HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday Night. MR. TAIAROA'S MAORI REPRESENTATION BILL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5287, 22 September 1876, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday Night. MR. TAIAROA'S MAORI REPRESENTATION BILL.

A very long ducassion took place upon the Maori Representation Act Amendment Bill. A number of members warmly supported giving Maoris seven members instead of four, *s at present. Others strongly objected to the doable power of rating now enjoyed by the Maoris. The Government wanted the bill withdrawn until they could consider the whole matter of representation, Maori and European, during the recess At length all clauses of the \ct were struck out except the eighth, which was amended so as to secure the seats of the present Maori members during this Parliament (supposing no intermediate legislation to take place), as according to the present Act their terms end in October, 1877.

GOLD DUTIES. The only other business of interest was Mr. Pyke'a Gold Duties Act, 1872, Amendment Bill, the object of which was to reduce *J|fgold duty from 2s. to Is. After a great dell of debate a compromise was come to, and the Amount made Is. 6d. , after which the bill vr*a read a third time, and passed. The House adjourned at 1 a.m.

Thursday. PETITION OP JOHN FAHEY. Mr. O'Rorke moved, "That the House will resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to consider of an address to his Excellency, requesting him to recommend to the House the appropriation of £1 10 to com ply with the recommendations contained in the report of the Public Petitions Committee of last session, in the matter of the petition of John Pahey." The motion was warmly supported by Mr. Swanson and Mr. Hamlim, and, although •pposed by the (Jovemraent, it was carried on the voices. Mr. O'Rorke moved "That the Houae will on Wednesday next resolve itself into a Committee of the whole to consider of an address to his Excellency requesting him to recommend to the Houae an appropriation of £130, to meet the report of the Public Petitions Committee in the case of Mr. Paruall." This was agreed to without discussion.

TRIENNIEL PARLIAMENTS. In the House Sir George Grey notice for the introduction of what mentis trying for triennial Parliaments.

POLYNESIAN SCHEME. The orii?iual draft of the Polynesian Scheme is to b« laid upon the table.

FREE PASSES. Mr. Bastings moved, "That free pas9ea ob the railway be issued to members of both Houses of Parliament." This led to considerable discussion. Tho.se in favour of the motion quoted the other colonies, and the province of Utago as iutaucea where the practice was deemed to be beneficial, and said that as erery member of the House oughL t» be aa well acquainted with the natural features of the country aa they could conveniently be, these free passes would enable him to proieoute his inqmrics in that direction. It was also alleged that ot thoae Who had free passes in Otago, they did not abuse the lue of th.m ; on the contrary, did •ot arail thenMlvM of them to anything Mke tht txtatt tlut might reasonably bo

xpectcd, in fact scaicelv used them at all 't was .iUo coiit Miiird th.it instead of ir beins; anything out of tho public puisc, it w*s more likely to cau^o the leecipts to in crease Mr. StaI'Kord proposed an amendment, that members shouM also have fiee pn«sa». s by steamer and coach, anil that then hotel board and lodging should be f i ee. This raised ,i stoim of indignation from Mr. Rkks and Mr. Burns. The PRnuinti opposed the motion Ife thought the privilege was likely to be turne I into a. means of enabling membeis w ho lncd in the countiy to come in to their business duly by tram cheaply. The tickets wcio likely to be used chiefly on tho loo il liue'It was contended on'th > othei hand tint besides the good salarv paid to Ministiii-,, they had tra\elling allowances ,h well as free passes, which they seemed to begi inline membeis, who weie also m the sei vice of the I countiy. The discussion at length was settled by a I division, the motion bcinrj earned by 3iS against '24

RABBIT NUISANCE. The Babbit Nuisance Committee's recommendation was agreed to. It was to establish some inexpensive machiuciy to keep them in check.

GRA.NT TO COL ST. JOHN'S WIDOW. Aftei considerable discussion, a gratuity of two years' salary w is giaufccd to the widow aud orphans of the Lite Colonel St John, notwithstanding that the Government opposed it.

KOADS AND WORKS NORTH OF AUCKL\ND. The interrupted debite oa the question " That the House considers that the provision proposed to he made for roads and works in districts north of Auckland is entirely inadequate to meet the requirements and necessities of those districts, and very much smaller than the slme to which those districts are fairly cntiM"d, rejjird b"ing had to thoa'ea population and contributions to the levfiuie, ' w<is u'snmed. The House immediately went to a division, the motion being earned by 23 to 10, the GoYernment again opposing. The House lose at 5.30 p.m. S p m. The Speaker has just correct mI an error in the division list relating to roads and works north of Auckland. The numbers should have been 23 against 21.