LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 628, 9 August 1851, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thursday, July 31. , ,’f I The Council met at the usual hour. ‘ J _ On the motion of Col. M’Cleverly, h | Paper Currency Amendment Bill wasj«li ■ third time and passed. * I LICENSING AMENDMENT BIU. || The Colonial Secretary of New Munster, | in moving the second reading of this bill, J he bad intended to make several alteration!ii S the old Ordinance, but finding the alteration | were so numerous, and many of ibem st g of pressing importance, he concluded thslJ g would be best to leave them to be settled 1 the Provincial Councils. But there wefe jii ■ points which he thought it would be well.® | the present Council to decide. These t«j j points were embodied in the two of this Ordinance. Several persons, ai H || having been put to great expense, had brag deprived of their, licenses ,by the of Magistrates, simply on the ground og too many having been issued; andit w H thought desirable that, in such cases, sons having fulfilled all the quired by law, an appeal’might be«‘°* K from the decision of the Magistrates to«g Governor and Executive Council who, oo ■ g quiry into the case, might proceed to g license to the appellant on the same« ■ trons as if it had been granted by the Mg trates ; this was the first point stance of the first clause. other point, it waa thought E protection to the licenced v * ctua^®t .?’Jfc ie jig biting unlicensed persons from selliogj’ , g kinds of liquors which mily amounts g whole to two gallons, or delivering' es g two gallons, whether of one or the »atn g at any one time. It was proposedLW* cond clause that the penalty in eacb for each offence should be morialists also proposed that no? dealer should gon( l mit snirits-withou,, from the Custom-house ; that they painted over their doors in largele e sale dealers in spirits, and quantity should be increased - cO nsi*ga gallons, all of which propositisns,, ; dered to be objectionable w S The Colonial Seeretary of e * ge( , gS fe«g in seconding the motion,' wishe changes as possible, as many 0 p f og complained ol would> I vincial Cojincjis, • ’ nf n dtijnei'-fl The bill was then read a ... g

The Council went into committee on this bill. On the first clause being read, which gave a power of appeal from the Bench of Magistrates to the Executive Council, i; Mr. Bell expressed bis serious objection to it, and agreed , with his learned friend the Attorney General ;>that,i>.iri fall) cases of this ■•cnrt "it rlnolFaKln .< ♦/> arnnt In >»kn CJUI*, aw J»W»I ■ Mvuuwviv a. -•vi w» -ata • tuu UlOl w instance a tribunal with the greatest possi- ■ hie care;i and then to make the decision of ■ that tribunal final. He thought an appeal K from the Magistrates to the Council would B prevent many;Magistrates from sitting on the > Bench on such occasions;; as this was so clearly ■ E a. matter in which magistrates: were Supposed to best informed. , uh The Attorney General of New Zealand entirely agreed with Mr. Bell. . ■' eji’Sir George Grey; dissented from what had fallen from'.the hon. Member. If Government could compel the attendance /of a great majority of Magistrates the casej.would be different. If full latitude were, given, to the doctrine that it was only:necessary to constitute, the best .tribunals, and afterwards not to interfere with their decisions, : be unknown to the earth. It was. well; known that the greatest and best judges sometimes gave wrong decisions, Mt'was within his own knowledge that the greatest possible hardships have been occasioned under the present system of' licensing. In-one} year theFMagistrates agreed to increase the number of licenses to a ■considerable extent, in another; year another set of Magistrates? determined to limit the number;, in the latter case individuals were deprived of their licenses without any fault of their ownj and were nearly ruined. He (Sir Cleorge) . contended some remedy should he applied to such A system. He thought an appeal from the Magistrates to. the Executive Council, oh the whole, objectionable. He had ■ found a clause in a Licensing Ordinance which lie thought met the difficulty Letter than any other. The Magistrates were first to determine the number of Licences to be granted, and then, if it. was necessary to reduce the number, they would deprive those of licenses who had conducted; their bouses in the least reputable manner. He considered thia to be; the best solution of the difficulty. At the Norlb; on the occasion to which he referred the Magistrates by an arbitrary vote deprived individuals of their property, and in one or two instances those persons were nearly ruined. 'He thought if any reduction in the .existing number of licenses, was to be made,' they should deprive those of licenses whose houses were the worst conducted. This would be an encouragement to respectable publicans to conduct their houses, properly ; and if it were necessary to reduce the number of houses the punishment would fall on the least reputable members of their body. In reply to an inquiry from Mr. Camley as to the course to be pursued in the event of their being no convictions Sir George Grey said in that case he could see ho reason for reducing the number of bouses, it could only be said there was not a large enough profit to individuals. The Colonia! Secretary of New Munster observed that houses might be conducted in an improper manner, and it might yet be difgficult to adduce legal proof of it. It was inBtended the Magistrates should decide which 3 were the most reputable houses. ■ Mr. Dillon approved of granting the power jg of appeal, and considered if public houses ■ were too numerous ini one year, in an increas-. || ing population the next year they might not I prove so. It was not the number of public houses, but man’s evil propensities that occasioned drunkenness. ’ The Colonial Secretary of New Munster would remind the hon. member of the words of Shakespeare—- ’ • : . '<■ > “ How oft the sight of means, to do ill deeds, Makes ill doeds done!” The Colonial Secretary of .New Zealand thought the power of appeal would meet the :evils which were found to arise! in New Ulster. better, than any other course, The Magistrates themselves wished to see the power of appeal to the Government, . Sir George Grey said although the clause enacts nothing, it does a great deal. The difficulty was this, Magistrates believed it to be the intention ■of the Legislature that they should indulge their own fancies. The clause ■ declares- that individuals ate not to be inS jured without some urgent necessity, and | gave some r indication : of ; , the intention of I the Legislature. . He (Sir George)-consi-S d®rcd ; ,it-.,wrong .idea,.:that- the.:'. Governor K should be called upon on all occasions to. re-‘ ■, r j B | e v Jl® .iin ; the colony.. >The community ■ f een taught that, but. he thought such a S ou Io be discouraged. He had pi- ■ tied the persons referred, to, and. did what he B ; t0 ®^ rye ‘-hem, but he had no wTsh to inI .the decision of the Magistrates. ■ tere was another way of remedying the,.(lifI an* 1 Government might be empowered, on I bpn3 Pe r them r to refer the case to another | “ enc h of Magistrates. ....

