PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9146, 30 August 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] .! LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL' Wednesday. The Council met at eleven a.m. property tax bill. The Property Tax Bill passed all its stages. - APPROPRIATION bills. The Appropriation Bill and Public Works Appropriation Bill were read a first and second time, and ordered to be committed this afternoon. NATIVE BILLS. On the motion of the Attorney-General, Messrs. Waterhouse, Pharazyn, Miller, and Sir F. Whitaker were appointed a committee to consider the reasons assigned by the House of Representatives for disagreeing with the amendments made by the Council in the Native Land Court Bill, and the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act Amendment Bill, the committee to report this afternoon. old soldiers' claims. The Naval and Military Settlers and Volunteers Land Bill, and Roads Boards Act Amendment Bill, were read a second time. The Council adjourned at ten minutes to twelve till half-past two p.m. THE COUNCIL AND THE HOUSE. On resuming, the Council decided not to insist on their amendments in the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1881, Amendment Bill. A message was received from the House of Representatives, stating that they had agreed with the amendments made by the Council in the Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill, with the exception of the retention of section 13. On the motion of the Attorney-General it was agreed not to accede to the proviso in clause 13, as made by the House of Representatives, and a message to that effect was ordered to be sent to the other Chamber. bills PASSED. The following Bills passed :—Road Boards Act Amendment Bill, Public Works Appropriation Bill, and Appropriation Bill, Naval and Military Land Claim Bill. FREE CONFERENCE. A message was received from the House of Representatives, intimating that a free conference was desired by the House of Representatives, re the amendments of the Council to the Native Land Court Bill. Sir F. Whitaker, Messrs. Pharazyn, Miller, and Waterhouse were appointed to represent the Council. At 4 p.m. the Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30. GISBORNE HARBOUR BILL. The Local Bills Committee reported that they had examined the Gisborne Harbour Act Amendment Bill, and recommended that it be not proceeded with further this session. ROAD BOARD BILL. The Road Board Act Amendment Bill was agreed to as amended. THE FREE CONFERENCE. The report of the Conference on the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Bill, and Native Land Court Bill was agreed to. SECOND READING. Mr. Stevens moved the second reading of the Gisborne Harbour Act Amendment Bill, and hoped the Council would not accept the report of the committee. Mr. Buckley moved, " That the Bill be read a second time this day six months." The motion for second reading was carried on the voices. FIRST READING. The Mokau Mohakitino Bill was read a first time, and the second reading fixed for to-morrow morning. IN COMMITTEE. The Gisborne Harbour Board Act Amendment Bill passed through committee, and was reported with amendment#, and the third reading fixed for to-morrow. The Council rose at half-past nine till eleven a.m. to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. W ESDA T. | The House met at eleven a.m. | THE MOKAU BILL. Mr. Taipua moved that the Mokau Maka- j tano Bill be referred to the Native Affairs , Committee. This was lost after a long discussion and the Bill was read a second time and committed forthwith. Clause 4, Native Land Court to allocate the interests of the natives. Mr. Talpua moved that this clause be struck out, and spoke at great length against the Bill. Mr. Hislop eventually agreed that the clause be struck out. Mr. Taipua again objected to the Bill. The House rose at one p.m. On resuming at half-past two, Mr. Thompson (Marsden) moved to strike out a portion of clause 8, providing that a monopoly of the lease be given to Jones for two years. Lost by 22 to 21, and the clause carried by 22 to 20. NATIVE BILLS. Progress was reported to receive messages from the Council. It was decided on the Premier's motion that all amendments made by the Council in the Native Land Court Bill be agreed to, with the exception of one providing that no rehearing shall be given to Porangahau, Mangamanui, and Isgaroa blocks. THE CLAIMS OF MR. LONDON AND OTHERS. Mr. G. F. Richardson moved that if it appeared on further enquiry by the Government that the claims on the petition of John Lundon, Carmichael Bros., Malcolmson, and Isbester, Simson, and others, and | Knorpp, and Andrew Jack, were just and I reasonable claims, the Government should pay the same. Agreed to. NATIVE LAND COURT BILL. The conference on the Native Land Court Amendment Bill reported that it had been agreed that three blocks in dispute should not be alienated till after next session. The report was agreed to. HOMELESS NATIVES. Replying to Mr. Carroll, Mr. MiTCHELaoN said the Government would consider during the recess the question of restoring those natives to their land who had been rendered homeless by the Tarawera disaster. THE MOfcAO BILL. This Bill was further considered in Committee. Mr. Taipua moved that the chairman leave the chair. Mr. HiSlop suggested that the motion be withdrawn, and he should move that the Bill be re-committed, with a view to the re-consideration of clause 8. Agreed to, and the Bill was re-com-mitted. . Mr. Hislop then said that it appeared to the Government that the only chance of getting the Bill through was to accept the amendment proposed by Mr. Thompson i (Marsden) to clause 8. He therefore moved to that effect, and the clause as amended was agreed to. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at twenty minutes past five. The House resumed at half-past seven. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Mr. Barron asked the Government if before sanctioning the construction of a tunnel at Purakanui, or agreeing to any deviation of the railway line between Dunedin and Waitaki they will give full consideration to the route by the Kaikorai Valley. Mr. Mitohelson replied that he regretted the Government had not funds at their disposal to carry out the line suggested if it proved practicable. Before proceeding with the proposed tunnel at Purakanui he would have inquiries instituted as to the feasibility of the several routes suggested, and unless that projected by the Cliffs was considered the most useful it would not be gone on with. miscellaneous. The House then adjourned till eight for the purpose of receiving messages from the Legislative Council. At a quarter-past eight messages were received to the effect that the Council had agreed to the amendments of the House of Representatives on the Road Board Act Amendment Bill. The House then adjourned till a quarterpast nine. Sir H. Atkinson at half-past nine moved that the House adjourn till next day pt twelve o'clock. Agreed to, and the House rose. -