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] 'C ^'TJWTp^NE W'Si^.
: '?',' '?','.; PAHRAMATTAVii .;.iV
THE DISTBlCT~:c6UNCII/.:
Pursuant to adiournmont, this body corporate
mot at their' new Chambors,1 at the .Lumber
Yard, in an apartmont Avhich hiis boon fitted up;
^rt^'-'flinii. iian:-ivliSi*K na if rh.v as 'rnnt— n.! mdttfir
ot some importance mtnose ?? awiui- nmas^-wo,
will dosenbe,1 as1 being , both] neat'! and' com
modious.' ' i'l!'t ':' *'' ' ?''-?. '''-''..j'-']',''''..',':
Present: Gilbert Eliott,, Esq., Warden, J. B.
Bbttihgton, G., R. Nicliols,r!James Ilowison, A.
Murray, James Pye,' Esqulrosj-.^Dr. 'Hill, JJr.
Anderson, and DKForster, Councillors/^' Y^!.,\
The minutes of. tho last Meeting wore roa'd.and
confirmed. ? ??':?,.'?: 1 -,c^ -:'?- r% 'h -m '':???
, The Warden stated, that tho only n official
communication ho had received since - the last
Meeting of-, tho Council was a letter from the
Colonial Secretary, calling, for -aToturn of- the^
names of tho-Mombers constituting the Council,'
distinguishing those , who had been nominated'by
tho Governor fromVthosO'who had- been elected;
' 'Mr. Nichols then gave notice of motion, That
it be roforred to the Board of Works-.t6:ascer-J
tiin arid report the expehsb attendant 'on the
completion of tho Duck River Bridge. ' /;
Tho Council then wont into Committeb; and
tho payment of tho wnt of the Council's old
Chambers in Goorgb-strcet,' and of the contrac
tors' accounts for. rations supplied to the. Corpo-
ration labourers, was' ordered: . /M; ,..-_'-' ,
The 'Warden . called /upon tlio gentlomon,
whoso notices of motion appoared on the. list, to
bring the same forward.. ???,;'???? -. 1 .. i ? ? ?'!, ??.?'?;.- i.:i'
.. Mr.' Nichols then. moved — that the Warden-be,
requested to apply ' to his Excellency ; the .Go
vernor for a return of tho sums of money, dis-,
tinguisiiing. , tho fees from the .fines, ,, received:
during. the' lost year, at tho. Parramatta,' Police
Office j also tho amount paid to tthe; informer or,
prosecuting officer for his sharp iii; the, penalties,
awarded in the said Police Office; also a return,
of the amount received during the ..past, year for!,
victualling licenses- in , the said district.^ In the.
courHO'ofniis-ijbsorvationS'On.thQ.-intPodiiotionoP:
this motion,. Mr.. Nichols .obsorved, that it very
often hapnoned, that, the' chief constable of,a:
(listriot,, the servant of the Polico Magistrate,,
netted a, considerably largor sum, through his
sharp of ' the finos awarded, than, the salary; of.
his master, the Police Magistrate..., ... . .A
Mr. Howison having seconded tho motion, it
was,; without disseut, agreod to. .:'.?: ??;:??:??
Mr. Murray tlieri^inoyod that a, Committee of
tho whole . Council'.-; take' iuto consideration the
expenses of the 'officors (of this Council and the
expenso of tho labourers' employed, in tho public,
works undertaken by tlio Council, with a. 'view,
of dbtermihing wliat t proper reductions may. bo
effected ' without : detriment' to the interosts of,
this district; arid that the Secretary prepare an
account .'of ., all monies recoivod and exnonded
since tho incorporation of tliii/district, with tho
authorities, upon which all disbursments have
b:en mado ; as also, that the surveyor prbpare
a statement of the work performed during that
period, which account and statomont sliull be
laid bbfero the Committee of the whole Council,
to enable them to determine as to the proper:
disbursments made by the Council. as comparod
with tho work porformed. . ._?'-,, v. . ;
- Mr. Murray stated, that lie had observod, on
a previous occasion, that the Council had com
mitted many errors ; among them was tlio pre
cipitate appointment of officers. Ho did. not
think thoy gavo too much to: their Surveyor, or
Secretary and Treasurer, but ho doubted whe
ther .the Revenue that would i be at tho disposal
of tlio Council would afford it. It was true that
thoy. ought, considering ' that they ? haft taken
these gentlemen away from other situations they
held, to keep faith with them, but it was also
nocossury to bo honest boforo thoy. could be
Uboral. ? And/ regarding the roads, a: gentleman
had told- him ! that the- Council 'were- spoiling'
them by, their repairs, 1'. and 'ithat ho 'would
willingly pay double toll on condition of thoir
leaving them ulono. . ??? . j' ?; -'u':'- : ? ?; 'i ??'--?
