General Assembly of New Zealand.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 13, 11 December 1863, Page 3

General Assembly of New Zealand.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, 10th Decembeu. Tiie Speaker took the chair at three o'clock, ten members being -present. The hon. Mr. Whitaker laid on the table the General's telegraphic message received on Monday morning, a native sketch •oi' the native fortifications at Raugirdri, and nativo letters from Tamihana and Whurepu, tho translations of which were laid-on the table last Monday. A message was received from the IToiwe -of Representatives enclosing the following bills as having passed the House : —The Nelson Waste Lands Bill, and the Marlborough Waste Land Amendment BUI. The Nelson W:iste Lands Bill was read a first time and tho second reading ordered for to-morrow.

The Marlborough Waste Lands Amendment Act also was read a first time and the second reading made ,'in order of the day for to-morrow.

The following motion was airreod to, on the motion of the lion. Mr. Sewcll—" That in the opinion of this Council ji cLmse similar in effect to the 182 nd ecction of the ■''Joint Stock Companies Act, ISG2," (Imperial) should be. applied to all Banks within the Colon}- of limited liability; find that it is the duty of the Government to introduce, at the earliest pOßaible period, a measure to that oiled, as well as for the purpose of enabling the affairs of such Banks to "be wound up in cases of insolvency.''

Tlio Naturalization Bill passed the sceond reading without amendment; third reading to-morrow. / The hon. Mr. Whitaker moved tho second reading of a Bill to Alter the Civil List. He stated there were two alterations found to be necessary in tho present Civil List; one was that another Puisne Judge at Otago was required, the one Judge at Dunedin being quite unable to do all the work, tho goldfields having created a groat deu.l of extra business in the shape of appeals. It was therefore proposed to appoint another Puisne Jndgeat £1,500 a year. The other alteration was in the establishment of the General Government, a second Under-Secretary being proposed.

The bill passed its second reading without alteratioii, and third reading ordered for to-morrow./' A message (Xo. 11) was received from his Excellency enclosing the Marine Boards Bill, with amendments for the consideration of the Council. On motion of the hon. Mr. White.ker tho amendments were endured to ho taken into consideration tomorrow.

Tho Appropriation Bill was read a second time and considered m committee ; third reading ordered for next Bitting day.

Tho hon. Dr. Menzies moved the second reading of the Southland Waste Lands Bil-1, and said it contained some slight alterations in the Waste Lands Acts at present in operation in the province.

•Hon. Jlr. Sewoll thought the Bill should ho refoiTcd to a select committee as other Waste Lands Bills had been. It was impossible for the Council to understand the effect of these alterations by discussing the bill clause by clause.

The hon. Mr. Whitaker suppbrted the second reading, and said the bill was necessary to Southland, in order to protect it from evil consequences likely to arise from an alteration in the Otago Waste Lands Bill.

Second reading carried. The bill was then considered in committee and reported with amendments; tliird reading ordered for to-morrow.

The second reading of the Laud Claims Final Settlement Bill was allowed to lapse, no hon. member m tho Council being willing to take charge of it.

The lion. Mr. Sewell moved the second reading if the Waitara Enquiry Commission Bill.

Tho hon. Mr. Swaiuson thought the bill not calculated to carry out its object; but seeing what an expense they had been to m money and men to obtain possession of the land, and the great difference of opinion that existed with reference to the matter, ho could not say there should be no enquiry into the subject. He thought that if it passed in its present shape it would do more hnrm than good, but for the sake of affirming the principlo that there should be enquiry, he felt disposed to support the second read-

The boil. Mr. Whitaker would vote against the bill, first, because they had passed a resolution not to discuss the question of Waitara; and because it was too late a period of the session to go fully into the question. The question was put. The Council divided. Ayca 3; noes 3. The Speaker gave his vote with the ayes, not wishing to stifle enquiry, but thought the measure Bhould 11-ivo been initiated early. The bill read a 6econd tinwj and Council went into committee.

The hon. Dr. Pollen moved that tho committee Bhould report progress and ask leave to sit to-morrow. He made this motion in order that in the meantime the bill might be made more specific in its details. The hon. Dr. Pollen moved the second reading of the Auckland Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill. Bill read a second tirno and committed.

