No. 4.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1856. 1. The House met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Speaker and thirty-three members present; Mr. Speaker read prayers and took the Chair. 2. Members Sworn The Clerk, by order of Mr. Speaker, read a Commission from his Excellency the Governor, directed to him as Speaker of this House, authorising him to administer to certain members of this House, the Oath prescribed by the Constitution Act. John Cargill, Es-., Captain Cargill, Joseph Greenwood, Esq., and James Macandrew, Esq., were then duly sworn and took their seats. 3. Petition from Lazarus Berlowitz -. — Mr. Fitzherbert presented a petition from Lazarus Berlowitz, late of Nelson, praying for indemnification for losses sustained bv him, in consequence of an alleged illegal seizure of his property by Custom House officers at "Nelson. Petition received and read. 4. Messages -.—The following Messages from his Excellency the Governor received and read • (1.) Postal Communication. THOMAS GORE BROWNE, Message No. 4. Governor The Governor transmits for the information of the House of Representatives n Circular Despatch dated 30th of November, 1855, upon the subject of Postal Communication by Steam, between Great Bntain and the Australian Colonies, and requests the attention of the House to the subject, in order that His Excellency may forward an answer to the Imperial Government. Government House, Auckland, 25th April, 1856. (2 ) Financial. THOMAS GORE BROWNE, Message No. 5. Governor. The Governor transmits for the information of the House of Representatives Financial statements, for the periods included between the first of January, 1853, and the 31st December, 1855. Ihese have been prepared in accordance with the Resolution of the House of Representatives, which required the whole of the Land Deposits received in each period, to be treated as revenue, and distributed among the several Provinces, as Surplus Revenues. _ The whole of the arrears of Expenditure have been shewn as charges on the Revenues of the period when the expenses were actually incurred, and the moneys issued for the purchase of Lands, have been a charge on the Land Revenues of the period during which they were issued. The balances in the public chests on the Ist of January, 1853, are shown at the bead of the Financial Statement for the nine months ending 30th September, 1853, and they are charged with the arrears of expenditure belonging to the period prior to the Ist of January, 1853. The exctss of these arrears over the balances in hand, is exhibited as a charge on the revenues of the period ending 30th September, 1853, and will be found included in the unappropriated balance of that period. Government House, Auckland, 25th April, 1856. (3.) Land Fund—Province of Canterbury. THOMAS GORE BROWNE, Message No. 6. Governor. In conformity with the request contained in the address No. 1. of 17th April, 1856, from the House of Representatives, the Governor transmits to that House the accompanying copies of correspondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Superintendent of Canterbury, respecting an alleged overpayment from the Land Fund to the Provincial Treasury of that Province, in continuation of correspondence already presented to the House. Government House, Auckland, 25th April, 1856. (4.) Pensions Bill.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.