POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3493, 22 July 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

[telegbaphed by ouk correspondent.]

NATIVE LANDS SALE BILL.

Wednesday, July 21.— The Native Lands Sale Bill passed the second reading to-day, being generally approved of by the Housv. as the only practical mode of dealing with the reform of the native land purchase system. The action of Mr. Bryce in (he matter of the ' Patetcra Block was ver3 r severely criticised by Mr. DeLautour ; the latter asserting that the Native Minister was not entitled to the praise bestowed on him, and that the correspondence showed he was acting in the interest of land speculators, and not in the interest of the natives, or of the public. To-day Mr. Bryce replied very effectively, and showed that Mr. DeLautour's statements were misrepresentations, and not borne out by facts. All the native members opposed the bill, but they offered no suggestions for a different system except a general statement that the natives should be allowed to do as they liked with the land. PUBLIC CEMETERIES AT OAKURA, OKATO, MANUTAHI, AND URENUI. In answer to a question from Mr. Kelly, Mr. Rolleston state! that action would be I taken by Government to provide public cemeteries for Oakura, Okato, Manutahi, aud Urenui. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. j The Public Works Statement is promised for next week. MAORI PRISONERS' BILL. The Maori Prisoners' Bill is now before the Council, and will soon become law. BUSINESS PROCEEDING SLOWLY. The business of the House is not proceeding so fast as might be desirable, as every question is buried with irrevelaut talk ; the result of party influence. END OF THE SESSION. It is anticipated that the session will close about the end of August unless a fresh epidemic of talk breaks out on the other Government Bills. In such a case it would be difficult to predict wheu the end would arrive.