HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3621, 4 August 1880, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr Wright moved—" That the report of the Committee on the Ashburton County Council Water Works Bill be agreed to.". Mr Hurst submitted that it would be improper for the House to authorise further .borrowing by local bodies. . The motion was carried. Mr Finn drew attention to a letterl which had appeared in the Chronicle alleging cruelty against the officers of the Nelson gaol. I Mr Bolleston did not attach any importance tp the letter, but still he would inquire into it. j Mr Andrews is to more for a Committee to enquire"*by what means the correspondent of the Press (Christcburch), and other papers got possession of a copy of Dr Skae'a report on Lunatic Asylums last night. Mr Pyke moved for leare to introduce a bill to amend the Education Act of 1878. The motion was carried on the yoices, and the Bill read a first time. A Bill was introduced and read a first time, entitled the Miscellaneous Native Claims Bill. PUBLIC WOBKS STATEMENT.

Mr Hall said the Public Works Statement would be brought down to-morrow evening, and they would go on with the Public Works Estimates, and having got through them would state the bill they meant to pass. When the House rose he would ask for leave to sit to-morrow at 11 am. for the consideration of the Native Lands' Court Bill. ,

NATIVE LANDS COURT BILL. The Native Lftpds Court Bill was further discussedm Committee.

The clause providing that natives aggrieved may apply for a rehearing within six months was altered to three months on a division by 23 to 44. Colonel Trimble moved an addition to clause 49, empowering the Court to'tax bills of costs.

Sir W. Fox would go farther and make it an absolute penal offence for. a land agent or solicitor to take more than the amount allowed by the Court. The clause as amended was carried.

, On clause 60, Mr Fisher moved, " That the word Governor be substituted for Chief Justice."

In supporting the proposal, Mr Sheehan said the appointment of interpreter was a most important one, and therefore he should be free from the influence of the Court.

Mr Rolleston said he was strongly of opinion that the appointment should be with the Court and not as proposed, with the Governor.

Mr Gisborne moved the addition of words after Governor, "On the recommendation of the Chief Justice," but was negatived on the voices.

It was further moved that .the words " or Chief Justice " be inserted after the word " Governor," but it was lost on a division by 26 to 31. In clause 63 an amendment - that the words " and the Court may at any stage withdraw such assent" be added was rejected by 35 to 31. ■ A further amendment " that no counsel or agent be allowed to appear in Court" was negatived on a division by 32 to 22. Mr Stewart moved " that the clause be struck out.". He sai&no respectable practitioner would attend a court from which he might be excluded at the whim of the Native Lands Court Judge. The motion was lost by 13 to ii, and the clause as priuted was passed. In clause til Mr Boweu moved " That the clause read .' That uo person be allowed to sell spirituous liquors, See.,' instead of making it a rule or optional at the discretion of the judge." . , In support of tbe clause as printed Mr Sheehan said he had just come from an attendance of two months at one of these Courts, and he could say from observation that if the hotels had been shut the work would have been got through in half the time. He moved that these Courts should have the power of Licensing Courts. . The motion was carried, and the clause as amended' was passed. The remainder of the Bill was passed as printed.