No. 74.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 185 G. 1. The House met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Speaker and twenty-five members being present ; Mr. Speaker read prayers and took the chair. 2. New Zealand Company's Debt :—Mr. Speaker read the following letter, addressed to him by Mr. Adderley, M.P., which, on motion of Mr. Stafford, was ordered to be entered on the journals of the House. " House of Commons, ® IR >~ " February 21, 1856. 1 beg to acknowledge your letter, dated 15th September, 1855, containing copies of resolutions passed by the House of Representatives, relative to the debt claimed by the New Zealand Company and of a report of a select committee. I fear there is little chance of my hearing the result of the' consideration by the Legislature of the terms which I have transmitted as the offer of the New Zealand Company for a final settlement, before this Parliament will have terminated its present session. " I have also been informed from the Colonial Office of the resolutions of both Houses of Legislature, and of a payment of Five Hundred Pounds, which, in accordance with those resolutions, I am authorized to expend in defraying expenses of agency. " I beg to repeat, as I said before, that I must decline availing myself of such authority. It -will not be required, and my own time and attention are quite at the service of the Colony of New Zealand. " I shall be happy, when Mr. Sewell arrives, and further news renders any proceedings possible in reference to the settlement of the debt, to consult with him in taking the steps necessary. " I am, your obedient servant, " C. B. Adderley." 3. Call of the House :—The order of the day for a call of the House having been read, Mr. Stafford moved, That, pursuant to such order, the names of the members of this House be now called over. Question put and passed. Whereupon the Clerk of the House called over the names of members not having leave of absence, and all those members answered in their places. 4. Suspension of Standing Orders:—Mr. Stafford moved, That Standing Orders Nos. 55, 56, 59, 62, 69, 71, 72, 76, 77, and 86, be suspended for this day, and during the remainder of the session, for the purpose of allowing motions to be made -without notice, and Bills to be passed through this House, in all their stages, in one day, if necessary.* Question put and passed. 5. Land Office, Canterbury :—Mr. Hall, pursuant to notice, asked the Government what steps the Government intend to take with reference to the amount claimed to be due to the Province of Canterbury on account of the Land Office and Survey Maps in that Province. Mr. Stafford replied, That the Government would not make any exception in favour of the Province of Canterbury on this subject; that, on the transfer of the management of the Waste Lands to the Provincial Governments, all the Provinces should be treated in a uniform manner.

* Note. Mr. Speaker doubted the power of the House to suspend the Standing Orders for more than one day at a time, but would put the question, ordering a note to be made on the journals to the effect, that this occasion was not to form a precedent. 6, Governor's

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OP THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATI YES.