HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3746, 18 July 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. personal explanations. Mr Bryce, as a personal explanation, his intention to take civil proceedings i'or libel against Mr Rusdcn for the statements in his history. By such proceeding witnesses could bo examined by a commission in the colony, Avhile, if ho instituted a criminal prosecution, they would have to be taken to England at enormous expense and Nlelay. He asked Mr AVhyte, therefore, to withdraw the motion on tho subject of which ho had given notice. Mr Duncan, also as a matter of personal explanation, wished to say he had found that the facta did not bear out certain ntatemonts ho had made in the recent debate, imputing undue influence to the Hon. Mr Oliver about a raihvay siding near his property. NATIVE LAND COMPANY'S BILL. On the second reading of the NeAV Zealand Native Lund Company Bill coming on, -> Mr DeLautour said that, as the Government objected to private legislation on the subjects dealt with, deeming them matters of public interest, he would abandon all the general and public provisions of the bill, and ask only that the first four clauses of it, wliich dealt witli matters personal to the company, be passed. He would postpone the second reading for a Aveek to give the Government time to consider the bill in this new shape- and if they still objected to it he Avould abandon it altogether, as the objects could be obtained by registration. jlajor Atkinson promised to consider, and the second reading was postponed. THE ANNEXATION QUESTION. The Committee on Annexation reported in favor of the extension of British rule to all the Pacific Islands not already under the protection of foreign powers, the Australasian Colonies to contribute to the cost in proport-WU to tueu* European population.

ouestions. Replying to questions, Ministers said the LaAV Officers were considering the liability of the Government for the goods lost at the Dunedin goods shed firo; the Government did not intend to Aviden the Kuraara sledge channel, or introduce a Charitable Institution Endowment Bill. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence on private affairs was granted to Mr J. M'Kcnzie and Mr J. M 'Donald for one week. prisons bill. The Council's amendments in the Prisons Bill were disagreed to, and a committee Avas appointed to prepare reasons. PASSAGE OF BILL!?. The St. John's College Removal Bill (Dargaville) was read a second time. The AVellington Harbor Board Land and Reclamation Bill (C. Johnston) avus introduced and read a first time The follovring local bills Avere read a second time ;— AVcstland Education District Subdivision Bill, and Masterton and Greytown Lands Management Bill. The folloAving local bills Avere considered in committee, read a third time, and passed: —Timaru Racecourse Reserves Bill, St. Peter's Church Caversham Bill, Dunedin Southern Market Reserves Bili. The Crown Grants Bill, the Sheriffs Bill, the Auctioneers Bill, the Adulteration Prevention Act Amendment Bill, and the Bills of Exchange Bill were read a second timo. LAND ACT AMENDMENT HILL. Mr Rolleston moved tho second reading of the Land Act Amendment Bill, the object of AA'hich was to stillfurtherliberali.se the land laws of the colony, encourage settlement, discourage speculation, and extend to tho AA'hole colony the system of perpetual leasing in the same proportion as iioav applied to goldfields, Avhere it had proved a success. He reviewed the course of land legislation and administration for several years back, and considered the results achieved satisfactory. Mr Bathgate, Mr J. W. Thomson, Mr Pctrie, Mr Holmes, and Mr Pearson gladly welcomed the bill as a liberal measure, but suggsted certain alterations and extensions. Mr Montgomery did not liko the leasing system, but would accept the decision of the House last session on the subject. Mr Joyce urged selling the land right out, and iinposinga land tax. Mr Fulton Avished to stop all sales of pastoral land. The bill was read a second time. THE BANKRUPTCY HILL.

The House Avent into committee on the Bankruptcy Bill, Avhich Avas gone through and reported as amended, its recommittal being ordered for Friday to consider certain neAV clauses and further amendments.

Tho House rose at 12.25