The Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861)(about) |
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Wednesday 16 February 1859
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GRAFTON.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.
A SERIES of Government land sales were held
at the Court-house on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd Dec, with the following result :
December 21- COUNTRY LOTS-CIABENZA..
Purchaser. A. R. P. £ s. d. John McKee . 40.0.0 132 0 0 Josiah Long . 44.0.0 88.0.0 William Small 58.3 0.. 58 15 0
Do ... 52 1 0.. 52. 5. 0 Do ... 49 3 0.. 49.15.0 Do . ..41 2 0 41.10.0
Archibald McLucas.... 36 3 0.. 73 10 O
John McPbee..'. 50 2 0.. 60 12 O C. J. Walker ........ 17 O O.. i8 1 o
Deed Fees.' ,9 10 o
390 2 O £593 l8 O December 22-OOÜHTBY I.OTS-ULKABBA,
John P. Maokenaie .. 44 O 0.. 4.4 O O
Do .. 46 O 0.. 55 4 O ThomatBiwlinjf ... SO O 0.. 65 O O JamesKnox .' 47 O 0.. 47 O O Jame3 Sweeney. 46 O O.-. 40 O O Matthew Hughes .... 68 O 0.. 68 O O Edward Quaiffe. -45 O O.. 45 O O
Do . 56 O 0.. 56 O O George R. Powell .... 77 O O.. ?; O O
Deed Fees.. 9 15 o
£512 19 O
December 23rd - SUBURBAN LOTS - NORTH
GRAFTON.
R: Macdonald. 2 2 0.. 2512 6 O. J. Walker. 2 2 O.. 25 15 O
Ditto . 2 2 O.. 27 10 O Rudolf Schäfer ;. 2 2 0.. 25 12 S Henry Renning'. 2 2 0.. 25 O O
J. P. Mackenzie. 2 2 0.. 25 O O
Ditto . 2 3 27..'v29 3 9 Frances Carry Walker 2 3 19.. 28 1« 9 Alex. Livingtone.... 1 117.. 13'11 3 Joseph Smith. 2 2 9.. 25 11 3 James R. Pate. 2 2 0.. 25. 12. 6t
Ditto . 1 1 5.. 13. 0. 2 John P..Mackenzie..".. 2 1 10.. 21 10 0
Ditto . S 116.. 23 10 0 George Robinson .... 2 2 0.. 25 2 8
Ditto . 2 2 0.. 25 0 0 Ditto . 2 2 0.. 25 0 0 Ditto . 2 2 0.. 25 0 0
Tow» Lou-NORTH GBAFTOH. Presbyterian Church
3 town lots. 1 2 0.. 30 0 0 Frances 0. Walker
3town lots. 1 S 0.. 30 0 0
Deed Fees.24 0 0
49 2 0 £521 5 6 SUMMARY.
Country lots, Clarenza.. 390 2 0..593 l8 0
Do ulmarra.. 479 0 0..512 19 0 Suburban lots, Grafton.. 43 0 29..455 5 I Town lots, do. .. 3 0 0.. 66 0 0 Seleations.280 3 0..287 0 0
Total.1096 1 29£1915 2 9
Most of the land put up for sale was very low and swampy, and at a considerable dis- tance back from the river, with no high land to retreat to in case of floods ; from this cause the biddings were very languid, and two thirds of the lots were passed by, few of
which are suitable for selection.
MUNICIPAL INCORPORATION. - A public meeting, called by the Committee of the Grafton Association, met in the new Assem- bly Room on the 22nd December, for the purpose of petitioning the Executive to in. corporate the town of Grafton under the pro- visions of the Municipal Act of last session, Charles J. Walker, Esq., J.P., in the chair.
Mr. James Page read the most material portions of the bill, which having been ex- plained and commented upon by several per sons, Mr. Lardner moved the foliowiûg reso- lution, seconded by Mr. J. E. Chapman ; " That as the town of Grafton contains about one thousand souls, and having fceen pro- claimed as a place where a court will be field under the District Courts Act, and wi'l also be the place of nomination for the represen- tative of this district in the Legislative As- sembly, this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived when local improvements must be undertaken, and that the only available means of effecting such improTe ments is by the inhabitants availing them- selves of the facilities offered by the Munici- pal Act of 1858."
