No. 48.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 185 G. ]. The House met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Speaker and thirty-four members being present; Mr. Speaker read prayers and took the chair. 2. Papers : —Mr. Stafford laid on the table the following papers : — (1.) Correspondence relative to the proposed immigration into the Colony from Canada or other British possessions; also, correspondence respecting the purchase of Victoria Valley, in the district of Monganui, being return to an order of the House of the 1 8th of June, 1856. (2.) Report made to the Governor by the Commission appointed by his Excellency at Wellington, to enquire into certain subjects connected with the disposal of land, being return to an order of the House of the 18th of June, 1856. (3.) Return of the quantity of land sold in acres in all the Provinces of the Colony for the twelve months ending 31st of December, 1855. (4.) Return of outstanding loans to Aboriginal Natives in the Province of Auckland. 3. Arms and Ammunition Ordinance Mr. Brodie, pursuant to notice, asked the Government whether it is their intention to make any alteration in the Gunpjwde" or Arms and Ammunition Ordinance during the present session. Mr. Stafford replied, that the Government did not intend to propose any alteration in the Gunpowder or Arms and Ammunition Ordinance during the session, and promised that the Government would consider the subject with the view of modifying the provisions of the Ordinance. 4. Motion withdrawn: —Mr. Brodie withdrew the motion standing in his name, fourth on the notice paper of this day. 5. Defalcation of Collector at Nelson Mr. Brodie, pursuant to notice, moved, That it is the unanimous opinion of this House, that immediate action should be taken by the Government for the arrest of Mr. E. H. E. Blackmore, late Collector of Customs and Treasurer at Nelson, for his late defalcation, whether he is in the Colony of New Zealand or in any of the Australian Colonies. Debate ensued. It being now six o'clock, the debate was adjourned until to-morrow, the House proceeding to the consideration of the orders of the day. 6. Postponement: —On motion of Mr. Brown, the report of the Committee on the Province of Taranaki Bill was postponed until Tuesday, July Ist. 7. Land Scrip : —Mr. Fox, Chairman of the Land Scrip Committee, brought up the report of the Committee, which was read and ordered to be printed. 8. Ways and Means :—The third order of the day having been read, Mr. Speaker left the chair, the House resolving itself into a Committee of Ways and Means. On Mr. Speaker resuming the chair, the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again to-morrow. 9. Wesleyan Property Sale Bill:—Mr. Travers moved, That oiders of the day Nos. 5, and J -jC first considered. Question put and passed. . , ? On motion of Mr. Travers, the Wesleyan Property Sale Bill was read a third time and passed. _ . . » Mr. Travers moved the following be the title of the Bill, — " A Bill to authorise the sale c certain land in the Town of Nelson, and of buildings thereon, appropriated as a C hapel ant School House i'or the use of the Wesleyan Methodists, and to provide for the investment ol

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.