AFTERNOON SITTING.

Press, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4685, 7 August 1880, Page 2

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House resumed at 2 30. BEPOBT APPROVED. Mr J. B. Fisheb moved that the report of the Goldfields Committee in the case of H. Rowe and others be approved of. He stated that the petition contained unwarranted allegations against, the judicial officer, which had not been supported by evidence. The Committee strongly reprobated such conduct. The Hon. W. Rollestok concurred in. the finding, and expressed his strong disapprobation of the number of unjustifiable complaints that were from time to time made against officers of this kind. The motion was carried. NATIVE lAND SALES BIXTj. The House went into committee on the Native Land Pales Bill. Clause 3, Mr R. Wood moved that the word "may" be substituted for the word '• shall," so as to make the olauae read " that Natives may at their own option bring their lands under the Act." Capt. Rtjssem. felt convinced that the effect of the Bill would be to prevent land being sold at all. He did not think that the Bill as it stood would give satisfaction, and he would support the amendment. Capt. Co_bech: concurred. So strongly did the Natives feel on the subject that he felt convinced they would be prepared te fight rather than submit to the measure. Mr Thomson complained that Government was throwing an unfair responsibility upon the House in leaving such a material alteration in the Bill to it. If the Government were really in earnest in their purpose to pass the Bill at all they ought to make it a Government question. $v; ; Mr Shbehak was quite sure that if the Bill' as it stood were passed no land would be brought under its operations, or if it did it would pass out of the hands of Natives without any corresponding advantages being secured by them. Sir G. Obex said that when the amendment was disposed of he would move the following addition —" Except as herein provided in case of Native lands vested in trustees." Major Tb WHBOBOsaid that he would support the amendment, leaving the lands to be dealt with by the Native Committees. TheMaoris should he empowered to elect these committees, denning the powers they are to be allowed to exercise. Despite what newspapers had said to the contrary, he denied that the Native members were actuated by factious motives. The question was pnt that the clause as printed remain part of the Bill. Ayes, 34; Noes, 25. The following is the division list:— Ayes—Messrs Andrews, Atkinson, Bain, Ballance, Bryce, DeLautour, Dick, J. B. Fisher, J. £. Fisher, Sir W. Fox, Mr Gisborne, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Hall, Harris, Hurathonse, Ireland, Jones, Kelly, Macandrew, Moss, Pitt, Pyke, Solleston, Shrimski, Speight, Te Wheoro. Thomson, Tole, Tomoana, Trimble. Turnbull, Wright. Noes—Messrs Barron, Bee-ham, Bowen, Brown, Buckley, Colbeok, Gibbs, Hamlin, Hirst, Johnston, Lnndon, McDonald, McLean, Ormond, Beeves, Reid, Bussell, Shanks, Sbeehan, Shepherd, Stevens, Swanaon, lainui. Whyte.Wood. . ' v " Sir G-. Obey: moved the'amendment of whioh he gave potice. IBs object was to prorade that the sale of the lands would be conipeted for in the open market, and the Natives fchemselves get a fair price for the land. The

details of the plan would be unfolded in amendments to be introduced into the other clauses of the Bill. The debate was interrupted by the 5.50 adjournment.