PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9286, 23 August 1893, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

[BY TKLKGRAPII. — OORRE3VONDKST.] Wellington, Tuesday. NATIVE LANDS. A frivatk Bill which has now passed the Lower House, incorporates the owners of the Mangatu No. 1 Block, containing 10,000 acres of land, which had been adjudicated upon by the Native Lands Court at Gisborne. Tho management of the block is to be vested in a committee to bo elected by the owners. Mr. Taipua has asked tho Minister in charge of native affairs, whether tho Government intended to carry out the distinct promise made to tho Houso last year, that they would set apart land for landless natives in Waikato and other places ? Tho promise, said Mr. Taipua, had been mado by Mr. Cadman. Mr. Carroll admitted the promise, and said a clause givintr effect to it had been inserted in the Land Bill of lasb year empowering the to set apart hinds for the purpose of Maori settlements. That showed the intention of the Government, who had no intention to avoid their responsibility. They were doing their best in the direction of providing land for landless natives, both in the North and South, in their comprehensive scheme.

TKE 0 RAKE I BLOCK. The Native Affairs Committee have investigated the petition of To 1 lira, Patane, and others re the Orakei Block. The petitioners allege that they are the true successors of Apihai To Kuwait. The committee find that Apihai Te lvawau died in 18ti9, and left a will appointing I'aore Tuhaere his successor. Paora claimed tho land as being entitled to it. Crown grant was issued in 1873 in favour "of Apihai Te Kawau and twelve others, of whom Paora Tuhaere was ono. The grant was antedated as from 10th February, 1869. In 1882 a private Act was passed, in which it was declared that Paora Tuhaere was tho trustee of the land. On the 2nd May, 1883, Paora Tuhaere was declared in the Nativo Land Court to be tho successor of Apihai Te Kawau. At this Court the son of Apihai Te Uira Te Kawau. was present, and consented to such succession. Tho petitioners are the children of a daughter of Apihai. Paora Tuhaere died on the 12th March, 1892. Tho petitioners did nob in Paora's lifetime object to the succession order made in Paora's favour by any petition or by any proceedings in the Court. They, however, shortly before his death, and when lie was in ill-health, did communicate with tho Native Department. The committee have not, however, had that letter before them. Tho succession order was at that time nine years old. In 1892 the Orakei Succession Further Investigation Act. 1892, was passed allowing one Rere Arema to apply for a rehearing as to certain succession orders, but not the order found fault with by the petitioners. Under the Act, 1892, an application was made to the Chief Judge for a rehearing on 23rd September last by Roro Aruma, and Mr. Seth Smith directed it to be filed awaiting inquiry. No further action has been taken on the application. The committee, under the above circumstances, cannot recommend that a succession order more than ten years old should now be re opened, especially as I'aora Tuhaere is dead, and perhaps much valuable evidence may now not bo available.

THE LONDON CASE. Copies of the petition presented by the natives interested in the Lutidon caso, alleging that Mr. Tole was favourable to Mr. Lundon, have been sent to Dr. Giles, who tried the case, to Mr. Tole, and to Mr. Brown, the native interpreter. Their replies have now been received, and will be considered to-morrow. ' A PLEA FOR JUSTICE. The convict Chomis, who in ISS9 was sentenced to death for murder, the sentence being afterwards commuted to penal servitude for life, has found a warm champion in Mr. C. H. Mills, who to-day broke through his rule not to speak on a motion tor the adjournment of the House for the first time in his life to make an impassioned "appeal for justice," The convict's wife and child were in the galleries and hanging upon every word said, and it was mosttouching to see how every kindly word was followed with eagerness, and how the jeering laugh of some unconvinced member jarred upon their super-sensitiveness. Mr. F'sher and Mr. Hogg joined with Mr. Mills, but Sir Robert Stout said no one reading the evidence could come to the conclusion that the jury in the case was wrong. The dinner bell brought sudden death to the discussion without, deciding either one way or the other. Tho mind perforce recalled the line Wretch is have hinged that jurymen may (.line.

PETITIONS. Tho Petitions Committee see no reason to alter their decision in tho case of Thomas Colli?, of Auckland, who prays for compensation or re-instatement in the police force. The following petitions have been referred to tho Government lor consideration : —The Otamatea County Council, praying for £500 grant to improve the main road from Mangatvai to Rotokino; J. W. Kerr, J. ray, and others, praying for extension of Whangarei-Kamo railway. Amongst the petitions presented to-day were the following :—By Mr. Reeves, from Otamatea against the Austrian influx ; by .Mr. McGowan, from R. R. H. Dungate, military services ; by Mr. Bucklaud, from George Catnwell, ditto ;.by Mr. R. Thompson, from Joseph Bowmar, of Kaiwaka, in reference to relief of or compensation for removal of land boundary line; by Mr. Cadinan, from J. Nootian, J. Gleenan, W. (I. Gormard, Patrick Noonan; by Mr. Houston, from Lorinz Riesterer, land claim; by Mr. Jackson Palmer, from H. M. Kivey, military services; by Mr. Smith, from Primary School Committee (179) from Auckland, asking for more uniform scale of salaries.

