appeared very great; ;but they had nothing whatever to dp with- the prosperity of the province, for in a very great proportion, they were paid forby the Home Government and the colony generally for the troops located in Auckland, on account of the native difficulty, but whq.must ultimately be removed. Ta king the population and exports of Auckland as contrasted with Canterbury, and these were the real proofs of progress, Auckland would have 17, and Canterbury 24 members. Ofcago Woild have on the same principle, ta king away the Gold Fields, 25 members. If the hon. member for Auckland could show upon any grounds applicable to the whole co lo ly any.■ re'nl ground for increase of repre sentation ovßr other portions of the colony, then he would aaree to the motion. Mr. Bro lie spoke in favour of an additional representative in the honse. Mr. Vogel was also in favor of a represen tative being given for Albertland. That set tlement was flourishing in a most remarkable manner, and was justly entitled to be repre sented ivi the House. ' Mr. R Graham said the Albertland settlers had arrived in the colony subsequent to the last meeting of the General Assembly, and seeing (hat several districts were to be re presented by members,-it was thought only fair that.Albertland should be represented. Mr. Gillies said he should support the moti on for Albertland to ha c a member. On referring to the statistics of population fur Elles nere district ( represented by Mr. Fitz gerald,) he found the population was 481, .whilst Marsd^n had a population of 1653. As the hon. member had chosen to exclude gold in the .exports from some of the j)rovinces, it would only be fair to exc'nde wool from Can terbury.' Then they would find on ; this prin ciple that the tptal'export of Auckland for a recent year was £88 000, O'i<; of which about £41 000 represented wool,gold and re-exports of imports—thus leaving upwards 0f£40,000 for tlie actual products of the province. Whilst for Canterbury they found the exports were £'258,000, of which wool and gold amounted to .'£246.000, £5,000 re-exports, thus k-aving £8 000 for the products of the soil as contrasted with upwards of £40,000 exported from Auckland. ' Mr. Thomson said the population of Albert land had been stated at about 500, but he might state to the house that the population of Canterbury was at the present time going on quiteat that rate a month. Mr. Wood said the population of Auckland had sogreatly incieased since the last re-ad justme"nt that the province was fairly entitled to another member. The hon. member for Avon, in speaking of the increase of popula tio i in Canterbury, had stated that it was at the rate of 500 per month. In contrast with this he might stale that during the last two months the population of Auckland had been increased by the addition of 2,500 persons exclusive of troops, And with respect to Albertland, he remembered that shortlyafter his return from the late sessions at Wellington vessels had arrived in Auckland conveying 1,500 persons intending to settle at Albert land. Mr. John Williamson also spoke in favour. Mr. Fitzherbert would accept the present proposal as a compromise, though he did not think Auckland ny more "entitled to increased representation than Wellington or other pro vinces. The measure being only a temporary one, the committee; of which he was a mem ber, had agreed to such.a bill as they thought would be acceptable "to the' House, but he

declined to admit the force of the arguments which they had just heard. The committee then divided as follows upon the question that '• Albertland one member," stand parf; of t^e clause. Ayes, 30.—Messrs. Fitzherbert, Eyes, Mon ro, C. Taylor, O'Neill Vogel R. Graham, S afford,.Russell,Bell, James Williamson, G. Graham, Brodie, Colenso, Mason, Butler, At kinson, Wells. John Williamson, Gillies, Fox, Rhodes. Wood, Renall, Paterson, Reynolds, Turton, Richnrrlso \, Jollie, W. Taylor. Noes, 9.—Fr. Monro. Messrs. C. Wilson, FitzgeraH, Wayne, Cargill, Cox, Weld, Wil kin and Thompson. , The clause therefore remained.

TRUSTEES' MEETINGS.

The fo^owina1 is an abstract of proceedings at meetings held as under:

Dec. 2.—The fol'owinT applications were granted, Mr. ¥. T. Gooch, No. 105, 5 acres, „ W Brndbury, „ 29. town lot, ~ G. Dillv „ 103, 2 acres.

Rrsolved " That the followingl allotments are hereby declared vacant, and the dpnosits if any. paid thereon are forfeited, viz Nos. 6 and 14; and a'so d^osits paid by Messrs. Dprnrss, James and Little.

