I.— 3b

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF, ON THE HOROWHENUA BLOCK ACT AMENDMENT BILL, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.)

Presented to the House of "Representatives and ordered to be printed.

REPORT. I have the honour to report that the Native Affairs Committee, to whom was referred the above mentioned Bill, have duly considered the same, and are of opinion that it should be allowed to proceed without amendment. 13th December, 1897.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Monday, 13th December, 1897. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Houston (Chairman), Hon. J. Carroll, Mr. Field, Mr. Heke, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Kaihau, Mr. Monk, Mr. Parata, Mr. Pere, Right Hon. B. J. Seddon, and Mr. Stevens. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letter from Mr. F. C. Beddard, asking to be allowed to reply to certain written statement by a member of the Committee re Horowhenua, was read (see Exhibit A), and after discussion it was, on the motion of the Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon, resolved : That the Committee cannot depart from the rule that counsel be not allowed to appear on behalf of a client, and therefore Mr. Beddarcl's request cannot be acceded to. Petition No. 331, of Sir W. L. Buller, was then read, and, on the motion of Mr. Monk, it was resolved to postpone consideration until after the Horowhenua Block Act Amendment Bill had been considered. Statement by the Hon. Sir E. Stout was read, on the motion of Mr. Heke. (See Exhibit B.) The Horowhenua Block Act Amendment Bill was then brought up, discussion being taken down by shorthand-writer (see Exhibit C). Hon. J. McKenzie being too unwell to attend, the Eight Hon. E. J. Seddon explained the nature of the Bill. The preamble was postponed. Clauses 1 and 2 were passed without amendment. Mr. Heke then moved, That further consideration be postponed until a copy of judgment of Supreme Court re case stated by Appellate Court could be obtained. On the question being put, " That consideration of the Bill be postponed," the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow : —■ Ayes, 3. —Heke, Hunter, Monk. Noes, 6.—Carroll, Field, Houston, Kaihau, Parata, Stevens. The motion was therefore lost, and the Committee proceeded with the consideration of the Bill. Clause 3 was passed without amendment. Clause 4 : Mr. Heke moved to insert the words, " Six, nine, eleven, and twelve " after the first word of the clause. This was not agreed to ; and, on the question being put, " That clause 4 as, printed stand part of the Bill," the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow :— Ayes, 6. —Carroll, Field, Houston, Parata, Pere, Stevens. ' ; Noes, 3. —Heke, Hunter, Monk. ■ • The clause therefore passed without amendment.