The .Colonial Secretary bf-New Zealand said the Magistrates, on the occasion referred to, were themselves so conscious of’' their error, that they-liad recourse" to an 'illegal method of correcting it. Iwiiog . Sir tieorge Grey was of opinion, if it were necessary to reduce the number of houses; the licenses should be taken from the least worthy persons. It might be found necessary to reduce the number of houses iha district, butif in such cases an appeal were allowed, an opportunity would be given to the Magistrates for reconsideration; when it was brought before them, seeing the misery and ruin they might inflict on individuals, they would pause, and in some instances would perhaps regret the course they had taken.' "At the same time it would give them the means of ’punishing those who. were unworthy by declaring’their licenses forfeited.-' ariit After some further discussion' the Committee divided.- -For the amendment—-7 ; against it~i-; •amendment’cafried. 1 ' 1

On the 2nd clause being.proposed, ' The Colonial Secretary of New Zealand objected to the,, clause .is injurious to the . Mr. Dillon thought that if a publican t was called upon to pay £4O for a license, he was surely entitled to some protection. ; : ... Sir George Grey considered the whole systetn proceeded on that principle, that in order that certain advantages should be gained, certain regulations should be established for the good of the community. This was one of,the necessary regulations the want of which was the cause of great evils, particularly in Scotland, He (Sir George) could produce authorities of the first order, to shew that the great amount of drunkenness in that country arises from that cause ; the amount of spirits con-, somed per head was quite frightful, and he conceived it arose from the want of a'proper system of licensing. The publicans had petitioned for a limit of five gallons, he did not approve of this. He thought five gallons too much but would be sorry to see the restriction of two gallons removed. If there was any doubt as to samples the clause could be easily altered. 1

