TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 141, 16 June 1893, Page 4

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

(EY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COREESPOKDEKT.)

KaukapAkapa, this day. The Kauri Gum Commißsion met to-day at elevon o'clock.

Robert Sinclair, a settler and J.P., said ho had been a mombor of tho Waits mata County Council for 16 years. Thereare over 60 miles of main roads in tho county, but only about live miles nro metalled. Hia Council discussed making gumdiggers pay to tho county fund, bub they cannob recommend a licouso fee or an export duty, but think, considering tho amount oi Customs duty paid by diggers in the purchase of food, and considering the fact that the gumfiolds relieve the Government of (.he necessity of providing work for the unemployed, somo special grant from the Government should be made. Diggers make quite as much as they did twenty years ago, as the prices of gum are highland liviii;? cheaper than formerly. Frank Dye, storekeeper, and 'Chairman of Road Board, said he knew some halfdozen diggers who now have about 50 acre homesteads, and the tendency to settle ie increasing. Diggers here earn from 10s to 55s weekly. Tho cost of living is about ten shillings. Diggers earn as much a3 formerly. If a tax wero put on gum, the revenue should be expended on local roads.