Latest Parliamentary.

Western Star, Issue 970, 5 August 1885, Page 2

Latest Parliamentary.

(By Telegraph) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, 4th August. Thp. Land Transfer Bill was reported with slight amendment. In committee on the Administration Act Amendmnit Bill Mr Whitaker proposed a new c'ause providing that the property of men dying intestate leaving'a wife but no children surviving shall be allotted to his wife absolutely. This was carried by 22 to 14. The bill was then reported. A naruber of local bills were read a first time. 'ihe Distress Bill, Wellington Corporation Leasehold Bill, and Timaru Harbor Loan Bill were read a second time.

The Presbyterian Church Bill was referred to the Local Bills Committee. The debate on the motion that the School Committees Election Bill be committed was adjourned. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday 4th August. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Eeplying to questions, it was stated that a survey and report would be prepared on the question of the silting up of Nelson Harbor • that uo crown grant had been issued to Colliery Co. of 150 acres of land at Wallsend, and that ihe matter had not been referred to the law officer, as a transfer had already been made ; that a Sheep Act Amendment Bill was now under consideration of Government; that a bill would be introduced in order to remove doubts as to validity of release of mortgages executed prior to Property Law Consolidation Act, 1883; that copies of Professor Black's report and lecture on the goldfields of the Middle Island, and Mr Gordon's report on mining machinery of Victoria would be sent to the various schools of mines and mining committees free of cost.

Mr Pratt resumed the debate on the Native Lands Disposition Bill. He said that the bill would cause some trouble amongst native people, arid hoped the Native Minister would accept several amendments whic'i the native members intended to introduce. —Te Ao considered the bill was a halfbill, although it appeared as a Maori bill. He said the native people considered that both the Native Lands Disposition and Consolidation Bill were bad, and several petitions had been got up amongst his sivn people against them. Mr Dargaville intended to oppose the bill, as he considered it was vicious in principle, and provided that; a majority of owners should be put in a position to dispose of the lands of the Maoris. He would vote against any alteration of the Maori laws except in the directiou of iadividualising the resumption of pre-emptive rights. —Mr Moss objected to the bill, and said it concerned the Auckland district in a large measure, as out of 50,000 natives iu the colony, no L ss than 30,000 were to be found in that district. He said the character of the chiefs hadj greatly deteriorated in consequence of their intercourse with Europeans, and yet it was proposed by the bill to hand over to those chiefs the disposal of native lands.—Capt. Russell thought the bill was a retrograde movement, and would tend to prrpetuate the existence of the Native Department for ever. He pointed out that the election of trustees or committees was not at all a new idea, having been originated as far back as 18(37, but was repealed again in 1883, as it was found to be an utter failure. The bill also absolutely ignored the rights of owners. He was at a loss to understand the arguments advanced by the Premier snd the Native Minister, as they were told that the bill would prevent natives parting with their lands, whilst they also said it would promote settlement. He contended that Mr Bryc9 had left office with the respect of every native in the colony. The present Native Minister went about seeking popularity amongst natives, and he hoped that when he left office he would leave it with the same feelings of respect on the part of the natives as the member for Waitotara. He thought the great bulk of the land in the North Island should be settled, and the only way to do this was to induce the natives to sell their land and to compel them to individualise their title. By di'.ing this the natives would become frugal and industrious, but he thought the present bill would destroy individual effort.— Mr Hobbs opposed tha bill, and said its effect would be very disastrous to the natives themselves. —■ Mr Pyke deprecated treating the natives as children, and said that Mr Ballance had most unwarrantly made a promise to the natives which could never be fulfilled. He criticised the bill unfavorably and intended to vote against the second reading. The House adjourned at 5.30.