THE BAY OF ISLANDS COAL COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT ROYALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5476, 6 February 1885, Page 2

THE BAY OF ISLANDS COAL COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT ROYALTY.

At the meeting of the Bay of Islands Coal Company yesterday afternoon, the Chairman (Mr J. (1 Firth), in reply to Mr Kooning, said the present indebtedness of the Company to tho Government for royalty was £5,644. Mr Eeesing thon suggested that the directors should represent to tbe Government that the Company had been to a great expenditure with the, view of remitting a portion of the liability. Mr Peacock wild .that representations had already been made, but the Government pointed out there were other mines in the same position. An arrangement now existed whereby 25 per cent, of their profit should be paid in liquidation of the royalty. So it would be seen that the Government would not come down on them suddenly for the lump sum. Mr Hewing said tho Government had helped the goldnelds and other mining industries, but they hod never helped them. ' The Chairman admitted the force of Mr Koesing's remarks, and thought it quite a proper thing that shareholders who wero carrying on sack an enterprise under new conditions and without experttnce—the oiperionw of older countries being of little value to them*—should ask Government to show them a little consideration. He, however, remihdod Mr Koeslng that Government had contributed to the cost of borings operations, and had constructed the railway. It was neaessary to mention this to show that the Government had not been remiss in advancing tho coal industry in tho Jforth, With regard to the royalty, the Government wero not pressing, and ware not in a position to press ; still, ho thought there wero good grounds to approach tho Government and nsk thorn to roinit tho royalty. If thoir anticipations wore not roalised tho operatious in the mino might ba closed, and the Government would lose thoir royalty and tho use of tho railway, at nny rato for yours to come. Whon they remcinborod that they had already paid .£3,000 in royalty and £200,000 in wages, it would be seen of what advantage the mine had been to tho Govermnont aud to the working classes. He said, under those circumstances, Government might be upproachod and asked to remit the royalty. The royalty of 4d por ton was unsatisfactory, and ho thought a more satisfactory method wou'd he the charging of a percentage of the profits paid to shareholders, the advantage, being that, if tho shareholders made nothing, they would not be harassed. If the mine paid handsome dividends, they could afford to pay heavy royalty. What they complained of was that while the enterprise was struggling, the back of tho industry should be broken by this impost. He thought if gentlemen at the bead of affairs were approached in a proper spirit, that they would meet their wishes. In reply to Mr Keesing, the Chairman said the Government had received 400 per cent. On the original cost of the land, while shareholders had received but 'Z\ per cent. Mr Keesing moved, f'That the directors be requested to make representations to Governmont with tbe View to the'absolute 'remission of the full amount of the royalty duel" ' Mr Buchanan seconded. Carried. " ■'•' • ■-. .=■' .■■',

Xbb Brazen Sbbpent.—{Jke t|»o braepn serpent tbatWe Kroat Jdwi&h leaflet liftai ■liifeli In the sight of the. porishing followers, whereby they wore saved from death, the''Discoverers, of Hop Bitters' Dave places before Sfiilprinj?,' ailing mankind a remedy wjfieh enables them to fight (Usqase' with contacting advantage! See. The mutferof Q'bqn.ovan. Jtosaahag set the world in a blasra. Thp popuace everywhere are excited, and. the pry is that retributive justice has overtaken the arch-opneplrijtor. It Van O'Uonovsn Roasa's tnissioii-qr rhiß fancied one—to stir up strife between England and Ireland. But this kind of mistaken " nutriot- '— " never lqadg to Kpod or benefloial results, i^. .-•'---'Wononm Iloßßft J 3 Raton, What a contrast v. v-. '"' —•* In, of the Co-operative Stores, Hobson-ouii.w^ stead of seekinp to destroy what is valuable'in life and property, Eaton'B object inUfe ia to save the people from the payment of extortionato prices, so to-morrdw wq shall be Belling Canterbury bacon, 6 toßd ; local, 8d to fld ; hams 6d, by the ham; fresh butter, Sd to lOd ; 30!ba Hobart potatoes for 3s ; larae cooking apploa. Bibs for Is; raising, «d alb; currants, sd; cornflour, sd; crushed loaf auear. 4Jd ; be ß t white, 3Jd; good 2k; 'rice, 51bs for Is: vinegar sd a bottle; Hobart'Mjaroialado/ Sd; Hobart lama, 6d; sardinos, 3d; Yarmouth bloaters, blby-chicks. kippered horrings. Finnan hadiuoo^^ L Baln «>n in barrels, just landed, 5d a lb;whlteherrings,8 for6d; fresh herrings, 6d a tin, &.c, &c. .!. ..... * We notice hy our advertising columns *at,Me«grg Hunter;and,Nolan, will to-morrow jold their annual sheep fair at Green Lane. I?K e SS 6™8.1"" Ow ■ oonslderablo Introduction of the black-f«cod element, which should hare the effect of ImpTortngr the itaple of our provlnx}£22&L '^ " Pioiuolap e»rty JapJbjfw