HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1860. THURSDAY, AUGUST 2.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1318, 3 August 1860, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1860.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2.

Piesent • The Speaker and 38 members. Mr. RicniioifD kid on the table papers on the subject of the Taranaki Land question from 1839 to 1859, presented to the Honourable the House of Eepresontaliveb by command of His Excellency. Mr. A Clark presented a petition from L. Bei lowitz. — Otdeied not to be recevied. ( Mr F. D Bell presented a petition from Ai thinGuy on Pmchas and James Ninnis for a pi irate bill. Ordeied to be received _ Mr. .Cabletojt then gave notice that on the ne\t sitting day he should move for the depositions in the case of the Government o. Yates

Notices of Motion. Mr. Datj>y gave notice that on Friday (to-day) he should moye — Ist .For a return of all purchases of Native Land subsequent to the 30th June, 1856, specifying Acreage, Price, Position ; what disputed claims have arisen out of the purchases ; whether settled or unsettled; actual cost per acie in each Province, inclusive of suivey; incidental and depaitmental expenses. 2nd. Also a leturu of the quantity of Land purchased by Euiopeans under the waiver of preemption ; what disputes have arisen between the buyers and the Native sellers, and if any are now outstanding, 3rd. Also a lefcum of the quantity of Land now undei offer to the Government in each Province. 4th. Also a return of the estimated quantity of Land acquired by Government and individuals ; and the quantity remaining in the hands of the Natives in each Province. sth. Also a return of the estimatpd quantity of Land in each Province in the Northern Island now available for sale or occupation. Mr. F. D. Bfll then gave notice that he should move on Thursday (yesterday) for leave to bring in a Bill to giant a Patent to Arthur Guyon Purchas and James Ninnia, for the preparation of the I " Phonnium Tenax" and other plants. Mr. lorsaith to move (the same day) — That a lespectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, requesting him to furnish to this House copies of any additional Reports, Minutes, Memoranda, or other Papera (not heretofoie laid before the House) from persons holding official appointments, or from other unofficial but reliable authorities, relating to the origin and progiess of the agitation prevailing amongst certain Native Tribes, and which has resulted in the Maori King Movement. Also — That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, requesting him to furnish to this House copy of the Despatch or Despatches forwarded by him to the Imperial Government relative to the recent movement in Auckland in favour of alteration in the present system of acquiring land from the Natives, together with the documents relating thereto. Mr. Richmond to move (the same day) the appointment of a Select Committee on Private Grievances ; the Committee to consist of Mr. Bell, Mr. Brown, Mr. Daldy, Mr. Heale, Mr. King, Mr. Fitzher- i bert, Mr. Domett, and Mr. Ward. Mr. Carleton then brought forward the motion standing in his name for the appointment of a Select Committee on Standing Orders ; Committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Mr. Richmond, Mr. Brandon, Mr.-Fox, Mr. Domett, and Mr. Gillies. Agreed to. Mr. Carmston withdrew his second notice of motion, namely : "To move the appointment of a Committtee of Enquiry into the circumstances which led to the Taranaki war. Committee to consist of Lt -Colonel Haultain, the Hon. Mr. Richmond, Mr. Fitzgerald, Dr. Featherston, Dr. Monro, the Hon. Mr. Weld, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bell, and Mr Fitzherberfc. Eeport to be brought up August 21st;" and subsequently gave notice that he should bring it forward on the following Friday (to-day). . Mr. F. D. Belt, moved the appointment of a House Committee, to consist of the following members :— Mr. Cookaon, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Heale, Mr. Jollie, Mr. Mo6rhouse, and the Hon, Mr. Weld. Agreed to. Mr- Ward moved the appointment of a Library and w£f 6'6 ' t0 eonSiBt of m - Speaker, Mr. Fitzherberfc, Mr. Domett, the Hon. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Carleton, and Mr. Heale. Agreed to. Mr. Fobsaith then moved that an humble address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, requesting him to send down to this House an Abstract Return of all rejected applications made by Natives during the period intervening between Ist January 1840, to 3}st December, 1845, to sell land to her Majesty's Government,- specifying, as nearly ar'may be the following particulars .-—The name of the applicant 1 or applicants ; the situation and estimated extent of the land offered ; the terms (if any) of the offer ; ahd^the reasons (if any) upon which the rejection of the ajMica-,' tions were founded. ~ , , -*,-;/ .Agreed to, with the addition of the wordi— -at'tilfc suggestion of Mr. Stafford— ''And whether any, parJH the 'land has been 'since' purchased, and ;when afltt nMr. Wabd .then moved _that the following rJ^P bordered ,to be laid on, the table*:— "A Return oi^vi nojiberiof CrWn, Grahfer "now in" the QroW Grafifc Ofißce of the Colony, specifying the numbers.belonging H^wh^llrqyinceV-'ftnd distinguishing tfetween'rtnosa' gompktedt an4,incoim>lete'; on-ih'e; 30th' July;; 'i860!:;' <

