NO. 6.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1356. 1. House met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Speaker and thirty members being present; Mr. Speaker read prayers and took the chair. 2. Petition of Edward Catchpool :—Mr. Fitzherbert presented a petition from Edward Catchpool, an officer of Customs at Wellington, praying the House to cause inquiry to be made into the truth of certain grievances set forth in the petition. Petition received and read. 3. Petition of I ide-waiters, Wellington:—Mr. Fitzherbert presented a petition from certain tidewaiters at Wellington, complaining of arbitrary treatment on the part of the Collector of Customs in dismissing them the public service, and praying for compensation. Petition received and read. 4. Standing Orders : —Mr. Stafford, on behalf of the Chairman of the Standing Orders Committee, and with the leave of the House, brought up the report of the Standing Orders Committee. Report ordered to be laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Stafford, consideration in committee of the whole House of the report of the Standing Orders Committee, ordered to stand an order of the day for to-morrow. 5. Bank of Issue :—Mr. Macandrew moved the suspension of Standing Order, No. 29. Question put and passed. Mr. Macandrew then moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to take further evidence on the subject of the Bank of Issue; report to be brought up on Friday next. Committee to consist of Mr. Fox, Mr. Stafford, Mr, Hall, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Daldy, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Ludlam, Mr. Sewell, and the mover. Question put and passed. 6. Motion withdrawn :—Mr. Macandrew withdrew the motion standing in his name, first on the notice paper of this day. 7. Petition of Commander McDonnell, R.N.:—Mr. Carleton, pursuant to notice, moved that the petition of Thomas McDonnell, Commander R.N., be printed. Question put and passed. 8. Returns :—Mr. Fox, pursuant to (amended) notice, moved for a return of the names of all existing officers of the General Government within the colony, whose official duty involves the receipt or custody of any part of the revenue, either by way of collection or imprest. Also, the amount for which such officers have personally given security; the names of their sureties ; and the amount for which they are bound. Also, a return of any defalcations by any officers of the General Government which have occured since the foundation of the colony ; and showing whether, and from whom, such have been recovered. Also, for copies of all correspondence between any departments of the General Government, or between such departments and the Provincial Government of Nelson, relative to a recent defalcation in the chest of the Sub-Treasurer of the General Government in that province. Question put and passed. 9. Waste Lands, sales of:—Mr. Hall, pursuant to (amended) notice, moved for a return of the number of acres of waste lands sold, or otherwise disposed of in the several provinces of New Zealand, in each quarter since the sth July, 1850; and of the nature and amount of payment or other consideration received. Also, a return of the number of acres of waste land in each province remaining unappropriated and open for sale at the present date, distinguishing unsurveyed from surveyed lands. Question put and passed. 10. Message: —

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.