WELLINGTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 135, 8 September 1870, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent. ) Since last I communicated with you, two very important measures, or more strictly speaking, three have passed the House of Representatives, and are now before the Legislative Council. Two of them affect the general welfare of the colony, and one the welfare of the province directly, and colony indirectly. The two former are the Immigration and Public Works, and the Representation of Electoral Districts Bills, and the latter is the Regulation of Hundreds Bill Amendment Act, 1869. The Immigration and Public Works Bill is being warmly discussed by the Lords on its second reading, and, judging from the tone of the debate, the Bill will not come out of committee as it will go into it. The Lords are determined to put a check upon the possibility of mal-administra-tion, which they anticipate will occur consequent on a general demand for immediate execution of public works in provinces, and districts within provinces. The Regulation of Electoral Districts Bill is a farce. It was a Bill brought in by Government — thrown on the table of the House — without a schedule. The schedule (the most important of it) was left to be scrambled for by each province. In the province of Otago the divisions were made by the Inspector of Schools, Mr. Hislop — no doubt a very nice gentleman, especially when placed under the leading strings of Mr. Macandrew. However, whether Mr. Hislop or Mr. Macandrew or Mr. Anybody-else had anything to do with the matter or not, I am told, by undoubted authority, that a map was sent up from Otago with the divisions marked on it, and that that map was produced before a caucus of the Otago members by Mr. Macandrew, and objected to by Messrs. Bradshaw, O'Neil, Brown, Mervyn, and Haughton as manifestly unfair to the goldfields. Instead of sis members which the goldfields now return, viz., two goldfields special members ; one for Hampden ; one for Manuherilda; one for Bruce, and one for goldfields towns, it was intended to give only four members, viz., one for the Lakes ; one for Dunstan ; one for Mount Ida, and one for Tuapeka. On a strong protest from Messrs. Bradshaw, Haughton, Brown, O'Neil, and Mervyn another member was addeot to the goldfields. This last addition takes in Switzers, Nokomai, and a part of Mount Benger. When in committee in the House on the Bill, Mr. Bradshaw moved an amendment by way of adding the goldfields towns. This was lost on a division — the Government intimating, through Mr. Yogel, that they voted for the Bill as it came from the select committee, although he believed that the sub-divisions of the province was not a fair one. A minority in the House — having in their number Messrs. Mervyn, Bradshaw, Haughton, Brown, and O'Neil — believing the Bill was not an improvement on the present Representation Act, moved, on the third reading, that it be read this day six months, which was lost by a large majority on a division. The Bill, therefore, passed the House of Representatives. Who the people on the goldfields intend shall represent them in the next Parliament is a question yet to be decided. Already there are rumours that two squatters, if not three, intend to solicit seats. The two gentlemen spoken of are Mr. Main and Captain Baldwin. If the people are satisfied with- the present land laws, by all means return as many squatters as possible, for all the defects in respect to settlement are entirely due to the influence in the General Assembly of the pastoral tenants of the Crown, Mr. Main intends to stand for

Mount Tda in order to give place for Mr. Macandrew at Port Chalmers, who thinks he is not safe at the (Janha in consequence of his leanings towards the squatters. Captain lialdwin will perhaps try the Dunstan district."

The Regulation of Hundreds Bill, after a hard struggle before the Waste Lands Committee, and the Committee of the House, has passed the House of Representatives, and is now before the Legislative Council. The Bill, as amended, is worse than the Regulation of Hundreds Act of last year. All the concessions are in favour of the Crown tenants, against settlement, and against the working man, and man of small means.

