97

That in the opinion of this House the public expenditure of the Colony is on a scale too in proportion to its revenues. And this House earnestly trusts . that his Excellency the n;w Governor, amongst the first acts of his Government, will institute a searching enquiry into such expenditure with a view to its retrenchment. „,, . , . That although this House has voted supplies for the service of the full period of a year, yet looking to the financial state of the colony, and particularly to outstanding liabilities, for which it appears that no provision has been or is being made, this House considers it indispensably necessary that a new Session of the Assembly should be held at the earliest possible period after the intended dissolution. „ , That this House reitirates its opinion that the cost of the Surveying Department does not form part of the cost of collection and management of the Land Revenue, and that this Department of the public service ought as far as possible to be placed under the control of the respective Provincial Governments. 3 MR TRAVERS—To move that pending a final adjustment of the public accounts of the Colony, it is just and expedient that the proportion of the Land Fund now in course of being retained by the General Government, in repayment of alleged over-payments to the Provinces of Canterbury and Nelson, should again be paid over to the Provincial Treasurers of those Provinces for the public uses thereof, according to the present system of advances to Provinces, and that the question of the repayment oi such alleged overpayments should remain open until such final adjustment, and be subject to such arrangements for liquidation as may then be deemed necessary. That a respectful Address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying that instructions may be issued to the proper officers to carry out the foregoing 4 MR °TRAVERS To move that whilst this House has agreed fo make provi- ' sion for certain services mentioned in the Supplementary Estimates for the financial year ending 30th June, 1855, it desires to record its opinion that the practice of exceeding the Appropriation made by the House, except m cases of great and unavoidable urgency, is extremely injudicious, and is calculated to iutroduce serious confusion and derangement in the financial system of the Colony. ORDERS OF THE DAY. 1 Estimates of Expenditure—to be further considered in Committee. 2 Adjourned debate on consideration of bis Excellency's Messages No. 55. MR. SEWELL —To move that this House is prepared to give its favourable consideration to his Excellency's proposal to effect a loan for the purpose of enabling additional purchases to be mace of native lands. And, assuming such loan to be effected, the means will be supplied for enabling his Excellency to complete the purchase of lands in the Ahuriri, referred to in his Excellency's Message No. 55. . , . But this House feels it incumbent upon it to add that, in their opinion, it is highly in exoedientthat any moneys should be paid, either by way of instalment > or in final liquidation, for any lands over which there may exist rival claims, which may lead to native disturbances. 3. Crown Land Purchasers' Legal Estate Bill—second reading. 4. Loan jji'il—to be considered in Committee. CHARLES CLIFFORD, Speaker.