Parliamentary Gossip.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4547, 1 August 1883, Page 2

Parliamentary Gossip.

FBOM OUB OWN COBBEBPONDENT.) Weilington, This day.

I The Natite Land Amendment Bill prorides that no person shall appear in Court by counsel; in case of sickness the claimant may appear by a native; the Court may adjourn from time to time, and from place to place, and may determine, without regard to legal formalities, the best means for determining ownership. Clause six enacts,that it shall not be lawful after the passing of the Act for any person to negotiate for the purchase of aleaae or exchange, or for the occupation of native land, or the estate,' right, title, or interest therein, until after a ; day, to be fixed by the Governor by a proclamation in the Gazette; such day shall not be less than thirty days rafter the publication of , the proclamation, and shall be within six months after the issue of a certificate of title. Any person who shall before the day to be so fixed as aforesaid take or accept any conveyance, lease, transfer, gift, or other assurance—whether to himself solely, or to himself and others—of any native land, or be a party to any negotiation, agreement, contract, or promise, for making to him, or him v and others, or to any other person; of any such conveyance, lease, transfer, gift, or other assurance, shall forfeit and pay a penalty not exceeding five hundred .pounds, and every such conveyance, lease, transfer, gift, or other assurance agree* ment, contract, or promise, shall, except as hereinafter provided, be null and void.. In addition to the other inquiries directed by the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1881, to be made by a Trust Commissioner, it shall be his duty to ascertain if any such negotiation- was commenced or carried on after the passing of this Act, and before the day fixed by proclamation as aforesaid. Nothing herein contained shall affect the validity of any conveyance, lease, transfer, gift, or other assurance, after its registration under any Act relating to the registration of deeds or land; but this provision' shall not abate the liability of any person fo pecuniary penalty.. Nothing in the Act shall affect orv apply to the Crown. All. monies payable under the Maori Heal Estate Management Act, or under any contract made thereunder, shall be paid to the credit of an account to be opened for the purpose by the Public Trustee, whose receipt alone shall be a good discharge to any person paying the; same, and whose certificate alone shall be recognised by any trust com-: missioner as evidence of any payment having been made under the said Act, and such Public Trustee shall not pay any money out of such accounts without the written authority of a judge of the Native Land Court. .. The bill,is down for its second reading to morrow, and the debate is expected to be an animated on. Mr Shaw's Law Practitioners Act Amendment Biil provides that any person who shall have duly served articles of clerk' ship, or who was serving uuder. any such articles at the time of the coming into operation of '• The Law Practitioners Act, 1882," and who shall be admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court shall be entitled to be enrolled and admitted a barrister of the said supreme court; providing no rule or enactment shall be in force to the effect that practitioners shall not practice both as barristers and solicitors. Mr Shaws Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill provides that any person advertising, publishing, or printing, whether by newspaper, placard, or circular ; or causing to be so advertised, published, or printed, any lottery or scheme, under any pretence, form, denomination, or description whatsoever, shall, be guilty of au offence under this act; provided always that nothing in section 90 of the the Act shall apply to any sweepstake, or sweep in which the stake or share ot each individual participating shall not exceed the sum of twenty shillings, and which no person promotes; organises or conducts for any commission or reward. :