Thursday, 23rd August, 1849.

Present:

His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and
nine Members.

Absent:

His Excellency Major-General Pitt, K.H.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Colonial Chaplain was in attendance,
and read prayers.

The Minutes of the last meeting were read
and confirmed.

Mr. Merriman presented a petition from
certain Native Chiefs, praying that they might
be allowed to dispose of their Waste Lands to
Europeans.

Petition read and received, and ordered to be
printed.

To the Governor-in-Chief and the Meeting of
Elders.

Friend the Governor—Saluting you...Listen, friend.
Queen Victoria has consented that we should be allowed
to dispose of our lands, and we now, as the
white people do, pray of you to allow us the benefit of
that law. At the Meeting of Waitangi we did not
consent to allow the Governor to have control over
our Island. It was for the white people. From your
laws (or management) we are poor. We have heard
that the people of Wairarapa are leasing their lands to
the white people. Why are we shut out? Why not
one law for us and the Europeans? The white people
desire our land for their cattle to run upon; and we
wish for their money. You have caused divisions
among the white people. The Queen has said that she
will protect us and our property. Give us our rights
as subjects of the Queen. Are we children? Or are
we slaves, that we are not allowed to dispose of our
property? Friend Governor, you have pressed upon
the Chiefs more than they can bear, and we have not
opened our mouths; but they are not able to bear it
longer. Give us laws like unto your own, that we
may live peaceably and brotherly, lest we be jealous of
each other.

On motion of the Colonial Secretary, the
Crown Lands Ordinance read a third time and
passed.

On motion of the Colonial Treasurer, Appropriation
Ordinance read a third time and passed.

The Attorney-General moved the further
consideration in Committee of the Crown Titles’ Bill.
Bill considered, and amended, and consideration
thereof adjourned until Friday, 24th instant.

The Colonial Secretary moved the further
consideration in Committee of the Pensions Bill.
Bill considered and amended, and Report
brought up. Bill ordered to be read a third time on
Friday, 24th instant.

Mr. Merriman requested that the Report of
the Sub-Committee on the Waste Lands might
be referred back for reconsideration. Mr.
Merriman then presented the Report of the
Sub-Committee as amended. Report read and
adopted, and ordered to be printed.

Report of the Sub-Committee appointed on the 6th
of August, 1849, on the motion of Lieutenant-Colonel
Hulme, for the purpose of addressing His Excellency
the Governor-in-Chief, requesting him
to extend to the Natives of New Ulster, under
such rules and regulations as to His Excellency
may seem meet, the right to lease their waste

Wednesday, 22nd August, 1849.

Present:

His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and
nine members.

Absent:

His Excellency Major-General Pitt, K.H.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Colonial Chaplain was in attendance,
and read prayers.

The minutes of the last meeting were read
and confirmed.

The Colonial Treasurer moved the order of
the day for the further consideration in Committee
of the Appropriation Bill. Bill committed.
Lieut.-Col. Hulme, according to notice,
moved, “That in the opinion of this Council
the earliest opportunity should be taken of
rebuilding a Government House at Auckland,
upon the old site, care being taken that the
expenditure for such a building should be on
a scale suited to the present circumstances of
the Colony.”

The Governor proposed, and the Attorney-
General seconded the motion.

“That a sum of £2,600 be added to the
Miscellaneous Estimates, being the cost, as
estimated by Mr. Polack, of his house and
premises destroyed by Natives.”

On the question being put, Council divided.
Noes 9, Ayes 0. Carried against the motion.

Bill further considered, and, after several amendments
introduced, Report brought up, and
Bill ordered to be read a third time on Thursday,
23rd instant.

Mr. Merriman, according to notice, brought
up the Report of the Sub-Committee on the
Native Waste Lands. Report read and received.
Mr. Merriman gave notice that he
would, on Thursday, the 23rd, move that the
said report be adopted.

The Colonial Secretary moved the order of
the day for the second reading of the Pensions
Bill. Bill read a second time accordingly.
On motion of the Colonial Secretary,
Bill committed, and, after several amendments
introduced, further consideration postponed
until Thursday, 23rd instant.

The Colonial Secretary moved that the third
reading of the Crown Lands Bill be postponed
until Thursday, 23rd instant.

The Attorney-General moved that the further
consideration of the Crown Titles Bill be
postponed until Thursday the 23rd instant.

The Governor laid on the Table two Returns,
showing the number of flour mills erected by
the Natives, and the number of mills in course
of erection. Returns ordered to be printed.

Council adjourned to two o’clock on Thursday,
23rd instant.