" JSlSSHSngwit in iSe oMce s '^and the'dato of thfiwTns»o^ . ftioineto tthioLthesame shall be found'to »fer.?' ' 4 " ■ Agweffe' ' - ■ ' , $$$ .-..,--' u The House then prooeeded'to the,ottfor.;bf the day. Consideration 6fHisExcoU»ncy r s hpetojt.^' Mr. Etrz&ERALD rose -to move* "That an, humble Address be presented to the Governor to convey to his Excellency the thanks of this House for his Speeoh on {opening'the Session." , , . ,- , +-. „ ' The hon. member, <in moving.the" adoption of the reply to his Excellency's address, aaid that he felt that he was introducing .what would prove to be a inoit important discussion, and he only wished that he possessed the eloquence of many members there, so as to do justice to it. He would throw hiraielf, however/ on the kindness of members, and do,his best, in as few words as possible, leaving it to others to make any further observations. In reference 'to the addreis he con : sidered that, although much had been left out, still the Governor had done wisely in not touching on too many subjects. He had doubted, till he had seen the correspondence laid before them on the previous Monday, a» to whether the war had been commenced after due consideration, but he was now convinced that it had not been done in a hap-hazard manner, but that the Go-, yernment had well weighed the matter before entering into this conflict, which many of the previous governors had shirked, and which our present one might have delayed to the end of his time of service, and perhaps got more ciedit by so doing. The hon. member then proceeded to make some observations on the war, and pointed out that it had ceased now 1 to be a question of > Taylors right to sell the land, and that it was merely a waste of time going into the question of tribal rights, and so on. - ' In reference, to the King movement he considered it a pity that no greater notice had been taken of it. It was a question which there was' no blinking, and the movement must be dealt with before the session came to a close. As for the Kohimarama Conference, he considered that it was calculated to do good. The hon. member having made a few more observations on some minor points in the address, the reply was read. [The reply consisted of a recapitulation of the heads of his Excellency's address, and a congratulatory acknowledgment of the information contained in the same.] Havjng disposed of the Governor's speech he said ho would beg leave to make a few remarks on some very important subjects that would be certain to «ri«e in the present debate, aud that must be fully and fairly entertained if they desired a permanent settlement of the native question. He would assume, as a matter of course, that the struggle going on at Taranaki would be brought to a successful issue, and that, by means of a good thiashing, the natives would be thoroughly subdued, but other dicffiulties would be certain to arise if our f utm-e dealings with the natives were not guided by fixed principles, and a total change made in the very anomalous and unsatisfactory basis— or rather want of any system, that had often hitherto been adopted in refeience to native affairs, but for which those in power were not responsible,— it was a legacy that descended to them from former times. He believed that it was well known that the present ministers were by no means satisfied with the native land-purchase department as it now existed. Ho (Mr. P.) thought that it ought to be entirely remodelled ; and — with the greatest respect for the energy and ability of the gentlemen attached to that department, especially its chief— he thought that it was very deficient in any fixed principle of act on, and many causes of differences amongst the natives arose from that source, — And that it was too much identified with its chief officer, who was so much its life that where he was, alone, it might be said to exist, but where he was not, there was practically no land-purchase department. The natives must be made thoroughly to obey the law, as British subjects, but then they must be protected by that law. They should look fairly at their position, and ask if they had not good cause of complaint. By the Treaty of Waitangi the natives were assured of British protection ; why, then, hod they been allowed to slaughter each other without the interference of Government at Taranaki and at Hawke's Bay < in the latter place almost in the presence of the native land-purchase commissioner. He enthely condemned the Native Land Purchase Ordinance as a most unfair and unconstitutional measure, and as as one which deprived the natives of rights that were solemnly guaranteed to them by treaty. He believed that the present Ministry fully appreciated the difficulties of the case, and hoped they would endeavour to meet it. The restiictions on the sale ef spirits ought to be removed — it did no good — but caused gieat irritation in the minds of the natives, who had plainly shewn that they were no longer children. Mr. Heale briefly seconded the reply. He considered great wisdom had been shown by the Government in postponing the consideration of- nil other mat--ters except those mentioned. He thought House was merely called upon to express their thanks to his Excellency. ~~" The motion was then put to the House and passed. Mr. Fitzgerald then moved that Mr. Speaker do present the address to his Excellency, which was ultimately agreed to. Upon this, however, and the subsequent motion of Mr. Cableton, — that the House should, at its rising, adjourn till Friday — a long and desultory discussion ensued on the manner in which the reply had been allowed to pass through the House without discussion, in which Messrs. Daldy, Oarleton, Forsaith, Fox, Fitzherbert, Weld, Stafford, Richmond, and several other hon. members took part. More information was required from the Government, and a full and lucid exposition of their policy under the present circumstances. The discussion was finally declared irregular by Mr. Speaker, and brought to a close. The House then adjoumsd, on Mr. Si'affobd'h motion, till yesteiday at 12.

