Judge Begbie. 31

ing out roads, thereby facilitating communication, is especially deserving
of praise and worthy of the highest regard and favour of the Home
Government.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to His
Excellency Governor Douglas, to Senior Justice Perrier, and to the
Victoria Gazette for publication.*?

J. W. Witson.

P. J. Cassin.

D. CAMPBELL.
CHARLES EMERSON.
Wo. Reap.

A true copy of the original—B. Battery, Secretary.

VICTORIA,
31st January, 1859.

S1r,—I have the honor to forward a letter which I have just
received from Mr. Bedford relating to retail liquor licenses.

I should perhaps find much to say against issuing retail licenses for
a less period than a year, under ordinary circumstances. But I con-
ceive that it is of primary importance to accustom people to obey the
laws: and for the present, therefore, to modify the laws if necessary
so as to induce a ready obedience: since compulsory means are scarcely
in all instances available, even if they were in any instance advisable.

It is also to be observed that in one district at least retail licenses
have, as I am informed, been granted for so short a period as one
month.

In favor of allowing retail licenses to be issued for three months,
it might be observed that the duty $150 or £30 is 214 times as great as
for a whole year in England.

The peculiar position of Langley might also deserve to be taken
into consideration: I mean with reference to the uncertainty as to its
future prospects which has hitherto prevailed,?* and wch may well deter
a trader from fixing himself permanently there by the payment of so
large a sum of £120. At the same time it might be dangerous or

(32) These are the resolutions referred to in the preceding letter from Judge Begbie. The
“‘ adjectives ’’ have evidently been deleted.

(33) The reference is probably to the question of the site of the capital. Colonel Moody,
who had been specially ordered to make the selection, had in a letter dated January 28, 1859,
disapproved of Old Langley and selected New Westminster. Doubtless his opinion was known
unofficially ; this appears from Lieutenant Mayne’s remarks, See ‘‘ Four Years in British Columbia
and Megoeyen Island,’’ p. 72.