The Colonial/ Secretary of New Zealand said, with respect to the drunken propensities of his unfortunate countrymen, he would not doubt the facts and conclusions drawn by His Excellency. He did not wish a less quantity sold than two gallons, but that the quantity should be exclusively of one kind of liquor. Sir Grey said, as the clause at present stands, a person could not send a bottle of wine to a sick person? ' 11 ’' The Colonial Secretary of New Munster thought, in such’ a case, the Magistrates would not convict. " Sir George Grey was of opinion, if the Magistrates would not convict, it would be very unpleasant to be taken up. . , The word’“ any persons” ,in the clause was altered to “ any wholesale dealer in spirituous and fermented liquors,” and the clause agreed to, The penalty imposed by the clause for the sale of less than two gallons is £5,0. Captain Smith'proposed a clause, making the amount paid for licenses uniform, namely £3O, and the time of closing uniform .also, namely 12 o’clock. He observed that the license fee in this colony was higher than in other countries. In England it was only £l5, in Australia £25. The Attorney-General of New Munster complained of being taken by surprise by the ornonrlmont nF vwltmlt r»n nractnno nntinn had been given. If the hon. member’s reason was good for reducing the fee at all, it should be reduced to £l5. Mr. Cautley was not prepared to vote for a reduclion of the license fee, as. he had not found that publicans had gone to, the wall, and. the alteration .would cause a considerable reduction of the, estimated revenue. As the Provincial Councils would shortly come into operation, he was, of opinion it would be better, after having remained for ten years at the present rate, to allow the Proyincial Councils to regulate the fee. ’ Sir George Grey was of opinion that hon. members were not justified in stating they, were taken by surprise, they forgot that the memorial of the Licensed Victuallers had been lying some time on the tabled and the fault arose from'the want of memory on the part of hon. members and not from. the> Government. Whether every public house should, be kept open till twelve o’clock he was not prepared to give an opipion. Then, turning.to the fee, he confessed he had always been-of opinion it was too high./- V . . : ™ ° • "i ' ! The amendment was lost, only two members voting for it.

; /Captain Smith then moved another amendment}'to ;the effect that 'all wholesale dealers' in spirits should pay a license fee of. £10; and have,written over-the-doors of their stores, “ Licensed Dealers in Spirits.’?/ . u. nq ■ The amendment was opposed by the Colonial Secretary of New Zealand, and by Mr.

Bell, who also objected to the latter part of the clause. t : ‘ J ; . .- . . Sir George Grey would answer to that objection, if the wholesale dealers , were not ashamed to sell spirits, why ,'shouid they be ashamed of making it known that they did so? As the publicans were the principal customers of the wholesale dealers, the effect of requiring them to pay for a license would b'e to impose additional taxation on the publican. He (Sir George) thought there was 1 some' weight id the argument to leave the 1 Provincial Councils to arrange these Two great things had been done to-day : additional protection had been given to the publican, and additional restrictions had been imposed on the/wholesale dealer/ 1 ‘h-m ‘ committe divided foF the, amendment 3, against it 8 : amendment lost. ■ "'■ ?. ■ The Lieutenant-Governor proposed an al? teration in the clause, • which would' allow merchants to send as a free gift'a bottle of wine to a sick person, 'which they were now debarred from doing. Mr. Cautley objected to leave any loophole by which the act might be evaded. If a merchant wished to make a present to a sick person, no magistrate would convict. ■ ' Sir George Grey said he did not like that kind of legislation ' which made a crime, and left it to the individual to- explain his intentions? -He was’ of opinion that the individual who broke the law should be punished for its infraction, without referring to circumstances when it was so broken. *- He should rather see the offence precisely stated. '• ' The clause was then agreed to. ' It was decided that the /bill 'should' come mto operation the Ist day of October : the committee then adjourned, and the report was brought up and'adopted. ' Li ■ NEW ZEALAND COMPANY’S LAND CLAIMANTS BILL. The Council went into committee 1 on this bifl. • • 1 . . The Attorney-General moved a clause reterring to the claims of the Akaroa settlers'." 1 ’ Sir George Grey said the clause had been drawn after consultation with the Attorney General of New Zealand. In some instances the settiers at Akaroa had r eceived’.land for 1 coming out. ** It would be for the 1 Council to mliAShna 4 V A■ L .»i ) - ' it' uvvtuu nucnicij uu me WIIUIC, iucy WUUiU UIIOW them tb take scrip or not. ' He felt it unjust to the public to remove a claim from the Canterbury Association, and to saddle it on the rest of the Province. ’ * r