Mr. Lawrence, a person only recently set- tled in tho town, and who has been fortunate enough to discover that no improvement ii needed in the place-moved as an amend- ment, " That this meeting adjourn for
twelve months."
Seconded by Mr. Henry Aldersan without
remark.
Mr. James Pago and Mr. Davies effectually demolished Mr. Lawrence's arguments, ana supported the original resolutions, which was carried with only one dissentient and loud
cheering.
Mr. Bawden moved-" That the bounda- ries of the Municipality be the outer lines of the township of North and South Grafton, and that South Grafton form one ward, and
North Grafton two wards."
Seconded by Mr. Joseph Penzer.
Mr. W. A. B. Greavos moved and Mr. Jones seconded an amendment-" That part of the Parish of Clarenza, and the whole of the Parish of Great Marlow be Included in tho Municipality."
It having been explained that the wholl of the proliminaiy Committee was origin- ally in favor of tho excluded boundary but their enquiries had satisfi»l them, that suf- ficient opposition would to made to endanger the measure altogether, they had most reluc- tantly determined to confine it to tho town- ship for the present, leaving it open for the inhabitants of the suburbs to join them hore after if they should judge it expedient to do so. Upon this explanation the amendment was withdrawn and the resolution carried unanimously.
Mr. Holt proposed and Mr. Lambert se- conded, " That a memorial be prepared to the Executive embodying the above resolu- tions, and praying that Grafton bo declared a Municipality, and thatMessrs, Lardner, Jones, Chapman, Penzer, Collie, Bawden, Cowan, Davies, Page, Horton, Greaves, Hyde, M'Fad den, and Campbell, be requested to form a Committee to carry out tho object of the
meot!ng,"
Carrietl unanimously.
A petition to the Governor-Genoral and the Executive Council, signed by two-thirds of the persons whose names aro on the Electoral Roll, has been forwarded to the Government by the last mail 25th January. There can be little doubt that a Municipality is much needed in Grafton, but depond upon it those who may bo selected to initiate tho matter, will find their office anything but a " bed of roses." It is however a step in the right direction, and if I mistake not it will provo tho thin end of the vredgo that will ultimately destroy-the system of centraliza- tion which has boon the bane of the colony. The Government havo nobly commenced the work, it now rests with the people-the middle classes, to work it out to its proper results-lot thom then cast away that list lessness and apathy which now characterizes them, and which is always the result of a state of dépendance, and shew that they aro both able and willing to manage their own local affairs far bettor than others can do it for them. Lot them cast off the leading strings of red tape and leave the Govern« mont to manage tho affairs of the nation, instead of peddling with little looal matters, which it is impossible for them satisfactorily to perform. - ? ?> > >
The usual Annual Sunday School feast <rsv given in the garden and grounds of the Parsonage on the 31st Dec, and went off in th.J most satisfactory and pleasing manner, the seholars (108 in number) with their . friends made up an assemblage of upwards
of 300 persons. The good things of life were distributed with the most profuse liber- ality, prizes given to the most deserving children-a Christmas tree, with 500 articles upon it, in drawing which the whole company joined, fire-works, balloon, &c, filled up the time for nine hours, when the company se- parated with hearty cheers for Mr. and Mrs. Selwyn, highly pleassd with their day's
?musement.
The Timbarra gold-field9 are going a-head, the population is supposed to be over one thousand, and the extent of land being worked about 20 miles. I have just seen a letter from an intelligent and trustworthy person who has just visited the place, and who has had considerable experience on the gold-fields of Victoria, and this colony. Ho says, " I find the diggings prosperous beyond my expectations, and I think upon the whole they are equal to any I have been upon-there may have been heavier finds in Victoria, but I never saw a body of men better off, or so well satisfied with their earnings as they are here, and there is a general impression that the dig- gings will be permanent."
The Joint Stock Bank intend to open a Branch of their Institution in Grafton im- mediately ; this has been long required, and
will be of some service to our interests.
. Our worthy old friend Capt. Wiseman, of the Grafton, proceeds to England by the mail steamer, to navigate out a new steamer for this river, which has been ordered by the Grafton Steam Company ; we shall then have weekly communication with Sydney. The present stato of trade is enough to war- rant such a step as early as possible.
The exports from this place reported in the Courier are far from correct, and are calculated to give quite a mistaken notion of this district. . I will take the earliest op- portunity of furnishing your readers with a
more accurate list.
Grafton, 26th Jan., 1859.