No. 1.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1356. 1. Present-Thomas Beckham Eeq Francis Lillon Bell, Esq., Dingley Askham Brittin, Esq., Walter Brodie Esq., Charles Brown, Esq., John Logan Campbell, Esq., Hugh Carleton, Esq., Charles lifford, Esq, John Cuff, Esq., William Crush Daldy, Esq, Alfred Domett, Esq., Alfred William Last, Esq, Charles Elliott, Esq., Isaac Earl Featherston, Esq., William Fitzherbert, Esq. William Fox, Esq., Robert Graham, Esq., John Hall, Esq, Thomas Henderson, Esq Walter Lee, Esq., Alfred Ludlam, Esq, Frederick Ward Merriman, Esq., Christopher William Richmond, Esq., Henry Sewell, Esq, John Valentine Smith, Esq, EdWard William Stafford, Esq,, Charles John Taylor, Esq, Charles Dudley Robert Ward, Esq, William W ells, 1 sq, John Williamson, Esq. 4 Absent—John Cargill Esq., William Cargill, Esq, James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq, Joseph Greenwood, Esq, James Macandrew, Esq, Charles Parker, Esq, William Thomas Locke I ravers, fc-sq. 2. Swearing of Members -.—The House met pursuant to Proclamation by his Excellency the Governor bearing date the 9th day of February, 1856 ; His Honour Chief Justice Sidney Stephen Esq, being in atendance, presented to the Clerk of the House a Commission from his Excellency the Governor, authorising him to administer to the members of the General Assembly rr, ° r prescribed by the 46th and 47th clauses of the Constitution Act. lhe Commission having been read by the Clerk, the members present were then duly sworn and his Honour the Chief Justice withdrew. 3. Election of Speaker :—The Proclamation convening the Assembly having been read by the Clerk Mr. Campbell moved, That Charles Clifford, Esq, do take the Chair of this House as speaker. The motion having been seconded by Mr. Sewell, and no other member been proposed as Speaker, Mr. Cliffoi d stood up in his place, and expressed his sense of the honour proposed to be conferred upon him, and submitted himself to the House, whereupon his proposer and seconder took him out of his place and conducted him to the Chair, when he again expressed ins true sense of the high hoi. our the House had been pleased to confer upon him, and took his seat as Speaker elect. Mr. Ludlam moved, 1 hat Mr. Speaker elect, with his proposer and seconder, do wait upon Hons * V Governor, requesting his confirmation of the election of Speaker of this Question put and passed. 4. Adjournment : Mr. Campbell moved, That the House do adjourn for an hour. Question put and passed.

5. The House met pursuant to adjournment. <• Confirmation of Election of Speaker :—The following Message from his Excellency the Governor received and read :— THOMAS GORE BROWNE, Message No. 1. Governor. Governor Las much pleasure in confirming the choice made by the House of Representatives oi Charles Clifford, Esquire, to be the Speaker of the House. Government House, Auckland, loth April, 1856. I. Opening of the Session:—Mr. Speaker read prayers, after which, accompanied by the members, ><e proceeded to the Chamber of the Legislative Council to attend the opening of the Session by liis Excellency the Governor. On