PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 426, 8 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

|BY TElEGß|pja.] j We llingto>jv September 8. In the House of yes'teriiy afternoon, ; .. . v . Mi. Reid, inM-eply tovlVfr: J: E. Brown, said that a synopsis of all intended land sales would be advertised the local papers. Mr. M'Lean, in reply to Mr. Swanson, said that local bodies addressing too Government on public service need not pay postage. Mr. Wason resumed the debate on Mr. Rees' motion and Captain Km self's amendment re Hawke's Bay land transactions. Mr. Whitaker said he had communicated with Messrs. Locke and Russell, and was now at liberty to place the letters he had'received on the table, he having obtained Messrs. Locke and Fox's permission, but the House had resolved that Mr. Russell's consent must also be obtained, and that he had not got. Mr. Russell had refused, saying tiio letters were his, and he would lay the matter before his lawyer.

Sir George Grey asked that tin telegrams to and from Mr. Cox should be iaid before the House.

The Speaker said he did not think the debate could be proceeded with till the letters were produced. Ho thought also that the telegrams to and from Mr. Cox should be read.

Mr. Whitaker read the telegrams, in winch Mr. Cox. said the letter belonged to Mr. Li>cke,;ind should be given toiioouu else, or used without his permission. Personally he had no objeeci .11 to their production ; audit required, was willing to give evidence before a Select Commitree. The lett rs were then laid on tiie table. Mr. RolL-ston asked if Mr. Locke had consented to the letters being read. Mr. Whitaker read a letter from Mr. Looke, assenting to use letters if his principal was willing. Considerable discussion ensued as to whether t/he letters could be read without Mi". Russell's consent. Mr. Swanson thought that Mr. Locke should be called to the Car of the House, and aske.l whether he regarded Mr. Cox or Mr. Russe'l as his principal, whosj assent he considered necessary to the letters being read. Major Atkinson, said the letters were laid 011 the. table by Mr. Whitaker by the order of the House, not by the Government as ordinary papers. Mr. Speaker said he understood the letters to be laid on the table by the Government.

Mr: Whitaker denied that the Government had anything to do with them, lie had letters in his possession as a private member, and in deference to the wish of the House he put them on the table, bur they were not Government papers, and the Government had nothing to do with them. Jf they were returned to him now, ho would not allow them to be used. Tiie Speaker ask..:d the House whether, as the Government disclaimed connection with the letters, they s.ioiild be handed back to Mi". Whitaker.

Mr. Montgomery thought no paper could be laid on the table, except by the Governor's comiu.-i.nl, without a motion that it be received.

After further discussion, the Speaker read a letter from the Hon. Mr. Russell respectfully but decidedly obj cling to his private letters to Mr. Locke being read under those circumstances ; and the Attorney-General having stated that the letters were not laid on the table by the Government, he ruled that the letters were not ] roperly in the possession of the House, and accordingly ordered Mw Wm taker to resume possession of them, to d'-al with them as lie thought proper. The lertei-s were accordingly returned to Mr. Whitaker.

Sir George Grey said he held in his hand a letter from one of tha partners in the Land Company referred to, stating that lie (Sir George Grey) had no connection whatever with tlie Company of Hakamona. He spoke to the main question, saying that Mr. Ornvmd had dme nothing right with regard to the natives and their lambs in Hiwko's B >y. Tiie House adjourned before the usual hour. cons, querit on the bad smell of gas. On the House resuming, Mr. Seymour continued the debate, opposing the appointment of a Committee as not being the best suited to perforin the duties required. He su jgested t lat the inquiry should be confined to the charges made in the House against Mr. Ormond and Sir Gjorge Grey. Sir George Grey denied ever having heard of the i\ solutions passed by the " old settlers," imputing his trnthf ilncss. He denied that the House had anything to do with the Otanui case ; it was with an European, and he simply refused to pay money for a bargain he hal never consented to. He gave a strong denial to ever having been a member of a landpurchasing comp iny, but had been desirous of establishing a central s.'tt'ement at Taupo, and he had promised to promote so good an object if a company would do so. He had had no other in- j terest in the matter. He rial a letter J from Mr. Whitmore, staring t lat he (Sir j George Grey) was not one of the com- i pany. He warmly defended Mr. Bees, j and said he was quite willing to have his * transactions investigated by a Committee j as he had never bought an acre of native j land. I Mr. Stout condemned the manner in I which the matter had been treated I y the I House and Press, and supported the ap- j pointment of a Committee. |

Mr,. Russeil's amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr. Whitaker then moved for leave to add to Mr. .Reps' motion words-to the "effect that V Committee to inquire into the charges made against Mr. Ormond

and Sir George Grey with.reference to the Taupo affair and alleged improper land transactions at IJawkeV Bay Ho believed Cox*s statement tint Sir George Grey was concerned in t!io Taiipo a Hair.

Mr. Wakefield warmly condemned the conduct of the Government,, nmb supported the appointment of a Committee. Mr. Taiaroa also supported the appointment of a Commit ee.

On a division being taken, Mr. Whitaker's amendment was rejected by 20" against 25.

The debate on the original motion was then continued, the House rising at 12 o'clock.