Friday, July 8..

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 129, 9 July 1881, Page 2

Friday, July 8..

The House met at 2.30. The Native Petitions Committee reported on the petition of Kita Harimarae and others, of Hokianga. The petition set forth that if the petitioners' claim to certain lands were not considered, they would take up arms, and probably the other natives complained of would be killed. The report stated that the petition was couched in language which prevented its being considered at all ; and the attention of members was called to the impropriety of presenting petitions so worded. After a lengthened discussion, the petition was withdrawn, on the motion of Mr. Eolleston, by whom it had been presented.

QUESTIONS.

Replying to a question put, it was stated thai; a Native Lands Court would be provide^, for dealing with the Middle Island succession claims. This course being preferred to the appointment of a commission to deal with the matter. — The Eedistribution of Seats Bill was not yet completed. The delay was occasioned by the delay in the completion of the late census returns, the same being requisite for enabling the boundaries of electorates to be fixed. — The Entail Bill was printed, and would be introduced into the Legislative Council forthwith. — The supply ot school buildings was now pretty equal throughout the colony, and Government did not think there would be any necessity for a special scheme for the distribution of the vote. However, as there still might be some inequality, the Government would not biud itself to a hard and fast rule in the matter of distribution. The prob ibilities were that the distribution would be made principally on a population basis.

An Imprest Supply Bill for £250,000 was introduced by message from the Governor, and passed through all its stages. The Licensing Bill was further considered in Committee. In the place of clause 12, a new clause waß moved, providing machinery for the election of the Licensing Committee. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.