('scnera( §,ssem.b.(n of Tt'ehj icahmb

New Zealand Herald, Issue 4, 21 November 1863, Page 4

('scnera( §,ssem.b.(n of Tt'ehj icahmb

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Friday, Nov. 20th. Tin: business on yesterday's notice paper was very meagre, and w;ks disposed of in less tlum lialf-an-liour. Papers containing all cases of murder and outrage committed by Natives against Europeans from Ist January" last, were laid on the table. The lion. Mr. Sewell aslced (lie lion. t;lie At-torney-General whether it was intended by the Government to propose in the present session any alteration in the Militia Act or in the Colonial .Defence Force Act, 1802? lie said there appeared to be some uncertainty as to the precise position of the volunteers now being introduced into the province, as to whether or not they would be placed under the government of the ordinary militia laws of the country or v different system of military regulations. Under the Militia Acts persons are divided into classes, ' and they are bound to do military duty only in/ their own districts ; it appeared to him extremely* doubtful whether the Militia Acts would be found to apply to the class of persons now being] brought hero. ' I The hon. Mr. "Whitaker said the matter had{ been carefully considered before the volunteers were invited, and no dillieulty was seen to exist. It was true-, that by the Militia Act (hey could not be taken beyond thirty miles, but in cases were (hey volunteer for service generally they are liable to be taken more than the thirty miles., The Conditions signed by the volunteers require/, them to go beyond the "militia districts delinedf in the Act. The Government had no intention! at present to alter the present militia laws. ! The hon. Mr. Sewell, in putting his second!, question, said that he had lately seen in an Auckland newspaper an intimation'that Government were about to form a special settlement ia the Thames district, he wished, therefore, to ask whether, in the evejit of the Settlements bill becoming law, it was intended to locate a settlement in the district of the Thames or neighbourhood, and if so, whether upon land belonging to friendly or neutral tribes The Thames natives were in a very doubtful state as regarded their disposition towards the Government; they were not in open rebellion as tribes, though portions hail joined (he "Waikatos. The ! Thames natives generally were, not considered j to be in open insurrection, and it appeared singular to him that the Government were about to act on this neutral territory. The hon. Mr. "Whitnker replied that the newspapers genendly knew more about the intentions of Government than the Government itself knew. The subject had never been thought of. Such a movement would be a very important one, and would be a subject of great, consideration for the Gorvenor, the General, and the Ministry. All he could sa3* was that it might or might "not become a necessity to do so, but to the present time the subject had never been spoken of by | the Government. The Nelson College Trusts Bill was read a first time. Mr. A\ hitaker obtained leave bring in two bills, one to vest in the Superintendent of Auckland the present Government house, and the other to permit a portion of the harbour of "Wellington to be used as a site for the erection of a patent slip.