THE otago Daily Times "Inveniam viam aut faciam". DUNEDIN FRIDAY MAY 31.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1690, 31 May 1867, Page 4

THE otago Daily Times "Inveniam viam aut faciam". DUNEDIN FRIDAY MAY 31.

Tub discussion of yesterday afternoon upon the Report of the Select Committee, appointed to inquire into the working of the Harbor Department, is not likely to he altogether useless. Divested of it« many personal elements, one question loomed out largo and broad : Is it desirable to make thy Harbor aclf-mipporting I The proposal of the Committee, m far as it was disclosed, appeared to he, that a connidurablc portion of the Pilot Fees should be remitted, and that, in their stead," there should he overtaxation tolefmen the Harbor expenditure. It was contended that this proposal involved no increased charges on shipping, but it is hardly correct to so describe it. It might be looked upon hi that light, if it were to bo taken for grunted that the present Pilot Fees are to continue at tho same high rate. Bit if the pilotage rates can be reduced v/iih a Board, they can with equal ease be reduced without one, The proposal, therefore, in effect, is tantamount to substituting, fur part of the Pilot Dues, other dueH, out of which to defray current "expenditure. It ignores the fact, that, continuing the expenditure as at present,, the taxation might be reduced by'lessening the Pilot Fees. If they can be lowered in the one instance, they can bo lowered in the other; and there is certainly no object gained in laying the shipping under contribution for the purpose of giving unnecessarily high remuneration to the Pilots. |We may then consider the new taxation I apart from the Pilot Fees, and this brings us to the self-supporting proposal, in contra-distinetiou to thu one for reducing tho charges. There is supposed to be an all but unanimous opinion that the Customs Duties in Now Zealand are injuriously high ; but, unfortunately, the Provinces have no means of reducing them. Tonnage charges, if not purely' Customs Duties, aro analogous to them ; and we may feel certain that, more or less, they fall on tho consumers of imports. It seems irrational, in the f.vco of the general admission that importations are subject to excessive burdens, to increase these. It must bo borne in mind, that taxation of tho kind has always a tendency to raise the price of goods by more than the amount of taxation, and to impose restrictions upon trade by more than the apparent restriction. The explanation may chiefly be found in tho i fact that each consumer does not import what he requires, but makes his selection from an excessive importation. In other words, large stocks have to be kept, and the interest on the cost of these, the losses incident to their being held, and to their being damaged, are in some measure thrown upon so much of the stocks as passes into consumption. Again, the solvent consumers have, in one shape or or other, to pay for those who do not pay; or, in other words, an extra price lias- to be charged 5 to cover bad debts. The cash payments that Shipping Charges or Customs Duties entail on importers thus become much increased by the time the goods reach the consumers. An increase in the price leads also to a reduction in 5 the stocks which tradesmen are able to . hold, and thus to a limitation of; the : choice of the coiunimer. It is in this way t that oppressive dtities limit trade mosi v BuyeranaUir&Uy flock to the market where -, there is the largest choice, aiid thus trade 1 tends to increase trade. The capital V laeked-upju payment of duties reduces ; by so much the means to keep in 1 stock a largo selection of goods. Tlu 7, trade of Melbourne, for instance, has been much. affected by tho protective it Tariff, for it has tended to lessen its a power to maintain itsell as a convenien

emporium for buyers to flock to. Heavy snipping charges in Buncd'n wouM ftimiJarly affect the power of the merchants to hold largo stocks futul to make the place ilio emporium for buyers from other parts ' o!f the Colony to iloek to. But shipping charges do not affect the cost of goods inwards only, they affect also outward freights, and tend to lessen the quantity of shipping demanding such freights. The great obstacle in the way oil a country consulting its natural resources,, and producing chiefly what it is btst able to produce, m the difliculty of exchanging aueh produce for the articles which it requires to consume. Premising that the rendering aid to infant industries, with the view to making them, when fledged, independent of such aid, is not Protection in the protectionist's mnm of the word, Protection m a fallacy, beatuso it leads a country to overlook its natural

