The Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Mitchell reported progress and asked leave to sit again on Thursday the 22nd instant.

On the motion of Mr. Gilfillan it was ordered that the Appropriation Bill be read a third time on Thursday the 22nd instant.

Mr. Boylan, according to notice, moved that the Council do adjourn at its rising on Thursday, the 10th January, 1854. Debate ensued.
Mr. Busby moved as an amendment and Mr. J. O’Neil seconded, that Council meet as usual without any adjournment. Amendment put and negatived. Original motion agreed to.
Messrs. Dilworth, Powditch, and Hill respectively obtained permission to postpone their notices of motion until the next sitting of Council.

Council adjourned at 25 minutes to 7 o’clock.

Thursday, Dec. 22, 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 Minute No. 57 from his Honour the Superintendent transmitting letter from the Colonial Secretary with a return of Land sold under the New Regulations. Ordered to be printed.

Mr. Porter gave notice that on the 10th of January, 1854, he would move the first reading of the Dock Bill.

Mr. Dilworth gave notice that on the 10th of January, 1854, he would move a resolution of Council to the following effect—"That if the Revenue of the year 1854 will allow the Superintendent to appropriate £1000 to Local Works. £250 in making the road passable from Slippery Creek to Waiuku, £250 for same purpose on the road from the Great South Road to Wairoa, and £500 for the road from Otahuhu to Mangarei, in terms of the resolutions in the Minutes of Council of 15th Dec., these important works being excluded from the Supplementary Estimates.

Mr. Gilfillan gave notice that on the 10th January 1854, he would move the third reading of the Dog Nuisance Bill.

Mr. Newman gave notice that on the 10th January 1854, he would move for leave to bring up a Petition to the Imperial Government, praying for the speedy adoption of the Ocean Penny Postage.

On the Orders of the Day being called on,
Mr. Gilfillan moved that the first order of the day be postponed, and that Council do resolve itself into a Committee on the Appropriation Bill, and that Mr. Mitchell do take the Chair.

The Speaker left the Chair. Mr. Mitchell took the Chair.

Clause 1 read and agreed to.
On Clause 2 being read, debate ensued.
On the question being put that clause 2 be agreed to:
Mr. Busby moved that the clause be amended by making it imperative that the payment of all sums above forty shillings be made by the notes of the Colonial Bank of Issue. Committee divided. Ayes 4, Noes 10. Amendment negatived.
Clause 3, Preamble, and Title read and agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Gilfillan, it was ordered that the Chairman do take up the report of the Committee on the Bill.

The Speaker resumed the Chair.
The Chairman presented the said Bill as amended, which was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Dilworth it was ordered that the said Bill be read a third time on Tuesday the 10th January, 1854.

Mr. Powditch, according to notice, moved his motion relative to the Address to the Governor respecting the purchase of the Coal District on the Waikato River. Agreed to.

Mr. Hill, according to notice, moved his Resolutions relative to the Waste Lands of the Crown, &c. Debate ensued. Council divided. Ayes 6, Noes 10. Motion negatived.

Mr. Gilfillan moved the further consideration in Committee of the Deeds Bill.
The Speaker left the Chair. Mr. Dignan took the Chair.

Clauses 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 read, amended, and agreed to.
Further consideration of Bill postponed.

The Speaker resumed the Chair.
The Chairman reported progress, and asked leave to sit again on Tuesday the 10th Jan. 1854.

Mr. Gilfillan moved the further consideration in Committee of the Sheep Bill.

The Speaker left the Chair. Mr. Dignan took the Chair.

Mr. Dilworth moved his amendment to the 8th clause of the said Bill. Debate ensued.
Amendment put and agreed to.

Mr. Dilworth further moved that clause 16 be amended by inserting after the word sheep in the second line, the words "infected with either of the said diseases as aforesaid." Clause as amended agreed to.

On clause 22 being read, Mr. Dilworth moved that the blank be filled up with the words "1st of February 1854."
Mr. Hill moved as an amendment that the blank be filled up with the words "1st of April." Committee divided. Ayes 5, Noes 9. Amendment negatived.
Schedule, Preamble, and Title read and agreed to.

Mr. Dilworth moved that the Chairman do take up the report of Committee on the said Bill.

The Speaker resumed the Chair.
The Chairman presented the said Bill as amended, which was agreed to.

On the motion of Mr. Dilworth it was ordered that the said Bill be read a third time on Tuesday the 10th January, 1854.