Mr.-Bell should support/ the insertion of a clause enabling the Government to extend to the purchasers under the Nanto Bordelaise Company the whole of the provisions of the bill. Those persons were strangers, and were poor : and while that Council haa desired so liberally to meet all claims made under the New Zealand Company by persons who, being of the same nation, were competent to take their own part, it would hardly be fair, and would certainly be ungenerous, to provide less liberally for the satisfaction of foreigners, unable to do much for their own advantage. Even if, by extending the scrip scheme to them, the Council vent something beyond the strict letter of their contract, they might be generous tb them without being unjust to the public; and he was satisfied that all the English settlers would rejoice that a hand was held out to the foreign colonists of Akaroa. Sir George Grey was disposed to think that, altogether, an inadvertence had been committed on the subject. The schedule of the act contains no plan, and shews no excepted parts, with the exception of certain buildings and land at Banks’ Peninsula purchased by the New Zealand Company from the Nanto Bordelaise Company, and certain property acquired by purchase and exchange with Mr. Deßelligny. The first question was whether the houses and lands of the settlers are or are not included in the Schedule. Assuming su ch to be the case, with that exceptiondbe whole of Banks* Peninsula was vested in the Association. As nosurvey had been made of those lands and bouses it was impossible to lay .them down. Perhaps the schedule might: allude to some portions sold in England. Whether they should extend the scrip to these individuals would depend on the Council. The Council was aware, that in a young 'settlement great jealousy existed of any. interference. The Council, in offering scrip: to these French settlers, might subject themselves to an accusation of having inflicted a blow on the Canterbury settlement. ? All that could be said now was,, they bad not done the utmost they could for these specific individuals.'.r:-./ / . ? / .- The Colonial.Secretarv of New Munster; would vote decidedly fori admitting the inhabitants of Akaroa to alb the. privileg.es of the bill. He would do sb because tbey./were? foreigners and were .poor. They:had beem brought to.tbis country in the.'.expectation thati it would be under their own Government,; they found it under a/foreign Jjovernment.: If the effect would be to induce; them to ipread about the other parts of the colony,v so much the better?, He . thought the existence ofranasolated community of Frenchmen in the midst

of Englishmen an evil rather than a If dispersed among the latter they would sooner fall into English habits and customs, and lose prejudices. But fie thought they would not be iikelv to leave Akaroa • the d'*s ’ rc t 0 keep with their fellow countrymen would restrain them? .With.regard to.the.increased expenditure of land their admission would involve, this ought to come out of the debt to the New Zealand Company, because it was certain they had taken the liabilities of the French Company bn themselves in purchasing their claims, and the Government had only taken the Company’s liabitiiica with respect tb lauds which reverted to Government: any land owed to the Akaroa settlers had not reverted to Government. But / however that might be, he would vote for their admission as a matter of generosity to foreigners in an unfortunate position, and he thought it more becoming the dignity and character of a British Government to treat such persons liberally, than to stand upon their strict rights with them. The Colonial Secretary of New Zealand thought it would be desirable first to . know whether these persons wished to remove. Mr. Bell conceived, if there was any doubt on the subject, it would be better to give them the benefit of that doubt.' 1 i ? L ‘ 'Sir George Grey said there were two points for consideration which had not been met First, they were not aware how many persons are owners. In some cases they may have sold in others mortgaged their property, and the arrangement would not benefit those for whom it was intended. He threw out this suggestion for their consideration. But there was another much more serious objection. In addition to the French settlers, there were also others claiming under the New Zealand Company. In every case considerable expense would be incurred, as none of these claims —**-*««m wivuuufc duivcjs, no part of which could be recovered from the district. The Canterbury Association pressed upon the Government for the .settlement of thesn claims. One case had been sent up, which he (Sir George) had ordered to be adjusted on equitable terms. This, which was a contract of the New Zealand Company’s, had already raised a claim of considerable amount for surveys. Under the agTcciuciit with the New Zealand Company the Government must give grants with defined and surveyed boundaries. The Canterbury Association may not incur this expense. The Council may order it to be done, and the inhabitauts of the coiuhy would have to . pay for it,? '■ ' - ’ ' -

