SATURDAY, AUGUST 20. NATIVE LAND LAWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 17

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20. NATIVE LAND LAWS.

Mr Rees believes that the committee system would be of the greatest benefit in opening the lands of the King country. He says it will facilitate settlement there as no other plan can do. The Natives having sold blocks of land to the Government will devote the money to the improvement of their own lauds, aud thus settlement will advance rapidly, while a difficulty which has existed for years will be swept away.

THE SCENE IN THE HOUSE

The opinion of tho most experienced members of the House respecting Friday afternoon's scene is that ib was largely brought about by a little want of tact on the part of the chairman. He is considered to be too fond of making unnecessary explanations, and it was one of these that brought on the trouble, for it confused members, and they could not understand which was the resolution he was putting and which was his explanation. Thus it was what Mr Hutchison originally mistook, and then, when he consequently declared that the chairman had put a different motion, the Chairman refused to hear his version and persisted in demanding an instant withdrawal, which, of course, Mr Hutchison could not give without stating what he believed to be untrue. Mr Hutchison, no doubt, was too aggressive and unconciliatory in manner, but if the Chairman had kept cool there would have been no dis turbance. However, everyone was glad when Sir G. Grey undertook the part of amicus curie, and brought about a pacification.

JOTTINGS.

The Government have chosen a block of land at Hunterville for the purposes of a State farm.

Mr Ballance, who has been seriously indisposed during the past week, is again in good health.

The bill providing for deposits from the foreign insurance companies is being prepared.

According to the Premier, the session will probably last until tho second week in October. He says there will be no dissolution.