WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5559, 10 December 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON GOSSIP.

+ (FIIOM OVA OWN OOKKESPONDEHT.) [BY TELEGKAPH.] Wellington, Tuesday. • The House sat uutil 3 o'clock, this morning. The Confiscated Land and Maori Prisoners Bill was passed through committee without material alteration The Property Assessment Bill was then considered in committee. The only material alteration made was that agricultural implements actually in use were added to the exemption clause.. All attempts to alter ! the Maori Prisoners Trial and Confiscated Land Enquiry Bill in committee last nighjt failed. The Maori members tried very , hard to get one of the commissioners to bp. a person ,of the native race, but w'KilJe •Ministers profess.ed< to favor jth^e idea they; would not let a provision to. that effect be

:. inserted in the bili. A good deal of talk . toek place about the clause allowing members: of the House to be-appointed on the Icommisskin^and to be jSaicl. ....Mr Pyke objected,. wherelipolV. Major Te !;Whepro suggested that if M| .P>ke liked -^to work for nothing .He. jshduld be appointed. s^Rumott?r has^S tfiat/ Colonel. Trimble, Mr Fulton, and Mr Wakefield are to be the commissioners, and it.,ifl r . estimated that it will take them foiir months to enquire into all the unfulfilled promises about the West Coast" confiscation. The'Governmerit have already indicated a wholesale " slaughter of the innocents," and if aS stated the prorogation is to take place (On Tuesday, a still greater" number of : " innocents Will have to be sacrificed.