Mr. Dillon suggested the Council should pass a resolution directing these expences to be charged to the New Zealand Company. Sir George Grey, that would be repugnant to.an Act of Parliament. Sir George Grey wished to allude to one other subject which had been carefully considered ; the resolution adopted yesterday by the Council. had been put in such guarded language, it merely empowered Government to inquire into these claims, it interfered with no rights, and he thought no evil could result from such a course. The committee adjourned and the report was brought up and adopted. ' Sir George Grey, referring to the previous discussion on the claims at Akaroa under the Nanto Bordelaise Company, wished to be quite certain what the wishes of the Council were for’the sake of thoroughly adjusting the question. He thought the wisest course would be to charge the expense against the fund for issuing grants ; if it could ultimately be recovered, from the Canterbury Association or the New Zealand Company it should be done. Perhaps the Council would determine this when the bill was read a third time on Saturday. . , * i:-? DEPASTURING REGULATIONS. Two alterations were proposed, one by the Colonial Secretary of New Munster, regulating the limit of runs according to a graduated ssale of the increase of sheep on the original nurnber placed on the run. Another by Mr. Cautley,- to prevent persons, from asking: for more land than they want, of an annual fee of £5, and £1 for each 1000 sheep the run was estimated to carry. The Council then adjourned to Saturday. Saturday, August 2. The Council met at one o’clock. On the motion of Captain Smith, the New. Zealand Company’s Land Claimants. Bill was read a third time and passed. , ADDRESS TO THE CROWN., Mr. Cautley moved an address to the Crown against the further extension of-'the Canterbury block, which he thought wpuld inflict a great injury on the settlements of Nelson and Otago. The Council had already adopted a general address, praying that a uniform system should be established for the disposal of waste lands in the colony, but-this address was intended to prevent the further extension of ter-' ritory by an Associstiefi founded on exclusive

.principles, and already in possession of a large and valuable district, and who, not content ■with what they had already acquired, sought to extend their power over neighbouring, settlements. The address referred to the intended application fry the Canterbury Association for an extension of their territory, and stated that the Council viewed with alarm the possibility of her Majesty’s Government acceding'to such a request. It alluded to the injury done to the settlers at Akaroaj above 200 souls professing the Roman Catholic faith, who would be compelled on purchasing any any additional land to that now occupied by them to Contribute for every acre a sum of £2 to the support of a religion they . conscientiously disapproved, of. It also referred to the injustice that would be inflicted on the Presbyterian settlement .of Otago, and on that qf Nelson, 1 by the extension of the monopoly of land Jtiy the Association beyond its, present limits,'and concluded by praying her Majesty, on behalf of the ; inhabitants of New. Zealand generally and of the settlements alluded to in particular, to withhold her sanction to any attempt to extend the territory of the Association. . The motion was seconded by the. Colonial Secretary of New Munster. . . ' * . : The Lieutenant-Goyernpr did.not intend,to vote in favour of the address, ; as the Council Had already adopted a general address on the subject, and the information before the Council did not prove the one before them to be necessary ; while the letter on the table -frpm the jAgent of the Canterbury Association, on the subject of creating the settlement; into a Province, contained no allusion whatever to any further extension of territory. . Mr. Dillon said the Council s of the Association at Lyttelton had applied to England for an extension of the limits of their territory. ‘

The Lieutenant-Governor still considered the present address unnecessary, inasmuch as, judging from the correspondence on the table, the proposal must be ‘ laid before his Excellency who would never consent to it. • Sir George-Grey said the correspondence, referred to by the Lieutenant-Governor, instead of, establishing a certain point distinctly established the contrary, and he thought, it would not be fight in him to hear an argument used on this.subject which was contrary to fact without contradicting it. If the correspondence bore the interpretation that had been put upon it he.was io blame, as he intended its meaning to be the very converse of, that which had been given to. it. The Lieutenant-Governor referred to Mr. Godley’s letter, which he understood to ask that the whole of the Canterbury settlement might be made a separate Province. Sir George Grey had never in any way been consulted, and the letter referred,to was dated as far. back as 31st May, 1848. He had not been made aware that the Act was introduced, or that it had passed, and knew nothing of it except in the statutes at large. He had never been furnished with a copy of the Act, and had never seen a copy until he received one privately from a member of the Council. 1 “■

. . The Colonial Secretary of . New Munster thought the question of dividing the country, into provinceshad nothing to do with that before the Council. He had abstained, in the former address, from, introducing the Canterbury Association, and had made no allusion to ; the wrong sustained by the settjers at; Akaroa from that body. He ( had no doubt tha] many members of the Council wished to express a decided opinion on .this'question, Would K 0”" 1a . -i? ' ■». • °auuiuuus ,iu lue former one, if they had supposed another ad- , dress would not be adopted,, T further observations from the Lieutenant-Governor and the Colonial Secretary of New Munster.

