate of the engineer in charge of the North Island, in connection wilh the railway from Waikato to Thames; also a distinctly colored map showing the surreys! between Grahamslown and Te Ar'oha, and those parts which hare not been surveyed. NATIVE OFFICE AUCKLAED. Replying to Mr Macaudrew, Mr Bryce said he would lay before the House, a return showing the cost of conducting and maintaining the head office of Native Lands Court at Auckland.

Replying to Mejdr Harris, Mr Rolleston said the Government would lay before the House a copy of all correspondence between the Rev. S. Merrit, Rev. Mr Bruce and others with the Government in reference to a claim to lot 785, Queen's Redoubt, Pokeno; also if the settlers throngh whose land a road had been taken between Pukekohe and the Bombay settlement have signed a deed dedicating the said road. PBIVILEGE.

Mr Beetham drew the attention of the House as to tlio question of privilege by the allegations contained in the petition Of Hirini Bawiri Taiwhan^a regarding the alleged disqualification of Mohi Taiwhai, and then moved the appointment of a select Committee to report on the same. The sub-committee to consist ot Sir George Groy, Messrs Brandon, DeLautour, Hislop, Murray, Ormond, Hon. Mr Rolleston, and the mover; fire to form a quorum to report within a week.

Mr Sheehan denounced the proposal* and said he would oppose it unless the proposed committee was reorganised so as to contain names of more gentlemen on his side of the House.

Mr Wakefield was astonished to learn it was to be made a party question. It was the duty of tho House to rcmovo any disqualification that might exist against any one of its members. It was most unfair to such a member himself, as he was liabla to a serious penalty for every day he sat in the House with such a disqualification hanging over his head. Mr Hislop moved, as an amendment, that the names of Messrs Stewart, Tole, Swanson, and Pitt be added to the Com* mittee.

Mr Tainui thought it was the place of the Returning Officer to hsre informed the candidate of his disqualification!. The Maoriei were not yet acquainted with the

laws affecting elections, aud had the laws in the first instance been translated into Maori, the error would not have occurred. Mr Hall expressed regret that party spirit had been imparted into the proceedings. He thought, however, the House in dealing with the question was quite capable of rising superior to party spirit. Mr Dick spoke in similar terms. The debate was interrupted by 5.30 adjournmnut.