HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3132, 31 July 1867, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, JULY 23. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. petitions. Mr, Dillon Bill presented » petition from the Rev, Mr. Simmonds, of Ofcago, praying that the House would make provision for the foundation of scholarships for the purpose of maintaining young men of this colony at a University in the United kingdom. Mr. Carwwon presented a petition from some natives at Wangarei, praying that Mr. Busby may receive compensation ; also petitions from settlers at Waipu and Mangapai, to the same effect. Mr. 6. GkaHah presented a petition from 256 natives at Turanga, praying that their lands, which baye been confiscated, m*y be restored to them, and that the treatment they had experienced from th» Gqvernment may be inquired into. The petitions were ordered to lie on the table. NEW MEMBERS. Mr. Henry Shafto Harrison took the oath, and his seat for Wanganui. ASHLEY DISTRICT COMMETTJEI. Mr, Bbivbs brought up the report of the Ashley District Committee. They are of opinion that it wap the undoubted intention of Mr. Walker to resign, and that a new writ may be issued. RESIDENT MAGISTRATES CONSOLIDATION BILL, The Hon, John Hall brought up the Resident Magistrates Consolidation Act, which was read a first time, <**»• NATURALISATION BILL. The Colonial Secretary brought op the Natura* lis»Uon Bill, which wa/read a first time. CORBIBPONDENCB. The Hon. Mr. Richmond laid on the table correspondence relative to the Native Lands Court, PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS, Mr, Boblase asked if any extra amount of salaries has been guaranteed to the persons in the General Government Printing Office, ill consequence of the publication of \hs Pa.rli*.mentai'V Hansard } also, if any extra hands have been employed in consequence of th« said publication, and, if so, how many and at what wages. He did not think it was necessary to go into any explanation on the matter, as it must be a matter of great interest to every member to know what the reporting and printingjqf the Parliamentary debases cos.t, " The CayonakXi Secretary replied that no extra salaries were -paid ; but the extra hands employed numbered from seven to nine, who were paid on an average £3 a week— lesjs than the usual rate of W*gei in the colony. PAPERS. The following papers were laid on the table :-- Correspondence relative to the establishment of electric telegraph stations in the Wairarapa; report upon the proposed lighthouse at Farewell Spit; correspondence between the Chief or other Judge of the Native Lands Court with the Government, having reference to the Native Lands Act Amendment Aot ,* Colonial Museum and Laboratory Reports. APPEALS FROM JUSTICES BILL. The House went into committee on the Appeals from Justices Bill, and passed a number of clauses. OORONEES BILL, This bill was paissd through committee, and I reported with amendments. BJtITJS »- AUSTRALASIAN MAIL SERVICE BILL. The Hon. J. Hail, in moving the second reading of the bill, said the object of it. was to give effect to the agreement made by the New Zealand delegates at the Postal Conference, should the agreement be concurred in by the Imperial Government. " . F . ' Mr. J. O'Neill said there was a provision in the bill, giving power to the Governor in Council to appoint delegates to future Postal Conferences, wbioh deserved consideration. The Panama «eryioe was of little use to the provinces at the extremities of the colony, and it was quite possible tj»at many inhabitants of those provinces were looking forward to the time when the services could be done away with. They should be cautious in i giving the Government power to enter into any fresh arrangements with that company. Mr.- Campbell recommended that the sum should limited to £80,000.

The Hon. J. Hall thought the hon. member for the Northern Division misunderstood the object of the bill, as [the arrangement entered into by the delegates provided for the continuance of the Suez steamer. The second reading was then put and earned. STEAM NAVIGATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The bill was re-committed, and some amendments made. MESSAGE. The Spxakbr announced that he had received a menage from the Legislative Council to the effect that they had cononrred in the Temporary Appropriation Bill, and had passed the Private Estate* Hills Bill. The latter bill was read a first time. XLIOTION OF THE ATOIT COMMITTSB. The Council then proceeded to elect an Audit Committee by ballot. The clerk stated that the voting papers showed the following result :— G. Graham, 6 ; Haughton, 18 ; Wells, 13; O'Rorke, 8j Mervyn, 5 ; Reynolds, 1 ; Parker, 1. Messrs. Haughton, ' Wells, and O'Rorke were therefore elected. CIVIL COMMISSIONER AT TARANAKI. Mr. Cablbton moved for copies of all correspondence between the Government and the Senior Judge of the Compensation Court concerning the interference of the Civil Commissioner at Taranaki with the division of the lands that had been returned by Gorernment to the loyal natives at Waitara. The Hon. J. C. Richmond said the Government would, not, of 'Course, oppose the motion, but the terms of it gave a false idea of the circumstances of the case, which were simply these ; — Agreements were made out of Court with certain claimants to confiscated lands at Taranaki, and brought into the Compensation Court, the natives suppoiing that they would receive titles to lands from the Native Lands Court. The Native Lands Court, however, had no jurisdiction whatever in the matter. Subsequently, the natives obtained the services of a gentleman to survey the land, in order that they might ascertain their respective lots, and there was imminent danger of. bloodshed taking, place in consequence. Mr. Parris was therefore instructed by the Government to arrange the matter peaceably, if possible. Mr. Panis did not interfere with the proceedings of the