That Mr Abbey's account £2 2s forsurvey ing, be passed arH paid. That a road 12ft wide be mnde across the centre of the'gully in Market street, with a s^vm channel undprne-'th. The cost to he placed to the,credit of those workin r in lien of cash for their allotments of town land only. Names of persnris wishful to make up a party will be received by the secretary. ' Deo. 9.—The Trustpps "-ent over the.sub urban lauds a.nd decided that the land along the sid° of the Kaiwakawa. stream below No. 11l and 107 to the northeast landing place'be resprved.

No 13 town lot, was allotted to Mr. John RoMn^oTi, and Nn 112, 5 acres, was allotted to Mrs .Eliz. Oollinge.

The secretary received instructions to pre pare a statement of accounts due to and by tbe trust pstate, to call for the names of per sons desirous of having their convevanres prepared, to place ihe Trust Deed in the hands of M ....... % for the purpose, and to make as advantageous terms as possible for the general advantage.

PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL UNION.

On Dec. 16, by invitation from Mr. Pettet, a. number of settlers met; at Oambridgville when if was resolved to form a society under the above trie. After tea, the host, in the chfiir a series of resolutions ■were passed to the following1 effect. The name of the society to he as above, and its object to promote agricultural know ledge and pursuits, and its constitution, that all members should be regarded as on a per fect equality.. : The annual subscription to be 55., payable hal "-yearly in advance. Mr. Pettet to h^ president•; Mr. Shepherd, treasurer and Mr.Samuel Johnson, secre tary, for the first year. . An annual meeting to be held during De cember in each year for the election of officers and other general business. Members to be elected by amajority voting b3>- ballot, any ordinary meeting" there of which shall be held monthly at members', houses. Mr. E dger alluding' to the propose^ Show in March "nex^ considered that the competi

tive principle was open to objection unless' on a large scale, originating petty rivalry, and jealousy, and thought it should only be nn exhibition, but I hat a competitive show should" be held in. about a year, announcing it no w, so that everyone might make'preparations and commence on equal terms. It was then resolved,—" That a Friendly Show of Farm and Garden Produce'be held at Port Albert in March next." s v.That a Competitire Show be held early in 1855, at Port Albert, open to all the sur rounding1 settlements, and that the Maoris be especially invited to compete." " That the Secretary write to parties in the various settlements, requesting them to con-, suit with their neighbours and communicate the names of persons willing to co-operate and act as local committees." "That at the next meeting, to be held at Mr. Shepherd's farm on Jan. 20th, members are requested to give their experience on the general question of Cropping land." Mr. Legge of Tilbury, exhibited some very fine large potatoes, a turnip over 19in.?and red beet roots over 12in. circumference. ■

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT

It will be in the recollection of our readers that some time ago, the Secretary wrote to the Superintendent, requesting employment, for some of the settlers requiring it. In con sequence of this letter, Mr. Wilson arrived here on the 9th Dec. and communicated the information that he was authorised to give ■ work'to the amount of £5.0, in clearing the street lines on the government reserve, to such persons whose.'circumstances required sm-h help. He gave the secretary explicit instructions and a writ! y en authority to super intend such work, and to issue orders on the stores of Messrs. Cray and Marcroft. Aftpr enquiry throughout the settlement however, only seven persons appeared to need extra neous help, and accordingly they have since been employed on the work indicated. As may be conceived, the appearance of »the Reserve is much altered, being intersec ted with broad street lines in every direction and giving a very town-like aspect to the locality. , We have pi easure in recording the liberality of the Superintendent in this matter, and we are sure that several homes have been ren dered more cheerful thereby. On Dec. 21st, the secretary received the following letter:

. Superintendence Offi' c, Auckland, Dec. 8,1883. Sir, Referring to your-letter of the 26th Sep. I have the honor to inform you that Mr. "Wilr son the Provincial Surveyor has been des patched with instructions to give employment upon public works to a limited extent to such, of the settlers at Oruawharq as stand most in need of it. The bridge you mention has been put right. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedt. servant, Robert Graham,. Mr. S. Johnson, &c. Superintendent.

We do not like to pass over this opportu nity of rebutting a statement which has been made repeatedly in Auckland, viz. that the people here "are all starving to death."?!! It is a foul calumny, having no basis in fact, as every man has had some employment more or less hitherto, hut like many other state ments which have been current respecting us, it is a base invention of some of our enemies whose individuality we do not care to make public at present. If our absentees will no.fc assist us," surely the y will not injure us, when they remember that by so doing they depre ciate their own interests here.

THE AIiBERTLAND GAZETTE.