VALIDATION OF TITLES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6785, 23 September 1893, Page 2

VALIDATION OF TITLES.

[Parliamentary Reporter.] Wellington, last night. — In Committee the Native Land (Validation of Titles) Bill was considered by the Council. Mr Williams proposed in clause 10 an amendment which was intended to lead up to the rejection of clause 16, which provides that all orders made by the Judges have to be on the tables of both Houses and cannot lie confirmed until after the close of the session. Dr Grace »poke against the idea of allowing Parliament to override the decision of the Judge, and Mr Ormond favored amending the Bill by recommitting the clause. Sir Patrick Buckley replied that all they wanted was that Parliament should know what the Judge was doing. Mr Ormond objected to the rehearing clause, as also did Mr Pharazyn, but Messrs Shrimski and Reynolds agreed with the clause. Mr Downie Stewart said it was absurd that after a Judge had given perhaps weeks of care in sifting evidence a party vote should render the decision nugatory. On division Mr Williams' amendment was. lost by 17 to 16. When clause 1G was reached, dealing with the same principle. Mr Stewart moved that a certificate shall be confirmed uuless a resolution of both Houses to the contrary be passed during the session; the Bill providing only for a resolution of one House. This was opposed by Sir P. Buckley, but carried by 22 to 11. The time for lodging notice of appeal was on MrTaiaroa's motion extended from thirty to sixty days. There were no other amendments and the Bill was reported read a third time, and passed.