PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 7 December 1887, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

From our Special Correspondent. [IIY TELEGRAPH.]

Wellington, Dec G. NATIVE LAND DILLS.

Threo native policy Bills of the Government havo be n circulated, and were introduced in tho Legislative Council yesterday by tho Hon. Sir Frank Whitaker. Tho Bills respectively arc the Maori Real Estate Management Bill, Native Land Court Act, 1886, Amendment Bill, and Nutivo Lands Administration Act Repeal Bill. Tho last two measures arc the most important, tho Native Lands Court, 188 G, Amendment Bill sipmly legislates to remedy defects in tho present Nativo Land Court procedure. Tho Native Land Administration Act Repeal Bill is intended to reverse Mr Bullanco’s policy in the Native Land administration. Tho crucial clauses as as follows :—“ Any person who before tho first day of July, 18S6, obtained tho signature of a Native owner of land or of a share therein to a deed or ininstalment purporting to be conveyance, transfer or lease of such laud or share therein may at any time prior to Ist July next obtain in cqso of conveyance or transfer signatures of owners to conveyance or transfer, and in case of lease the signatures of owners to leases of such land for a term not exceeding that named in such first mentioned lease, provided he duly notified the fact of such purchase or leaso under section 2G of the said Act (1886) or shall deliver such notification to the Chief Judgo before the first day of March next.

Mr Fitchett will ask the Government if thoy have promised to use the Walton Park coal on any southern lines and .are they aware that when it was used before rngino drives on going through tunnels were nearly rendered insensible by the sulphurous fumes. In tho House this afternoon several {iTiHMidiuuiit.s or impoiU ’it charade were given, amongst other* Mr TV. P. Reeves i.s anxious to have u separate Railway Board for each L'and instead of euo as proposed iu the Bill. Mr I’. Thompson tins given notice of a long clause i he Meet of which is to empower the Commissioner* t- 1 give tlie Yuilo system a trial on tbe Auckland To Awnmutu section.

AKOiiir.R liAM.ir ou; K. It is rumourncd tliat the Hon. Mr Chambt rlain, whose first attempt at finding a rabbit destroyer was not a success, is about to patent another invention for the extermination of rabbits. It is in the form of a huge trap, tut the specific character of this trap has not ret been disclosed. Should the character of this new invention le of so mirth provoking it nature as was the h m. gontle'ti.un's firs? attempts, ■•. mi. writers and •ariojiturisj* v. ill have plenty of «eope for displaying their various talents. . ,

<:u>TI.V KNUUIRY. The Westport ilarl- r Committee still continue their •mg and the end is not v< tin sigh 1 . Liie < ■ viG■ *sr *° taken is of a most voL. ■ us uatu: Mr O t.onn a alone filling pages of closely printed foolscap. There are still a large number of witnesses to be examined and when all evidence is taken down it will probably have to be brought in the House in a wheelbarrow, as shorthand writers have been engaged, tho course of the enquiry will be very qo-t. brief mention.

Mr Reeves wishes the Government to introduce a Bill to license tobacconist* a* prayed for in tho petitions recently presented.

In Committee on the Representation Bill Mr Seddon will move a clause restraining operation of the Act till after the census has been taken. To-morrow the Premier will introduce the Naval find Mi itary Settlers Land Bill and Grown and Native Lands Act Repeal Bill. , The Premier.will to-morrow move tor the suspension of Standing Grder which prevents new business being taken ufter 12.G0 p.m. Sir George Grey will move in Committee on the Representation Bill a clause limiting the number of members to 50 instead of 70 as proposed. Leave of absence lias been granted to Mr ,T. C. Brown for the remainder of the session. Mr Pearson, one of the Government whips, who has been absent for a few days, has resumed his duties. It ,vas stated by Mr Turnbull to-day that absentees held one twentieth of the taxable property in tho Colony and only pay .£07.000 to taxes. Mr O’Connor to-day informed members that ho was not possoseed of a voice of a centaur or a speaking trumpet. Mr Seddon is moving to the effect, that tho Representation Bill shall not have force until tho altered boundaries have been laid on the table. Mr Levcstain wi-hes the Minister of Mines to state whether he will give instructions to havo assays inado free of charge at the Government labatory. It is expected that eventually the enquiry in regard to the Westport Harbor Bin will have to be taken over by Government.

The Waste Land Committee are now debating the abolition of Land Boards.

ABSENT MEMBERS. An interesting debate took place during this afternoon’s sitting on tho motion of Mr Pyke, that leave of absonco bo granted to Mr J. C. Brown for the rest of the session. No one expected that any opposition would bo raised, but the Premier threw a fire brand into the House by remarking that ho thought in casos where a member did not take bis seat during a session after an election be should forfeit his scat. This brought out Sir Julius Vogel, who contended that a mere representative was not really a member till he had been sworn in, and ho instanced the case of Mr Bradlaugh as one in point. Other members followed mostly in the same strain, and the Speaker, when called on for his ruling, stated that in tho first instance he had thought that there was no necessity for Mr Brown to procure leave of absence, but on looking further into the matter ho thought it was necessary to obtain leave. Eventually, it was agreed tacitly that leave was necessary, and Mr Pyke’s motion was carried. PUSHING THROUGH.

A decided stand was taken by tbe Government to-day which is likely to have the effect of putting the brake on the system of piling up questions on the orclor paper that has been so rife during the present session. When the question came up for discussion the Premier moved that at its rising tho House adjourn till 11 o’clock-to-morrow morning, and stated that if members did not wish to sit in the mornings they might have replies printed on the order paper, and he gave tho House to understand that this course was adopted with the idea of showing up somo of tlic wind bags of tho House, who have been wasting a fearful lot of time of late and several members referred to tho proposal as a mild foim of cloture, but notwithstanding thoir protest the motion was carried and the House will sit tomorrow morning for the first time this session. The Premier did not make any statement to-day as to the course of business, but will do so to-moi row. YEARS AGO

An interesting little story was told today, by Mr O’Connor who had bced taunted by Sir Julius Vogel with having been under the influence of a certain member. He expressed an opinion that Sir Julius Vogel should be the last to accuse him of being influenced by members, being pacsscd to explain how ho arrived at this conclusion lie stated that when the Fox and Vogel Government went out of power Sir Julius Vogel caine to him and asked him what lie wanted, this was pressed upon him but he had remained firm against the temptation of tho Evil One, which he thought showed that he was impervious to such seductions. Sir Julius Vogel replied that it was 1 wirdly to be expected that he could remember the conversation which had taken place 14 years ago, but ho pointed out that if he had made such an improper offer it was strange that ho and Mr O’Connor should have remained such fast friends ever since. The matter then dropped, apparently, but later on Mr Kerr caused some amusement by saying that ho believed the hon. member for Buller was ready to sell bis vote at any time. On being called to i order he said that what he meant to state was that he had heard such a thing said, but he never believed it himself. This caused a roar of laughter, and when the Speaker pointed out that the statement had not been withdrawn, “ Genial Jack ” remarked that he would withdraw anything, and with this statement of the matter it was allowed to drop.

local domes’ loan. A question, the reply to which will he awaited with some anxiety by members of local bodies which have for loans under the Government Loans’ to Local Bodies’ Act, has been given notco of by Mr Smith, viz., when tho amounts becoming payable to local bodies for their second years loans under section 13 of Government Loans to Local Bodies Act will be available for payment.

representation dill. The discussion on this Bill was resumed after the dinner adjournment, and was still proceeding at 11 o’clock. Tt is understood that the Government intend to push the Bill through Committee toiii,riit. There Is strong opposition to ibis, but it is not. believed that any stonewalling will be resorted to.