LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 3, Issue 121, 16 October 1847, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Saturday, September 2, 1847. I Present:— The Governor, and all the Members, except Mr. Domett. The Colonial Treasurer presented two petitions against the Marriage Bill— one from the ministers and office bearers of the Wesleyan Church, and the other from Mr. Mathew Whytlaw, merchant. Petitions read, and ordered to be printed. On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, the Slaughterhouse Bill was read a 3rd time and passed. The Attorney-General, in a speech of some length, moved the 2nd reading of the Marriage Bill. The Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Treasurer, and Mr. Brown objected to the measure as conferring preferences on certain religious denominations over others. Tuesday, September 2. The Colonial Secretary presented a Petition from Members of the Free Church of Scotland against the Marriage Bill. On the motion of the Attorney-General, Council went into committee on the Marriage Bill. On the reconsideration of the first clause, com« mittee adjourned till Thursday next. The Governor laid on the table several returns rela'ive to the Resident Magistrates Court in Auck-

land, called for by Mr. Brown on the 2Gth ultimo. Some discussion took place in consequence of Mr. Brown impugning their accuracy. Mr. Brown gave notice, that he would move on Saturday next for copies of all correspondence between this Government and the Secretary of State for the Colonies since November 1815, regarding the Land Claimants and their claims to Land in this Colony, or in reference to the disposal of native lands, or the waßte lands of the crown. Also a copy of a despatch lately written to the Bishop of New Zealand by His Excellency, requesting His Lordship to use his influence with the Chuich Missionaries to induce them to give up all lands claimed by them over 2560 acres. Thursday, September 16. On the motion of the Attorney-General, the Council went into Committee on the Marriage Bill, and after several clauses being considered and amended, the committee again adjourned. On the motion of the Attorney General, the Impounding Bill was read a third time, and passed. On the motion of the Attorney-General, the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages Bill was read a first time. The Colonial Treasurer moved the Ist reading of the Debenture Bill. The Governor laid on the table drafts of two bills, one for promoting the Education of Youth, and the other for Encouraging the Fenciflg of Land. Saturday, September 18. Mr. Brown moved, occording to notice, for a copy of all the correspondence with the Colonial Office since November 1845, regarding the Land Claimants. Motion not seconded. The Attorney-General moved the order of the day for the further consideration of the Marriage Bill. Bill further amended in several clauses and o hers added on the motion of Mr. Merriman, On the motion of the Attorney-General, the Registration Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Tuesday. On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, the Debenture Bill was read a second time, and the Council went into committee. On title being read, committee adjourned till Tuesday. I Mr. Brown gave notice, that he would move on Tuesday next for a copy of a despatch from this Government or from His Excellency the Governor, dated 30th August last, to the Biohop of New Zealand, on the subject of claims to land in this colony by the Church Missionaries — also for a copy of the Despatch from Earl Grey to His Excellency the Governor, No. 41, dated 10th February, 1847 — also, copies of the various despatches enumerated in the margin thereof, from this Government. Tuesday, September 21. Mr. Brown moved for the Despatches of which he had given notice at the last meeting — but after some discussion as to the propriety of calling for the production of the documents alluded to, the motion again fell to the ground for want of a seconder. The Marriage Bill was then further amended in committee, and again adjourned till Thursday next. On the motion of the Attorney- General, the Registration Bill was considered in committee, and amended. On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, the Debenture Bill was considered in committee, and again postponed. Thursday, September 13. The Marriage Bill was further considered in committee, and amended, and the report brought up, and adopted. The Registration Bill was further amended, and committee adjourned till Saturday next. Debenture Bill further considered, and committee adjourned till Saturday next. On the motion of the Attorney-General, the Fencing Bill was read a first time. On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, the Edu- | cation Bill was read a first time. Saturday, September 25. The Colonial Treasurer presented a Memorial, signed by 253 persons of the Presbyterian and other religious denominations in Auckland, against the j Education Bill. j The Memorial was read, which gave rise to a I discussion as to the language used in it, which be- | ing considered informal and objectionable, the Memorial was subsequently withdrawn. The Council again went into Committee on the Registration of Births, &c, Bill, but further consideration adjourned on motion of Mr. Brown, to give time to prepare a clause entitling persons married prezious to the passing of the act to register the evidence of their marriage. The Council on the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, went into committee on the Debentures 1 Bill. After considerable discussion, the committee again adjourned. On. the motion of the Attorney General, the Fencing Bill was read a second time. On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, the Education Bill was, after a lengthened discussion, read a second time, and Council went into committee. The Governor laid on the table a bill for the naturalization of a certain individual. Tuesday, September 28. The Governor stated, that he had received a Memorial, or rather Protest, from the Southern division, against the Paper Currency Bill, which though addressed to himself, he thought it proper to lay before the Council. The Memorial was allowed to remain on the table for the perusal of the members. The new clause on the Registration Bill, suggestd by Mr. Brown, was proposed by the Attorney General, but his Excellency having proposed an amendment of the same, it was postponed for future consideration. Council resumed in Committee on the Debentures' Bill, but further consideration of it deferred, to enable the Colonial Treasurer to prepare schedule of the various outstanding Debentures. The Council went into Committee on the Fencing Bill, and the several clauses discussed and amended. Further consideration postponed. The Education Bill was further considered in Committee, and again postponed. The Marriage Bill was read a third time and passed. A protest against the game being presented by Mr. Brown* a

