LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 47, 27 June 1844, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TH URSDAY, June 20tb, 1844. Present all the members. Tbe minutes of tbe last meeting 'were read and oonfirmed. Dt. Martin pretested a petition from tbe ia

bitatits of Auckland, against any further taxes being imposed. Petition received and read. To his Excellency, Robert Fitzroy, Governor, of New Zealand, fyc. and the Legislative Council thereof. The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of Auckland, and its vicinity, shewefh That yonr petitioners view with apprehension the additional taxation about being imposed upon New: Zealand, by ihe " Customs Amendment Bill," now before the Legislative Council, in so far as that bill impones a duty of 5 per cent, upon all merchandize, other than fermented liquors and tobaeco, and as their opinions on the subject can* not be better explained than by a resolution adopted at a public meeting of the inhabitants of Auckland, held this day at the Mechanic's Institute, the petitioners take the liberty of embodying the same* ** That the meeting views with much alarm and disappointment the measure now before Ihe Legislative Council, for the purpose of imposing additional taxes upon tho present impoverished community, and cannot refrain from 9tating their conviction that if the same is carried into execution, it will have the effect of destroying the remaining trade and commerce of the colony, and of driving'many settlets from the country in which, notwithstanding all their efforts, they can scarcely earn a bare subsistence f or themselves and families. This meeting is further of opinion, that is stead of paying additional taxes, tbe extreme depression of the settlement ought to suggest the expediency of reducing the taxes alr< ady imposed, and it therefore appears highly unjust, as well as unreasonable, to expect, while the colony has for the last four years been rapidly sinking, and that by tbe very measures of the Government itself, that now additional taxation should be proposed that was never thought of at a time when there was at least the appearance of prosperity."

That your petitioners would therefore respectfully request that, no additional taxes be imposed in the present depressed state of the colony, and in the impoverished condition of tbe inhabitants, asthey conscientiously believe that it is not the intention of your honourable Council!to oppress tbe present settlets, or retard the advancement of tbe colony, as the proposed taxes would most unquestionably be the means of so doing. w •• And yoar petitioners, as in doty will ever pray. (Here follow 180 signatures. ) On motion of Dr. Martin, it was ordered, that said petition be entered on the minutes and printed* The Governor then movedjthe order of the day, for the third heading of the Customs' Amendment Bill.

Dr. Martin moved an amendment, that the bill be read a third time this day six months. The Council divided, when the original motion was carried, and the bill read a third time. Dr. Martin presented a protest, which was read and ordered to be printed in the minutes. Mr. Clifford also presented a whioh was read and ordered to be printed in the minutes. The Governor then put tbe question that tbe Customs Ordinance Bill do" pass, which was Carried.

The Governor moved the order of the day, for further consideration of the Conrt of Requests' Bill.

Upon motion of the Attorney General clause 9 was. amended, read and agreed to. On clause 47 being read, the Governor* moved the amendment of which he had given uotice. but subsequently withdrew it. i Dr. Martin then moved that the clause as originally printed do stand part of the bill. Agreed

Dr. Martin then moved that the petition which be had presented praying that the Court of Requests' Bill should come into immediateroperation, be now read* petition was then read. /The Attorney General moved that the following be added to the table of Bailiff's fees, « Bailiff! when.in possession, 2s 6d per diem." Carried. The Governor moved that tbe said bill be engrossed, and that it be read athird time on Tuesdav 25th inst. Agreed to. The Governor then moved the order of the day for the further consideration of the Imprisonment for Debt Bill. *

Clause I amended by erasing tbe,word, three, in Sth line, and insert, two, instead. Agreed toj likewise 4th clause agreed upon. On motion of the Governor, it was ordered that the bill be engrossed, and that it be read a third time on Tuesday, 25th. On motion of the Governor tbe order of the day for the first reading of Municipal Corporations' Bill be proceeded with. Bill read accordingly. Tbe Governor moved that the bill be read a Second time on Tuesday, 25th. Agreed to. The Governor proposed that the consideration of Dr. Martin's resolution be postponed to Saturday. «th July. Agreed toj The Council then adjourned until Saturday, 22nd. SATURDAY, June 22nd. All the members present. Thejninutes of the, last meeting were read and Confirmed* The Governor moved the order of the day for the further consideration of the Native Trust Bill. Mr; Brown moved an addition to the fifth clause, which was read, upon which a long discussion toek place, which lasted some hours. When the Attorney Geueral moved an amendment on Mr, Brown's addition, which was Carried. The Governor declined to vote. Dr. Martin then moved another amendment which was negatived. The Governor theu moved anothsr addition, which was carried. Clauses 6,7, 8, and 9 were read and agreed to. Ou clause4o being read a discus,ion arose, as to the disposal of lands - coming into the hands of the trustees, on behalf of Native children. During the discussion his Excellency read an extract of a letter from Lord Stanley, to Governor Hobsnn empowering him, as G%>vern«w *- ~ to tbe nm.*"-- » ■ .... .u grant certain land , trustees on behalf of the native children. It was ultimately agreed that clause 10 as read, do stand part of the bill.