Native Lands Court, but merely effected an arrange* ment of the matter amongst the natives, who had agreed to an amicable division of the landi The Commissioner in no legal sense interfered with the award of the Compensation Coutt. Mr. Carmton agreed that the Native Lands Court had properly no jurisdiction in the matter, but the Government themselves had imposed the duty of fixing compensation upon the Senior Judge of the Compensation Court, and he did not see how, under these circumstances, the Government could now say that the Native Lands Court had no jurisdiction in the matter. The Hon. Mr. Richmond said the hon. member had misunderstood him* Be had not said that the Senior Judge of the Compensation Court had no jurisdiction as Judge of that Court, but only that the Native Lands Court had no jurisdiction. The correspondence was ordered. LIBRARY COMMITTEE. The Hon. J. C. Richmond moved that a Library Committee be appointed, with power to confer with any similar committee of the Legislative Council. Committee to consist of Sir D. Monro, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Dillon Bell, Mr. O'Rorke, Mr, Main, Mr. Ludlam, the Hon. Mr. Stafford, and the mover. Three members to be a quorum. Mr. Reynolds did not think the library was well managed, and would have liked to see some fresh names placed on the committee. The library should be furnished with the Journals and Proceedings of the Provincial Councils of the colony, and Acts»of the Australian Assemblies. Mr. Carleton should haye himself liked to make the library simply a library of reference, but the majority of the members thought differently, and he had therefore waived his own opinion, He believed the Journals and Proceedings of the Provincial Councils were in the library. Mr. Ball drew attention to the absence of the report of the New Zealand Exhibition from the library. Mr. Main said that many of the series of books in the library were incomplete ; there was not even a complete set of the statutes of New Zealand. The motion after some discusssion waa agreed to. MUNIOIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The Hon. Mr. Hall said that, upon examination, it waa found that the Municipal Corporations Bill contained provisions which would prevent the matter being gone on with in the manner proposed, and he therefore did not wish to ask leave to introduce the bill.) The Hoase then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24. The Speaker took the chair at 5 o'clock. PETITIONS. Mr. Eyes presented a petition from Mr. Verstall, of Marlborough, complaining that he had been dispossessed of 2,000 acres of hia run. Mr. Baigbnt also presented a petition. The petitions were ordered to lie on the table. COMPENSATION. Mr. Carleton asked the hon. member at the bead of the Government, "Whether it be the intention of the Government to acb upon the resolution of this House — that in the opinion of this House those settlers who suffered losses during and in consequence of the war in the North, commonly called fleke's war, are deserving of compensation ?" The Colonial Secretabt replied that, though the House had passed a resolution to this effect before the present Government took office, yet they had failed to vote a sum of money to carry it into effect, and the Government could therefore take no steps in the matter. It was true, moreover, that the settlers who suffered in Hekes war had perhaps as much right to compensation as persons who had received it ; yet it was necessary to consider to what these claims for compensation would lead, and the House ought to decide when such claims would be admitted, and out of what fund they were to be paid. He qhaujd, on an early day, move for a select committee to consider the whole question, and to whom all the claims that had been sent in should be referred. UGHTHOUSB AT MA.NXTKA.tr. Mr. Farmer asked the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral if it is the intention of the Government to place a sum on the estimates for the purpose of erecting a lighthouse on the Soqth Head of Manukau ? The Hon. J. Hall said he could not state that it wa.s%e intern tian of the Government to place a sum on the for the erection of a lighthouse there, 'nor to fix such lights on the head as would enable vessels to enter at night ; but they intend, %o ask for a sum for the erection of such a light ai would warn vessels of the position of the Heads, DBLHC*AT?ON W ?OWBRB. The, Sp bake? read a letter from Mr. Hay, of Dunedin, forwarding a resolution protesting against the late vote of the House respecting the delegation | of the powers under the Goldfields Act, which had ' been passed at a public meeting held in the Princess's Theatre. The Speaker also stated that, after, duly considering the nature of the resolution, he had come to the determination that, although it would be be^er to communicate the resolution to the House, yet it was not his duty to lay it on the table. (Loud cheers.) Mr, 0. Wilson said he should like such a document to be torn up a.ud thrown on the floor of the Houie. (Laughter.) MR. SIMMONS's PETITION. Mr. D. Bell moved that the petition of Rev. F. C< Simmons be referred to a select committee, to consist of Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Haughton, Mr. Jollie, and Mr. Ormond. Report to be brought up on sth August. Three to be a quorum. _ After some discussion, tha motion was agreed to. MESSAGE PBOW LTBGISLATIVJS COUNCIL. The Speaker announced that he had received a message from the Legislative Council to the effect that they had passed the following bills, in which they asked the House to concur : — Accessories Act, Old Metal and Marine Store Dealers Aot, Forgery Act, Larceny Act, Coinage Offences Aot, Malicious Injuries to Property Act, her Majesty's Naval and Military Victualling Stores Act, and the Offences against the Person Act, The several bills were read a first time. KKPBESBNTATION AOT. The Representation Aot was read a first time.