HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4258, 24 August 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Last night.

The Native Reserves Act Amendment Bill was farther considered in Committee. After a lengthy discussion, Mr Bryce asked leave to amend Clause 2, by making the number of natives on the Board two

instead of four. The following addition

to the clause was agreed to, on the motion of Mr Bryce : " Provided, however, and it is hereby declared, that the whole of the land : between the Taranaki and Wanganuirivers A m the Wanganui district, which, by a deed of cession, dated the loth day of May, 1849, was reserved by the native owner thereol as a gathering Elace for the men of the Ngatiapa, shall c deemed to have remained and to be native land, and subject to the jurisdiction of the Native Land Court from the beginning." Mr Taiaroa moved as a farther addition : " Notwithstanding anything in this Act, none of the lands referred to shall be made subject to its provisions unles > and until a majority of the owners thereof consent to allow their lands to be dealt with under the Act." The Committee divided : Ayes, 23; noes, 37. On the motion of Mr Bryce, the clause was struck oat. On Clause 14, it was agreed to report progress. The JVative Reserves Bill was further considered in Committee, and two divisions took place on Clause 14. The proposal to make the term of leases 30 years instead of 42 years was carried ultimately by 33 to 29.

This day.

After the 10.30 adjournment, the new clause introduced by Mr Bryce was ac* cepted, giving the Governor-in"Council power to make regulations as to fees, salaries, and cost of administration, and provide that the word " benefit in any instrument constituting a trust," should be construed to mean " the political, moral, and social pecuniary benefit of such natives," and includes providing of medical assistance and medicines.

On Mr DeLautour's motion a clause was added that holding of office under the act should not bring any native under the Disqualification Act. The bill was reported as amended. The Native Land Act Amendment Bill, and the Native Land Division Bill were passed through Committee, read a third time, and passed.

The House rose at 2.15.