Mr. Nicholls seconded tho niotion, and it was
arranged that the accounts, called. for should be'
on the table by the, next, Meeting, ,when the*
Council would, go , iuto '.Committee to consider.
tho(subject matter of tho motiou, in preference to
any other business. . '.- 1. - .1. ,- '.:. f . ?
Mr. NiclibU moved, 'that this'Couneil present
to his Excellency tho Governor arid the Legis-,
lative Council, a petition praying for tlio passing
of an 'Act to authorise the paymnnt'to theTrea
Ruror of. this Council, for tho generaV purposes
of the district, of such portions of all, forfeitures
and penalties adjudged ,or awarded by any Jus
tice of tho Peace, for a ' broach of any penal
statute, now by-law payablo to Her Majesty, in,
trust for any ? pArtioulur purpose, (snyo and except
all forfeitures and penalties adjudged or awarded
under any Act relating to the Customs,, Excise,
and Post OIHcos, or to Tradb or. Navigation, or.
any branch of Hor Majesty's Rov.en'uo.;) and all
tinea imposed' upon' drunkards; also of all, f ops
charged in any Police-office, or, by, tho Clbrk of
any Justice of thu Pcaco,' in tho said district ;
also tho foos paid by Auctioneer's nnd Publicans,
the fobs paid lor ' Stage' Coaches and P, ublio Con- ';
yoyances,' and; those , paid 'by'Csvytera,; Porters,
Slaughtor-hnuse-lco'np'ors, Hawkers and. Pedlars,
in tho said district. ' Tho loarnod mover stated
iii bringing this motion fonydrdi ho inorely askod
for . ah aliowaiico to-, the Corporation of, that
?which law hod established was. thoir right. /'In.
Stephon's ablo work; 'on |'- Corporations, 'it was'.'
found that as far back as tho1 year- 1575,, Cor- ;
porations had the allowaricb'bf all fines, Tees, and'!
forfeitures, -inflicted, awarded,' or accruing,
within'thoir rospcutlve 'jurisdictions, arid sucli'.'
allowanco was recognised hi England as Into as
somo two or three years since/ when two, acts
passed the Imperial Parliament, directing that.
thu Corporation of Dubljn.flliould receive from';
the -different Poltce-ofHoost of the city, the fines' '
levied, and tho fees taken- by them, vfn answer '
to any objection tliat might' bo mado, saying
thoy wero asking a good «leal,: ho would ro'ply
by say.lngi that they had'for bot.t(-r ask enough,'
for tuuu they mighl get voinetkhig. lib object
in getting what ho now sought for, -waa to saver
the district taxation, which, should they 'obtain;
their prayer/ might bo wholly avoided — a tiling:
highlyjto.be desired in these bad times. ??' ?
The Warden said, that on a former occasion)
he had opposed the application, now that the
learned Councillor had given so clear and lucid
an ; explanation of the object that dictated bi?
motion, he. cordially seconded it. '?-? ?? ?' ;! ???-'?
'/Dr.1 TForster stated, that he., thought ...this
motion very premature, as they had yet- to see
the Bill/ His Excellency, was., to, introduce to
the Legislative Council for tlie regulation of tho
District Councils. . -V '._; ', . .;? ? -,r -???:'
Mr. Nichols 'in rbplv, stated'' 'that ho1 was
most anxious/ and indeed, had urged on this
motion to get His Excellency's answer' to their
petition boforo the Bill alluded to by- 'Dr.