Sir George Grey said he might not have spoken on the subject, but for the allusion made by the Lieutenan t-Governor, but such an allusion, made in such a manner, arid comingfrom such a quarter, might produce an erroneous impression- 'on the public mind. It Was-from no personal Ifeeling.whatever against the Association, or any of its officers, that he was'induced to speak how; He stood there as the servant of the Crown and of Parliament, and the Council could, of course, adopt any plan they thought proper, and he should, as far as lay in his power; .obey their instructions. But (t though a sqrvant of the Crown and. of Parliament, he, iri a certain degree, represented ffre ’wants and interests'of the Inhabitants of this colony. It had been stated, he did not know hbw correctly? that a bodv called the Council; and the supposed in some manner representing f -the, . Association, had Sciit -home, an (address.>to Her Majesty ; he could .only ; that if such were, the case, it QUghfj ; in.conformity; with the Royal <lnstruG r tiqiißj.and the established; usage, tohave.bcen-. sent through him, that he might have had an opportunity,, after. carefully considering; !( the. recommendations it Contained, and .the. ; prob,a- ; ble jeffect jts, ■. adqptip.u would ■ hayq ,op ; the .co-, Icily;^t..large,; to ; haye.given ,pjope?advice ; tp

Her Majesty’s advisers on the question* He,' the Governor of the country, the servant)*?! the Crown, and the representative; ,ofthe .Crown in this country, had had; no opportunity afforded him of advising Her Majestyon the-subject. Such ..prpepedipgs,were altogether unusual. First, the act bad been passed without his knowledge ; then an address on an important' matter had been sent home, ou which np opportunity had.bqen afforded him of communicating with the Secretary of; State. He thought a wrong precedent hadl been introduced, ; which would ultimately,prove.injurious to the interests of the colony. ;; j The Colonial Treasurer was opposed to .the address, because it was not general, and also because it referred io the Catholics at Akaroa, If be supported the.; address, it might be supposed it .was done from ,a feeling qf jealousy, and that he thought the Canterbury Association had done a deliberate wrong, i The Colonial Secretary of New Munster considered the Colonial Treasurer to be more nice than wise. ,

The Colonial Treasurer did not know whe- : ther.he.was more nice than wise, but hoped he was a little of both, particularly on this subject. A general address bad already been voted by the Council, he..therefore '.thought the address before them unnecessary.; After some further discussion, in which Mr. Dillon* Mr. Bell, and the. Colonial Secretary joined, ~. Sir George Grey disclaimed having any personal feeling on. the subject, but as allusion had been made to Akaroa, he .could not help observing that that casewould shew, how little he was. likely tri; be .consulted. It was not until, fre; went tp 5 Akaroa that he heard th at dis tr ict was.. in eludedin, the, Ca nte rbu r v block. At first hie couldi notcredit jt t! but he subsequently found that the information he had then received was perfectly correct. The Colonial Treasurer moved, as ran amendment, the rejection of the address. . ; ; The Colonial Secretary ;of New Munster sa *d this was a special address to prevent a special wiuug. .He would not have proposed U*? former address if he- had supposed these two cases of special wrong.'.were- not'„t.o be; brought forward in a subsequent address. The Colonial Treasurer’s objection; might beremoved by the insertion of the word inadvertently. The address would then read a, wrong had been inadvertently done to the people of Akaroa. The Colonial Treasurer said the amendment would hardly: meet his objection; he conceived the wrong originated in ignorance on. the part of the Association and the Home Government .that; there were. such persons at Akaroa.. ...... ’. '■ .Sir Geprge ; Grey said there was no doubt an injury z had inadvertently been done, the wrong had been caused by the introduction ol a lew words in the schedule,' and showed more than ever the ; necessity, that such arrange-, mqnts should not be hastily made, or made without the. knowledge of the Local Government.

