(32)

-The Colonial Treasuter seconded the motion,
that "The Saminary Proceedings Bill" be now
read jasthird time and passed.
Theo Bill was accordingly, read a third time,
and, oir the suggestion of the Attorney General,
the wond" matter?" was substituted for the word
offence imiclausesel and 16. The Hon. and
learned Meatberobberved, that cases might arise,
particularly when: Municipal Corporations were
established; where legal'objections might be taken
to the word offence," but the word " matter"
would include every pomible case,
Withrothese verbal alterations the bill passed
without a dissentient voice. Ordinance to come
into operatiomon the first day of March, 1842.
REPORT OF COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
"The Attorney General, adverting to an Order
adopted at the last sitting of Council, on the
motion on of Mf. Earp, Earp That the Clerk of the
Council do procure a competent person to report
the proceedings of the Council," said,
stood, from what then p what then passed, that the subject
would have been agaif introduced to day by Mr.
Earp
10
person to report
Mr. Earp. It was agreed that the that the proceedings
should 'be, reported under the authority of the
Council,
the
The Governor, When the subject was first
brought under our notice, it was admitted by all
the members, that there was an absolute neces
sity to employ a paid reporter, It is a fact that
ne proceedings of Council have, hitherto, either
been not feported at all in the rewipapers, or
very inaccurately, and in a mutilated form. It
was felt t that, under these circumstances, the
only white te doald to was to publisky in the
strictest manner, all our proceedings, fartly and
fully. With regard to the engagement of a com-
petert person, the Clerk of Councils consulted
me as to the amount of remuneration the that ought
to
be given. I imagine that the person who takes
the reports will obtain sufficient remuneration
from their sale, when published.
The Attorney General. It is not sufficient
that a mere report tof our proceedings shall be
taken. This alone would be useless. What we
want is, not only for our own satisfaction, but for
the information of the community at large, that
the tinent, and the Tearliest possible, publicity
shall be giver omaisubject braight before the
Concil. The public have a right to "an oppor
tunity of knowing their sentiments, and what I
now ask, What is to be done with the reports
when taken? How, or in what shape, are they to
be published? Will the Council have the reports
printed, and sold by the Reporter?" Whatever
plan mny be adopted to effect this object, it is
essential that the entire community should be
made fully acquainted with our proceedings..

ment thought proper. With regard to this inju-
rious rumour, it is necessary that the public mind
should be disabused.
The Governor.-It has been decided without
a dissentient voice, that a competent person
should be engaged to report our proceedings; but
as is justly observed by the Attorney General, no
arrangement has been made to have the reports
printed and circulated; a matter which is of the
highest importance to the public at large. I have
before me the copy of a Minute passed by the
Trustees of the Auckland Printing Company, to
the effect that they will not contribute towards
the remuneration of any person who may be ap
pointed to report our proceedings, even although
they may have correct reports furnished to them
for insertion. Now, they have a perfect right to
use their own discretion on the subject; and there
might, on the day preceeding their publication be
a long debate, a report of which it would not be
very convenient for them to insert.
that Clendon. One evil has, hitherto, been,
take reports of our proceedings were irresponsible
to the Council; but, should a paid reporter com-
mit an error, he would be called upon to correct
it in the next publication.
The Colonial Secretary. An observation hav-
ing been made (by Mr. Earp) at the last meeting
Council, when there was no reporter present,
to the effect that a rumour was current of a desire,
on the part of Government to suppress a full re-
port of the proceedings of this Council, an oppor
tunity should be given to the Trustees of the
Newspaper and Printing Company, to contradict
such report. So far from there having existed
any desire to suppress our proceedings, an anx
iety has ever been evinced that all our debates
should go forth to the public fully and fairly.
Mr. Earp then moved that a Committee be
formed, to take into consideration the best means
of giving publicity to the reports of Council.
The Attorney General seconded the motion,
which was carried unanimously.
His Excellency the Governor then appointed
the following gentlemen to form such Com-
mittee

The Attorney-General,
Mr., Earp,
Mr. Clendon.
LAND CLAIMS' BILL.
Mr. Clendon (addressing himself to the Go-
vernor) said; I wish to ask your Excellency whe-
ther any instructions, additional to those already
made public, have been received from the Home
Government on the subject of the Land Claims ?
The Governor. The last instruction I have
from the Secretary of State, has been made public.
The Coronatctrecanyon Plural nombo net divests that the rule to which the New Zealand
Company will be subject, shall be applied to all
other persons, with respect to the land claimed
by them. That rule is, in substance, that, on
certain conditions, each successful claimant shall
be entitled to a grant of land, in districts speci-
fied in the Bill, of four times as many acres as he
shall have expended pounds sterling in the pur-
chase thereof.