Saturday, May 21. THE TONGARIRO PARK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 16

Saturday, May 21. THE TONGARIRO PARK.

The Tongariro National Park Bill was read a second time late on Friday night, and did not excite much discussion, though Jits merits are likely to be pretty freely canvassed in committee. Mr Ballance explained that the park would consist of about 60,000 acres, including the mountains of Tongariro and Ruapehu. Of this land about a third is to be given for the purpose by the Natives, and the gift, the Minister said, was one of the greatest instances of generosity he had heard of on the part of the Natives, and deserved acknowledgment by the House. Another portion of the land is set apart as Crown land, and some 9000 acres have vo be acquired from the Natives. The park, he considered, would be one of the grandest in the world, the scenery being magnificent. One of the mountains is 9000 ft higli and crowned with perpetual snow, and the other a volcanic mountain, showing occasional signs of activity. Both were within six miles of the Northern Central, route and when the railway was completed (within three or four years) tourists would have no difficulty in visiting the place. There were clumps of trees down the face of the mountains and the place was a natural park, giving one the idea that immense sums had been expended in creating artificially that which has been done by nature. The bill was not to come into force until the title to all the land had been vested in the Crown, so that no complications could arise. The estate would come under the Domains Act, and trustees would be appointed — one of them being the chief Ngawharehoe, whose appointment for life was the only condition asked for by the Nativesin giving the land. The Minister of Lauds for the time being would be another trustee, and the third was to be appointed by the Governor. He thought that but little need be expended on the park, and that it could be made self-sup-porting by charging a small rate to tourists, and that indirectly great benefits would accrue to the colony. The land at the base of the park was exceedingly fertile, and some small settlers might be located there, while other portions would be leased at reasonable rates to those who would provide accommodation for visitors. The bill he considered was wholly unobjectionable. Colonel Trimble in speaking on the measure asked some questions in order that the suggestions they contained, if untrue, might be explicitly denied. He was informed that for a portion of the land, 15,000 acres, £2500 had been paid, although it was not was not worth as many farthings, If that were the case, it should be remembered in forming an estimate of the generosity displayed. Then he was also told that the chief was to get a pension of £300 a year from the Government, and in that case the land would be very fully paid for, as it consisted of mountain tops, from which no revenue could possibly be derived. He was also told that other pensions, some of £50 a year, were to be given to the Natives, and would like to know if these statements were correct. As to the idea of any revenue being obtained by a rate on .tourists, that seemed absurd. They could not possibly protect a park from trespassers, and he thought the mountain scenery would be just as grand and attractive if the title to the land did not rest in the Crown. Dr Newman spoke in support of the bill, and in his reply the Native Minister stated that there was no foundation for the insinuation contained in the question put, that no pensions had been either granted or promised to the Natives.

THE CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE BILL.

A careful perusal of this bill shows that it pro*

poses to make some important changes in the law of evidence in providing for the acceptance of the unsworn evidence of children of tender age ; and offences against women and children of tender age can be punished with the lash. Provision is made for meeting any future contingency such as arose in the case of Hall, as the Court of Appeal is given power to order a new trial when a conviction is quashed on account of any point reserved in the lower court. This is a radical departure from the well-known practice of English courts of lav? that no person can be placed twice in peril of his life for the same offence.

OUR DEFENCES.

In the course of a conversation with the Defence Minister, he informed me that another two of the 6in guns with disappearing carriages are expected to arrive in about two months. One of these will be sent to Otago, probably for the battery at the heads, and the other to Lyttelton. These guns weigh five tons, and have 6in calibre. They take as a full charge 501b of powder, and throw a projectile 1000 yds. The disappearing cars are worked by hydropneumatic apparatus, and at a trial of the one which has been mounted at Wellington, which took place the other day, worked beautifully. More guns will arrive at intervals of a few months, and these will be distributed also. The department have purchased 500 stand of repeating rifles in America. These are not quite the same as adopted by the British War Office, but they apprpach very close to them. The magazines at bached to these rifles will hold five cartridges, and a soldier can carry a considerable number of these in addition to single charges. These magazines are only to be attached and used on particular occasions, and are capable of being easily detatched. If the new arm is found to be up to requirements more will be ordered. Those imported are to be issued to one of the Christchurch corps, who pay for them, and to members of the New Zealand Rifle Association. WELLINGTON COLLEGE. The Wellington College Bill passed its second reading on Friday night, notwithstanding that many members do not approve of it. The House was a very thin one, and the Government uook suoh bills as they desired and had matters entirely their own way. Several members who opposed the Wellington College Bill tried to induce others to vote against it, but though the latter were not in favour of it their views were not strong enough to induce them to vote against the Premier in the matter. If the bill gets through committee the colony will have to give an annual grant for seven years of £1500 besides handing over the colonial museum building and site and other endowments. The papers here talk of selfishness on the part of other districts, but where it comes in it is not very clear.