M. r « Bell was of. opinion that it bad beep advertently done.. Ail the transactions shew the. New Zealand- Company, had purchased the claims of the ; French Company to facilitate the arrangements of the Canterbury Association,.; . ..... , ' Sir George Grey thought there was a clear misunderstanding of terms. He believed the .interests of these persons had been sacrificed to promote particular .objects, but as far as Parliament and Government were concerned this had been inadvertently done. When this was known at ; home, he? thought; it .would prevent snch things from being , done for the future. s :;/. -j d . Mr.: Bell said, the acquisition of the lands, at Akaroa was made to forward and promote ’ the plans of the Canterbury Association, and the result was a conveyance of the lands from the Nanto Bordelaise Company to the New Zealand Company, with a schedule containing the. names of persons having claims: on them. . • r..

The Lieutenant-Governor would not se-; cond the.amendment because.the-majority of thii Council appeared to be in* favour of- the .address,, but he considered it unnecessary, as the general.address adopted by ; the Council secured the objects sought,- and the adoption of such an as had been observed by an hon. member, might be supposed to shew, on the part of the Council, a feeling of hostile lity to a young settlement. He objected to ;the extension of the Canterbury District,- and ■considered the mission-of ;tbe Association had Ofioond Mai. 4.1 £ . TT .V « wuotu uu luuuuiug we scuiuHieiicu xie tnougnt a resolution;expressed in* general terms Would effect the ;object they'had in viewiL : > wiij-d , -/Mr. " Dillon denied that the ‘ address was ■moved from any feeling pf hostility,; and-had; ineyey; heard such an observation made. K'jine .liieutenanti Governor l thoughtfiothei Colonial. Treasurer had said, 1 it might be sup-1 'posed, he had voted for the address from a feel- . ;'mg. of jealousy,, i The Colonial Treasurer had never said any ; thmgiof;the;kind,Healluded to theDatho-i

lies .at-.Akarpa, and to a feeling of jealousy on.thathead, as he was a Catholic.; Cob; M'Cleverty seconded the Colonial Treasurer’s, amendment, beepuse he considered the general address ad.opted by the Council rendered the present one unnecessary. ’The Attorney General , of New Zealand said that, fraying qn a previous occasion made his-election be- h?d ; ,supported,the general address, andishould,therefore Vftte against tfrp.present one. : Sir Geprge Grey said he was placed in a position, qf great difficulty: with, respect4o the address before him. , Itthad been said that the address was unnecessary, inasmuch as he would certainly bo consulted before any thing was done, and this made : his position ratheria peculiar one- The Lieutenant-Governor had also thro.wn out an allusion that, by adopting this address, an impression would be, produced that the Council was hostile to a young community ; -.this allusion.camp in jm unfortunate manner from such a quarter, particularly as the Colonial Treasurer, to whom reference was made, disclaimed having made such. an allusion. That’alone would be a conclusive argument io his mind as to the course he should adopt on this occasion.

TlieCouribil theri 'divided. For the amendment— 4; against lt—B ; amendment lost. The address was then adopted.. On the motion of the Colonial Secretary of New Munster;, the Licensing Amendment Ordinance, was read a third (time and passed.

BOROUGH OF AUCKLAND. Sir George Grey laid on the table,, for the information of the Council, a copy, of the Charter of'lncorporation which he had granted to the borough of Auckland, with his despatch to the Lieutenant-Governor of New Ulster accompanying, the .charter. JHis. object in presenting tfrem to .the Council in the form of . printed papers, was, that application ;bad been made to Government for information on this subject from various, quarters, and the members, by bqing furnished with copies, could afford the requisite in . their respective districts. It was in the power of the Government to alter, modify, or suspend nny of the provisions contained in.the charter, so as to adapt them to the particular circumstances of the, communi.ty.for which the charter Was to be granted : and . haying the necessary information affprded them, it would be in -the power of all those populous districts that require Charters of Incorporation to apply for them. . Haying said that, he would offer his grateful thanks to the members for the attention they had paid to the various measures brought before them, which he rhbped would prove of the greatest possible advantage to these islands. Once more ..heartily thanking them for the assistance they had given him. in discharging these troublesome duties, he had the honor to adjourn the Co,u,ncii sine die,