HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 3578, 9 December 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The HouSe nict at 7.30 -•'-',. [ Mi Hislop gave notice of motion to the eifect that it is incompatible with the office of Agent-Geneial for the colony to^take part in Imperial politics. , , In reply to Mr McLean, Mr Hail, stated that pending* definite a 1 langements, baing made with certain newspapeis re the special wiie business, anangements had been made for enabling these papers to obtain^telegraprlic infoi malion. , > Replying to a question by Mr Kelly, Mi Biyce, the N.ilne Minister said his intention had ua^i , diiectcl to v a dot tei which appea r ed *a a newsp-per'jto Tthe effect that Rewi had joined 'the King pai ty. He did not believe there was any truth in the statement. A request had been ieceived fiom him some time ago that as he was going to the King country, and had met with an accident, a carriage should! be j placed at hi 3 disposal. That request was complied witli, and, the Government had no reason to believe he was in any way displeasecl with the aovernment. The letter in question had been, ieceived by one of the Maori membeis, ,not fiom Rewi, but fiom a friend of his. The letter 5 " had hecu got hold of by newspapeis. The memhei himself bad not given the letter to the newspapers. ' Major' Te Wheoro said that he was the member referred to. "The -letter stated that Rewi was displeased with the Government; that he would not leturn to the Euiopean side, and that those chief who had beeti lustrumental in turning out Sir Geoige Giey from, the Government must be left to cany on the government of thecountry. These weie the contents of the lettei , but he did not kuow how they got into the new if papers. In reply to a question by Mr Gisborne, Mi Hall stated that Piu^oac Julyan had leti^eJ from the loan agentship on a pension, and there was np truth in the^statemeut which appeared in the newspapers tp the effect that a difference of opinion had/au^en between him and the Goveram4l.it, such di_<;ence having occasioned hu lctheUient^ ' 'In leply to MivMacaudiciv, Mi ;( Hall stated be would be prepared to state to-morrow what business Was to be dropped, so a3 to bring the session to a ck>ae within 'the next few days, , / Mr Macandiew suggested foi the consideiation of the Government, "that business so dropped should be taken, up next session, both public aud private, as it stood ou the Oidei Papei j t Mi Hall moved the second loading of the Revision of Statuses' Bill. Mr Stewait called the attcutiou of the Go''veinment* to ttie impoi tance of 'making* pecuniaiy provision foi tbe publication of the Jul Ist. He pointed out that in tho abseace of such a publication tlicie, could be J no nuifoimity of proceluie in the vanou-> comts. The woik could not ofe e'hciehtfy done by piivate enteipuse, no one whose iepotls> were at all' tiustwoitby would nuclei Lik|l;he work unless well paid, anil, ia the pU-cut state of the colony,- the piohts arising fiom siich a publication wduld not be sufficient to wairant a Suitable peiWn undei takiug the task. ~ iThe bill was 1 _od a qecond time. '' ! ' The adjoUltafed deb"itc<on the Conti»csated Lands and Maori .Fi-rsouers _-l was lesumed by Mr Tuinbull, who opposed the bill, and spoke strongly against^the' Maoli prisoners 'being kept in puson'for such' a> length- of time without bemg biought tottial. * Major Te Wheoio also objected Jo'thc bill, and if ltpofesedthe pi isonei_* might be kept in-custody without being 'brought- to tual for yeais. * They had -been already in pnson foi a penod- of six months, aM aftci the passing of the Act ikmight"turn out that they weie in the- light. He aigued that they ought to be bi ought to tnal foithwith.O'J A/ t *4 jz «l >V Captain Morris supported 'the view*. Mr Tainui opposed the bill, aigmng that the pnsoneis should be bi ought to trial at once on the chaige, which shotild not be kept hanging over their neftds in the way it bad been - 1 1 Mi Sutton suppoited tho bill. Sir George r Giey said tho measuie was„calculated to shake'the confidence of the native race in the justice of oui courts of lawr v Mi J. B. Fisher contended that the men now- lying m pnson* had done nothing to render them amendable to criminal law, as, as they simply asseited a fancied right. The L ,bill as it stood was not calculated fo obviate the abuses complained of. -He move I as au amendment that the bill be lcid that day six. months. ' ' Mr Seddon suppoited thc ( second leading. Mr Sheehan supported the-second leading. If they lefused to'pasa the, bill, and allowed the natives to return to Pauhaka. a distuibance was imminent. p^itttiASnis takes i_ the bill** could -Tte^/enieihed m committee. He considered the policy enunciated in tbe bill Was* the' policy of the -'late Government, and one whidl/'was absolutely necessary it they desned to pieveut a native war. *- ' ' Mr Hislop opposed the bill. i I [Mr Biyce was leplying when the Tele- | graph Office closed.] < I