1 85 6. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON DISPUTED ELECTIONS.

EXTRACTS FROM THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Votes NO. 2, THURSDAY APEIL 17, 1856. 2.—Disputed Elections. THOMAS GOIIE BROWNE, Message No. 3. Governor. In conformity with the 54th clause of the Proclamation dated 4th March, 1853, prescribing certain regulations, amongst others, for determining the validity of all disputed returns of the Governor refers to the House of Representatives the accompanying petitions (as specified below), received by him against the return of certain members of that House :— Petition ot James 0 Neill against the return of Thomas Beckham, for the City of Auckland. Petition of Daniel Pollen against the return of Walter Brodie, for the Suburbs of Auckland. Petition of Walter Brodie against the return of Frederick Ward Merriman, for the Suburbs of Auckland. Petition of certain electors of the Northern Division, in the Province of Auckland, against the return of Walter Lee, for that district. Petition ot James Farmer against the return of Joseph Greenwood and John Williamson, for the Pensioner Settlements District, in the Province of Auckland. Petition of William Buckland against the return of Charles John Taylor, for the Southern Division, in the Province of Auckland. \ Government House, Auckland, 17th April, 1856. On motion of Mr. Scwell, consideration of his Excellency's Message No. 3 ordered to stand an order of the day for a future day. , , Votes, No. 3, Friday, April 18, 1856. 7. Disputed Election Returns:—Mr. Fox moved the suspension of Standing Order No. 29. Question put and passed. Mr. Fox then moved, That a Select Committee be appointed, to which shall be referred all the petitions against the return of any Member of this House, with power to call for witnesses and papers; the Committee to consist of Mr. Brittin, Mr. Cuff, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Hall, Mr. Richmond, Mr. Sewell, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Ward, and the mover; to report on this day fortnight, May 2nd; 1856. Question put and passed. . Votes, No. 5, Monday, Apeil 28, 1856. 11. Report of Committee on Disputed Elections:—Mr. Fox, pursuant to notice, moved for leave to bring up the Report of the Committee on Disputed Elections on the next sitting day of the House. Question put and passed. Votes, No. 6, Tuesday, Apeil 29, 1856. 18. Disputed Election Returns:—Mr. Fox, Chairman of the Committee on Disputed Election Returns, brought up the Report of the Committee, which was read and ordered to be printed.

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