Having been defeated on the Waste Lands Committee, Messrs. Bradshaw, Haughton, and Mervyn spoke against the Bill when going into committee of the House, and when in committee several amendments, and additions by way of new clauses, were moved by Messrs. Bradshaw, Haughton, and Mervyn. These amendments can be seen in " Hansard " of this week, No. 11. The most important amendments moved were to expunge clause 3, which, on a division, was lost. For the amendment there voted Messrs. Bradshaw, Haughton, Brown, and Mervyn ; and against it, Messrß. Macandrew, O'Neil, Birch, Driver, Yogel, &c, &c. On clause 6, which provides that each squatter shall have a ]»re-emtion of 640 acres instead of 80 which he at present has a right to, Mr. Bradshaw moved that 200 acres be substituted for 640. On a division being called, the amendment was lost. The division list was the same as the last, with the exception of Mr. Mervyn, who' walked out of the House and did not vote. The squatters under the old Act had a pre-emtion of 24,000 acres, now under the present one, when it becomes law, 200,000. On clause 7 being read, Mr. Haughton moved an amendment that 320 acres be substituted for 640, which was lost on the voices. Mr. Mervyn's new clauses, affirming the sale and purchase on the principle of a system of deferred payments, being read, they were thrown out ; and on Mr. Bradshaw's new clause, authorizing the resumption by the Government of all auriferous lands alienated after the passing of this Act by paying full compensation, being read, it was lost on a division.

Those goldSelcls members, who have acted throughout most loyally to the country, have been outvoted by those of their colleagues who have sided with the squatters, city, and some of the agricultural members. The Bill, as sent up by the Provincial Council, was bad enough, but the amendments introduced by Mr. Driver on the Waste Lands Committee, and passed the Committee of the House, have made it worse.

You must bear with me in writing so much on this question. I would not have done it did I not believe it to be the greatest of all questions at all times, and more so now, when the Government intend to bring into the colony a large number of people from Europe. If we do not wish those persons to be "hewers of wood and drawers of water," we ought to open the lands to them on liberal terms.

I beg to call your attention to a discussion which took place in the House on the 24th, on the motion of Mr. Creighton, relative to the report of the Goldtields Committee on the petition of a large number of settlers from Tuapeka regarding the occupation of waste lands. The proceedings are fully reported in "Hansard," No. 11, page 244.* The petition on this motion was referred, together with others of a like nature, to the Select Committee on Waste Lands, and the following are the report and minutes of the proceedings :—: —

Tuesday, 30th Aug. 1870. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed,

The committee then proceeded to take into consideration the report of the Goldfields Committee on the petition of certain settlers resident on the goldfields situated within the province of Otago. Moved by Mr. Bradshaw — "That whereas public lands outside of the goldfields in the province of Otago are sold by public auction at an upset price of 20s and 10s per acre without any restrictions and conditions as to occupation and improvement, this committee recommend the prayer of the petitioners to the favourable consideration of the General Assembly." Question being put, the committee divided, Ayes, 2 — Messrs. Bradshaw and Mervyn. - " Noes, s—Messrs.5 — Messrs. Holmes, Driver, Campbell, Seymour, and Dr. Buchanan. It was therefore passed on the negative. Moved by Mr. Driver— " That this committee are of opinion that the only satisfactory remedy that can be devised for the evils complained of by the residents of the various goldfields in the province of Otago is the adopting of the principle of free selection in the disposal of waste lands." Question being put, the committee divided, Ayes, 4 — Messrs. Holmes, Driver, Campbell, and Seymour. Noes, 3 — Messrs. Bradshaw and Mervyn, and Dr. Buchanan. It was, therefore, resolved in the affirmative. Moved by Mr. Mervyn— " That in the opinion of this committee it is desirable to facilitate the settlement of goldfields by throwing open, on a deferred system of payment, the various agricultural blocks on the goldfields which may be thrown open from time to time by the Provincial Government, and that the sum paid should be 3s per annum, extending over a period of ten years." The question being put, the committee divided. Ayes, I—Mr.1 — Mr. Mervyn. Noes, 4 — Dr. Buchanan, and Messrs. Driver, Campbell, and Seymour. It was, therefore, passed in the negative. The committee then adjourned sine die Mr. Driver's resolution was reported to the House. Free selection, as recommended by Mr. Driver, means the selection of all the agricultural lands in the province by the present Crown tenants and other land speculators. *A considerable portion of the discussion referred to will be found in another column.