■resources. The hunt, as it is the most rational, protection to a country's industriea, is affording it the amplest possible means of interchange. To Otago, the imposition of cliargea tending to discourage shipping is positively suicidal The smallest margin may immensely affect its exporting power. For instance, there are ordcra he-re for largo shipments of grain, dependent upon a rigid restriction aa to price, A small fraction of extra cost may totally proliibit the exportation, and detain tho produce for sale in an over-crowded market In respect of manufacture!!, the want of shipping facilities only, uceina likely to stand in the way of Otago becoming a large exporter of ale. From the experience of the kind of ale being produced on comparatively a nmall scale, there is reason, to suppose that, with reasonable facilities, Otago would be able to compete with England in the supply of ale to many of the adjacent markets. Then there is a new export, for which there is likely to be a world-wide demand, if the cost of transport can only be brought within reasonable bounds— we allude to the Oamarvi stone. As far as it is at present tried, it appeal's to possess no rival, for it seems to unite the dtirability of stone with the capability of being worked with the e;use of wood. We might allude to other infant; industries, but it is unnecessary to do «o, for protection has not gained ground in tho Province ; and the theory of interchange is well understood. There are fuw of our readers who do not recognise the policy of imposing as few <*is possible restrictions in tho way of both ! importation and exportation, and free ports, or the nearest approach to them that can be afforded, must command their sympathy. A list of the Foiling Places, for taking the votcH to-morrow, on th« Goldfields Manages- \ meat, is published in our sixth page. ! Wo are requested to state that the Gym- , nasiurn will be open on Tuesday, Thumday, i and Saturday evening;*. ! Tho Bohemian Glass Blowers arc com- ] pellcd to postpone their opening night to j next Monday, in consequence of the li.-iil i not lifting completed. I Mr Nholl reports the return from tho \ IMackstone Hill Water-race, for the last ' fortnight, to be Ll6 ]<)«. There had been no rain xip to Saturday last, but tho «now had increased on the ranges, and thy miners were anxiously looking for water to enable them to muime sluicing operations, which have been for some time almost at a st-uul-still. The number of Wards into which tho Municipality of West Ilawloibury is divided has been increased to four, to be named East Ward, West Ward, Manse Ward, and Beach Ward, The boundaries are defined itt tho Pruvhic'tal Gazette of yesterday. A notice in the 'Provincial Oorermnenl o'nzette of Wednesday, announces that the Time Bali will bo dropped at Port Chalmers daily (Sundays executed), at 1 p.m. Port Chalmers meantime, or 111- 37min. Uti'SnoG. a.in. Greenwich meantime. The latitude of Port Chalmers is given as 4/kleg. <18min. 55scc. South, and' the longitude, J Ideg. 22ruitt. SO'Ssee. East. <- The Quarterly Meetings under tho Licensing Ordinance "will be held at noon,, in the various Magistrates' Courts within the Province, ucxt Tuesday. The following is the Report o£ the Select Committee of tho Provincial Council, on the Classification of Convicts, as brought uip by Mr Thomson: —" Your Committee have examined five witnesses on the subject remitted to them by your House. In addition to this, i they have received from seven gentlemen, written answers to a series of questions 1 whichyour Committee drew out at their first i meeting. All the evidence adduced before j your Committee, goes to show the desirability of classifying criminals, and tine tinsuitableness of the present building for carrying out classification. The present Gaol might be extended in two ways. Accommodation for the warders,might be provided outside the Gaol, or the prison accomr.opdation might bo extended in the direction of iho Bay. But there is evidence before your Committee tlmfc neither of these arrangements would be satisfactory. Your Coniniifcteo took evidence on- the.subject of erecting a strong stockade apart from the .present GaoL, But asthe long-sentenced prisoners are gradually decreasing in number; as the work,, |to be secure, would be very costly j and as '] swell an establislimentwouldinvolve thef expense o£ a clustincfc,3taif of officers, your Committee cannot recoramojid that such a work iihould be undertaken. Your Committee aba tbofe evidence.aa to the exgedleocy of (Efcte^ag a Penal j&«stablishmeat in a countrj*.diitriet. They cinnot, however, recoaaneni tho eroctioa ol aiach an .««tobUshaient. | Suoh au^fc'i^ vne«^Bary,- ; i£'''&o number oi!jlongBeateiic^d priwrnew' was iaxgf, wlueii |fortttnately -is..sot tbec^se^ Taking a jpneral -view of the evidence adduced, i| |s tlie opinion of y<mr Committe«j * ttiafc tiblt Pro-

vinces should combine to erect a Central j Penal i^jtaWLtluneni. At present there are eighteen of these prisoners m the -JDunedin j Oaol. If these -were removed, the Gaol ( would contain ample Accommodation for the remainder. Your Committee understand that it is the intention of .Government to erect local. Oaok ; if aueh Gaols are erected, the neewmmodation in the present Oaol !' would Ixi wore than HulTicknL In the \ event of there being no prospect of the Pro- j vinees'.combining for the erection of aj Central Penal Establishment, yoar Com- j mi t tee are of opinion that the best thing the j Government cm do, is to erect a K«w Gaol on the most approve} principles, and «»n a Kite where it could be msmnmded by a high wall/ The mitmer in which the burlesque of "The Nymph of Lurleyhurg" has bet-n pat upon the stage at the I'riue*;«B Theatre h in an uuuauiil degree creditable to tho management, and to -Mr Willis, tho scenic artist. It'is not a ease of an attempt to "run" a piece by the aid of one scene, which is com- i mon enough even in Britain ; but throughout the scenery is in keeping, and what may be called a sentiment of the ideal has guided the artist. The " interiors," of which there are two or three newly painted, all open, upon Rhine scenery—or scenery that is romantically pretty; and there are three "set" scenes, each exceiicut, but each! subordinated to that which has to follow. ' Considering tho stage height which is avail, able, the representation of the descent info the Nymph's Cave is managed bo as to secure the best possible effect ; and the Cave itself, when cleared of the mistiness in t which it is at first shrouded, ia" really a capital piece of work The last scene—the Hall of Lurlitie—is thoroughly well worked up, the ••effect*" being;gradually brought oat, an^tl at last, when shown under a strong ltmcdight, it. is a more artistically composed, and pretty, and glittering, whole, than has ever before been put upen the stage here. The burlesque is now played perfectly. Miss Jenny Nyo never escapes an encore, for her dance; the Amazonian evolutions arc cleverly gone through 4 the two iighte catise hearty laughter ; and Mr Willis ha* nightly to bow liia acknowledgemenia of the plaudits of the audience, at least twice. The -management deserve all the hucccss with which this burlesque has met, and even more ; and there ought to be a filled house thin evening, when the comedy of "The Wander" will bo played, aml the burlentjue will by repeated.

