Mr. Busby, according to notice, moved
that the Speaker be requested to provide
such Clerical Assistance as he found neces-
sary, to prevent the business of the Council
from getting into arrear. Agreed to.

Mr. Busby, according to notice, moved
that the Petition to the Queen and Houses of
Parliament for Provincial Separation be
adopted.

Mr. Porter moved as an amendment, and
Mr. Powditch seconded, that the considera-
tion of the question be postponed until after
the first session of the General Assembly.

Mr. Williamson moved as a further amend-
ment, and Mr. Gilfillan seconded, that the
consideration of the Petition be postponed
till this day six months, and that the Council
resolve on an early day to address His Ex-
cellency the Governor, and both Houses of
the General Assembly, praying that an Act
may be passed by that Assembly to amend
the 19th, 53rd, 62nd, 66th, and 72nd clauses
of the New Zealand Constitution Act—the
nature of the amendments to be specified in
the address. Mr. Porter, with the sanction
of the Council, withdrew his amendment.

Mr. Williamson’s amendment was then
put. Debate ensued.
Council divided. Ayes 7. Noes 11.

Names and numbers ordered to be printed:

Ayes.
Mr. Connell,
" Gilfillan,
" Lewis,
" Dilworth,
" Williamson,
" Donovan,
" Porter—teller 7.

Noes.
Mr. J. O’Neill,
" Bain,
" A. O’Neill,
" Dignan,
" Derrom,
" Hill,
" Brennan,
" Boylan,
" Mitchell,
" Macky,
" Busby—teller 11.

Declined to vote, Messrs. Clarke, O’Brien,
Powditch.
Absent, Messrs. Newman, and Taylor.

Original motion put, and agreed to.

Mr. J. O’Neill, according to notice, moved
for certain Customs Returns. Motion nega-
tived.

Mr. J. O’Neill, according to notice, moved
that the Superintendent be requested to
obtain the Attorney-General’s opinion rela-
tive to the New Zealand Company’s Debt.
Agreed to.

Mr. J. O’Neill, according to notice, moved
for information relative to the monies that
have been paid to the New Zealand Com-
pany out of the Land Fund. Agreed to.

Mr. A. O’Neill moved, according to no-
tice, for certain returns, to enable the Council
to form an estimate of the probable expense
of each road. Agreed to.

Mr. Lewis, according to notice, moved
for a return showing the number of acres of
Land belonging to Government, in the
Hundreds of Auckland, Onehunga, Panmure,
and Howick. Agreed to.

Mr. Williamson, according to notice,
moved that the Superintendent be requested
to procure for the use of the Council, the
Plans and Sections of all the Streets in the
Town of Auckland, as furnished by Mr. S.
Elliott. Agreed to.

Mr. Dilworth, according to notice, moved
for a return of all Roads and Public Works
completed; also those commenced, and not
completed, during the last 4 years. Agreed to.

Mr. Hill moved that the Standing Rules
be suspended, to enable him to bring in a
motion relative to the immediate repairs of
the Onehunga Road. Debate ensued.
Motion put, and negatived.

Council adjourned at twenty minutes to six
o’clock.

TUESDAY, 8TH Nov., 1853.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Speaker took the chair.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and confirmed.

The Speaker laid before the Council two
communications from His Honor the Super-
intendent.

1. In relation to the returns re-
   specting the Bay of Islands, moved for by
   Mr. Busby, which the Superintendent stated
   had been applied for, and would be forward-
   ed to the Council as soon as they were ob-
   tained.

2. In relation to the copies of the
   Ordinances and Gazette, which had been for-
   warded in conformity with the request of
   Council.

Mr. Williamson presented a petition from
130 inhabitants of Onehunga, and others,
praying that the line of road might be al-
tered.

Petition read, and referred to the Onehun-
ga Road Committee.

Mr. Busby gave notice that at the next
meeting of Council, he would move that a
Select Committee be appointed to prepare a
petition to Her Majesty the Queen and both
Houses of Parliament, praying that the Exe-
cutive Government of New Zealand be di-
rected to expunge from the Colonial Statute-
book all such Ordinances or pretended
Ordinances of the Local Legislature, as being
repugnant to the laws of England, have no
legal force or validity; or which contain
provisions inconsistent with the faith of a
treaty made in Her Majesty’s name with the
Aborigines of this Territory, and ratified by
Her Majesty. Also, to vindicate the national
faith, by causing full compensation to be made
to all persons, who, under the authority of
Governor FitzRoy, became purchasers of
land from Aboriginal proprietors, but whose
lands Governor Sir George Grey, taking ad-
vantage of the defect of law, caused to be sold
in order that the proceeds thereof might be
applied to public purposes, in violation of the
express injunctions of Her Majesty, conveyed
both by Lord Stanley and Lord Grey, when
Ministers of State, as well as of the plainest
dictates of justice and good faith. And fur-
ther, That it be an instruction to such Com-
mittee to receive evidence of the individual
cases in which the public faith has been vio-
lated towards the purchasers of land under