Moreton Bay Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861), Wednesday 29 December 1858, page 2


1 REMARKS ON THE ASSESSMENT ACT.

It is well known that Mr. Lutwyche has given a contrary opinion to Mr. Martin and we shall, therefore, content ourselves by quoting from the Morning Herald and Even-ing Mail. The Herald is, of course, in favor of Mr. Martin's opinion, and says

"The first thing for a Government to do is to observe its contracts in letter and in spirit. A good man, says a higher authority than Mr. Lutwyche, sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. It is only by this kind of morality that the world can be kept going. If anything is clear it is that the Assembly has gone beyond its powers in the Assessment Bill. A professional man may be found to argue on the other side for a fee, and even a lawyer, in search of a place, may venture Ms-credit upon the legality of the bill, but we predict it will find no supporters in any other

category,

There is no exultation about the tone of defeat ; but the Evening Mail seems to re-

joice in the difficulty presented to the squatters.

"Abomshell has been thrown into the camp, and the squatters have met to gather the fragments.

They maintain that the Assessment Bill

is illegal. They are. in this We hold the people's lands, and they shall not have a portion without a struggle.' Neither will they pay anything for thereof them, or for the support of the State, if they can possibly get out of it. They do not mind paying for police, as they protect them when on the station, and deter the new tives from running off with their sheep and cattle. Admit that the export is £15,000 or £16,000 in stock, which crosses the border to Victoria (is it not nearer £60,000)! who gets the money P We say the squatter. And what does he do with it The absurd sales of land by auction, gives him the opportunity of buying it up from the people, to lay idle in its maiden state. One very gentlemanly speaker said that some of those who was opposed to their views, had perhaps stolen the shirt on their backs, Where did the squatters, get their shirts ? We say from the backs of the people.

" Mr. Martin, the late Attorney-General, who comes forth and tells the world of his hypooracy, has given them an opinion which it appears meets their views and they will believe the land who has sworn to do his duty to the colony, and who voted for the Assessment Bill in all its clauses and when he found by his neglect of duty he was about to meet his deserts, if he did not resign he would be kicked out, the idea suggested itself, I will give my opinion that the Hill is illegal, and I shall make money out of it. The Squatter, poor man ! is used badly when called upon to pay less than two-pence for the grass to rear one sheep, which, with carcase and wool is worth 15s. Ilo says he cannot afford it and will not pay."

We are very sorry when any language is

used which is calculated to excite rather than allay passion, and should regard any attempt to divide the classes of the colony into bitter warfare as extremely unfortunate. The heavy fortunes made by the squatting inter-est would lead any reflective mind to believe they could pay 2d per head for sheep, when Government has found them the means of multiplying the tax sixty fold.

Peter the Great's House at Deptford -It is a well-known historical fact that Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia, resided for some years in England, and worked at Deptford dockyard, in order to acquire a knowledge of ship building. The house in which he resided, and situate at Hughes'sfields, in the parish of St. Nicholas, has been nearly demolished during the past week, by virtue of an order made under the Metropolis Building act. As a relic of the past, this old building was interesting. The principal reception-room contained t>omo exquisite specimens of wood carving, and another portion of the building, which had evidently been used as a chapel, was fitted up with a curiously carved pulpit. For some yonrsbeforo.tho house was condemned, it was occupied by a dust collector, who allowed a number of goats, of which he is the owner, to have undisputed possession of the apartment formerly occupied by the Russian J-Jropoyori