LIABILITY OF BANK SHAREHOLDERS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2239, 1 August 1865, Page 7

LIABILITY OF BANK SHAREHOLDERS.

The Hon. Mr. PBENDEBO-AST moved for ! leave to introduco a Bill " to regulate the liability of Bank Shareholders." In bringing forward this motion, lie -would merely remark that he considered it very desirable that shareholders in Joint Stock Bunks should know to what extent they rendered themselves liable for theissuo of suoh banks, and it was to provide for this that tlije Bill he now introduced was intended. The motion was adopted, and the Bill ordered to be read a second time on Monday next. THE DISTRICT COURTS ACT. The Hon. Mr. PRT2ND ERGAST moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the " District Courts Act." These amendments would have reference to the working of jails and other important matters, and were, ho considered, at present very much required. The motion was adopted, and the Bill ordered ' to be read a second time on Tuesday next. THE REPLY TO TEE ABDKESS. Tho Hon. Major COOTE then rose to move the adoption of an address in reply to his Excellency's speech on tho opening of Pai'liament. (Tho address which was taken as read by tho Council, has already boen published in these columns.) In moving its adoption tho hon. Major Cooto said there were a number of features in his Excellency's Speech, which undoubtedly involved matters of the highest importance to tho Colony, and ho would trust therefore that he might claim tho indulgence of tho hon. mombcrs present, while he entered somewhat into detail on the different subjects referred to. The fact of the partial establishment of peace and the suppression of insurrection in several of the disturbed districts, must bo highly gratifying to everyone, and he felt suro that the hon. members who surrounded him would givo their most careful consideration to any measure which had for its object tho peace, prosperity, and success of her Majesty's subjects. There was a difficulty in the position of the native race, which by the Native Lands Act of 1862, had been materially changed as it now conferred upon them proprietary titlesto their lands. Thi9 concession was followed by political rights, which involved the practical question of how to adapt these exceptional kind of territorial rights to our present system. The subject was one fraught with difficulties. How the native race were to be represented had not yet been decided. Several plans had been proposed. One suggestion by his Excellency's ministers to hold a kind of free conference with the leading chiefs, and thus ascertain the best means of determining how these native rights should be ascertained was, in his opinion, most desivablo, and although he would be most willing to render any assistance and support in carrying out any measiu*e that would tend to amalgamate the races and restore confidence to tho aborigines, yet he could not blind himself to tho fact that great difficulties, at presont existing, would havo to be overcome. As was well known to hon. members, there had been several plans proposed for the amalgamation of the two races ; but tho one that appeared to him most practicable and likely of attaining this desirable end, was the division of the whole island into electoral districts regardless of races, and at the same time destroying any exceptional laws that might bo found to exTst. It appeared to him, that if native, purely native electoral districts were proclaimed, it would be keeping alive the feeling of difference, of people and their interosts, and that would probably tend seriously to prevont amalgamation. Thcro would also bo great difficulties in tho way of finding suitable representatives, were natives to be roturned, and he thought they would scarcely comprehend many of the deliberations which took place in tho Houses of Parliament, and were they permitted to return European commissioners as their representatives, it appeared to him (Major Coote) that some high qualificatio)! would be necessary, as it might be most injurious to the interest of tho Colony to have a class of men representing 5,000 or 10,000 armed Maories, who had no stake in tho well being of the country. It appeared to him to be a question, whether in tho presont state of affairs, it would not be better to permit the Natives to nominate two Commissioners, one for the North and another for tho South, who would represent them in tho Ministry, whore their voices would be heard in all matters relating to tho native population, instead of introducing them into the Houses of Parliament, but as a Bill would shortly be introduced on tho subject by tho Ministry, the lion, member thought it unnecessary for him to detain the Houso further. He would next touch upon a matter of great importance, which demanded an expression of opinion from that hon. Houso— ho referred to the removal of her Majesty's troops. Before entering upon this subject, he thought he was but expressing tho feeling of the House in recording the gratitude felt towards the mother country for tho noble army sent to aid us in our time of need. Had that force been permitted to act, he did not hesitate to assert that long 'ere this time, this unfortunate insurrection would havo beon quellod, but ho regretted to say that, from some reasons, as yet unexplained, the oilicor commanding that force, arrogated to himself a positiou of inaction, and oven 3 did much to prevent tho colonial forceß from taking thoso measures which were so necessary for the safety of tho colony and tho speedy termination of tho war. In addition to this, General Cameron had assumed an independent political position, totally inconsistent with constitutional Government, and a hostile attitude towards the colony, at the same time attributing tho basest motives to the colonists. Instead of using tho power he had to put down the insurrection of those who were in arms against her Majesty's supremacy, he permitted the contest to languish, and even prevented the colonial forces from taking thoso measures