HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3421, 9 December 1879, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Evening Sitting.

Wellington," Last night.

The House met at 7 30.

Mr Hirtlop gave notice of motion to the effect that it was incompatible with the office of Agent General for the colony for the holder to take any part in Imperial politic!. j 2>JHEBS MATTEBS. to Mr McLean. Mr Hall stated that pending definite arrangements with certain newipaperi re the special wire business, arrangements had been i made for enabling the paperi to obtain telegraphic information, BEWI AND THE GOYKRHXEHT. Replying to a question put by Mr Kelly, Mr Bryce said his attention had been directed to a letter which appeared in the newspapers to the effect,that Kewi had joined the King party. He did not believe there wai any truth in the statement. A request had been received from : him some time ago that as he was going to the king country and had met with an aceiJent, that a carriage be placed at his disposal. That request had been complied with, and the Government had no reason to beliare he was any way I displeased with the Government. The letter in question had been reoeived by one of the Maori members, and,not from j Bewi but from a friend of his. The letter hadjbeen left in the Maori members' office, and in that way bad been got hold of by newspapers. The member himself- had not given the letter to the newspapers. Te Wheoro said he was the member referred to, and the letter stated that Kewi was displeased with the Government, and that he would not return to European side and that the chiefs who been instrumental in turning Sir G. Grey from the Government, must be left carry on the Government of the country. THE CBOWK AGENTS. In reply to Mr Gisborne, Mr Hali stated that Sir P. Julyan had retired from the loan agencyship on a pension, and there was no truth in the statement; which appeared in the newspapers to the effect that a difference of opinion had arisen between him and the Government.

THE INNOCHNTS TO BLAUGHTEBKD. Keplying to Mr Mkcandrew, Mr Hall stated he would be prepared to lUte tomorrow what, business would vbe dropped so as to bring the session to a close within a few days.

1 Mr' Maeandrew suggested for the consideration of the Government tint the business so dropped be taken up next session both public and private, as it stood on the order paper. XEVISIOK OF THE STATUTES BILL. Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Revision of Statutes Bill. j

Mr Stewart called the attention of the Government to the importance of making a pecuniary provision for the publication of the Jurist, and pointed out that in the absence of such a publication there could be no uniformity of procedure in the various courts, and the work could not effectually be done by private enterprise, as no one whose reports were, at all trustworthy would undertake the work unless they were well paid. In the present state of the colony the profits arising from such a publication would not be mifliuient to warrant a suitable person undertaking the task.

The Bill was read a second time. CONFISCATED LANDS.

The adjourned debate on the Confiscated Lands Inquiry and Maori Prisoners Bill was resumed. ' ...■.'

Mr Turnbull opposed the Bill, and spoke in strong terms against the Maori prisoners being kept in prison. for such a length of timo without being brought to trial.

Major Te Wheoro also objected to the bill, and stated that if it were passed the Maori prisoners might be kept in custody without being brought to trial .for years. They bad already been in prison, for a period of six months, and after all it might turn out they were in the right. He argued they ought to be brought to trial forthwith.

Tainui opposed the bill, and argued the prisoners should be brought to trial at once, and the charge should not be kept hanging over their heads in the way it had been done.

Mr Sutton spoke in support of the bill.

Sir G. Grey said the measure was one calculated to shake the confidence of the native race in the justice of oar courts oflaw. <■

Mr J. B. Fisher contended that the men lying in prison had done nothing to render them amenable to the criminal lair as they had simply asserted their fancied riebfc. The bill as it stood was not calenlated to obviate the abases complained of. He moved as an amendment that the bill be read that day six months. Mr Seddon supported the second reading and expressed a hope that when it became law, it would give justice Alike to all.

Mr Sheehan supported the second read* ing if they refused to pass the.Bill, and allowed tbe natives to return to Parihaka, a native disturbance was imminent. Certain mistakes in the Bill could be remedied in committee. He considered the policy enunciated in the Bill was the policy of the late Government tad one which was absolutely necessary if they desired to prevent a native war. Mr Bryce in reply laid it was the opinion of the Government that it would be a most dangerous thing to realise the prisoners under existing circumstances, and the late Government had a similar opinion. TJhe motion for the second reading was then put and on a diriiioi was carried :

■ avos 57," noes 12. The House then went ] ■into committee on tbeHßiil.