petitioners feel the greatest confidence that your Honourable House will approve of and encourage a determination, not seeking to evade a reasonable obligation, but firmly bent on opposing to the utmost what is felt and believed to be oppressive and unjust.

Your petitioners, therefore, appeal with confidence to the justice of your Honourable House on behalf of the Province of Auckland, and humbly pray that steps may be immediately taken to relieve it from the payment of any portion of the £263,370 15s, now charged against the proceeds of its land Sales, in favour of the New Zealand Company. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c., &c.

Mr. A. O’Neill brought up the Report of the Committee on the Northern Roads, and moved that it be adopted. Agreed to.

Mr. Bain, according to notice, moved the consideration in Committee of the Foreign Seaman’s Bill.

The Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Connell took the chair.

Bill considered in Committee; and Clauses 1 to 6 considered and amended.

The Speaker resumed the chair.

The Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.

Mr. Gilfillan gave notice that at the next meeting of the Council he would move for the further consideration of the Bill.

Mr. J. O’Neill, according to notice, moved for Returns showing, in detail, the financial state of the Province. Agreed to.

Council adjourned at twenty minutes to six o’clock.

WEDNESDAY, 16TH NOVEMBER, 1853.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Speaker took the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Newman presented a petition from certain inhabitants of Auckland and Onehunga against altering the line of road to the Onehunga Beach.

Petition read.

Mr. Dilworth presented a petition from certain inhabitants of East Tamaki, praying that the Great South Road may be at once repaired.

Petition read.

Mr. Porter gave notice that on Tuesday next the 22nd inst., he would move for leave to bring in a Bill to make a Dock, and to afford better Harbour accommodation in the Port of Auckland.

Mr. Gilfillan gave notice that at the next sitting of Council he would move that the Interpretation Bill be read a third time.

Mr. Gilfillan also gave notice that at the next sitting of Council he would move that the Dog Nuisance Bill be read a first time.

Mr. Gilfillan further gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move that His Honor the Superintendent be requested to obtain from the Colonial Secretary, by Tuesday next, a copy of the printed Returns relative to Original Land Claims, laid on the Table of the General Legislative Council, by His Excellency the Governor in August 1849; showing the names of Claimant in each case, extent claimed, number of acres awarded by Commissioners, how disposed of, &c.

Mr. Newman gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move that all petitions presented to Council having reference to roads, be referred to the Onehunga Road Committee.

Mr. Hill, according to notice, moved that the Superintendent be requested to take immediate steps for buoying off the Manakau Harbour. Debate ensued.

Mr. Derrom moved, and Mr. Boylan seconded, as an amendment, that the subject of the buoying of the Manakau Harbour be referred to the Harbour Committee already appointed; and that they report on the probable expense of buoying the above Harbour; and that Mr. Hill’s name be added to the Harbour Committee.

Amendment put and negatived.

Mr. Powditch moved as a further amendment, which was seconded by Mr. Williamson, that His Honour the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of (£500) five hundred pounds, for buoying off the Manakau Harbour; and that Tenders be called for, placing three (3) buoys to make the passage secure as far as Poponga Point. Agreed to.

Mr. Powditch withdrew his motion relative to an addition to the Standing Rules, on the understanding that the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders do take the same into consideration.

Mr. Powditch, according to notice, moved the subsequent part of the same motion.

Mr. Bain, according to notice, moved the re-consideration in Committee of the Foreign Seaman’s Bill.

The Speaker left the chair.

Mr. Powditch took the chair.

Mr. Bain moved that three new Clauses be inserted after the sixth Clause, and be numbered as 7, 8, and 9.

On Clause 7 being read, debate ensued.

Mr. Dignan moved, and Mr. J. O’Neill seconded, as an amendment, that the Clause be struck out.

Amendment agreed to.

Remaining Clauses read and agreed to.

Preamble read and agreed to.

The Speaker resumed the chair.

The Chairman brought up the Report of the Committee on the Bill.

Council adjourned at quarter-past five o’clock.

THURSDAY, 17TH NOVEMBER, 1853.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Speaker took the Chair.

The Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.