YESTERDAY'S SITTING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1583, 26 August 1882, Page 2

YESTERDAY'S SITTING.

The House icsumed at 2 30. Replying to Mr Stewaid, Mi' Johnston said arrangements woie under negotiation foi a connection between the Waimate (Government) branch line of railway and the line of tho Wai mate Blanch Company (Limited), but interim arrangements had been made to facilitate the woik of construction of the line. Arrangements had yet to be made with regard to the Wai mate Railway section. Replying to Mr Steward, Mr Rolleston said tho Otauo Ccmetary Reserves would be gazetted next issue. Replying to Mr Daniel, Mr RoLLhStox said the Government had instructed the Warden of Orepuki and Long Londwood to report fully as to the burning of documents deposited in the courthouse, Riverton, tho Government recognised their liability to make good these documents, and this matter would be looked into. Replying to Mi* Sutton, Mr Dick said arrangements for taking solicitor's bills of costs were made the subject of a special provision in the Supreme Court Bill just passed. They'wonld would watch its operations, and if not satisfactory, further provision would be made during the recess. Replying to Mr Taiioa, Mr Brycis said, a grant had been issued to halfcastes named in the Middle Island Halfcastes Crown Grants Act, 1870. Replying to Mr Holmes, Major AmciNson said the caveat now standing m the Land Registry Office, Napier, against the tianster of the Omaranui block would, if bhe parties interested took no further action, be shortly removed. Mr Suiton moved the adjournment of the House to enable him to make a personal explanation. He produced the official documents in a Supreme Court action iv which he was implicated in connection with the acquisition of that land which fully acquitted him of undue means in obtaining the signatures of the nativ e to the deed of transfer. Mr Seddon said it would be interesting to know when the Government determined to withdraw the caveat. Was it not corelative with the late no-confidence debate, and was it not determined on in view of Mr Suttons vote on that motion. Mr Tbimblu said the whole transaction had been carefully enquired into by the Native Affairs Committee, and he, as chairman of that committee, had no hesitation in saying that Mr Suttons conduct had been blameless, and their finding fully acquitted him of the grave insinuations made against him in connection with the transaction. In reply to a question put by Mr Hutoiiisox, Mr Rolleston said that provision would be made on the Estimates for satisfying the volunteer land scrip claims, as it was understood that was the object of the Commission rather than to provide for these claims by laud appropriation. The Legislative Council amendments made in the following bills were agreed to :—lndustrial: — Industrial School, and Auckland University College. Mr Dick moved that the Council's amendment in The Aliens Act Amendment Bill, enabling Chinese to become naturalised at a reduced rate, be not . agreed, to. The Chinese, unlike other nationalities, did not come here to settle : they came here under offers, and having worked for a few years they returned to their own country. He named a comt mittee to confer with the Council's committee on the subject. Messrs Sejddom and Smitii spoke in i favor of the amendment being accepted, the latter pointingoutthatanact imposing a tax per. head had already been pasged. The motion for conference was put and carried. The Native Reserves Bill was reported a third time and passed, and the Drainage Mining Bill ,was read a second time and referred to the Goldfields, Committee. On the motion for gfiing into Committee on the Land Bill, \ , ,* ' Mr BATHGATEamOIr^SEDDpar spoke against a, measure *of .such magnitude being* brought down at this late period of the' Session. „','. ** , ', MiVSeddon: moved that it bevnot com- , mit£ed tmtiLMoricTay/ „«■< / -f ,fl'/^ /^Miyß'qLXOif : ,said, 'in the^wte, Lands* ConiiiriitteV the leasing .principle '"■O-ViV „J~ ' ' . ' ,<~ ' w.*^ >■ - £. •«

met with a great diversity of opinion, but it was agreed to allow the question .to be fought out ou the floor of the House. He was one of those who disagreed with the proposal, still he looked upon the bill as containing many very important provisions. Mr Macandrew also objected to the leasehold proposals, and would endeavour to obtain some modification whereby provision might be made for turning these into freeholds; he also agreed in the opinion that the bill had many important and valuable points ; it was in no respect a party question. The motion for going into committee was carried on the voices ; the committee was interrupted by the 5.30. adjournment.