WELLINGTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

(From fht Evening Star's Correspondent.)

September 19» An opportunity occuring of sending yott a few lines by the Wallabi, a small steamer purchased at Wanganui by the Messrs Guthrie, destined to carry timber from the mills at Catlin's River to Dunedin and coastwise, as I understand, I take advantage of it.

There is not much of interest in the proceedings of either House of Parliament at present : quite a lull after the storm. Last evemng the Otago Waste Land Bill came before the committee of the House, and as usual caused discussion. The third clause had been altered since leaving the hands of the Waste Land Committee, and on that account it was opposed by Sir John C. Wilson, Mr Bell, and Sir David Monro, the latter moving that the consideration of the clause be postponed, which was agreed to. The 6th clause, which gives the appoints roent of the Waste Land Board to the Superintendent, but only by the advice and consent of the Executive, was strongly opposed on the ground of it being quite a political body ; the gentlemen appointing, viz., the Executive, appointing themselves— rather a strange aaomoly. Mr M'Glashan, who brought .forward the amendment stated that he had modified it from that he brought forward last session as a compromise. Last year he proposed that "Governor should be inserted in lieu of "Superintendent," but lost the amendment by a majority of 4. The amendment now brought np, gave the ap. pointment of two members to the Governor, and two to the Superintendent, to be removeable by warrant, but that members of the Provincial Executive should be excluded. He pointed out the evils that did arise under the present constitution of the Board ; the Waste Lands Act being twisted into every couceivable shape to suit the pecuniary wants of the Provincial Executive of the day, and instanced the case of last session, when Mr Reid brought forward resolutions in the Provincial Council asking power to sell 50,000 acres in blocks of not less than 10,000 acres, thus precluding people with smaller capital from acquiring any portion of such lands, but throwing it entirely into the hands of large capitalists. He argued that the Board should be strictly a judicial body to give effect to the powers contained in the Act, and that the Act should be of the simplest kind and definite. The phrase, "If the Board should think fit," should be excluded from the Act. He quoted from a speech of Mr Stafford his opinion, whish it may be as well to give your readers, as being his views when the Bill was before the House last year. Mr Stafford said— "Every alteration of the Land Law in Otago had been, he thought, a mistake, and every interest connected with the law had been damaged by them, and every description of tenure of land had been rendered more uncertain and insecure. His reason for not approving of the present measure was partly that it was by no means easy of being understood ; the clauses relating to the disposal of rural lands being in many respects most conflicting. It perpetuated the existence of the political Waste Land Board, which changed its views with each change of the Provincial Executive, and was disposed rather to strain the law than to give effect to its provisions." After an amendment had been placed before the House, proposing to make the Waste Land Board non-political, several speakers took part in the debate that ensued. Mr Brown (Canterbury) supported the amendment strongly ; Messrs Eeid and Macandrew argued against it, the latter stating that several attempts had been mads to modify the constitution of tho Board— at one time by appointing a large number of gentlemen to the Board; but, finding that did not work well, the present constitution of the Board was adhered to. The amendment was lost, many who supported it last session voting contrary, among whom were Messrs Calder and Bell. Mr Webster said he could not understand the decision arrived at ; it could only have been from the fact that many of those present did not understand thoroughly the question at issue. Ho was surprised that so many I beyond the " faithful few " who were constant in their attendance were present, and was anxious to know, seeing that Mr Bunny was present in the Home, whether there was a Wellington Defcts Bill imminent. In reply to some remarks made by Mr Bathgate. he said that gentleman was ignorant, but, in a very happy way, he recalled the word, substituting the expression "not full of knowJ ledge." A member in the seat behind Mr Webster, who had been wooing "sweet balmy sleep, nature's soft nurse," and who apparently had not been edified by the debate, emitted at this juncture a most unholy grunt — whether of approval or disapproval deponent knoweth not ; at all events, Mr Webster, not caring for such marks of applause, called the sleepy member to order by giving him a punch in the ribs, thereby arousing the risible faculties of the tired members present. Mr Steward (Oamaru), in his remarks upon the amendment, said that at the present rate of progress, by a calculation he had made, tne Waste Land Bill would occupy the Honse for twelve days longer. The amendment was that the word " Governor" should be substituted in lieu of " Superintendent. It also was lost on the voices, no division being called for. It is surprising how very few members of the House have their sympathies enlisted in.the Bill, they vote it a bore, and it was only a few outside of Otago who have made a promise to Mr Reid "to see it out," that were present "to do as I bid you." Even the Government Benches were«mpty, and it was only upon the occasion when Air Webster Was pitching into the' Government for net guiding the House in the measure before them, that Mr Stafford's henchman rushed 1 out for him. This brought to his legs Mr Stafford, who could not eulogise the Bill. He, however, attempted to shew to the committee that it -was unfair fo ask the Government to take charge of a measure of such magnitude in proportions, seeing the short; time they had been in office, 'and it being purely a Provincial qnestion, remarking that when the Bill was before the House last seesion, two members of the then Government voted far the second reading of the Bill and two agiinst. The Bill will be again ia committee to-night. There is not the slightest chance of the Bill getting through the Upper House this session— if it ever wilL It is a Bill cumbrous and unwieldy in all its parts, clogged wittt 10 m*»y seonaitfow- th&b it would re*