No. 59.

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 1856. 1. The House met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Speaker and twenty-two members being present; Mr, Speaker read prayers and took the chair. 2. Representation of the Provinces :—Mr. Merriman, pursuant to notice, asked the Government ■whether it is the intention of the Government to take any steps with a view to equalize the representation of the several Provinces in this House. The Colonial Secretary replied, That the Government would not be pledged on this subject, but it was the intention of the Government to cause an enquiry to be made into the state of the Electoral Rolls with a view to their purification ; and that if returns showed that the number of representatives was disproportioned to the number of electors, it would then be the duty of the Government to take action in the matter. 3. Land Claimants, New Zealand Company:—Mr. Bell, pursuant to notice, asked the Government whether it is the intention of the Government to make any provision for completing the investigation into titles under contracts of the New Zealand Company, sometime since devolved upon the Crown, and for issuing of grants pursuant to the Act of Parliament in that behalf. Mr. Stafford replied, That he understood from Mr. Bell himself, that there were very few of these claims that had not been investigated and reported on; that on the transfer of the management of the Waste Lands of the Crown to the Provinces, the Government proposed to delegate to the Provincial Governments the authority to complete these investigations ; if this should be declined, then it would remain the duty of the General Government to do so. 4. Counties Bill:—The Colonial Secretary, pursuant to notice, asked for leave to introduce a Bill to authorise the division of the Provinces of New Zealand into Counties, Hundreds, and Townships. Leave given ; and, on motion of the Colonial Secretary, the Bill was read a first time, ordered to be printed, and the second reading ordered to stand an order of the day for Thursday next. 5. Land Claimants, New Zealand Company :—The Colonial Treasurer, pursuant to notice, moved for a return of all persons who have given due notice to the Colonial Secretary, of claims, required under the New Zealand Company's Land Claimants' Ordinance. Question put and passed. 6. Absence of Members :—Mr. Bell, pursuant to notice, moved, That if during this session, on Mr. Speaker concluding prayers, there be not a quorum of members present, the names of the members absent, without leave of the House, shall be taken down by the Clerk, and posted in some conspicuous place in the House, there to remain during the session. And that all members so absent, shall forfeit the amount of expenses for that day, the same to be deducted from the amount receivable by them at the end of the session. Debate ensued. Mr. Merriman moved the previous question. Question, Shall this question be now put, put and negatived. 7. Works of Art and Literature -.—Mr. Brown, pursuant to (amended 1 ) notice, moved, That this House is of opinion, that any works of art or literature offered to the Government of this Colony for the cost of transmission of the same, ought to be accepted with the least possible delay. Question put and passed. 8. Militia : —Mr. Bell, pursuant to notice, mdved, That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying that his Excellency will be pleased to communicate with the Home Government, in order to ascertain whether a sufficient number of small arms, which may have been thrown out of service by the introduction of the Minie rifle, can be placed at the disposal of the Colonial Government, free of cost, for tile purpose of arming the Local Militia

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS or THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.