Clause 11 wae read, and after some discussion was finally agreed to. Clauses 12 and 13 were read and agreed to. Clause 14 was read, and a slight addition made to it. Clauses 15 to 26 inclusive, were then read and agreed to. On clause 27 being read, Dr. Martin proposed an amendment, which after a slight alteration was agreed to. Clause 28 being the last clause of the bill was then read and agreed to. It was then agreed that the bill be engrossed, and read a third time on Thursday, (this day.) Tbe Council then adjourned till Tuesday, 25th. TUESDAY, June 25th. Present all the members. The minutes of the last Council were then read and confirmed. The Governor said p evious to reading the Distillation Amendment Bill, he wonld beg ieave to lay on the table a Memorial from tbe Auckland Total Abstinence Society, and he must say there was much truth in it. although it would have been much better if the substance had been compressed into fewer words. (We are sorry we cat not insert the memorial, but it shall appear in our next.) The Clerk of Council then read ihe said Memorial, when The Governor moved the fiist reading of the Distillation Amendment Bill,which was accordingly read. Then Governor then moved that the bill be read a second time, on Thursday ('this agreed to. The Auctioneer's Amendment Bill was then read a first lime.

Attorney General gave notice that on the?second reading of the bill the sum of forty pounds would be inserted iu the blank. The Colonial Secretary gave notice- .that be should move that £25 be the sum. The bill was then ordered to be read a second time on Thursday, (this day). The Conveyancing Amendment Bill, was then read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Thursday, (this day.) The Governor then laid on the table, the Unsworn Testimony Bill, abd the Cattle Trespass Amendment Bill, which were ordered to be read a first time on Thursday, (this day). Also a Hill to Amend tbe Summary Proceeding's, also a Bill to Provide for the Harbour Regulations, were laid on tbe table, and ordered to be read a first time on Thursday, (this dayj. , The Governor proposed the second reading of the Municipal Corporation Bill, which was agreed to, when

The Attorney General said be thought it necessary previous to the Bill being read, to say a few words respecting it. The present bill was in substance, very similar to one passed some two years ago , but in the first bill there were two objectionable clauses towards the Home Government, on which account the bill was disallowed ; but the present bill was prepared without these objectionable clauses, and therefore he hoped it would give general satisfaction. The hon. and learned gentleman then entered into the merits of tbe bll and said, that he, as a private citizen, would rather pay double the sum in the way of taxes, to a Corpoiation, than to Government, for he thought it right that tbe people should have the management of their own affairs.

Dr. Martin said he agreed witb a deal of what fell from the Attorney General, but be thought there ought to be a clause in the bill making it necessary that at least two thirds 'of the householders should agree to the Corporation Bill coming into operation. He knew that tho great majority of the people were opposed to the bill, but tbe present state of things might not continue long, perhaps in twelve months or two years, people might have a different opinion. Mr. Brown said in tbe present state of affairs, he thought before proceeding further, it would be w:se to know by what means the Corporation were to raise funds for the necessary business, for he was .sure the people could not. afford to pay one sixpence to improve their streets or erect necessary buildings, . # Mr. Clifford also spoke of the working of the bill at Port Nicholson, and said, when tbe Corporations were first formed, the inhabitants were very liberal, and seemed anxious to take a part in the proceedings, but they soon got tired, or at least, I tike-warm there ; he was glad that it was proposed to make it optional whether the people would rtceive the bill or not. The Governor then read extracts from a despatch dated January 9, 1843, explaining the reason of the first Corporation Bill being disallowed, bnt recommended another bill being enacted without the objectionable clauses. His Excellency expressed inmself in the most liberal terms respecting the propriety of placing a large quantity of land at the disposal of the Corporations, to enable them to carry on their respective measures. A long discussion then took place on the general merits of the bill. The bill was then read, when a few alterations were made, and the whole of the 83 clauses agreed to, with the exception of clause 44, which was ordered for consideration on Thursday (this day.) Attorney General moved an additional clause to the effect that the Corporation Bill should receive ber Majesty's confirmation before coming into operation, which was agreed to. The Imprisonment for Debt Bill, was read a third time. When his Excellency confirmed it. The Council theu adjourned till Thursway, (this day).