IN AND ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2549, 29 June 1895, Page 2

IN AND ABOUT PARLIAMENT.

SUCCESSFUL LAND PURCHASES. In answer to a question by Mr HallJones, the Minister of Lands last evening informed the House that “ the Eosebrook and Otaio Estates purchased under the Land for Settlements Act were opened for application that day, and for the 24 lots 68 applications were received. The deposits have been made for the whole -of these allotments in the two farm settlements and the whole of the land has been allotted. Eosebrook contains 594 acres and was purchased from Mr Pringle at .£lO per acre. Otaio contains 376 acres aivd was purchased from Mr Copland at ill per acre. The estates were offered, in about 40acre sections at a rental of 5 per cent.— that is to say : Eosebrook sections were offered from 9s to Hs per acre and Otaio at from 11s to 14s per acre. Eosebrook is situated near Timani and Otaio a little past St. Andrew’s on the railway line. These two farms were purchased during the past financial year.” This announcement was received with applause. THE CHEJIIS CASE—-AX EXPEEISIENT. The member for Waimea-Picton, Mr C. H. MiEs, is working most energetically to obtain support for his Criminal Code Amendment Bill, providing for a Eoyal Commission of Enquiry into the case of the convict Louis Chemis. Yesterday morning Mr Mills' prevailed upon some 30 members and half a dozen pressmen to

attend an experiment ho had arranged for, and which ho thought would show conclusively that tho strongest link in tho chain of evidence against Chemis jjeontained a most palpable flaw. Tho experiment took place in a yard near tho Freezing Works on the reclaimed land, and consisted of tho firing of charges of shot at a coat placed on a sack of sawdust, under circumstances similar to those which are sujiposed to have existed at tho shooting of Hawkings. Several shots were firod at different distances, and with varying charges of powder and shot, and in only ono caso did tho paper used as a wad pass through tho coat. In this caso the muzzle of the gun was placed almost touching tho coat, and the paper which entered tho sack of sawdust was charred and in very small pieces; in fact, almost unrecognisable as paper. Mr Mills claimed from the result of this tost that it would have boon impossible to have fired tho paper into tho body of Hawkings in the manner alleged at tho trial. family homes protection bill. The Minister of Lands is in charge of this Bill, copies of Which wore circulated amongst members yesterday. It is intituled an Act to make provision for securing homes for tho people, and for preventing such homes from being mortgaged or sold for debt or otherwise. Any person owning land, whether freehold or leasehold, on which ho resides, and has his home, may settle such land not exceeding .£IOOO in value with all improvements as a family homo subject to tho provisions of the Act No person, however, shall settle any land as a family homo unless tho land is unencumbered and ho is able to pay all his debts without the aid of tho laud proposed to bo settled. Tho chief effect of such registration as a family home is that the estate and interest of tho settler and his family shall continue personal, absolute, indefeasible, and unaffected, notwithstanding any bankruptcy, assignment, judgment, order, charge, execution, dealing, matter, or thing which but for this Act conld directly or indirectly have affected any estate or interest in tho land. Tho registration of a family home shall bo rescinded if within six months after the date of registration a settler becomes bankrupt, or makes an assignment of his estate, or if ho dies within that period and his estate is insufficient for tho payment and discharge of his debts without recourse to tho homo. ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BILL. This is a consolidating and amending measure, brought in by tho Minister of Justice. Amongst other things it provides that no person can adopt a child without first obtaining permission from a Magistrate, and then only on certain conditions as to witness, etc. An adopted child is to have tho legal status of a legitimate child, provided, how - over, that such child can have no claim to take property limited to or vested in tho heirs or children of tho adopting parents; or devolving on tho children of such parents through any dood or will. Provision is made for tho adoption of deserted children by bcnevolont or other institutions. IN BRIEF. Tho Minister of Railways, in answer to Mr Montgomery yesterday, informed tho House that, so far as tho department ivoro aware, there was a sufficient number of cool cars already for the carriage of dairy produce. As more wore required they would be provided. A limit to tho cost of Parliamentary elections is fixed in tho Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill brought down by tho Premier. Mr Joyce wants pupil teachers to pass an examination as drill instructors before being granted teachers’ certificates. Tho Minister of Education thinks this is asking too much, and adds that over one-half of the pupil teachers are women. Provision is to be made on tho Estimates for tho return of valuation foes charged by tho Advances to Settlors Board in cases where holders of suburban, sections applied for loans under a misapprehension. Tho Mock of land near Christchurch purchased under tho Lands for Settlement Act is to be thrown open for settlement shortly. Mr Lawry yesterday said he never in his life saw more drunkenness on a racecourse than he saw at tho last race meeting at the Hutt, and this was at a meeting for which the Licensing Committee refused to grant liquor licenses. Mr 801 l : “ Oh, nonsense." Dr Newman also contradicted Mr Lawry’s assertion. Mr T. Mackenzie says there are men in the House who would vote against tho continuance of Bellamy’s, but who themselves kept private cellars equal to any in tho Colony. Tho Contagious Diseases Act 1869 Repeal Bill (Mr Soddon’s) provides for tho repeal of the Act of 1869, and any penalty, forfeiture, or other punishment for offences committed under the Act.

The Hon W. M. Bolt has given notice of a series of very lengthy resolutions which ho intends moving in, the Legialatirte Council, their object being that the State shall provide employment for artisans and labourers, male and female, providing they are deserving persons, and lack work through no fault of their own.