which were so necessary for tho safety of tho colony and tho termination of tho war. This inaction was absolutely disastrous. It gave time to the enemy to refresh themselves by effecting fresh combinations and collecting food, and afforded some apparent ground for the notion so insidiously spread by the priests of the Hau Hau fanatics, that the General was actually spoil bound by their incantations. When the natives saw this noble force of British troops, who wore so well capable of crushthem, fall back from the lino of operations to the sea coast and wander amongst the sand lulls, ho thought the priest Teha might well say that ho had spoil bound them, and compare General Cameron to a lame sea gull. Month after month passed without any atops being taken, until the summer had passed. Tho fire of insurrection which had woll nigh expired, suddenly, under the fostering care of Sir Duncan Cameron, began to blaze forth again and promised on indefinite prolongation of tho struggle. A strong party of insurgents moved towards our outpost at Pipiriki and seriously threatened it,yetho,thehon. member would impress upon the Houbo, that no effort was made to relievo it whilst the native contingent andjcolonial forces were in front of tho Woreroapa, anxiously desiring, yet npt permitted by the officor in command, to attack it. At this most critical time, his Excellency proceeded in person to tho scene of operations, and, although denied tho assistance of hor Majesty's troops, further than tho moral support, as it might be termed, that their presence would afford, he took the command of a mixed force of colonists and friendly Maoriea, numbering between 400 and 500, and with considerable skill and courage captured this most formidable pa j an act whioh wenoral Cameron had declined to proccod with unless he had 2,000 regular troops. It

I -was notinhis, the hon. moniber's opinion, numbers ' that wore required, and he believed that if the whole of the British army had been present; the Wereroa Pah -would not havo been taken. He had entered rather fully into this matter in order to point out the danger of retaining Her Majesty's troops, and permitting any officer in this Colony i to maintain an independent political power ; and, moreover, the terms upon which we wore to bo permitted to retain this very doubtful boon were such as the finances of this country would not admit of, and it was therefore simply offering New Zealand that which it was well known it had nob tho means to accept. Should Her Majesty's troops be delayed for Imperial purposes in this Colony, ho hoped that steps would at once- be taken to remove the Colonial forces from the control of tho officer commanding, unless placed under his orders by direction of tho Governor. He considered tho gallantry and devotion of the Colonial forces and the friendly natives was deserving of the highest praise, and it would afford himmuchpleasuretohearthatstepshadbeon taken to issue medals both to Europeans and Natives, in the name of her Majesty if permission could be obtained, and if not, in tho name of the Colony. He would briefly refer to tho present state of those districts that had been disturbed. In tho Waifcato the ill feeling caused by the war, seemed to be rapidly dying out and every prospect of peace and plenty offered to tho inhabitants. At Taranaki ho believed that raoro than half the Ngatiawa. tribe were supporting tho Government and that William Kingi's adherents were fast dis- , appearing. On the Wanganui river the chivalrous devotion displayed by the Native Chiefs had earned for them the gratitude of every settler in tho district. The success attained by the Colonial Troops and their native allies at the Wereroa Pa, he had before alluded to, and the repulse of vaatly superior numbers at Pipiriki, by Captain Brassey j and his gallant force must, he thought, have proved to tho insurgents the fruitlessness of their efforts. It was true that tho enemy still held a position on the Wanganui river, but there was every reason to believe that they must ultimately be captured if they did not effect their escape, thus j the peace of that district would be restored and he might add that had tho instructions of hia Excellency been carried out in due course and the contemplated road to Taranaki been fairly openedby General Cameron, all further danger would have certainly been avoided. Tho hon. member then proceeded to read some despatches and correspondence winch had passed between His Excellency and General Camoron on tho subject, remarking that the documents in question contained important instructions inasmuch as questions would probably bo raised as to how far her Majesty's troops had been employed in the Colony. Without doubt the capture of tho Wereroa Pa was an operation which should not have caused General Cameron a moments thought. British Soldiers, ho thehon member knew from experience, never stand, but are always ready to act when they have faith and confidence in their commandor, and his Excelloncy had, in this instance proved that the task was not a very difficult one, by taking the pa himself. He regretted much that this apparent weakness displayed by General Cameron had in some cases given fresh courage to the malcontents, and serious disturbances had in consequence taken placo on tho East Coast. Ho would call the attention of that hon. Council to the devotion of a portion of the native race who had so nobly risen in the cause of order, and were willing to risk their lives in order to hunt down those inhuman savages, who were guilty of tho foul murder of their clergyman. There were a few scattered bands of insurgents still in arms, but under all tho circumstances he thought that the internal defence of the Colony might ba loft safely to the forces at the disposal of the Colonial Government, and even were the Imperial Forces detained here it would, in his opinion, merely keep alive a spirit of opposition on the part of the enemy. Although this unhappy war had necessarily entailed much suffering and loss on tho colonists, yet