The Speaker and 14 members were present. There being no quorum the House stood adjourned till to-day.

BUSINESS THIS DAY (FRIDAY) AT NOON. 1. The Hon. Mr. Richmond to move ior leave to introduce a, Bill to enable the Governor in certain cases to prevent dealings and communication with Aboriginal Natives offending against the Law. 2. Mr. Carleton to move the appointment of a Committee, of Enquiry into th 6 circumstances which led to the Taranaki W*r. Committee to consist of Lt.-Colonel Haultain, the Hon Mr. Richmond, Mr. Fitzgerald, Dr. Featherston, Dr. Monro, the Hon. Mr. Weld, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bell, and Mr. Fitzherbert. Report to be brought up August 21st. Government business coming first on Fridays, Mr. Richmond's motion takes precedence.

Off to the Ktjis. — Men's eyes in Auckland are being turned towards these islands, and a slight exodus is commencing. Humours of what the " Aquila" did there, and of the " dirty acres" so easy to be picked up by any enterprising man, have been going about for some time, and there ia, no doubt, much truth in what is said, and these islands will ultimately offer a fine field for emigration ; but it would be as well for the inexperienced to be cautious as yet, for, although in the old song, somebody expresses his intention of going to the old Fiji, "to spend his money free," the poet does not mention whether any more cash is to be made there afterwards. We want, in parliamentary parlance further information. Captain Browning we see has cleared out for these islands with the ".Ellen," a cutter built by himself at Waiuku. She takes several passengers.

"La OdnugtwV in Auckland,— One great proof that civilization is progressing in • Auckland is the fact that cookery is rather more generally appreciated than it used to be, and we have several very decent eating establishments. Mr. James, who opened his new one on Monday with a first rate 1 and numerously attended dinner, has made a very convenient place of the Russell Wine-Vaults, We seethat he is fitting up one dining room for lady guests, and really such ft convenience must often be wanted by, country visitors in for a day, and as fond of a mutton chop, though obliged to put up with a bun, aa their lords and masters.