313

Ayes, 13.—(continued). Noes, 12 .~C continued.) Mr. Taylor, The Colonial Secretary, Major Greenwood, Mr. Bell, Mr. Brodie, Mr. Cuff, Mr. Lee, Mr. Hall, Mr. Campbell, Mi. Brown, Mr. Staffoid, Mr. Domett, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Fox (teller). Mr. Beckham (teller). 2. Motion made and question put, " That the Chairman report progress and recommend the resolution to the House for adoption." (Mr. Merriman.) Committee divided. Ayes, 13. Noes, 2. Mr. Stafford, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Brodie, Mr. Bell (teller). Mr. Campbell, Mr. Beckham, Mr. Lee, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Merriman, Major Greenwood, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Graham, Mr. Daldy (teller). There being only fifteen members' names on the division lists, the Chairman moved Mr. Speaker to the Chair, in order to report there was not a quorum present, THURSDAY, AUGUST 14th, 185 G. House in Committee of Supply. Native Expenditure—Consideration of his Excellency's Message No. 45. 1. Motion made and question proposed, that the following address to his Excellency the Governor be recommended to the House for adoption. (Mr. Bell.) May it please your Excellency,— The House of Representatives lias taken into its respectful consideration your Excellency's Message No. 45, desiring that the House would reconsider its recent vote on the subject of Native expenditure. The House begs leave to assure your Excellency of its earnest desire to respond with proper liberality to requests from your Excellency for the grant of money required to make due provision for the public service. At the same time, when this House remembers that the sum of £7000 which Parliament had specially placed at the disposal of the Governor of the Colony for Native purposes, has been, without the sanction of the House, and contrary to its wishes, appropriated to objects over which it has no control ; that, by maintaining that appropriation upon the Civil List, the fund properly applicable to the services referred to in your Excellency's Message is withdrawn from your hands; that a total sum of £14,872 has been devoted, partly by the Civil List and permanent appropriations, and partly by grants of the House to Native services, including the interest upon a capital sum of £3000 placed at your Excellency's disposal for Native Loans; above all, that the further sum now proposed to be granted would not be expended under the direction of your Excellency's ministers, this House feels that it would fail in its duty to the country were it, in the present state of the finances, to place a further sum for Native services upon the estimates of the present year. At the same time, this House recognizes the difficulties connected with the management ot the Natives, to which your Excellency has again called its attention ; and when your Excellency is pleased to assure the House that, in your judgment, the expenditure tur which the additional giant is asked, cannot be retrenched without probable danger to the peace of the Colony, this House will not refuse, not an appeal to its liberality, but a reference to considerations of such paramount duty as the one of relieving your Excellency from serious embarrassment and risk. K