account, ant on the roads, surveys and bridges account, of about £11,000 each, and a surplus on the church and education account of over £10,000, which had been used to purchase endowment lands. There was also a liability (partly disputed) originally to the New Zealand Company, but which had now reverted to the Home Government. Land sales having almost ceased, the Association had no funds to meet this liability, and the Government accordingly foreclosed, and the waste lauds were placed at the disposal of Sir George Grey. The Governor, however, did not in this case, throw them open at 10/- per acre, but (June 9, 1853) entrusted Mr. W. G. Brittan with power to sell the Canterbury Association lands under regulations established by the Canterbury Association. The following month Captain Simeon resigned his position as Agent of the Canterbury Association, and Mr. Sewell became its sole representative.
Then came the first Canterbury General Election, the polling taking place at various dates between August 20 and September 10. The five Canterbury seats in the House of Representatives were filled as follows:—J. E. FitzGerald for Lyttelton, Henry Sewell for Christchurch, Stuart Wortley and Edward Jerningham Wakefield for Christchurch country districts, William Sefton Moorhouse for Akaroa. Mr. W. G. Brittan, who stood for Christchurch country districts, was the only prominent man defeated.
The Provincial Council elections resulted in the return of—J, T. Cookson, W. J. W. Hamilton, C. E. Dampier, for Lyttelton; T. Cass, S. Bealey, R. Packer, for Christchurch town; Charles Simeon, Henry Tancred, John Hall, Charles Bowen, for Christchurch country districts; RR. H. Rhodes, Reverend W. Atymer, for Akaroa. (The latter tied with Mr. W. S. Moorhouse, and was elected on the casting vote of the Returning Officer.)
The first New Zealand Parliament did not meet until
