6

Mr. Crompton pursuant to notice, moved " that His Excellency be requested to issue new writs for the election of a member for the Town of Wellington in the room of J. Kelham, Esq., resigned, and for the Whanganui and Rangitikei District in the room of I. E. Featherston, Esq., resigned." Question put and passed. Mr. Mackay with the leave of the House moved, that leave of absence be granted to A. C. Picard, Esq., member for Motueka District for one month from this date. Question put and negatived. Mr. Sewell pursuant to notice, moved the adoption of the following address in reply to the speech of His Excellency the Officer administering the Government on opening the Session. To His Excellency the Officer administering the Government of the Islands of New Zealand, <&c. We, the Commons of New Zealand assembled in their House of Representatives, have received with sentiments of high respect the Speech addressed to us by your Excellency at the opening of the present Session. We desire to convey to your Excellency our acknowledgements for the efforts made by you towards obtaining, from the Imperial Authority, the establishment of Responsible Government for this Colony. We deeply regret to hear that native disturbances have occurred at New Plymouth which threatened the peace and may endanger the safety of that settlement. We trust that the measures about to be taken by your Excellency, may produce the desired result of restoring and establishing its tranquility on a permanent basis. Until we shall have had an opportunity of examining the correspondence and information alluded to in your Excellency's address, we cannot express any opinion as to the policy there intimated, of the operations of the troops being confined to the assuming of such a position as to insist upon the neutrality of the European population being respected. This House entirely concurs with your Excellency in the importance of intercolonial Steam Communication, and will not fail to promote that object by all means in its power. Considering the small amount of business likely to be brought before us, we trust, that your Excellency will be pleased so to expedite it, that the Session may be brought to a close in time for the members for the Southern Provinces to return to their homes by the steamer, which will leave Auckland in the ensuing month of September. Debate ensued. A message from His Excellency the Officer administering the Government was announced. His Excellency s Private Secretary was introduced, who delivered the following messages which were read by the Speaker. Message No. 1. R. H. Wynyard, Officer administering the Government. The Officer administering the Government has received an application from the Superintendent of New Plymouth, requesting from the General Government a loan of one thousand five hundred pounds. The Superintendent states the case to be one of emergency, and the Officer administering the Government believes that, in the present state of affairs in that Province, it is highly important that the Provincial authorities should not be left, as appears now to be the case, wholly destitute of funds at their command. The Officer administering the Government, therefore, recommends to the House of Representatives that provision should be made for this service, and that he should be authorised to advance the sum of one thousand five hundred pounds as a loan to the Provincial Government of New Plymouth. The re-payment will be secured by retaining the amount out ef future sums which will become payable to the Province by the General Government. As the matter is one of immediate necessity, the Officer administering the Government suggests to the House of Representatives that a resolution should be passed declaratory of its opinion that the sum required should be advanced, when steps for that purpose will be taken without delay, and the formal authority can hereafter be conveyed by the Appropriation Act of the Session. , The Officer administering the Government transmits for the information of the , House a correspondence which has taken pli.ce between the Colonial Secretary and the Superintendent on the subject. ' Government House, Auckland, 10th August, 1555.

Supt. N. P. to Co] Sec., 4tb Aug., 1855. Do. <io. do. 9th Aug., 1855. Statement of Audr. Cenl,, 9th Aug., 1855.