Provincial Council.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 471, 9 May 1857, Page 8

Provincial Council.

Ttjebday, May sth

Present—The Speaker, Messrs. Barker, J. Bealey, S. Bealey, Blakiston, Bray, Brittan, Cookson, Dampier, Davis, Donald, Fooks, Hall, Moorhouse, Morgan, Ollivier, Packer, Thomson, Ward, and Westenra.

Mr* Packer laid oh the table several Messages from His Honor. ' No; 13. Transmitting certain return's, reports, and correspondence relating to Education.

No. 14. Requesting a vote of £120 for the Local Posts for the year. No. 15. Transmitting Mr. Bray's report on

the hills round Port Cooper, and asking for a vote to proceed with the Sumtier road. ; , ■ ! No. 16. Transmitting a financial statement of the past year.v ' ■ BEFUSD OF XICENSE FEES, : Mr. Olliviee moved the consideration of his Honor's message on the subject of the resolution of the Council requesting the refund of the difference between the previous and the present rates of license fees,; altered last1 July. The hbn. gentleman narrated the facts of the # case and pressed the injustice of refusing a refund of a fee which had been paid by the licensed victuallers for higher privileges than they at present possessed. He moved a l'esolution expressive of anopinien.that the difference should be refunded. Dr. Donald seconded the resolution. He had riot supported the reduction of the license fee, but it was nothing but "a simple act of justice that the money in excess should be refunded. Mr. Bbittan referred to the facts of the case as they stood at the time of the occurence. The publicans had been afraid of one another, and had.all been willing to pay the extra sum in order to prevent others taking their business out of their hands. Besides, publicans really preferred shortened hours. Under the circumstances he did not think it advisable in the Government to disgorge the receipts. ■■'.'' Mr.S. Bealey thought the reason adduced by Mr. Brittan was clearly in the favour of the publicans, who had been'reduced into a difficulty by the law and then taken advantage of by the Government. Mr: Davis said the publicans had had no objection to the law, but they were unfairly and illiberally treated in having to pay dB4O and to receive a £30. license. Mr, MbbKHOtTSE thought it was a case of contract, a license being bought and paid for; if the terhis were not fulfilled, at least the purchase money should be:remitted; , ' ; "Mr. J; Bealey spoke in favour of the resolution. Not only had the publicans a right to receive a'remission of the extra payment, but some of theih had almost a claim to compensation for the restrictions imposed on them hy the ordinance. ■';' ' ■■■■■••■•■■-■■••■ ■.■■"■■'.'' ' ':! " ' ' ' \ Mr. OLtitiEß replied/; to the argumenta : against the resolution; This was the proper time for asking for a refund when the Estimates tvere under consideration. He would request the house to proceed with the resolution. Resolution put arid Carried. Mr. OtLiviEß requested permission from the house to withdraw his name from the Committee on Public Works. The house had voted a large sum of money in salaries on that departmentAvithbut it having gone urider the consideration of the committee.1 j This was interfering with the work assigned to them and he would beg to withdraw his name frdm the list. A discussion ensued upon the principle involved in the; request made upon these grounds, and several member's took part in the debate. Finally, it being the desire of the house, Mr. Oliivier withdrew his request. KAJAPQI TOWN BILL, The house then went into committee on the Kaiapoi Town Bill. The classes were read seriatim, and passed, and the bill was reported. ; rXTLLEB: REMISSION OF PUEC^ASK MONEY '■■'' '■ ■ •-■ - - SILL. ■ '••'■■■ • The "report of the select committee on this bl llwas received and the bill was read a second time. ■•■■'. :' " •■• : ' ■ 1 Several notices of motion were then given and the house adjourned. '.; . ■Wednesday, May 6i. The House met at eleven o'clock. Mr. Packee 'moved the consideration of several messages from the Superintendent. ■ MELBOURNE AGENCY, The House went into committee upon Message No, 4; Mr. Blakiston in the chair. The message transmitted a correspondence between the Government and Mr. Banks (on the part of Messrs, Miles, Kington; and Co.), in which it was offered to establish an agency for the sale of land and for other purppses \n Melbourne and England. ' Mr. Packeb took the consideration of each, item of the offer, connected with the Melbourne Agency, separately. The terms were, a commission of 5 per cent, on all disbursements and "land sales, and interest of .10 per cent, per annum upon all cash disbursements: It was proposed also to give a free passage to puvchasei's of over 50 acres. A very interesting discussion arcse upon the general principle, in. which

Messrs. Oliivier, Dampier, Moorhouse, aid Barker raised various objections to the system of selling lands out of the colony. Messrs Brittany S. Bealey and others spoke in favour of the proposal. The following resolution was put and carried :— " That, in the opinion of this Council, it ij expedient to establish an agency in -Melbourne t6 facilitate the sale of ia-ads in this province." The further consideration of the question wat then postponed. , TOWN AT TALBOT FOKEST. Message No. 8, relating to a reserve of a town site at Talbot Forest, was then considered in committee. Mr. Packeb moved the following resolution:— "That his Honor be requested to make th» following reserve, viz., 320 acres of land for a town,to be called- ,at Talbot Forest. Mr. Bbittan riioved that the blank be filled up with the name of Gbdlej'. The gentleman who bore that name had been the greatest friend to the province it was possible t6 have had; ;and it would be a due mark of respect to take thi» opportunity of naming the town after him; A lengthened discussion arose upon this pro^ position, many names being suggested, which were all considered in succession, arid rejected \ finally, on the motion of Mr, MooßHOtisS, seconded by Mr. Thomson, the name of 'Fit*. Gerald' was adopted by a large majority. ftOSPITAL AT AKAEOA. The consideration of Message No. 9, recommending, a reserve for an hospital site at Akaroa, was then proceeded with. Mr. Beay objected to the Council recommending the reserve without haying proper tracing* of the spot before them. . r • f : After ;some discussion, the question wa3, postponed,, ...,. -„' ..; ... -. ■..;. . : . • .:_,..;,.._. The remainder of the business before th» House was postponed till Friday, and the Hous» adjourned till next day, ; A Dutcliman beiup1 called upon tolielp to,pay for a liglitnln^'rod 'for.thf. villngV church, towards th» huildinjr of wliicli he .had liberally sub<spribed,'exclaimed, I have helped to build a house !o (Ie Lor!, "and if hechosjes to don<)eir on'it, a?id knock i^idownj he nmsht do'itat his mvh Hsk. •