Last Night's Sitting.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3615, 28 July 1880, Page 2

Last Night's Sitting.

The discussion in committee, on the education vote was continued. The Hon Mr Rolleston expressed his bdinion that it would be a great mistake to abolish Education Boards. He defended them from the 'charge of extravagance, but he thought they might make reductions in their expenditure, similar to those made in other branches of the public service. Mr Sheelian supported the present system of education. After considerable * further discussion Mr McCaughan withdrew, his former motion, and moved the reduction of the vote by £64,000. On this the House divided—Ayes 15, noes 58. * THE PATELBRE BLOCK.

In the House last night, Sir Geo. Grey referred to the Patetere block transaction. He stated that it was proposed to dispose of that land unlawfully, and quoted at length from the correspondence on the subject laid on the table. These were Crown lands; and the Native Minister, in entering into private negotiations for the sale ot these lands, was doing an act clearly illegal. He called on the Government to aid in the due inquiry thai clearly ought to be made, and if it was shown that the transaction was wrong in itsejf and hurtful to the public, they should refrain from completing it. Government could not be aware of the sense of wrong that existed in the minds of many people in relation to this matter. On the motion for going into Committee to morrow, he would move that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into $c matter. Mr Brybe said .he would aid the hou. member in the endeavor to secure a committee of inquiry in every way in his power. There were' two Pateteres—a f rpclaimed Patetere and an unproclaimed 'atetere. The proclaimed Patetere had been applied for by private individuals during the hon. member's term of office. It was unreasonable to say this was Crown land. Advances had been made upon it, but the purchase was not complete. Was it reasonable to say that a block comprising 100,000 acres of land, upon which an advance of £20 merely •bad been made—-was it reasonable to say that that was Crown lands? He denied that he bad entered into private correspondence on the subject. All the correspondence he had had was conducted openly. ') . Mr Sheehan said if the correspondence was gone into fairly, it would be shown that the Government had not acted unwisely in the matter. The fact was they could not secure the land themselves, and it would hare been madness for .the Government to keep the land locked up for an indefinite period. He. would be able to show that private purchases had been going on all ov.jr the country. It was distinctly stipulated, by the Native Minister tha. the proclamation should remain upon these lands until the Government advances had been paid by the natives themselves. He was sure, from what Sir Gedrge Grey said, that he was not in possetufion of 4he facts of the case. All the correspondence on the subject had been fairly oowfacted. He would be able to prove that pc had done jgood in acquiring these lands". He did not believe that the association, for which the land had been acquired.would make 5 per cent, on the purchase, and the Maori sellers would have the tjjest of the transaction. The facts of the'pase were that the people of Auckland Dad been endeavoring to acquire these lands since 1872, and it was gross injustice to the people of the Thames to think of keeping the landlocked up. I THE EDUCATION VOTK.

This day. After the division the vote was agreed to as reduced by £32,000. The remaining votes of the Education class were passed, after a discussion, without alteration. The whole of the votes of class 4 in the Department of Justice were also passed, with a few reductions moved by the Minister.

The House rose at 1.20.