THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume II, Issue 65, 12 August 1865, Page 6

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August, 1865. We extract the following report from the Independent of August 3 : — The Speaker took the chair at 12 o'clock. After sundry petitions had been presented and papers laid on the table, the Speaker read the speech of the Governor, and Mr. Kobert Pbarazyn rose to move that a respectful Address be presented to his Excellency, thanking him for the speech they had just heard. The motion for the adoption of the reply was put and carried. The debate on the several paragraphs was adjourned until seven o'clock m the evening. AMENDED GOLDFIELDS ACT. Mr. Brodie asked whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce an Amended Goldfields Act during the present session. The Attorney-General replied that notice bad been given for the introduction of such a measure m the other House. THE AUDIT ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Colonial Treasurer moved for leave to bring m a Bill to amend "The Audit Act, 1855," Haying that the object of it was to make it binding on the Treasurers to render the accounts, and the Auditor to render them audited, at a much earlier period than was the custom at present. The Bill was then read a first time. MINISTERIAL RESIDENCES. The Hon. Mr. Weld moved "That a Select Committee be appointed to enquire and report upon the advisability or providing or maintaining residences for Ministers, and to make recommendations as to what amount of rent, if any, shall be and is chargeable against Ministers occupying such residences, with power to call for persons and papers ; such Committee to consist of Mr. Stafford, Mr. Curtis, Dr. Featherston, Mr. Yogel, Mr. Robt. Graham, Mr. FitzGerald, and Mr. Cox." As Mr. Yogel was absent, the Hon. Mr. Weld withdrew his name, -and th« motion was carried. MASTERS AND SERVANTS BTLL. The Attorney-General moved for leave to bring m a Bill to ensure the fulfilment of engagements, and to provide for the adjustment of disputes between masters and servants. The Bill was then read a first time. THE DEEDS REGISTRATION ACT AMENDMENT ACT.— BILL TO AMEND. The Attorney-General moved for leave to bring m a Bill to amend the Deeds Registration Amendment Act, 1863. He said the object of it was to repeal a clause m the Deeds Registration Act, which operated as a hindrance to the more speedy introduction of the Lands Registration system. The Bill was then read a first time. ARMS ACT, 1860, CONTINUATION BILL. On the motion of the Attorney-General this Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time next sitting day. NEW ZEALAND SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1863, AMENDMENT BILL. The Attorney-General, m introducing this Bill, said that by the Act of last session the Act of 1563 was made terminable at the present year. The object now was to continue the operation of the Act, except m those parts which were objected to by the Secretary of State. He (fche Attorney-General) proposed to make the present Act terminable m 1867. There were some important alterations made, including one af Fee ting the proceeds of money arising from the sale of land. TREATY OF WAITANGI. Mr. Mantell moved— "That there be laid on the table of this House a copy of the signatures to the treaty of Waitangi, with annotations recently made by order of the late Minister for Native Affairs." The lion, member said that jhavmg during his tenure of office become aware that the original Treaty of Waitangi was among the records of the Native Office, he had an extract made from it of the parties and signatures to it. He (Mr. Mantell) did not wish it to be printed, but merely laid on the table, so that hon. members might see it. On being put the motion was carried. PETITION OF JAMES CALLAGHAN AND OTHERS. Mr. J. Williamson moved that the petitions of James Callaghan, John Laurie, and John Bolton be referred to the Committee on Private Grievances. The Attorney-General said that the mover misconceived the character of the Commission given to Mr. T. Beckham m Auckland. His investigations had been confined to those cases which had received special sanction from the Legislature, under the Act of 1863. There were oue or two cases of a previous date, which had been referred to the Commissioner, but they had a previous kind of recognition by the Legislature. Without that, the parties should go to the Committee on Private Grievances. On being put, the motion was carried. IRON SAND, TARANAKI. Mr. Gledhill moved for the report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the claims of J. D. Samuel, relative to the Iron Sand, Taranaki. Motion carried. PETITION OF IIIAKARV AND OTHER NATIVES. Mr. Mantell moved that the petition of Ihakara and other Manasvatu Block Natives, and its authorised translation, be printed. Carried. PETITION OF L. A. M'CASKILL AND OTHERS. Colonel Haultain moved that the petitions of L. A. M'Caskill, R. B. Hamlin, and Samson Kempthorne be referred to the Private Grievances Commfttee. Carried. Mr. Reynolds moved that a Select Committee bo appointed to examine into the claim of the Provincial Government of Otago to the reserve

m Princess street, Duuedin, (Block 8) ; also, to the reserve m Port Chalmers, adjoining Section No. 401, with power to call for parsons, maps, and papers, and report from time to time ; committee to consist of Mr. Robert Graham, Mr. Waring Taylor, Mr. A. J. Richmond, Dr. Peat'herstone, and Mr. Wilkin. After a short discussion, the question was put, and the motion carried. MAORI TRANSLATIONS OF PAI*7.RS, ETC. Mr. FitzGerald said circumstances had come to his knowledge which led him to believe that the Natives were taking a great deal of interest m the proceedings of the Assembly, it was tkere- | fore, he thought, advisable that all papers should ibe translated into Maori. It would tend very | much to a good understanding between the two races. The Attorney-General proposed an amendI ment. j The Colonial Treasurer suggested that the I motion should take the form of a resolution of I the House, and that somethiug should he added so as to secure the dissemination of the documents among the Natives. Mr. Carleton made a few remarks on the rules about the standing orders. Mr. t-OLENso said that scarcely a Bill could be introduced into the House which would not affect the Natives, and therefore they would all have to be translated. He merely called attention to this point. He trusted also that the documents woidd be properly translated. Mr. Ckacroft Wilson, C. 8., 'mid he would be glad to see the principle of the resolution carried out, but if there was any Maori dialect understood throughout the whole Island it would be better that all past Acts us well as any to come should be translated into it. Mr. FitzGerald said ho did not ask the House at present to take such a large step as to have all the laws translated into Maori. He would consent to the suggestion of Mr. Colenso to have the Maori documents laid on the table ; but at present he would withdraw the resolution and introduce it among the new standing orders, adding such words to it as would secure the proper dissemination of the documents among the Natives. [In reply to the Postmaster-General] Mr. FitzGerald said that he meant that the Bills should bo translated into Maori at the same time as they were laid on the table. THE RESIDENT MAGISTRATES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Cracroft Wlson, C.8., moved for leave | to bring m a Bill to amend the Resident Magistrates Jurisdiction Extension Act, No. 36, 1862. Carried GOVERNMENT HOUSE, AUCKLAND. Mr. Domett brought up the report of the Select Committee as to the sale of the Government House, Auckland, and it was ordered to be considered to-morrow (Wednesday). INDEMNITY BILL. On the motion of the Attorney-General the Indemnity Bill was read a second time, and the House went into Committee on it. The Attorney-General said if such acts were not indemnified, they might just as well suspend the whole machinery by which the Maori war was being carried on. There might be excej)tionß, but the House woidd always be ready to entertain any case brought before them, and award such compensation as they might think fit. Mr. George Guaham mentioued one or two cases at Tauranga m which Natives had been wronged. The Attorney-General said that those who could not obtain reparation otherwise might appeal to the House. Mr. FitzGerald objected to crimes done with authority— such as murder— being indemnified. Mr. Brodie said if the shooting of the cattle had taken place, the offence would be dealt with by the proper authorities. It was probable, if there was any foundation for the report, a fair reprisal. He (Mr. Brodie) objected to such sentimentalism being imported m the debate by Mr. FitzGerald. After some further remarks the bill was reported without any alteration, and was read a third time, and passed. The House then adjourned to seven .o'clock.