PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2335, 1 July 1886, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

[ (United Pbess Association.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mr Menzios presented a petition in favor of Bible reading in schools, Leavo of absence was granted to Messrs Peters and Bamicoat for 10 and fourteon dayfl respectively. ; The Wellington Harbor Board and Herring Fish (Auckland) Bills were tead a second time. ' The Native Equitable Owners Bill, Native Reserves Empowering Bill, and Justices of the Peace Bill were committed and reported with amendments. The Council went into Committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m.. Tlw'New' Zealand Bible, Tracs, and Book Sooiety Bill'was read a third time' and passed. - Several Bilto werg introduced and read a first time. • ■ 1 The Native Lands Administration' Bill and Native Land Court Bill ww report#d

i from;STative 'Mm Cmniiiittee, anci ordered to be:committed oil j Sir'G. Grey gavo notico to ask tlie | Government if they could not proseputo j the person who sold matches by which* a phild ; waß -poisoned, at Invercargill last weeki .'the 'Bame not' being labelled as ' poisonous. ; v Replying to questions it was stated that instructions would be givon to report on the advisability of surveying country between To Aute and Pukehori stations oi\ the Napier Woodville Railway, so as to discover a more easy gradient, tlio pjUeftfc being said to be Steeper than any ,<Jn the proposed Midland Railway . That tho request to have- the former system of examination for classification of school teachers could not be granted. Mr Richardson said Government had received tenders for a small contract on the Otago Central Railway, and it was proposed to accept the contract atqiice in order to find employment for'people vhif were unemployed in Dunedin. The contract was only about £2000.; ::: ? . . The Coal Mines Bill was reported from Committee, read a third-time, and passed.' Mr Beetljam that the second reading of the Railways, Construction and. Land Act, 1881 Amendment Bill bo takenformally without debate.—Agreed to. ' Sir J, Vogel resunied the debate'on the Taeific Islands question. He said circumstances had liow changed, and it was necussary to strengthen the hands of the Agent-General, In' representing the matter to the Government he wished to. say that the had all through extended every consideration to New Zealand on the question, He said when tho proper time came, his colleague would move a series of amendments on the resolutions previously moved by other members, strongly urging on the Hume Government'tho necessity of not allowing New Hebrides to be annexed by any foreign nation; that no more convicts be sent by 1 ranee to New Hebrides; tnat religious freedom and freedom of trade and commerce be guaranteed to British , subjects equally with those of France; j 'that Rapa be ceded by France to Great Britain, and all objections removed to Great Britain annexing Rarotonga and adjacent islands. . ■ Mr Barron moved an amendment that New Zealand should concentrate its attention on affairs 'within the Colony, and this House has confidence iti leaving questions such as those affeoting Pacific Islands to the Imperial Government: Mr Joyco agreed with Sir Julius Vugel ;is to the resolutions, and thought they were the best that could be adopted in the present aspect of affairs.

Mr Bruce could not agree with Mr Barron that New Zealand possessed an individuality of its own. He characterised the action of the British Government on our Pacific question as vacillating in the extreme. He condemned the labor traffio as,iniquitous, and said lie" was glad Sir Julius Yogel's resolution had referred to that question.' He omphatioally protested against tha annexation of those Wands by France or any 'other foreign power.

Sir G, Grey's original motion for a mixed Committee was then put and lost by 38 to 20. : Mr McKenzie's amendment was also lost on the voices, .

Sir J. Yogel's resolutions wero then put,

On the resolution being put Sir G. Grey moved an amendment, that this House protests against any Foreign Power annexing any islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The amendment was lost by 41 to 18. • Sir J. Yogel's first resolution, hoping that an expression of opinion ,by the Colony will not bo" without use to the Homo Governmont, was tllon carried. Mr Barron's amendment wa3 then put and lost by 44 to 15. On Sir J, Yogel's second'resolution strongly urging on Her Majesty's Government not to consont to the annexation of the New Hebrides being put. Mr Russel moved (for Mr Rolleston) an amendment of the latter to the effect that this House would not convoy to the Home Government any othey expression but a confident hopo that the Homo Government would act in the best interests of the Empire, the Colonies, and tho Pacific Islands.

The debate was interupted by the 5.30 adjournment. Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30, The Debate laatod 5 hours, the result being that Sir G. Grey's original resolution was negatived and all amendments but Sir J. Vogel's, which wore carried in toto.