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THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1856. 1. The House tret pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Speaker and thirty members being present; Mr. Speaker read prayers and took the chair, 2. Congratulatory address to her Majesty :—Mr. Stafford, pursuant to notice, moved, That a Select (. ommittee be appointed to prepare a congratulatory address to her Majesty on the achievements of her Majesty's Forces, and those of her Allies, in the present war. Such Committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Captain Cargill, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Domett, Mr. Featherston, Major Greenwood, Mr. Hall, Mr. Richmond, and the mover. Report to be brought up on the 15th instant. 3. Compensation to retiring Officers :—Mr. Carleton, pursuant to (amended) notice, moved, That in the event of his Excellency's suggestion, that the Pensions Bill should be passed—leaving the disputed question of amount to the decision of the Home Government—being adopted by this House, it is expedient that a copy of the resolutions agreed to by this House on the 17th of August, 1854, but never yet communicated directly to the Home Government, be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies; that his attention be also invited to the condemnatory tone of those resolutions, and more particularly to resolution No. 6 :—" That this House do forthwith address her Majesty, praying her forthwith to remove the present Executive Officers, being members of the Executive Council, from their offices also, that this House do express their hope that the Home Government will not award a higher amount than English officials of the same salaries and length of service (the time being calculated from the date of the New Zealand appointments) would be entitled to; nor burthen a young Colony with a heavier incumbrance than in a similar case would be imposed upon the mother country. Question put and negatived. 4. Petition of Dr. Kingdon:—Mr. East, pursuant to notice, moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to examine the petition of Richard Kingdon, M.D., and his claim for compensation. Committee to coniist of Mr. Domett, Mr. Elliott, Mr, Featherston, Mr. Lee, ana the mover. Committee to report this day week. Question put and passed. 5. Petition of Custom House Officers at Wellington :—Mr. Fitzherbert, pursuant to (amended) notice, moved, That the petition of the tide-waiters at the port of Wellington, and also that of Edward Catclipool, be referred to a Select Committee, to consist of Mr. Daldy, Mr. Macandrew, Air. Cuff, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Domett, Mr. Ludlam, Mr, Hall, and the mover ; report to be brought up on the 10th instant. Question put and passed. 6. Hostilities amongst the Natives in New Plymouth :—Mr. Brown, pursuant to notice, moved for a Select Committee to take into consideration the petition presented by the member for New Plymouth, from certain settlers in the Hua and Bell Blocks, relative to the renewal of native disturbances in New Plymouth, with power to call for persons and papers. Such Committee to consist of Mr. Bell, Mr. Richmond, Mr. East, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Featherston, Mr. Cargill, and the mover; the report to brought up this day fortnight. Question put and passed. 7. Postponement: —On the motion of Mr. Bell, leave was given to postpone the report of the Committee on the New Zealand Company's Debt to this day week, and the report of the Land Scrip Committee to this day fortnight. 8. Pensions Bill:—The order of the day having been read, Mr. Speaker left the chair, and the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole for further consideration of the Pensions Bill. On Mr. Speaker resuming the chair, the Chairman reported that the committee desired to re-commit the Bill. Leave

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATI YES.