PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2758, 22 October 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Flic)!! OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT,) —O— ME, MiOKAY—THE OPPOSITION. Wellington, Saturday. I need not inform you that Mr Mackay has been liberated, after suffering fiftysix hours out of the 168 hours' imprisonment which the Justices in their wisdom ordered that he should undergo. There is no doubt the mind of the Government was against his release, otherwise it could have been effected much sooner. Mr Burns intends to bring forward his question as to whether they do not intend to strike him off the roll of justices; but, of course, this only arises from party spite. Your member, Mr Eowe, is greatly blamed for tale bearing, and Mr Maelcay may thank him for the mess lie got into, although Mr Kovre tries to throw the responsibility upon others. Tou will see the contradictory natnre of his evidence, and that of other members of the Assembly when you receivo the full reports of the ease in tho Wellington newspapers. Tho old Government party, aided by a large number of the Middle Party, do not intend to submit tamely to the walkover wliich Sir George contemplates for the remainder of the session, but tho Financial Statement to be laid before the House by Mr Larnach is patiently waited for, and when it has been delivered mischief will assuredly follow. It is unreasonable to ask deposed Ministers to remain silent and carry through whatever the new Government may dictate when the desertion of three or four unscrupulous members placed them in the position they occupy. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. (PEE PBEBS AGENCY.) Wellington, Saturday. In the House last night, the Ponsonby Highway Bill was read a third time and passed. In committee on the Manawatu Land Orders Bill, the compensation was reduced from 200 to 100 per cent. Tho bill was read a third time and passed. The Slaughter-houses Bill was considered in committee. Several minor amendments were made, and tho bill passed. The Wakapuaka Telegraph Site Bill, Law Society Act Amendment Bill, Wellington Loans Consolidated Bill, and Auckland Provincial Council Library Bills were passed. The Auckland City Endowments Reserve Bill was read a second time. In the Upper House the following notices by the, Hon. John Hall, will be discussedln view of intended legislation for ascertaining titles and regulating dealings in native lands, it is desirable that each of tho Judges of the Native Lands Court be requested to furnish the Government within three months with reports showing the nature of the title to land according to native customs affecting it most, by which it may be acquired, and by which it may be ceded or forfeited between aboriginal native and native, and any established principles by which the Native Lands Court is guided in determining the rights of claimants and counter claimants; also, that such Judges and Besident Magistrates in native districts be invited to forward to the Government practical suggestions which may seem to them for the permanent benefit of the Maori race." Mr Sheehan, in accordance with promise, made a statement in the House in reference to Mr James Mackay, He said, with regard to the petition presented, that the grounds stated for his release did not meet with his sympathy, It was impossible to excuse the assault itself, and the plea that Mr Mackay was a Justice of the Peace only aggravated the offence. The right of a citizen to walk the streets without fear, of molestation, such as that of which Mr Mackay had been found guilty, was undoubted, and the offence was grave when the assault was committed by a gentleman holding her Majesty's commission. The plea that Mr Mackay was a Government officer, who had rendered signal service, was bettor founded, and might be taken into consideration. He felt the difficulty of his position, being a great personal friend of Mr Mackay, and should not have felt justified in interfering but for an appeal from the prosecutor himself, the member for Waitaki, who, having attained his object in the vindication of justice, would be glad to see Mr Mackay released from imprisonment, He had also received the following letter from the Justices who presided:—" We, the undersigned Justices, having carefully considered the case, see no reason to abandon the sentence, and at the same time we think the sentence was not.unnecessarily severe, and that a fine would not have met the justice of the case." Signed by all four Justices.—B, J. Duncan, Captain Schultze, E. Gray, John Martin. Mr Sheehan then read the letter from Mr Hislop. He then said that the House would not be surprised to hear him state that the Governor had acceded to the prayer of the petition, and would grant Mr Mackay's release. He would use every effort to see that he was released this evening.