The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1897.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVIII, Issue 11334, 30 July 1897, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1897.

In the House of Commons on Wednes* day Colonel Hill, the member for Bristol and the President of the Chamber of Shipping, complained that the New Zealand Seamen’s Act British shipowners to pay local wages, in despite of tho conditions of contracts that they had entered into.

Mr Chamberlain, in reply, suggested that the New Zealand Government should limit the operation of the law to coasting vessels. He said that he presumed that the colonies were aware that uniform shipping legislation was desirable throughout the Empire. Mr Reeves, in a letter to the Times, explains that the Shipping Act is limited in its operation to New Zealand vessels and off-coast traders.

The New South Wales Old Age PsnsiOMt Committee has examined Lord Brftssey, who explained the English proposals, and said that the granting of a pension to all qualified recipients in England and'Wales would cost eighteen millions annually, and if Ireland and Scotland participated, twenty-four and a half millions would be required. The Canadian Government has decided to impose a royalty on all gold from mines in the Yukon Eiver district, British. Columbia. A royalty of 10 per cent will be imposed upon weekly outputs valued at five hundred dollars, and 20 per cent upon outputs of larger value. The Government has also determined to reserve alternate placer claims on behalf of the public revenue. The New York Herald states that Palmyra Island, which is claimed as a dependency by Hawaii, has been occupied by Great Britain. Palling rates on the Eastern exchanges, owing to heavy speculative sties, are depressing the silver market. It is understood that the Select _ Committee of the House of Commons will report in favour of the Agricultural Produce Marks Bill. It will probably recommend that all colonial produce should be marked “ Colonial,” while that from other countries should be denominated “ Foreign.” The Committee was much impressed by the evidence of colonial experts. Mr E. A, Cameron, the New Zealand expert, denounced Mr Wingfield Digby’s statements in the House of Commons as untrue. He dwelt on the absence of disease in New Zealand, and the extreme pains taken by farmers to produce the highest quality of mutton.

Mr Wingfield Digby has withdrawn tha statements he made recently in the House of Commons reflecting on Australian frozen meat.

At the meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday, Mr Charles H. Clibbora was appointed to tbe junior clerkship out of seventy-three applicants. The Customs revenue for 1896 was .£1,765,073, and excise duties .£70,066. Excluding Maoris, tbe amount per head of Customs duties was JS2 9s lid, an increase of 3s 2d on the previous year.