3

1.—5.

islands that the Australian Colonies should jointly contribute towards the expense of such establishment, New Zealand should decline to acquiesce in any such condition, be agreed to, upon which a division took place, and the names were taken down as follows: — Ayes, 2. —Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery. Noes, 4.—Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. So it passed in the negative. Proposed by Mr. Larnach, That, in the event of the British Government making it one of the conditions of establishing its authority over any islands in the Pacific, it is hereby recommended that New Zealand, jointly with the Colonies of Australia, will contribute its fair proportion of necessary expense, on the basis of European populations of other British Colonies now comprised in Australasia. Moved by Hon. Major Atkinson, That the word " will," in the third line, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the word " should " in lieu thereof, upon which a division took place, and the names were taken down as follows :—- Ayes, 4. —Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Larnach, Mr. Peacock, Mr. Wynn-Williams. Noes, 2.-—Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery. So it w Tas resolved in the affirmative. Moved by Mr. Wynn-Williams, That the, word " calculated" be inserted after the word " expense," in the fourth line.—Agreed to. Moved by Hon. Major Atkinson, That the word "other," in the fourth line, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the word " the " in lieu thereof.—Agreed to. Moved by Sir G. Grey, That the words " Provided that the amount of such proportionate expenditure, when ascertained, does not exceed the means at the disposal of New Zealand," included in Mr. Macandrew's motion, be added to Mr. Larnach's amendment.—Agreed to. The amendment as amended was then agreed to. The Confederation and Annexation Bill was then considered. Clause I.—Agreed to. Clause 2. —Moved by Hon. Major Atkinson, That the word "Government," in the first line, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the word " Parliament " in lieu thereof, upon which a division took place, and the names were taken down as follows:— Ayes, s.—Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Peacock, Mr. WynnWilliams. Noes, I.—Mr. Larnach. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Clause 3.—Agreed to. On the motion of Mr. Macandrew, Besolved, That the Committee recommends that the Confederation and Annexation Bill be passed by the House, with the amendment in the first line of the second clause of the word " Parliament " in lieu of the word " Government." On the motion of the Chairman, That the papers named in the schedule laid by the Colonial Treasurer before the Committee, relating to the annexation of islands in the Pacific, together with such other papers relating to the subject as Government can supply, be printed for the information of Parliament.—Agreed to. Besolved, That the Chairman report the foregoing resolutions to the House.

By Authority: Geob&e Didsbukt, Government Printer, Wellington. —1883.