PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9139, 22 August 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.J

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday. 1

The Council met at half-past two p.m.

government life insurance. Mr. Stevens gave notice that to-morrow he would ask for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Government Life Insurance Act.

WELLINGTON' POST OFFICE.

In answer to Mr. Reynolds,' Sir F. Whitaker said the cost of reinstating the Wellington Post Office was £14,500.

HEARD AX THE BAR. The three Maori chiefs, Paora Tuhaere, Wiremu Pomare, and Akuhata HoriTupaea, addressed the Council from the Bar, protesting against the Maori Bills now before Parliament becoming law, and expressing a hope that, before the Council agreed to the measures passing, Parliament should wait for the result of the big meeting shortly to be held at Waitangi, at which all the provision? of the Bills would be discussed by the Maoris. THE NATIVE BILLS. The Attorney - General moved the second reading of the Native Land Bill and the Native Land Court Act, 1886, Amendment Bill. Mr. Watkrhouse spoke against the principle of the Bills generally, intimating that he would not oppose the second reading, but would endeavour to make importaut amendments when in committee. The Council adjourned at live p.m. till evening. The Council resumed at half-past seven p.m. Sir George Whitmore, resuming the debate, expressed a hope that the Bills would pass the second reading, and that in committee the Council would endeavour to make them as just and equitable as possible. - J Mr. Richmond objected to such important measures being hurried through, and hoped amendments would be made in committee to prevent certain clauses from becoming law for twelve months. Mr. Pharazyn supported the second reading, but hoped the clauses would be corefully considered in committee. Messrs. Taiaroa, Swanson, and Wahawaha could see no reason for any hurry in passing the Bills, and would like to see them postponed till after the native meeting at Waitangi. The second reading was then agreed to on the voices, and the Bills were referred to the Native Affairs Committee. AUCKLAND HOSPITAL RESERVE. The Auckland Hospital Reserve Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. MINING ACT.

It was agreed that the amendments of the Council in the Mining Act Amendment Bill should be adhered to.

The Council rose at a quarter past ten m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m.

ANSWERS TO questions.

Replying to questions, it was stated that the whole question of the property tax would be carefully considered during the recess; that a letter had been received from Mr. Vaile, to the effect that several influential gentlemen in Auckland had offered a substantial guarantee for the trial of Vaile's system on the Auckland lines, but nothing less than a cash deposit of £45,000 would satisfy the Government, and it was not proposed to accept the offer ; that £1000 had been placed on the estimates for the nominated immigration of wives and children of residents of the colony; that the Government could not hold out any hopes of formulating a scheme to provide for forest tree planting by the State ; that sufficient land would be reserved for mining purposes under the Midland Railway contract; that it was believed no further contribution would be given towards the Government of New Guinea ; that the Government had no intention of bringing in a Bill to give effect to Mr. Vaile's proposal to lease the Auckland railways for rive years ; that a sum would be put on the estimates for another shipment of salmon ova; that Colonel Haultain had resigned as one of the Representative Commissioners during the recess, and the Government proposed to ask the House to consent to his re-appointment. 1

GISBORNE HARBOUR BOARD BILL.

Sir H. Atkinson moved that the Gisborne Harbour Board Bill be- committed to a Committee of the whole House on Wednes-

day. Agreed to, and the Bill set down for Thursday next. IN COMMITTEE. The Rating Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee, and the remaining clauses were passed. The Fencing Act Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m., in committee on the Fencing Act Amendment Bill. A lengthy discussion took place on Mr. Marchant's new clause, providing that natives whose lands had been individualised should be liable to contribute for maintenance of boundary fences. Messrs. Carroll and Pratt opposed, and other members, while agreeing with the clause, thought it would imperil th© "Rill. Mr. Marchant eventually consented to withdraw it. A new clause, proposed, by Mr. Seddon, legalising three barbed wire fences for great cattle in any mining district, was lost. Considerable debate took place on the schedule defining a legal fence, which was eventually passed amended to read : One or two barbed wires, and the remainder plain, instead of four barbed wires only. The Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill was considered in committee. The Colonial Secretary moved a new clause, enabling Postmasters to take any affirmation or declaration. Agreed to. The Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, and passed with amendments, a proposal to report progress, on account of the unworkable nature of some of the clauses being withdrawn. BILLS PASSED. The Rating Act Amendment and Land Transfer Act Amendment Bills were read a third time and passed. DISTRICT RAILWAYS. Mr.Tanner moved the re-committal of the District Railways Purchasing Act Amendment Bill for the purpose of amending it to give relief to settlers in the Duntroon and Hakateramea districts. Mr. Taylor protested against any excep tion being made. Mr. Duncan supported the re-committal. Mr. Marchant thought all should be treated alike. There were settlers in his district who had bought land without knowing it was subject to special rates. Mr. Thompson (Marsden) said the whole object of the Bill was to enable wealthy landowners and large companies to evade their just liabilities. The motion for re-committal was then agreed to by 26 to 18. Mr. Whytk then moved that the schedule be re-committed, for the purpose of striking out the Rotorua Railway, which bad suffered from the Tarawera eruption. Mr. Allen protested strongly against such a proceeding. The matter had already been decided once. Sir J. Hall said they ought not to go into the question at such a late hour in the House, and moved the adjournment of the House. Mr. Hislop protested against the action of those members who were now blocking the Bill, after an honourable understanding had been arrived at. He quoted some figures to show that the relief aimed at would only amount to a few hundred pounds. After some further discussion, Sir J. Hall withdrew his motion, and the debate was adjourned on the voices. The House rose at half-past one a.m.