Parliamentary Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 15, 3 August 1888, Page 13

Parliamentary Notes.

Wednesdaj, axtll.— A discussion on village settlements took place in the House. The Minister of Lands, who said that the GoTernment had no intention of continuing the system— gi vine: as a Mason that land was being rapidly taken op- Several hun . members spoke inference of the system, especially those belonging to Auckland.—The motion for the committal of the Native Land Bill was opposed vigorously by the Maori members, being condemned by them as specially odious to their people, whom they described as having taken up arms on a milier provocation. Sir George Grey also opposed the BUI as ruinous to the Native race, and to result in confernng large tracts of land on favoured Europeans. The comparison made by the Premier between the Natives and European monopolists seems to us especially unfortunate. It must justly brand the statesman making it in Native eyes as one unfit to deal with their affairs. The motion was agreed to. „ , Thursday, 26th.— A discussion took place as to f encinc the railways in order to prevent the frequent slaughter of cattle occasioned by their being open to trespass, Mr. Mitcbeleon finally ■tating that toe undertaking was too expensive to be thought of.— The Otago Central Railway Bill was again strenuously opposed in committee, Sir George Grey taking a leading part, in the interests it seems of the workingiaen of Otago, to whom he is so devoted that his solicitude extends even to their grandchildren whose inheritance he labours to preserve to them. A little consideration, however, for the present generation might also be of some service, and would probably help to increase the numbers of the grandchildren in question by enabling their progenitors to remain in the country, out of which they are now being driven by the score. All the Auckland members are dead set agaiastthe Bill— and so, strange to say, is Mr. Fish who we are quite persuaded, does not care a fig about posterity, and must have some motive of action lying well within the pre«ent, whatever it may be. Mr. Bcobie Mackenzie, again, whosa opposition to monopoly of the lands and desire for Una fide settlement are necessarily the burning passion well known to exist in the heart of every squatter for those ends— is thoroughly opposed to the Bill, and hopeß even if it be passed to make it of no practical effect. n P^ da 7» ?7 ttl «"~ A motion by the Hon. Mr. Menzies in the Council to the effect that the Bible should be read in the public schools was defeated by a majority of one.— The Committee on the Otago Central Railway was adjourned in order that a compromise might be agreed to by the advocates and opponents of the Bill. The resolutions of the meeting were that the line be extended to Eweburn ; that the Government should effect the work by setting aside sufficient land to be dealt with by the land laws of the Colony ; and that the construction should be carried out with the least possible delay. Mr. tyke condemned the resolutions as no compromise, but resulting from a preconcerted arrangement. After some further discussion an adjournment was made until Monday. Tuesday, 30th.— The House agreed to a proposal of the Gevernmeat to the effect that Government should undertake to push the railway on at once to Middlemarch. The Premier added that the work would occupy two years, but Government would be prepared to do all that was possible to shorten the time. The proposal was opposed by Mr. Pyke and his supporters, but was carried by a majonty of 4.