PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1433, 18 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(By Telegraph,)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In the Council yesterday the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill and Fugitive offenders Jurisdiction Bill were read a first time. The Tenant's Fixtures Bill was read a second time on division of 20 to 10, and referred'to a select committee, . HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES! '"

In the House The Hon J. Bryce, as a personal explanation, stated his intention to take civil proceedings for libel against Mr Rusden for statements in his history of New Zealand. By such proceedings witnesses could be ex-

amined-by.commission in. the colony," while if he" instituted a criminal prosecution 1 -tfiey',would have to be taken to Englahdiat enormtius cost and delay,. He asked Mr Why to therefore to'with- v draw the motion, on,*the subject of which he had given notice. On tlieNew Zealand Native Land Company Bill being called oii yesterday, :; Jt • Mr Db Lautour said that the Government having intimated to him that they objected to this Bill on the grounds of general policy, and that he recognised that they had a right to make such an objection, he would ask them to postpone the second reading for a so that the Government might, in the meantime, consider that if all the clauses relating to public matters were struck out, and only the first four clauses of the Bill, which related entirely to matters personal to the Company, the Government would allow those clauses to proceed, if the Government then objected, he would abandon the Bill altogether, The Hon Major Atkinson agreed to the postponemenc, and promised to consider the Bill in its revised shape.

The Committee on annexation reported in favor of an extension of British rule to all the Pacific Islands not already, under the protection of foreign ' power, The Australasiau colonies'to contribute to cost.in proportion to their European population, Replying to questions ministers said the law officers were considering the Government's liability for goods lost at the Dunedin goods shed ire, They did not intend to widen Kumara Sledge Channel or introduce.a Charitable Institutions Endowment Bill.

The Wellington Harbor Board Land and Reclamation Bill, (C, Johnston) was read a first time. . The Westland Education District Subdivision Bili (Seddon) was read a second time, and several local bills were passed through Committee. The Council's amendments in tho Prisons Bill were disagreed to, and a committee appointed to prepare reasons.

The Crown Grants Bill was read a second time.

Mr Beetiiam moved the second reading of the Masterton and Groytown Lands Management Bill.

Mr Ivess moved that it be read that day six months, and Mr Bracken seconded, both saying that they acted at tho request of local residents. Mr Rolleston suggested that the Bill be read and sent to the Waste Lands Committee who would hear evidence on both sides about it.

MrlvEss agreed, and the Bill was rtad a second tinio and referred to the Waste Lands Committee.

Sheriffs' Bill, Auctioneers' Bill, Adulteration Prevention Act Amendment Bill, and Bills of Exchange Bill were read a second time. Tlio Hon. Mr Rolleston moved the second reading of the Land Acts Amendment BUI, the object of which was to still further liberalise the land laws of the colony and encourage settlement and discourage speculation, and extend to the whole colony the system of perpetual leasing in the same proportion as it now applied on goldfields, where it had proved a success, ,He reviewed the course of land legislation, and administration for several years back, and considered the results achieved satisfactory. Messrs Bathgate, J. W. Thompson, Petrie, Holmes, and Pearson gladly welcomed the Bill as a liberal measure, but suggested certain alterations and extensions.

Mr Montgomery did. not like the leasing system, tat would accept the decision of the Houae last session on the subject. Mr Joyce urged selling ; the land right out, and imposing a land tax. Mr Fulton urged to stop all sales of pastoral land. The Bill was read a second time, After the usual adjournment, the House went into committee on the Bankruptcy Bill, which was ■ gone through and reported as amended, its recomruital being ordered for Friday to consider certain new clauses aud further amendments. The House roso at 12.25.