SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2338, 4 September 1875, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE.

UNSATISFACTORY SYSTEM OF LAND PURCHASE.

COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY.

(prom our own correspondent.)

Thursday, September 2.— The Abolition Bill will be moved into Committee to-day, but it is probable that it will not get on as there arc many speeches to be delivered, but it is possible that they may be delivered in Committee, as all the speeches in- Committee arc to be reported and the whole question will be allowed to be discussed, so that as speeches are made on going into Committee, it will probably be for the purpose of delaying tho passing of the Bill. The private business is being got through with great rapidity during tho day or two which has been allowed to be devoted to it. The Taranaki Waste Lands Bill was uearly thrown out in the Legislative Council by a division of 16 to»12. The Lords do not seem inclined to give any power to Waste Lands Boards, and cannot comprehend any necessity for offering inducements for settlement in your forest land. A Committee has been appointed for tho purpose of enquiring whether any member has disqualified himself by land dealings with the Government; the question rose on the practice of persons entering into illegal agreements with natives for land before tho land passed the Native Lands Court, and then selling their interest to the Government ; it is said that several members of the Assembly have made extensive sales, henco the enquiry, which the Government did not oppose. Tho whole system of laud purchase in the North Island is in a very unsatisfactory condition. Friday, September 3. — The debate on the Abolition Bill is again in full swing. It was thought that it was only the financial aspect that would be discussed, but Sir Qeorge Grey made a speech in which his old arguments on the provinces were resuscitated, and did duty for the sixth time. Again the liberties of the people were in danger; again a governing class was to be created ; again he threatened to appeal to the courts of law; again he implored Miuisters to pause in their mad career. The reiteration of these arguments, or rather assertions, is beginning to weary the House. The House hoped to hear something new, if not true; but it was neither new nor true, which was rather disappointing. Mr. Carrington relieved the sameness of debate, by evoking considerable laughter by inventing a title for the bill. He said that it ought to be called a Provincial Consolidation and Ratification Act, and hoped the bill would be amended. He gave a history of how ho brought Sir Julius Yogel to book on the harbour question, and read the letter which did the business. He thanked the House for helping -him to get the harbour. Taranaki could get on very well without the Abolition Bill, but they voted for it to oblige the rest of the Colony.

Mr. Montgomery proved by figures to his own satisfaction* that in two years time tho whole of the land revenue of the Colony would be absorbed in supplementary revenue, to pay departmental expenditure and interest on loans.

Six speeches were delivered last night, and more coming. The Government stated that they would bring in bills to create boards of works to expend any surplus revenue of a local character arising within a provincial district, and a bill to confer on existing education boards educational reserves in thciv respective districts. This proposal beiug an acceptance of the notice given by Mr. Macandrew with some modifications, there is now some prospect of the bill passing through committee within a reasonable time.