POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 345, 31 August 1889, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE LATEST FROM THE HOUSE. [FROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, last night. In the Council on Wednesday the Waipu Order in Council Validation Bill and the Certificate of Title Issue Empowering Bill were read a third time and passed. The Wi Pere Grant Bill was read a second time. Yesterday the Chinese Immigrants Act Continuance Bill, making the Act of last session permanent, was read a second time. The House on Wednesday was occupied almost wholly with the consideration of the Estimates. All votes in the Education Department were passed with slight alteration, Yeslerday, on tho motion of the Premier, all Local Bills were referred to the Local Bills Committee, to ascertain which measures could be held over till next session, without inconvenience, and which were not likely to be opposed. A Committee has been appointed to consider what steps should be taken to assist Western Australia in obtaining a responsible Government. • The report of the Public Accounts Com mittee recommending the appointment of a Board for investing Post Office Savings Bank funds was adopted, and also a report from the same Committee, respecting the mode of dealing with Trust funds generally. Sydney Taiwhanga made a most original speech on the Native Land Court Bill. He told the House that he had been trying to get into Parliament ever since 1867 to remedy the bad laws that were passed for the Maori people. “But, thank God,” ha exclaimed, " I have got in at last.” Inferring tq I)is stonewalling experiences of last session he coolly stated that the Government kept him for two days and two nights without food, drink, or sleep. The House roared with laughter at this assertion, knowing that he had been relieved at intervals by other native members, and also bv one or two European members. It was with a feeling of relief, however, that the House hetpfd him stats that he had intended to stonewall tlje whole of the native bills this session also, bqt that his party had requested Rim nst to do so, and he fead given his promise to them to abstain from stonewalling. He condemned the native bills as a whnle, and holding up his own (the Native Land Administration Bill) he said that if the House only passed that law all the troubles cf his poo? Maori people wonld vanish, anti everything woulj progress satisfactorily.