The hon. Dr. Pollen moved that tho committee report progress and ask leave to sit to-morrow. Ho was sorry for the delay, but the bills had not been received from the printer?, from which cause a great deal of inconvenience had been experienced during the session.

The following motions wo given for to-morrow :• —

Tin; lion. Dr. Jtenzk'a to move—That this Council, after a careful consideration of the Dispatch of liis Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 26th October, 18131!, and tho memorandum enclosed therewith, which hi.s Excellency Ims transmittal for the information of the Council, having reference' to the question of tho Waitara purcluuse, is of opinion that it is not necessary to reconsider the resolutions passed in the Council on 4th December inst.

- Tho lion. Mr. Swainson to move as an amendment to tho above, That as the information relating to the Waitara, cont-uiied in the Governor's reply to the Duke of Newcastle, might havo inriuenced their decision, tho Council desire to record their regret that hLi lixodlcncy'B dwpatch of the 25th October was not laid befo'ro them before the Council was called upon to take into their consideration tho resolution proposod for their adoption on the 4th instant. That a copy of the above rewolution bo forwarded to his Exccllency for transmission to her Majesty's Secretary of Stat*;.

The hon. Mr. Whitaker to move, That in the opinion of this Council the Suppression of Rebellion Act should not bo held to apply to offences committed, prior to the Ist January, 18G3, the date being fixed by the "New ZeuLind Settlement Act, 1863." Also, That _it appears to this Council tluit the Waitara qucstiou ia no longer a practical one, from the discussion of which in this Council any advantage can arise, as the course which has been by the Government amounts to a condonation, and it would not bo just that tho conduct of the natives on the \Vaitura question should influence the luture policy to be adopted towards them. Also to move, That the standing orders be suspended so as to enable tlie Council to sit on Saturday. The hon. Mi*. Sewell to move, That in tho opinion of this Council it is expedient that, Lelorc the termination of the session, the Oovevnln»:nt should intimate the course intended to be pursuod with refcrenco to the prisoners taken at Kangiriri. Also, for a return o| ;my minute or order in Council under thu 23rd section of (ho " Appropriation Act, ISOC." The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF HEVIULSVSTATIVES. Thursday, Dkceiibkk 10th. Tuk lion. Mr. lux pre.-entod a petition from tho \\ akatipu miners, praying for ccitain ulteidtionß in the gold mining regtdations. Mr. Domett, rose to inako an explanation with regaid to the. "Waitaia. despntcli, asserting that the Governor had shown him the firt»t part oi the despatch sent to tho Duke of Newcastle tho day before ho (Mr. Domett) went out of office. lie had not seen the latter part of tho despatch, nor the memorandum contained in it. Tho statement made, therefore 1 , by Mr. Lcll, that min.interK hud not seen the despatch', was untrue. The hon. Mr. Fox laid letters from native chiefti upon the table. Mr. Fox took the occasion of rnn. travertin# a mistake made in the Southern Crosx, wliich paper stated, in its i?;a*ae of vestcrdov, that To Wheoro had been sent by the Government aa on ambassador to the rebels at to arrange terms. This Mr. Fox said was an entirely incorrect; statement, as it would be seen by one of the lettcni now laid on the table, that To Wheoio had timplv been made the carrier of a letter from himecll to Penc Pukewhau, stating that no terms would be made so long as the rebels continued with arms in their hands.

Mr. Stafford gave notice that he would move, thin iliiy, that the lkntse having roccived Ilis Exeelicney'a message, No. ir>, and other doeununts, 011 the "Waitara resolution, dors not wish to e.xpt»_ i sa .'my opinio:! on the uccJinicy or in;ie< ;iuicy t>l his Exeellccaey'B statements, but does express its dissent troin the statements made by the natives of the cause of quarrel, and the injusTitv of nnplnving military l'orce.

The Marlborough Land Regulation Amendment Bill was nad a third time, and pasred. 1 lie. Wai'dens' Courts Appeal Bill, wliich stood for pecond reading-, was, on the motion of Mr. Gillies, ordered to be discharged. The Nelson Wa; te Lands Regulation Amendment Bill was read a third timo and passed. The House then adjourned till twelve o'clock this day.