WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2079, 2 September 1875, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Wednesday. Upon the House resuming last night it was decided that the discussion on the Abolition Bill, in committee should bo taken at 7.30 on Thursday. Considerable discussion took place upon the second reading of the Branch Railways Bill. Messrs Macandrew, Stout, Reid, and others objecting to the bill, saying it was a discouraging bill to private companies instead of encouraging. On the other hand many members held that whatever its imperfections it was a step in the right direction, and was a boon to the country. After a good deal of discussion, Mr Stout called for a division, and the bill was read a second time by 43 to 12. Mr Bovren moved the second reading of the Debtors and Creditors Bill, but as several members ;said they had not considered the bill sufficiently,;\and as the House was thin, the debate was journed. The House adjourned at midnight. [The above message was put in at the Wellington office yesterday at 11.25 a.m. and finished at Grahamstown at 4.32 p.m.] - Wednesday, 8 p.m. CONFISCATED LANDS. Continuing the debate — Mr T. Kelly said it was not right to bring such important motions before the House without notice. As far as he could gather from the motion of the lion, member, it appeared to him that a stop ought to put to thq purchase of native lands in the North Island. With the establishment of the public works policy, the Government should have put a stop at once to direct purchase. Mr Sheehan was glad a Select Committee was going to be appointed. It would not do to allow the imputations to handover the heads of members of the Legislature. There were several of these land transactions that were decidedly illegal, and should have been prevented by- the Government. Take the case of the Ohinemuri purchase, where the promoters got the late member for Kaiapoi to serve as a backbone to them. The Hauraki purchase was another case in point.

Mr Kolleston said it mattered not how much a country was benefited by certain transactions, no country could obtain any substantial benefit by illegal transactions, such as those referred to decidedly were. The resolution was agreed to, and notice given of the names ol committee.

PtTBCHASE OF LAND. Mr Andrew moved that there be laid before the House a return showing all the amounts advanced by the Colonial Treasurer during the past year for the purpose of enabling the Provincial Secretary of Wellington, or of other provinces to compete with Dr Buller and other individuals fn the purchase of Crown lands. The motion might seem singular, but he was very much astonished at seeing a sum of thirty thousand pounds advanced by the Treasurer, inside twenty-fo.ur hours, to enable the Provincial Secretary to purchase the Rangituma block, which Dr Buller was endeavouring to purchase. The hon. gentlemen detailed the whole circumstances of the case. He wanted to know how it was that such large sums of money of the colony could be advanced to a Provincial Secretary, without authority from that House, for the purpose of purchasing land, especially as a Provincial Secretary cannot be legally seized of lands at all.

The motion was agreed to

ABOLITION IN AUCKLAND. Mr Sheehan moved for the production of a copy of the resolutions passed by the Auckland Provincial Council last session in reference to the abolition of the provinces, and the control of the police force.

Sir Donald McLean said the only resolution the'Goyernment had was a resolution rescinding one regarding Abolition. Mr Sheehan wanted what they had. He would obtain the rest from Auckland.

Mr May moved that a division list be added, to show thero had been no subserviency. Motion agreed to. EOADS.

Mr W. Kelly moved that ia the opinion of this House it is desirable the Native Contingent and Armed Constabulary now employed on the TikaTapu road should, immediately on the completion of Jhat road, be employed in widening-and improving that portion of the main trunk line of road between ' Tauranga and Napier, running through Opiru.

Agreed to,

(from a correspondent.)