PARLIAMENTARY.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Thursday, 7th S_i>TEi-Bwi»-*» In the Legislative Council, the Hon. Dr. Pollen made a personal explanation on the same subject as had been referred to by Mr. Stafford in the House of Representatives on the previous evening, namely, certain-alle-gations made some time ago' by Sir George Grey as to a compact having boeii entered into between Mr. Stafford and him (Dr. Pollen) during the Governor's visit to Canterbury. Sir George Grey had then described the compact as one by which Mr. Stafford and his friends were to secure the coutinued tenure of their runs for another 21 years. The New Zealand Herald had based ail article on this, and on other remarks; and to this article, auu the Hansard report of Sir George Grey's remarks, Dr. Pollen referred. Dr. Pollen said he had heard the words uttered at the time, and thought they were more precise in their untruthfulness than even as they were reported. He distinctly stated that'no such interview or compact as had beeu described had existed orjbeen imagined. In the House of Representatives, a motion by Captain Morris for £400 for the repair of a bridge at Opotiki led to some discussion, limited to a few members. The Premier acceded to the proposition, explaining that the sum would be matte a charge on the land fund of the district. Sir George Grey insinuated that there had been improper arrangements in having the motion placed on the paper, and that, concessions of local works had, on similar conditions, been secured by Sir Robert Douglas. Both hon. members indignantly denied that anything remotely in the nature of an understanding with the Government had been made. Sir Robert Douglas spoke of the manner in which he had been bnmeil by the Superintendent of Auckland, and of his having, in the interests of his constituents, made inquiries of the pvoper departments for his purpose, without reference to the Ministry or his vote. Captain Morris also explained that he had placed the motion on the notice paper some days ago, and that only on that day had he spoken to the Ministry on the subject, of which circumstance he* had told Sir George Grey when asked " it he had seen the Government," and he did so in all innocence of anything wrong in his nctiou or statement. After a speech by Mr. Rees, Mr. Moorhouse made a warm attack upon him and upon Sir Geoigo for the worthless waste of time which they had caused since the commencement of the session. He recommended Mr. Rees to subdue his loud-voiced— and, as his own oracle called it, "open-mouthed" — style of debating, and to cease to be a nuisance* in the House — a remark which, on the Speaker considering it out of ordei 1 , he modified into n " political nuisance." By Sir Robert Douglas a select committee was moved for to consider the allegations made against Mr. Farnall by the late Agent-General, but after explanations by the Premier and Mr. Swanson, which were indistinctly heard, but which seemed to point to the non-necessity for a committee, the motion was withdrawn. On the motfon of Captain Morris, acting for Captain Russell, it was remitted to the Waitiri Fuel Committee to inquire as to the prospects of payable quantities of petroleum being found in New Zealand, and as to' the propriety of encouraging "search for the same. Mr. Rees proposed a committee to inquire into cases in which tho Disqualification Act might have been infringed, as he contended it had been, but he afterwards accepted, aud the Government accepted, an amendment by Mr. Stout, referring to tho existing committee questions of disqualification and infringement of the Attorney-General Act. A number of unopposed orders of the day were passed, and the House went into committee on several bills, the discussion of the clauses of the Debtors and Creditors Bill occupying, greater part of the time, till an hour after midnight.