PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3971, 20 September 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pek Pbess Association.)

Wellington, Yesterday,

In reply to Tomoana, the Hon. Mr RollestOQ said Government had withdrawn the Waipawa Land Dispute Bill, owing to the late period of the session; but they would use their best eftorts to settle the dispute during the recess. —To enable him to speak to the question, Tomoana moved the adjournment of the House, and proceeded to urge the necessity for speedily settling the dispute, expressing regret at the withdrawal of the bill.—Sir G. Grey greatly regretted the withdrawal of a bill which he regarded as a most important one. He was, indeed, becoming hopeless of justice being done to the natives; but he really despaired of ever seeing justice done them.—The Hon. Mr Eolleston said he

had good hopes that in this matter the Commissioners would prevail, and the dispute be settled amicably ; but it was rather rich to hear Sir George Grey talking in such a strain, as, when in office, he had done nothing' towards settling this question. He charged Sir George with delighting in stirring up and perpetuating strife; he was, in fact/ an incorrigible mischiefmaker.—The Speaker ruled the words to be unparliamentary, and they were withdrawn. —Mr Sheehan, after relating the facts of this dispute, hoped the Minister of Justice would look into the conduct of Mr Harding, who, although a Justice of the Peace, had since the Committee's report beea guilty of what would, a few years ago, have been deemed an act of war, in shooting the pigs of the Maoris. —Mr McDonald said that from all he could learn, the bill would hare passed in a much shorter time than they had taken to discuss the matter. He suggested that it should be put through without comment. —Colonel Trimble altogether showed the correctness of Mr Sheehan's statements, as to the facts of the disturbance.—The Hon. Mr Hall said that considering the period of the session, the waste of time still going on was perfectly lamentable. Ministers were bound to arrange business according to their own plans, and it. was manifest in doing so they were governed by a consideration which they could not always explain. On many occasions they kept quiet, and were content to be under unjust imputations rather than go on discussing and wasting the time.—Mr Hutchison blamed Government for not having brought up these important matters during the earlier part of the session.—The motion for adjournment was then withdrawn.

Mr Barron gave notice that he would ask Government if they would be prepared to grant free railway/passes to mayors and chairmen of County Councils, with the view of promoting a joint conference of these bodies at some central place, in anticipation ofnext session. Lateb, Thisi day. - The whole of last night's sitting was spent in Committee on the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, the clauses of which after numerous divisions, underwent considerable amendment. The Bill also was then reported, read a third time and passed. , At 1.55 am the House rose until 11 today.