it had created a spirit of self-reliance amongst tho people which was invaluable, for until a community were prepared to defend themselves, they were scarcely fit for the free constitution that had been so sacrodly guaranteed to this Colony. Ho was sure that hon. members would willingly recognise the services of Brigadier-General Waddy, Colonel Trevor, and Colonel Warro, and the officers and men under their command, who had lent the Colony such aid i as they had been permitted, and had they had the power to act according to their own feelings, he had no doubt the war would now be at an end. The re-adjustment of the representation of tho Colony would, he anticipated, meet with the careful attention of the Council when tho subject was brought before it. The admirable manner in which the negotiations for the Panama Lino of Steamers had been brought to a successful termination, and the ability and perseverance exhibited by Dr Featherston, proved that there were men in the Colony capable of overcoming any difficulty that might arise when tho interests of the country were involved. He had been informed that tho arrangements that had been made had met with the entire concurrence of tho Company, that another steamer had been ordered for the servico, and that in the month of February or March at latest, the lino would bo opened, when a career of prosperity hitherto unknown in this young Colony might be looked forward to. Tho introduction of capital and emigrants, and the connection, which tho opening of tho Panama line would establish between tho States of America and New Zealand would, ho trusted, when combined with a spirit of justice and moderation towards tho Native race, materially tend to tho peace and prosperity of this Colany. (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Dr. BUCHANAN seconded tho adoption of tho reply to Hia Excellency's Speech, at the same time resorving to himself the right to I speak on the subject on any future occasion. Tho COLONIAL SECRETARY thought it undesirable under the circumstances — the matter involving as it did a considerable amount of papers and correspondence wlu'ch it would take some time to look into — to dispose of the subjoct at ones. Ho would, therefore, move as an- amendment that the further consideration of the question be postponed till Tuesday next, and that, in the meantime, the papers relating to it from tho various departments be produced. The Hon. Mr. STOKES seconded the amendment, which was agreed to item, con., and the subject dropped. NOTICE OF MOTION. The Hon. Mr. MENZIES gave notice of his intention to ask, at tho next mooting of Council— " Whether tho Government proposed to bring in any measure to remove the existing prohibition of distillation ; and also, to ask tho Government what steps it proposes to take with a viow of establishing the authority of the law in Stewart's Island." , ADJOXTBNMENT. On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, the . House then adjourned at half-past 3 till Monday. < Monday, July 31st. Tho SrEAKEB took the Chair at 7 minutes past 2 o'clock. There were eight members present. PETITIONS. The SPEAKER informed the Council that ho , had received a petition from tho Provincial Council of Southland, praying that the House would pass such a law as would remove the existing prohibition to distillation. PAPHBS IiAID ON THB TABIiE. Tho COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table returns of the rules and regulations of the Gold Fields' Act, also a return of number of sittings of the Court of Appeal being in accordance with an order of tho Council, dated November, 1864 ; also a copy of tho Regulations according to the procedure of the Land Regulations ( Act, also, a copy of a Report from the Su-

t»nTm~niMnTmwwiirMnrfMOT^tiniM'i n n i " -p*"* -' perintendent of Hawke's Bay ; also mem >• an<?» referring to tho Purchase of tho VVaitotaiu I oct j also further papers referring io Provincial L an?. These papers on the motion of thehon. gentkmstt were ordered to be printed. distillation. Tho Hon. Mr. MENZIES asked whether tie ' Government proposed to bring in any mcas'iro to remove the existing prohibition to dint llation. The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied t-vafc Government had no plan at present, not h n'ing it in immediate contemplation; the fact, w.is the question was a vory difficult quostion in itself, and did not admit of being handlod euivle.^ly. The act under which, distillation wa3 allow jd in. Victoria occupied a great volume of clause-?. and" the revenue of Victoria under the Act was ,61.5,0)0, the expensos being about £5000, so tliat it was a matter which could not be entered into hurriedly. DISEASED CATTLE ACT, The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of tlio Diseased Cattle Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, which was carried. Tho Council then went into Committee of the wholo houso, tho lion Major Richmond in tho Chair, The Bill, with some slight alterations, passed through Committee. The COLONIAL SECRETARY then moved the re-committal of the wholo of the clauses which was carried. GOLD FIELDS ACT. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the second reading of this Bill be postponed until »Tuesday, as tho other house wished to take a like bill into their consideration, and hewould suggest that a committee of both Houses be appointed to consider the clauses of tho Act. Carried. BANK SHABEHOLDER'S LIABILITIES BILL— SECOND BKADING. The object of this bill was to render tho number of bills issued by foreign banks in this colony a limited number, instead of unlimited as heretofore, and another object was to give the holders of other securities, except those of promises to pay on demand an equal claim on the assets of the Bank with those of tho holders of securities on demand. „ The Houso went into Committee on this .Bill. The bill passed the Committee without amendments. The Committee reported progress, and the bill was ordered to be 'read a third time on Thursday. The Council then adjourned.