PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6769, 5 September 1893, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(From Ouk Own CoRKEsroxnENT.) Wellington, today. Tho House was in the humor for business last niiiht. Within an hour of prayers being rend several Billa aU'ecting legal procedure wore read a second time, these boing the Criminal Code, Magist.r.itos Court, Supreme Court Practico and Procedure Acts Amendment, and District Courts Jurisdiction Extension Bills. Tho Civil Service Officers Gunrnntoo Bill, Local Drainage Bill, and Land Act Amendment Bill (which merely gives power to cut roads through leased lands, and does away with the necessity to make cash deposits for land, substituting bonds) were read a second time, while the Wt^t Coa«t Settlement Reserves Bill was reported from Committee, and the Bill providing fur the disposition of tho Cheviot estate passed final stages. When the West Coast Settlement Reserves Bill was in Committee Mr G. Hutchison moved his amendment relieving the holders of continued leases from definition of improvements as included in the Land Act of 1892. It was withdrawn, however, on the promise by Mr Carroll that the matter would be enquired into. He said that confirmed leaseholders who were required to pay more under tho Bill would have to pay less at the end of their term. Mr Hutchison said this was not 80. Mr McGuiro wanted to amend the Bill so that it would confirm any leases granted by Maoris to Europeans before the Act, provided that no tindue advantage had been taken of the Natives. This was not favorably received. Sir Robert Stout objected that it was proposed to legalise illegal transactions. Mr McGuiredid not agree with this. He pleaded with members to do justice to a large number of people, and blandly informed the Committee that as he saw a disposition on their part to rush to business, he would engage their attention \vhile he gave a history of the transactions in question from the year 1879. This threat brought the Premier to his feet with a suggestion that Mr McGuire would allow the Bill to go through Committee, and make his remarks when they would be Hansardised. This course was adopted by the member for Egmont, whose amendment was then put and lost. There was considerable discussion on the proposal thab tho Public Trustee should have power to vary the decision of the Native L;»nd Court as to shares in any land affected, Mr Hutchison strongly objecting to this section, which, however, was carried. The surveyor-general, who has left for the Cheviot esUte, intends to go to Dunedin, and will convene meetings of the Boards appointed under the Act providing for the acquisition of land for settlement. A sum of L 450.000 is to be disposed of under the Public Works Statement, of which amount L 15,000 or L 20.000 is to be devoted to school buildings. The cooperative system is said to have worked satisfactorily, and the statement is to contain provisions for its extension. The Waste LandsjCommittee to day had under consideration Coleman Phillips' petition asking that the title be made clear to some forfeited land in the Dry river, in connection with which the petitioner was twice prosecuted for evasions of the Land Act, and the jury disagreeing a nolle prosequi was finally entered. Mr J. H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands in Wellington, was examined in reference to the petition. An oil painting by Deverill, just purchased by the Hon. Fergus, is attracting a deal of attention in the lobbies. The view is descriptive of a road near Hokianga, in the north of Auckland district. The Native Affairs Committee to-d&y went through the remaining part of the Rating Act Amendment Bill. The only material alteration arrived at was making Native lands liable only to half the rate to which European land is taxable. The Labor Bills Committee of the Council are making such slow progress with the Industrial Conciliation Bill, as to suggest the belief that it will not be passed this sessior