PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2993, 20 November 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PER PRESS AGEHCVT.j

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. RE-ELECTION ON ACCEPTANCE OF Mr Seymour George; has given notice to move « any member of theHoowj ol Representatives accepting a sea* m £g Ministry shall have to be re-elected by his constituents before he becomes a member.

SUBSIDIES TO LOCAL BODIES. Mr Pyke gave notice that he would more that the House will not consent to the ducontinuance of .subsidies to local bodies unless some provision is made for cairying on local works. THE PULLMAN CAft& Mr Pyke asked the Minister of Works whether the Pullman cars recently imported from America are fitted with cist iron seats andtaosene lamps; whether the Minister is of opinion that cast iron seats and kerosen?Tarn** would add to the bod.* comfort and safety of passengon in the event of a collision 6r other1 acfflckmtnvolvine a eeneral smash ; whether c Will lay hefoYe &c a copy of spec»!?s £ the Pullman carriages as sent to the.New York a^ent toother with the statement fTom the° engineer-in.charge of the Midge Island of the height of each tunnel on the ChrutohnMh-liiToreawll lailway, also the height of the carriages as imported Mr Oliver said the cars were so fitted.but what injury would'ensue in case of accent he did not feel called on to surmise. Ihey would lay on the table papers asked for. GAOL OFFICIALS. ' Mr Tole asked the Minister of Justice if the Government have made provisofcr the equalization of salaries of gaol olhcials %Z^rnmenlXitted that there was a want of uniformity in the s*}*™?-™* provision would be made to equalize them. NATIVE LAND PURCHASES. ' Mr Gisborne asked the Native^Minister whether the Government will auras l the session bring in a bill to amend the existing Native Land Purchase system. Mr Bryce said the Gove.nment were most anxious to amend the law m «£*«>*£ land purchases, but he was afraid the time would not allow it this session. THE PROPERTY.TAX. Mr Guboras asked Colonial Treasurer to what specific American Act he referred when, in the financial statement, he^ asked the House to impose a property tax upon the American model. i . ~ Major Atkinson replied, he referred \,Q \>nv New York Statute of 1569.

OTHER QUESTIONS,

Mr Murray asked the Minister of Works if he will lay before the House a report of the engineer upon the Bnghton-Kaitangata and Outram-Clarendon railway. It was promised that the reports be laid on the table. , ~ Mr Tainui asked the Native Minister if the Government will bring in a bill empowering the issue of Crown grants for the Greymouth native reserves and other reserves on the west coast of the Middle Island, in accordance with the adjustments made by Commissioner Young, if not, if he will state his reasons for withholding the said Crown grants. . Mr Bryce said ho hid been advised that no such bill was necessary, as the powers sought existed under the present law. One reason for withholding the Crown grants was that the subdivisions had not been completed.

VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY.

Mr Shanks asked the Government what steps they intend to take with a view of supplying Volunteer Artillery batteries with the proper complement of field guns, and whether a sum will be placed on the estimates for procuring the necessary guns ; also if the Government proposo any increase of capitation at present paid to Artillery corps, and if so, to what exteut. The Government hoped, during the present year, to supply field guns, but as to capitation he regretted the financial position of the colony would not permit_ him to recommend the House to agree to it.

TARANAKI SMELTING

Leave was granted to Mr Ballance to introduce a bill to amend " The Taranaki Iron Smelting Works Act, 1874."

MAORI PETITIONS.

On the motion of Mr Tole, it was agreed that petitions from Maoris should conform to the rules of the House the same as other petitions.

THAMES RAILWAY.

A motion of Mr Murray's, to cauao the Judges to inquire into the legality or otherwise of the expenditure upon Grahamstown Reclamation and Te Aroha Railway, was withdrawn, in deference to a generally expressed wish.

AUCKLAND WORKS.

A motion by Mr Wnitaker, to place £200,000 on the estimates for roads and bridges in Auckland, consideration was deferred for a fortnight by 23 to 20.

NATIVE EXPENDITURE,

A motion for a return of persons employed in the Native Department since the Ist of January last, the amounts paid, whether voted or not voted by the House, or out of the loan or general revenue, <va3 agreed to. PAYMENT TO MR W. L. REES.

Mr Sutton moved that there bo laid before the house a copy of voucher for £400 or thereabouts paid to Mr W. L. Reo3 in July or August last on account of legal advice on some matters on tho West Coast. (2). A copy of any correspondence that may have taken place beewcen Mr Kees and the Government in reference thereto, or to any legal opinion supplied to the Government.

Mr Kelly said the questions involved a breach of the Disqualification Act, as Mr Rees was a member of the House at the time.

Mr Sheohan stated that Mr Rees had ceased to be a member of the House when tho money was paid hin.

Mr Tole moved tho previous question. The correspondence asked for might involve tho relations thnt ought to exist between solicitor and client.

Mr Bryce said as far as he knew Mr Rees had supplied the Government with no legal opinion, and no correspondence of the kind mentioned had taken place.

Mr Boweu aubmitted that any hon. member had a perfect right to ask such a question.

Mr Moss complained of the way in which the question was .put.

Mr Sheehan said Mr Rees had received no money from the Government. He had supplied them with uo opinion, and no correspondence had takeu place. What had been done was that Mr Reos had been retaiued aud paid by the Maori prisoners now iv Wellington. The Premier considered the question a proper one, as money was paid Mr Rees while he was a member of the House.

M. Gisbome said the transaction was purely between Honi Nahe, as representing the natives, and Mr Rees.

Major Atkinson said a wrong complexion had been put on the matter. The natives denied everything in connection with it. He read a letter from Dr. B\iller, who is retaiued for the defence of the prisoners, complaining that Honi Nahe had paid Messrs Rees and Seivewright a retainer to net for the natives without the knowledge of the committee of chiefs. He urged that the matter called for inquiry. The previous questions was put and carried. THE HINEMOA. On the motion of Mr McLean, correspondence relative to the refusal to grant the use of tho Hinemoa to the Marquis of Normanby was ordered to be laid before the House. LAND ON DKirERKED PAYMENTS. Mr Ormond moved for a return of all lands disposed of on deferred payments in each provincial district since the passing of of the Land Act 1877. The return to specify acreage of each selection.price paid, where situate, and what expenditure was iucuned, if auy, in opening such lands for occupation.—Carried. DEFENCE FORCE. Mi- Hainlin moved that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the claims of members of the late Aucklaud Dcfeuco Force, and report to the House within three weeks.—Carried. GOVERNMENT USE OF STEAMERS AND TELEGRAPHS. Mr Sauiulers moved for a select committee to inquire into aud report on the use alleged to have been made by the Government of Government steamers and railways, aud of the electric telegraph, for the purpose of influencing the late elections. The previous question was moved as an amendment and carried.

FREE PASSES,

Mr Murray moved that a committee be appointed to inquire into granting free passes on Government railways, and report Whether, iv their opinion, there should be any alteration, or whether free passes should be abolished, and in lieu thereof tune or other special tickets should be issued at reduced rates.—Carried.

Mr Reid moved that a select committee be appointed to inquire and report to the House upon the expediency of diverting She proposed line of railway between Hoki tika and Greymouth in order that it may pass through, or be c6nnected with Kumara, Goidsborough, and StatFordtown' —Carried. %

The House adjourned; at 5.30 p.m.