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120 the district was shipped by Mr. Champion to Messrs. Willis, Garrett and Co, Hobart Town. It was conveyed to the Princess Charlotte at Cowie’s Creek, and the hales rolled off the bank into the vessel. Williams Town at first gave great promise, and boasted finer houses than the capital. Captain McLean had the first house. But the want of water ruined the prospects of this Port. HOTELS AND LICENCES. The first liquor was sold by Mr. Fawkner to gratify the thirsty, though not on the same conditions as storekeepers sold the same in the early gold digging days. The latter were sly grog shops, selling in defiance of law; our primitive • innkeepers benevolently retailed without a law. An Act was passed in Sydney, Sep. 9th, 1837, “ making allowances for the irregularity of Justices of Port Phillip having granted certificates to certain individuals to sell liquor, instead of the usual licences, because of the want of communication between Port Phillip and Sydney.” The first licence fee, in 1838, was ,£25 ; it was raised the next year to £50. License money had to be for warded to the Treasurer at Sydney, until Oct. 1839. A rather re markable Liquor Law came into force January 1st, 1839, containing provisions at once humane and salutary. Uuable to prevent men indulging in strong drink, the legislators wisely and kindly sought stf to restrict its use, and hedge it around, as to allow it to do as little harm as possible. The friends of the Colony would rejoice to see some of these provisions adopted by the Victorian Council. The houses were allowed to be opened from 4 o’clock in the mor ning till 9 at night in summer, and from 6 to 9 in winter. On Sundays they were closed, excepting during the hours from 1 to 3, when wine and beer only could be sold to persons carrying it away; no spirits could be had, and nothing drank at the bar. No one but publicans were to sell spirits excepting in Melbourne. No billiard playing was sanctioned but by special consent of the magistrates, and the payment of an additional ten pounds. The like form and like fee were essential to late hours. A penalty of five pounds rested upon selling or giving drink to convicts, except by the master or his per mission, and then only in quantities of not more than half a gill in 6 hours, or one whole gill in 24 hours. No workman could be paid in a public house under a penalty of five pounds. Better than all;—a similar penalty was incurred by a publican serving any one with drink.
