St tfo %tal a n k VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SESSION 11. Friday, September 15th, 1854. The House met pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker read prayers. The Speaker took the Chair. Minutes of last meeting read. On motion of Mr. Merriman standing order No. 81, was suspended. Mr. Merriman moved, the adoption of the following resolutions—That an address be presented to His Excellency the Officer administering the Government, acknowledging the receipt of His Excellency's Message No. 11, enclosing a Petition from the junior Clerks in the employment of the General Government, requesting His Excellency to grant them an increase upon their salaries; and respectfully informing His Excellency that in pursuance of the resolutions of the Committee of Supply, the salaries of several of the Officers in different departments of the Government have not been considered by the Houses, but that the House has given effect to the prayer of the Petitioners in granting supplies for the service of the several Departments over which the House has exercised control. Resolution adopted. A Deputation from the Legislative Council was announced. The Deputation informed Mr. Speaker that the Council had agreed to the amendments made in the House, to the Powers of Attorney Bill ; and requested a conference on the subject of amendments to Secondary Punishments Bill. The Deputation then withdrew. On motion of Mr. Mackay, the following members appointed a Committee to confer with a Committee of the Legislative Council on the subjcct of Amendments to Secondary Punishments Bill, viz. :—Mr. E. J. Wakefield, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Crompton, Mr. Merriman, and Mr. Sewell. Mr. Sewell gave notice that at the first opportunity he would move the following Resolutions : — 1. That the present distribution of the fixed public Burthens of the Colony amongst the Provinces, according to the rules established by the Constitution Act, is impolitic and unjust. 2. That in order to preserve the unity and harmony of the Colony, it is essentially necessary that such public burthens should be adjusted between the Provinces without delay. And that in such adjustment the New Zealand Company's debt ought to be apportioned amongst the Provinces upon sound and equitable principles, and having 17