263

i ™ a PP ears the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, by instruction# mmttotheCol'oin r Vlrt " all y the whole control of the Customs Department to the Colonial Government, and that the accounts of that Department have, since July, Jo.j3, under those instructions, been audited and passed by the Auditor-General, while the Governor has, of his own authority, determined the nature and amount of the various charges incident to the collection of the import duties of the Colony. g aS hy i the 63 J d clause of the Constitution Act, notwithstanding such transfer of the <■ 7 T a< , 'as alor "f ld ' before the pacing of the Act, the regulation and audit of the said costs and charges is still reserved to the Lords of the Treasury, it appears to this [T °be necessary, in order to carry into legal effect such transfer (so far as the same may be done without Act of Parliament), that the Lords of the Treasury should issue directions to overnor, requiring him to be guided in the regulation and audit of the said costs and charges, by the.concurrence with his Excellency of the other branches of the Legislature, in order to the same being brought into the Appropriation Act. < l !le °P'"' on of this House, it is highly advisable that in any measure proposed to be submitted to Parliament for altering the Constitution Act, a elause should be introduced absolutely transferring to the General Assembly the control of the Customs Department, with the regulation and audit of the costs and charges thereof. t i,S if 1 ' P endln S such instructions by the Treasury,, or such alteration in the Constitution Act, . ± U^°'b^ reSolUt,o f', <,etermine What ' in its opinion, ought to be the nature and r? ?f the sald costs and charges, and do respectfully address the Governor, praying that W P leased to ado P t such resolutions for the guidance of the Executive ■n ° rder e " abl ® this House to exercise such control over the said costs and charges,it ment , ,!! y ° • * es P° ns i. bl . e Ministers to take steps for placing the Customs Department upon an economical and efficient footing, and to lay before the Assembly, in its next session, full and detailed statements of such costs and charges, in order that the House may exercise a proper control over the same. xiouse may thp !ir t « UP °? the u ". derstandirl B tbat such course will be taken, this House does not object to proposed expenditure on the Customs Department, amounting to £13,240 3s. Question, I hat the foregoing resolution be adopted by this House, put and passed, (9.) Harbour Department, New Plymouth —That the sum of £300 be paid to the month? f Urer ' Tt . thB 6Xpenses of the HarboUr Department of New Plythat Departrnent^ rall ° n ff ° m tHe Customs establishment there, from Question, that the foregoing resolution be adopted by this House, put and passed. at °r ing u ent ex P endi ' ure on Natives.—That, on consideration of his Excellency's Message 28, the sum of faOO l.e granted to his Excellency for general contingencies sufh sum to be expended at his Excellency's absolute discretion for Native purposes, subject only to an account of such expenditure being laid before the Houses of Assembly. Question, That the foregoing resolution be adopted by this House, put and passed. l 7' o'ffiT eDt '~° n m ° tion ° f Mr - Bell the House ad j° urned at twenty minutes past one

NOTICES OF MOTION AND ORDERS OF THE DAY. Saturday, August 9, 1856. ORDER OF THE DAY. E roMriiteef E * penditUre the year ending 30th June, 1857-to be further considered it*

NOTICES OF MOTION. 1. Mr Fox to ask the Govjynment whether any instructions have been given to the Resident agis ra eat elhngton, to pay . over to the Provincial Government certain arrears of fees leceivect in his Court, in accordance with the instructions of the Geneial Government in force at se ime of their receipt. And, also, whether the Government has instructed that officer to nay over such fees accruing for the future. V y 2. Mr,