PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2890, 21 July 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

•WELLINGTON, Saturday night. OPINIONS ON FOX'S SPEECH. Fir W. Fox's speech has considerablyWeakened his influence with the party. After its conclusion, many leading members openly expressed disappointment, some even disgust, with its virulence, personality, and utter lack of dignity. One leading Canterbury member was heard to say that Major Atkinson or Mr Ormoad would have handled the material at Sir W. Fox's disposal much more effectively. All the press here, wj.h the exception of the " Times," [ condemns Fo_ #s speech. OTHER SPEAKERS. It is understood that Mr Onnoodwill make; _ fierce onslaught on the Public Works and! Native Administration on Thursday. Mr Rees is bursting with impatience to smites tba Philistines like another Samson, with his jawbone, and wa3only with difficoVty restrained from rushing on the foe lax. night. Mr Wakefield is heavily cramming with blue books and Hansards in the Library, and is expected to make one of, his usual smart and biting attacks. Mr Da, Latour is also arming for the fray, and will, by quotations from Handsard and other records, show the hollowness of Messrs Ormond, Richardson, Atkinson, Bow.v.Stevens, Rolleston, and other leading Oj*position members' expressions of sympathy with A Liberal programme. Mr Woolcock is understood to be disgusted with Sir W. Fox's pbillipics and likely to return to his old love, whiJe others are on the rails. Mr Woolcock and some other shining political lights of the embryo middle party think that " old fogey" politicians should stand on one side and giveyo_»# and rising politicians (that is middle men) _ shanca ttt have a hand at the game of Govern"J~gTHE GOVERNOR'S ACTION. His Excellency the Governor has withdrawn his objection to the passing of an Imprest Supply Bill before the Address-m-Reply is passed under existing circumstances, and it is understood the Opposition, will not resist the suspension of the Standing Orders for the purpose on Tuesday j by some sanguine supporters. _ The Governor's action is construed int. a. willingness to grant Sir George Grey a dissolution as a half million would enable the Government to tide over its financial difficulties until the new Parliament has met, if writs were made returnable in thirty days. WHAT AUCKLAND HAS TO EXPECT. The Auckland members are already asking what good you are likely to get from the sort of members who would be likely to take portfolios, representing Auckland in a Fox Ministry. It is impossible to over-rate the pressing necessity for vigilance, and if necessary prompt action on the part of the people of Auckland. If they remain surpine at the present juncture, their political and commercial interests may suffer a bio-* from which they may never, or only after • many years, recover. Canterbury appears determined to work the present complications, so as to command the situation, PLURALITY OF VOTES. The Plurality of Votes Bill provides that every person entitled to vote at an election of a member of the local governing body or any Chairman, Mayor, or other person elected on any voters' roll shall have one vote and no more. This provision, however, will only be operative in cases where the Corporation or local body is subsidised out of the general revenue of the colony, or receive moneys or revenues under Actor ordinance, which, but for such Act or ordinance, would have formed part of the colonial revenue. The Act also repeals any prior Jaws inconsistent or repugnant to it. NATIVE LAND DUTIES. The Native Land Duties Amendment Act, introduced by Mr Sbeehan, is incorporated with'the Native Land Daties Act, 1573. First sales or other disposition of hereditaments of native lands, as defined in the Act of 1573, are deemed to be sales by native owners, and are liable to duty in the same manner as if the sale had been effected immediately. Judges of the Native Land Courts may require on path and summons witnesses as to consideration money, in respect to duty payable. INFLUX OF CRIMINALS ACT. The introduction of Convicts.Prevention Act, 1567, Amendment Act, 1579, introduced by the Premier, extends the provisions of the principal Act to persons convicted, sentenced, or condemned to punishment for capital offences against the laws of any Sovereign State, to any person undergoing sentence of transportation for any offence against such laws, to any person under any conviction, sentence, or condemnation in any colony or possession capital, or transportable _ offence, to any person under such conviction, sentence, or condemnation not at. liberty to reside in such State or colony,' or possession, and also to any person convicted, sentenced, or condemned in any such State, colony, or possession, who has, or should have received, any pardon or remission of sentence, on condition that he shall leave or not come, or rem.in within the said State, colony, or possession. WAIUKU RECREATION. The Waiuku Reception Reserve Bill, introduced by Mr Hamlin, provides for a Recreation ground and volunteer drill ground at Waiuku. vested in Messrs J. B. Brown, E. Hamlin, A. Wellesley, A. W. Manning, J. Finlay, D. H. Lusk, H. W. Hill, and J. T. Melsopp as trustees, who are empowered to set apart a portion of the ground for a race-course, the proceeds of the lands to be expended in improvements. SHAREBROKERS" ACT. ;; In the House on Friday Mr Tole gave notice to ask the Government whether they, had received any communication from the sharebrokers of Auckland making representations with regard to the working of the Sharebro.kers' Act, and whether any steps will be taken in consequence. THE WAIKATO-TARANAKI RAILWAY. Mr Ormond gave notico to ask the Government • whether Rewi Mauiapoto has agreed to give land for a railway from Waikato to Taranaki, and if so, upon.what terms, and whether the Government will lay the correspondence on the table. Mr Goldie gave notice of motion asking the Government for information relative to the North Auckland Main Trunk Railway and localities through which the line is likely to pass. A REMARKABLE PETITION. Cnrious allegations are made in the petition presented to the Council on Friday by Mr Chamberlain. The petition is by Paramene, one of the Hawke- Bay natives, and has reference to alleged frauds in native lands, through the failure of the Courts to give redress, and partly in consequeuce of the privileges of the Legislative Council. The petitioner sets out that he has always been a loyal subject of the Queen ; but, owing to his ignorance, has been stripped of lands iuherited from his ancestors, without his knowledge, and against his will, and without his having received any payment for the same. ■ He alleged that, in 1569, he was induced to sign a mortgage to Jno. Gibson Kinross of his share in lauds at Karakaua West and Pekapeka, and was told that he might obtain goods and spirits at the store of Mr Kinross at the spit; that ho obtained such goods and spirits to the amountof £140, but the mortgage Vas at the time indebted to him no more than that amount, for he had since learned that Mr Kinross had registered a conveyance of tho laud in question, alleging that he had paid £1,400 for it. The petitioner states he has no knowledge of having signed his name to any conveyance, and he always supposed the goods and spirits received were for rent due by Mr Kinross and that the mortgage was merely giving him a right to receive suet rent. The peti« tioneralso alleges that he accuses Mr Kinross of selliug spirits to natives at the very time when he stated on oath before the Legislative Council that he had never sold spirits to natives. The petitioner then refers to the prosecutiou of Mr Kinross on a charge_ of perjury, when counsel for prosecution sought to produce the " Apppendix to the Journals of the Legislative Couucil,"j to show what evidence Mr Kinross gave before the committee. This Appendix the Magis« trate ruled not receivable in evidence. The petitioner states that several Councillors were summoned, as well as clerks of Council, to give evidence, but refused to attend without leave of the Council. The information was, therefore, withdrawn. The petitioner, therefore, prays the Council to permit members and clerks to give evidence, and authorise a prosecution being instituted and make inquiries into the manner in which the Rawakana lands were acquired.