Monday. 8th June.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 363, 10 June 1874, Page 3

Monday. Bth June.

A considerable portion of the time of the Council on Monday was occupied in the discussion of Mr. Haggitt's resolutions to amend the Licensing Laws. Ilia resolutions were — " That in the opinion of this Council, the Licensing Laws at present in force in this Province should be amended in the following particulars, viz. : — -

" (1) That provision should be made for the transfer of publicans' licenses between the times of the sittings of the Licensing Court.

" (2) That provision should be made for opening public houses on Sundays between the hours of 1 and 3 iv the afternoon, and 8 and 10 in the evening, but so that the bar doors be kept closed entirely on those days.

" (3) That a license having once been granted, personal application for the" renewal of such license should not be necessary or required, unless notice of objection to the renewal thereof has been served on the Clerk of the Court, and also on the licensee, a reasonable time before the sitting of the Licensing Court ; and if no objection to the renewal of a license be so served, the license should be renewed as a matter of course.

■ " (4) That the system of bottle licenses be discontinued, and the minimum quantity of liquor of any description which may be sold under a wholesale license be reduced to one gallon." Mr. Stout then moved the following amendment — " (1.) That provision should be made for the transfer of publicans' and bottle licenses between the times of the sittings of the Licensing Court. (2.) That, in order to prevent the undue creation of vested interests in the liquor traffic, no new publican's license should be granted in any district until a memorial, signed by a majority of the adult residents in the district, be presented to the Licensing Court, the genuineness of the signatures to the memorial being verified, as provided for by section 23 of the Licensing let, 1873." The amendment on the first resolution was carried by 21 against 11. Mr. Haggitt's second and third resolutions were lost.. Mr. Stout's second amendment was als_o lost. Mr. Q-. F. C. Brown* then moved as a further amendment — " That no licensee who employs during the year any female in his bar shall be eligible fox a renewal of his license." This amendment was lost on the voices. Mr. J. C. Brown moved—" That the following words should be- added to the resolution carried — ' That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, asking him to forward the foregoing resolution to the General Government, with a vie*w to the Licensing Act being so amended)' " Mr. M'Kenzie obtained leave to move the following addition to the motion carried, before Mr. J. C. Brown,'s amendment was put — " That in order to prevent the undue creation of vested interests, no publican's license shall be granted until a memorial signed by a majority of the male adult residents of the district shall be presented, and the genuineness of the signature proved, as provided by the Licensing Act, 1872." Mr. M'Kerizie's amendment was then put - and carried. J - Mr. J. 0. Brown wished to be allowed to put hjs amendment, but the House was against him. THE MAEREWHEITErA WATER RIGHTS CASK. The Gojdfields Committee reported on the petition of 984 miners and others in re the Maerewhanua water rights case* 1. That the Executive should, as indicated by the Provincial Secretary, get a case stated for the consideration of the Appeal Court, with a view to save the expense attendant upon protracted litigation. 2. That, railing their being succesful in so doing, the Executive should take steps to defend the action oa behalf of Howe an'l party. 3. That, under any circumstances, the whole question should be brought under the notice of tha Colonial GoveFnmeut, with a view to the hardship complained of being removed, not only from the present petitioners, but to prevent similar cases arising in future. WASTE LASDS AND IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE. Mr. J. C. Brown presented Interim Report ■ No. 7 of this Committee, in re petition of Roxburgh Land Committee, brought up by Mr. J. C. Brown. The report was as follows: — " This petition prays for the opening of a block of land on Henderson's. Run, Millers

Flri, for settlement under the deferred paymat system. Your Committee have carefujjf considered the petition, and have to repeal that the evidence of eight practical men is jompletely contradictory of that of Warda Simpson in regard to the character of tbj two blocks of land on Henderson's run, Mjuut Bengor, the Committee are of opinion thlt if the arrangements regarding these bl/cks have not been completed, the "Governinnt should not do so until the matter is npre fully investigated." Then followed the ejidence given. I SWITZERS HOSPITAL.

Mr. Ireland moved — " That a respectful .Address be presented to his Honor the Superi|tendent, requesting him to cause the sum of 1250 to be placed on the Estimates for the lUrpose of improving the Hospital building at jwitzers." " The motion was lost. " FROM ROXBURGH TO WAIKAIA BUSH, j | Mr. Ireland moved — " That a respectful kddress be presented to his Honor the Superntendent, requesting him to cause a sum of [jIOOO to be placed upon the Estimates for ihe formation of a road from Roxburgh to JVaikaia Bush, with the view of opening up jhe latter to the consumers of timber in the jtount Benger, Dunstan, and other districts." | The motion was negatived. J ATHEN-Etrjl AT EOXBURGH. / Mr- Ireland moved; — •' That a respectful Address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to cause the sum of L 250 to be placed upon the Estimates for the erection of a building for a Library or Athenaeum at Roxburgh." Mr Stout mentioned that the sum of LIOOO ihad been voted for new Athenteuras. The following sums were placed on the Supplementary Estimates viz., Ll2 expended by the Switzera Miners Association as expenses of witnesses in re 50-acre inquiry, and L 2500 for building a bridge across the ■iMnljmeux at Roxburgh. REPAYMENT^ xo EXPORTERS OS 1 GOLDMr. De Lautour moved— 'Tixot a respectAddress be presented to His Honour the Superintendent, praying that a sum be placed on tlie Supplementary Estimates for making repayments at the rate of sixpence per ounce, to exporters of gold, the produce of the Province of Otago and the late Province of Southland during the current year," The motion was carried on a division by 17 to 11.