Ko, 23.

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1856. 1. The House met pursuant to adjournment; Mr; Speaker and thirty-three members being present ; Mr. Speaker read prayers and took the chair. 2. Superintendent of New Plymouth:—Mr. East, by leave of the House, asked the Colonial Treasurer (Mr. Chas. Brown) whether he has resigned, or intends to resign, the office of Superintendent of the Province of New Plymouth, in consequence of having accepted the office of Colonial Treasurer, which will require his presence at the seat of the General Government. Mr. Brown replied by stating that he did not intend to resign the office of Superintendent of New Plymouth until the close of the present session, and that in the meantime he would not draw the salary attached to the office of Colonial Treasurer. 3. Resident Magistrates' Courts Amendment Bill :—A deputation from the Legislative Council having been duly announced, was introduced, when the Resident Magistrates Courts Amendment Bill was presented to Mr. Speaker as passed by the Council, and to which they prayed the assent of this Hoase. On motion of Mr. Merriman, the Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time. 4. Financial Returns:—The Colonial Secretary, pursuant to (amended) notice, moved, That the comparative statements of estimate and expenditure for the financial periods ending 30th of September, 1853, 30th of June, 1854, and 30th of June, 1855, be printed and referred to the Finance Committee ; also, that the returns of the cost of furnishing returns and printing for the General Assembly be printed. Question put and passed. 5. Petition of Alexander Brown :—Mr. Lee, pursuant to notice, moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to take into consideration and report to the House on the petition of Alexander Brown, with power to call for persons and papers. The Committee to consist ot Mr. J>mith, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Cuff, Mr Elliott, Mr. East, and the mover. Report to be brought up on the 10th of June. Question put and passed. 6. Payment of Expenses of Members :—Mr. Fitzherbert, pursuant to notice, moved, That the basis on which the payments made to members of this House are at present calculated is unsound, and ought to be altered. That, wiih this view, the honorarium payable to members for their sessional attendance should be fixed at one uniform sum, and ought not to be made dependent upon the duration of each particular session. Mr. Stafford moved, That the qnestion be amended by the omission of all the words after the word " calculated," with a view to insert the following in lieu thereof, —" is sound, provided that a maximum sum be fixed, so as to remove any inducement unnecessarily to protract the sessions. Debate ensued. Question, That the words proposed to be omitted do stand part of the question, put and negatived. Question, That the words proposed to be inserted, be so inserted, put and passed ; whereupon question, as amended, put and passed. 7. Postponements :— (1.) On motion of Mr. Bell, the report of the Finance Committee postponed to this day week (2.) On motion of Mr. Domett, the report of the Committee on the petition ot Commander Macdonnell, R.N., postponed until to-morrow. (3.) On motion of Mr. Sewell, the report of the Committee on Land Scrip postponed to, this day week. „ ' (4.) On

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OP THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATI YES.