PARLI AM EN TAR Y LAXGU AG E. " This is more than I bargained for," paid Mr. Hutchison, sen. He had asked when the Libel Bill was likely to come on, upon which Mr. George Fisher said he should take occasion when tho Bill did come on to expose the " meatiest, vilest, and most cowardly libeller in the city of Wellington," naming a well-known journalist whom he proceeded to bitterly attack. The Premier asked the Speaker if such language was allowable in regard to a respectable citizen and journalist, and the Hon. Mr. Reeves pointed to a case where Sir Maurice O'Rorke checked an Auckland member some years ago for language which paled into insignificance before that they had heard from Mr. Fisher. Mr. Speaker said ho could only express the opinion that the same rules ought to apply in respect to gentlemen outside as inside tho House, but he could nob enforce that opinion. Sir R. Stout said it was un-English, unmanly, and unfair to put an attack on a man in Hansard when he could not reply. He did not think the forms of the House should allow such a thing ; if so, the sooner they prohibited it the better.

WHO SHALL BE LEADER. I A member, than whom none knows better the personal feeling and predilection of his colleagues, has carefully pricked the card with a view to ascertaining whether Sir Robert Stout or Mr. Seddon would have the majority if matters came to an issue. Giving the recognised Opposition to Sir Robert Stout, he finds that in a House of 72, tho member for Inangahua would have a majority of four as matters now stand. It is said other defections from the Ministerialists are imminent. THE FENCING ACT. The Joint Committee on Live Stock met this morning to consider the Fencing Act Amendment Bill. A number of amendments were proposed, but none of them affecting the principle of tho measure. After a good deal of discussion it was decided to print the Bill with amendments, and doal with it on Thursday next.

QUESTIONS AND NOTICES. The following questions and motions have been given notice of:—Mr. Shorn to ask the Minister of Defence why the Auckland Rifle Association has nob received any portion of the £450 which has boon distributed for prizes, among the Rifle Associations of New Zealand ; Dr. Newman to ask the Premier if in accordance with the suggestions made by some Friendly Societies he will appoint a select committee or a royal commission to inquire into the financial condition of these societies, and to report thereon; Mr. Palmer to ask the Minister of Lands will the Government offer a bonus fqjr the best means for the eradiction of the codlin moth; Mr. Hamlin to move that there be laid before this House a copy of the

evidence taken before the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the charges made against Mr. M. Friday, together with their report thereon ; Mr. Hamlin to ask the Minister of Defence: (1) Whether the Government has, in accordance with thereporb of Colonel Fox, commandant of the forces in New Zealand, advised his Excellency the Governor to apply to his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief to engage for a term of three years a duly qualified officer of the Royal Engineers, who has an intimate knowledge of submarine mining requirements and of works of construction, to take up the position of defence engineer for the colony ; (2) whether the Government has advised his Excellency the Governor to apply to his Royal Highness the Commander -in - Chief to allow six sergeant instructors to be employed by the colony as instructors, in accordance with Colonel Fox's report, page 42 ; (3) whether Colonel Fox has been ordered to assume the position or Commandant of the Forces and to take up the official duties, and if so has that officer undertaken the duties of the Commander of the Forces.

JOTTINGS. Tho Premier gave evidence to-day upon the allegation that ho had altered tho Public Works Statement of last year. The allegation, he said, had not the slightest foundation. Mr. Soddon says Colonel Fox is performing his duties to his entire satisfaction. People in one part have not a preemptive right to all the employment in their district. So the Minister for Public Works says. Tho question of erecting a bridge over tho Whakatane river i.« to be considered when the Public Works Estimates come up. It is quite on the cards that owing to the strong opposition which the Stock Bill haa received from both sides of the House tho Bill will be dropped for the session. _ It is reported here that an organised effort will be made by the brewing interest of tho colony to defeat the Premier at tho General election, owing to the Government Licensing Bill which has been introduced by Mr. Seddon. There is considerable specnlation amongst the Ministerial party as to whether the Government will support Mr. Earnshaw's candidature at the general election, and the opinion appears to be that this is a very improbable in view of the present relations between the' Ministry and the member for the Peninsula. « Sir R. Stout offered as a compromise that boroughs and counties should be licensing districts for the purposes of the Liquor Bills. Mr. Seddon would not agree.