Forster came beforo tho. House. A similar
petition had ? been presented by another corpor
ate, body to tho Governor, and . refused by him,
and should _, a. similar fate attend the present
application, they could then potition the.. Legis
lative Council, and prevent by thoir. aid tlio
passing' of. any measure that did not grant^tbem.
the rights they had sought to obtain.' -'-
The motion was then unanimously passed, arid
a petition to the Governor, embodying the fore
going objects (whichjiad been prepared.by/Mr.
Nichols), having ''bfeeii' road and approved 'oTJTt'
?was'7 directed that-the 'Warden should sign, tlio
same-in behalf of ihejCouncil. '??-* :?:?--..'
-^^ . , . *^r--. / -^'s .?- . -L
'rTSTA 'desultory convetsation- ensued, ag tO'who
should compose^ ,the. deputation to present it.
Mr. Nichols beg-ged to 'decline any- appearance,
at Government House. It was at length
arranged that the Warden and Dr. Anderson,
should wait on the Governor with it. ~ ~ t
' , Mr. Nichols requested that tho noxt motion
standing in his name — That an address bb pro-,
sented to tho Governor from this Council,
praying that he will be pleased ta grant to this
Council, in trust for the uses of the inhabitants
bf this district, a portion of land in the Town' of
Parramatta as a, site for tho erection of; an
asylum for the ngeS^and destitute ther'eofpr
might be withdrawn^,',! ns it. was; premature in.
connexion -with the (next; motion,' with Svhicli it
might'bo said, in some' dogroe, to ' clash 1; /He
begged, therefore, tomove.tho next resolution :—
That a Committoe;of,this, Council be appointed
for tho purpose of inquiring and ascertaining
what- lands'- have been/granted, or promised, by
tho, Crown to the* inhabitants of .this district,'or
in trust for their usb*;''and under what'titlojljlip
same are now held.- fv'r- j ' ., ']'/?.;./*',...?[
^'Seconded , by ' Mr,^ipo.wisori, ]and , agreed ito;
and.tho ' follo\yirig gentlemen appointed; to! form,
the Committeb— Messrs. Nichols, ;Pyo,; Howison,
Murrav.' and Dr. ?Forster. ? . -- .?„?.-??--.,??, *-i .i,.'t
Mr. Nichols. tiieii' proceeded' 'witlr-'liis^ldsfc
motion — That an ntlflrcas be prosonted ;to J113
Excellency the Goyornor by tins Council, pray
ing that ho will be pleased to take measures for
invosting in, this, Council/- in trust for the uses of
the inhabitants of this, district, the public market-,
places, in tho .Town/, of .Parramatta, and' the
revoriiio arising .therefrom, . together ; with, the
management and, control of suoh 'markets,. .'Tho
mover, in 1 ' his preliminary observations, , beggbd
that he might not bo' misunderstood as. alluding
to :nny, of, the trustees of tho Parramatta market.
By-tho1 present Markot'Act, from tlio disgrace
fully caroless' manner in which it had. been
framed, -'thero was 'no ' power compelling;- any
Trustee to accountffor. any suin of monoy. re-^
ceivedibyJiinu-. -:*;-s,^ : '. ' ' ''' ??'?''„*. ^1 '
. ': Miv'Murray suggested that the adclress should
also contain a request that tlibrmpney realised'
p^unJ^Tn^tho^istrlli^sMoulcr. alsir be- handed*'
over to tlie'Counc-il.1 Agreed to, and referred to'
Mr. Nichols- and Mr. Murray, to prepare an
address'to. His Excellency on those subjects.
After tlio discussion ' of some .'mirior details,,
unintorestlriff .to' tlio public, tlio ],Council,ad
jourhed to tliollOth Ju1y.\ ; ], , ; //,,,/,?; ji.j
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