Thursday, September 30t/i. The Registration Bill was again resumed in Com* mittee. The new clause proposed by Mr. Brown was considered, and again postponed. The schedule to the Debenture Bill was considered in committee, and again adjourned. The report upon the Fencing Bill waß brought up and adopted. Saturday, Octoi6r 2. The Debenture Bill was a^ain resumed in commit* tee, and after consideiing schedule, again adjourned. Ttife Education Bill was further considered in committee. On the motion of the Attorney General, the Fencing Bill was read a third time and passed. The Naturalization Bill was read a first time. Tuesday, October 5. The Debenture Bill was again considered, and an addition made, fixing date of payment of interest on the altered 8 per cents, from 30th September last. The Education Bill was again considered in Committee, and finally reported as amended, and report adopted. The Naturalization Bill was read a second time, and postponed for further consideration. The Registration Bill was read a third time and passed. His Excellency laid on the table a Bill for protecting Foot Paths. Thurs&ag, October 7. The Debenture Bill was further amended, and report brought up and adopted. The Education Bill was read a third time and passed. The Foot Path Bill was read a first time. The Governor laid on the table a bill intituled " An Ordinance for indemnifying the Officers of her Majesty's forces and others, for all acts done by them under certain Proclamations of Martial Law." Monday, October 11. The Debenture Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Foot-path Bill was read a second time. The Indemnity Bill was read a first time. The Governor laid on the table a Bill to protide an annuity for Thomas Walker Nene, for services rendered by him to the Colony. Tuesday, October 12. The Council went into committee on the Footpath Bill, which after being amended, the report was brought up and adopted. The Council went into committee on the Indemnity Bill, which was agreed to, and the report brought up and adopted. The Colonial Treasurer gave notice that he would move on Thursday next, that the Council should resume the consideration in committee of the Currency Bill. Mr. Brown gave notice that on Thursday next, he would move for a " Return of all applications for Licenses to occupy Government lands, or native lands, since the 16th November, 1846, distinguishing whether the lands so applied for, are possessed by the natives ; whether purchased by Government, or by private individuals ; also, the names of the applicants ; result of the application (whether acceded to, or refused) with the grounds of such refusal ; the sum ot money (if any) paid for licenses when granted ; and the use proposed to be made of the lands so leased." The hon. member stated, that his motion had reference to a subject of vital importance to the colony 5 second only to that of adjusting the land claims, and the sale of the native lands. He was astonished to find that the Government threw every obstacle in the way of granting licenses for the depasturing of cattle, and that unless a very different system was adopted, serious evils would ensue. So great had these difficulties been, that a very extensive importer of stock, finding it impossible to get any assurance from Government of obtaining a sufficient run for his cattle on Government land, and being prohibited by the Government from running his cattle upoa the native lands, was now intending to abandon his purpose altogether. In illustration of the ruinous effects of the present system, and of the dangers to be appre« bended, the hon. member stated, on what he considered good authority, that there was not at present more than three months' supplies in the country ; that the contractor for the troops had lately purchased one of the finest herds in the colony, and being unwilling to kill the fine breeding cows composing a large part of the herd, had these selected out, and offered them for sale by public auction, in putting a price of £13 per head on them. But there were no buyers for them at this price, and though within a few weeks of calving, they were immediately slaughtered for the use of the troops. The Governor thought that individual instances of this description ought not to be brought before the Council ; that it was the general interests alone, they ought to consider, and not those of alleged grievances of private individuals. Their judgments were generally prejudiced in their favour, and he could not help thinking that the hon. member had been led astray in the matter ; as he knew of no obstacle to the depasturing of cattle thrown in the way by the Government. He thought the ends of the motion would be best secured by the Government giving notice of lands open for depasturing of stock, though he would not object to the returns called for. He would also caution, the council from entertaining the opinions expressed by the honorable member as to the advantages which had resulted to the colony from permitting individuals to purchase land directly from the natives — he could assure them that very serious evils had arisen from this cause, and that outbreaks of the natives had oftener than once been prevented arising out of purchases made by members of the Church Missionary Society. Mr. Brown remarked, that it was only individual instances that clearly exposed the errors of the present system ; and that he was glad to hear that there were lands that would be open for cattle runs, but it was the first time he had heard of such being the case. The notification of the lands open for license would be of much benefit ; but he would like also to see the returns called for. On the motion of the Attorney General, the Foot Path Bill was read a third time and passed. The Indemnity Bill was read a third time and passed. The Naturalization Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of the Attorney General, Walker Neae's Annuity Bill was read a first time.

On the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, the Council again went into committee on the Currency Bill, but again adjourned till to-morrow. Mr Brown moved for production of the returns which he gave notice of on Tuesday last—The Returns were laid on the table by his Excellency - The hon member moved that they should be printed, which motion was seconded by Mr. Merriman, but in consequence of objections raised to the expences of printing, and also as to the propriety of publishing information which to some extent, might be deemed of a private nature, the motion was deferred, to afford an opportunity for the hon. member in the meantime of perusing the Returns.