TELEGRAMS

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1116, 15 November 1879, Page 2

TELEGRAMS

(PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION). WELLINGTON November 15. A deputation of the Foxton and Palmerston North settlers waited on the Minister for Public Works asking the Government to commence the West Coast railway at each end. He replied that the matter would receive the consideration of the Government, but that the finances of the Colony at present were not in a very flourishing condition, and that, like other public works, the matter would have to stand over for some time. Jacob Bloom, who was arrested down south on a charge of false pretences, has been committed for trial. ! DUNEDIN. November 14. At an adjourned meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, a special committee's report recommended that, for the purposes of revenue, a property tax be imposed, and the present Customs tariff interfered with as little as possible ; but in the event of a property tax not meeting the requirements, the deficit be made up by increase of, or the imposition of duties on sugar, tobacco, cigars, matches, wines, all goods on which ad valorem, duties are now levied, grain duty as previously, and excise duty on beer as proposed last session. The report of the committee was negatived, as was also an amendment by Mr. Stout, to the effect that if more revenue was required from a property tax to meet the temporary crisis the present land tax be increased for a period of two years. After a long discussion, it was agreed to recommend that the increase of revenue be raised on the fallowing articles : Beer (excise), soft goods, hardware, boots and shoes, jewellery, fancy goods, wines, cigars, furniture, manufactured woodware, drugs and druggists' sundries, tea, sugar, spirits, and tobacco, the articles which were suggested by the committee as thos.e upon which revenue might be rai&ed, but those the Chamber declined to. recommend, were timber, grain, packing bags and wool packs, and coals.

AUCKLAND. November 15. The Working Men's Political Association held a meeting respecting Major Atkinson's Chinese Immigration Bill, of which they disapprove, and have telegraphed to Mr. Swanson for further particulars, and convened a meeting for nest week. Macey Quintal, a solicitor paactising at Tauranga, has been brought up on a charge of forgery of a deed of a bill of sale in which Shaw is interested. He is remanded, and bail enlarged. TIMAHU. November 14. The weather during the last fen- days lias been exceptionally cold and wintry. The crops all over the district are looking magnificent;, but warm weather is now required.