NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

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

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [per united press association.]

Wednesday, July 21. — The House met at 2.30 p.m. In replying to questions it was stated that the Government would not lose sight of the importance of the telephone in connection with railway stations, but there were difficulties of using that instrument in public business. Instructions had been given to the Registrar under the Elections Registration Act to make the rolls as complete as possible, and with that object to place thereon and add thereto the names of persons of whose qualications he was satisfied, and it was his duty to assuro himself of the right of every man to have his named returned on the roll. The report of the life assurance department would be on the table in about five or six weeks. The Public Works Statement would probably be made next week. ! Mr. Purnell, a barrister at Ashburton, had complained verbally that he had been committed for seven days for contempt of court, and enquiries would be made into the facts of the case if a written complaint was made. Bills introduced and read the first time :—: — " District Courts Act, 1858 Amendment," and " Treasury Bills Bill." The debate on the second reading of Native Land Sales Bill was resumed. Mr. Bktce in his reply at the conclusion of the debate, complained that his connection with the Patetere Block had been grossly misrepresented. What he aimed at doiug was to show that the system hitherto in operation had been bad and had been abused, and in doing so he fully expected to be attacked ; but the attack made by the member for Mount Ida (Mr. DeLautour) had been much more bitterly personal than he ever expected. The assertion that he had stopped the survey of the land at the instigation of Europeau speculators was false. The deputation that waited on him on the subject was a deputation of Maoris ; aud it was at their instigation alone that the survey had been stopped. Advances had been made upon the land in the loosest possible manner, and there was a very slight prospect indeed of the land ever being secured to the Government. The Maori mind was in a state of irritation at the whole thing, and under these circumstances it was not wonderful that the Government should desire to get well rid of it. Seeing no hope of getting the block, the next best thing was to get the advances repaid. Nearly all the laud had been got through the Court, the titles ascertained, and the Government otherwise placed in a fair way for getting back the advances. The proclamation had been kept on the latid, and would not be removed until the advances had been repaid. That was not, as had been asserted, playing a double game on his part. He had never, at any time, been guilty of such practices, having never, in all his life, told a lie, or otherwise been guilty of misrepresentation. He also combatted the assertion that the chief judge of the Land Courts had been guilty of irregularities in connection with this transaction. Had he been guilty of the assertions made by the member for Mount Ida he never could have lifted his head in that House again. The motion for the second reading was put and carried on the voices. Sir G. GREY said he would, in committee, move an amendment whereby the natives would have sole control of their own estates. Dr. Wallis moved, "That the franchise be extended to female freeholders." Mr. Seddon moved, as an amendment, " That the words ' be not' be inserted." The debate was interrupted by the 3.30 p.m. adjournment. On the House resuming, the Dentists' Bill was read a third time and passed. The remainder of the sitting was spent in committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill, in which several amendments were made. Clause 29 (ratepaj'ers to have only one vote), ( and 30 (gas works) were thrown out. At 1.45 a.m. progress was reported, and the House rose. * '