HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6312, 9 August 1888, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

"Wednesday, August 8. EVENING SITTING. Tiie House met at 7.5J0 p.m. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. Beplyingto Mr Seddon, The P_n___a__i_ said the Public Works Statement -would be brought down after the Native Bills and the San Francisco -MaiLSeirvieo had been disposed of. *v THE NATIVE BILLS. Replying to Sir G. Grey, The P-B-saiiEis said he had consented to postpone consideration of the Native Bills till nest day, at the request of several "Natives, who had represented to him that thejrhad not had time to go through the BiHs."' Sir G- Grey urged that further delay Bhould be allowed, in order that several Native chiefs, who were desirous of being heard st the bar of the House, would be able to do bo. Sir H. Atkinson said he was quite •willing,, provided that the Chiefs were ready to ba heard next day ; but he could not promise to give any further delay. lifiTAiwiiANGAsaid when these Bills were before the House he intended to stonewall them. Mr Beetham pointed out that it waa not an unusual thing for Natives to be heard at the bar of the House, and he thought the Premier's promise waa a reasonable one _ but if any Buch threat aa that uttered by Mr Taiwhanga were attempted, he Bhould oppose the proposition for these Natives to be heard at the bar of the House. Mr Carroll said he would take no part in stonewalling the Bills, and he advised his Native colleagues to debate those measures in a reasonable manner. Mr Ballance said that although there were a number of influential chiefs in Wellington at present, there was a large number of districts which were not represented ; but he saw no particular objection to allowing them to appear at the bar of the House. After further discussion, The House went into Committee on the Native Land Frauds Prevention and other Native Bills, lant progress wag immediately reported on them. The Native Land Court Bill was made the Order of the Day for next day at 2.30. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to Mr J. C. Brown, on account otillness. SECOND READINGS. The Hon G. Fisher moved the second reading of the Customs Duties Consolidation Act Amendment Bill, to allow certain goods to be bonded. Agreed to. The Hon T. W. Hislop moved the second reading of the Proclamations Validation Bill. Agreed to. The Hon E. Mitchelson moved tho second reading of the Loss of Compensation Bill, the objeot of which waa to make compensation for land taken for public xoads. Agreed to. The Hon E. Mitchelson moved the Becond reading of the Mackenzie Land BUI. Agreed to. I The Hon T.-W. Hislop moved— "That ! the Coroners Act Amendment Bill be committed presently**" ' Mr Guinness drew attention to Clause 3 of the Bill, which was in- reality an appropriation clause, because it authorised the { Governor -in - Council to fix the amount j payable, au fees and mileage, to Coroners. ' He therefore contended that the Bill should have originated in the House, and not in the Council. The Speaker asked the Colonial Secre- j tary to postpone the committal of the Bill i till next day, in ordor that he might look into tho matter. The Hon T. "W. Hislop agreed to the request, and tho Bill was postponed accordingly. The Hon G. _?. Eichardson moved the second reading of the Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill. Agreed to. Sir H. Atkinson moved the second reading of the Nativo Contracts and Promises Bill aud Post Office (foreign articles) Bill. ! Agreed to. The Hon T. "W. Hislop moved the second reading of the District Courts Act Amendment Bill. Agreed to. DILLS FABSED. All the above-mentioned Bills, with the exception of Interpretation, Land Transfer, Native Contracts, and Coroners* Bills, were passed through all their stages. BIV__K BOARDS ACT. LeAve having been obtained by the Pre-fiier, the Eiver Boards Act Amendment Bill was reported with amendments. Mr Pykb moved that the Bill he recommitfttd, in consequence of certain amendments made in it. Lost by 2_» to 23. On the motion that the Bill be read a third, time, MrsPj-Oi moved that -the.thirci reading

be postponed, in order that members interested in the Bill might be consulted. Lost by 34 to 17, and the Bill read a third time and passed. TOEACCO ACT AMENDMENT. The Hon G. Fisher moved tbe second reading of the Tobacco Act Aineudnienb Bill, a technical measure to extend the Aot already in existence. Agreed to, and the Bill committed, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 10.40 p.m.