The regular meeting of the Port Chalmers Town Council was held on Tuesday evening. There were present ~ih<s Mayor (I). Kolfo, Esq.,) Memn, D-ulwm, limes, Ferule, Matluaon, O'Ponoughu*}. The minutes of last meeting having bean confirmed, a tatter was read from Mr Elinor, objecting to a drain laid through bin property by the corporation, and stating that tho drain could remain m long ,'m ho did not-r<;qn tire the ground. Tin; letter -was received. A letter from Mr Brebner was received complaining of certain taxation in Mount-street. Jt apjwarel tint Mr Brebner had not appealed at the proper time, therefore tlie Council could take* no action in tho matter. On tho motion of Mr O'Donoughue, it was resolved, "That the Council go into a Comniittco of the whole on Tuesday next, to take into consideration the bast means for opening up streets not already formed." The Public Works Committee were authorised to give the dayman necessary instructions for gravelling footpaths in Oraystreet and WiekliiF-terrace. On tho motion of Mr Matheson, the Clerk ra iintructod to make up the Municipal 801 l for 1807 ; it w,n also resolved, that the acting clerk, Mr (I. Asher, be retained until tho now elections. The Council then adjourned till Tuck.lay next. The public meeting convened by the Mayor for the purpose of explaining the relative ! position of the Provincial and General (In- | vernments, will be hold at the Princess | Theatre, this afternoon, at .'i o'clock. The arrangements iaiade for taking the ! votes of persons unable to write, at the pulling, to-morrow, arc—that the Presiding Officer is to write *' Yes," or "No," for the voter, and to sign his name in the presence of two witnesses. The Bruce Herald of Wednesday gives the following account of a fatal, accident which has occurred at the Teviot:—"A lad, whose name we have not heard, aged about nine years, was playing on the Teviot Flat, and caught his father's horse, which was running loose with a rope about his neck. Little thinking the fate which awaited him, the poor lad fastened tho rope round his shoulders. The horse immediately bolted, dragging the lad behind him- The rope got round ] his nec-k and broke it.; causing, of course, i immediate death." " I We learn from the }fcuhntu'Ui Herald that "The members of the Wesleyan body here entertained Mr Jabez Chambers, of Pleasant River, who is about leaving the Province, at a tea party given in I;b.e Wesleyan Church, aa a token of the regard and esteem in which he is held by ids fellow-laborers, and as an appreciation of the aertfeea rendered by him in the cause of religion during his sojourn here. In the conrse ojf tho evening, a handsome writing Sesk [.'vtob i presented to ;-Mr Chambers as a souvenir, which he feelingly aelmowledged.'* '; k f =

The Resident Magistrate heard yesterday, evidence and argument on an information charging Mr Henry Smythies, solicitor, with an offence against the fed section of the Law PKMJtitioners Act Amtlndnienfc Act, ISO 6, in that he had practised as a barister j and solicitor of the Supreme Conrt, ho having iwMJttconvicted of forgery (in JEkgland), and not having received a free pardon.!; Evidence as to Mr Smythies having practised i was given % officers of th&Sapreme Court 5 and tiierewas pat in a iDerlified copy of aeon.* vietion, at the Centra} Criniinal Court, in The evidence ; "a»,to , tho identity of-the< -person,- ,;,|^:? .; {witti Mr Smythies, was! made up of Mr Smytbies'sdepos^kiojß; i|fc one { <^f the« earliest proceedings in cclnlmtioa betw^Lpapt. Russell and,M?G. E! Baiton, and'of aM&sr, which; a^t?|he^!raie I period (May,'last year) -vsraa pub^hed In the Da*bj Tttmi The W^pfeion; bf thisi^vidence was objecfed to r on t%« ground thai 4fhm. th& depoaitioa M».%

signed and the letter was published, the offence with which Mr Smythies is charged was not known in this Colony, the Act under which the prosecution is instituted having been passed in October, ISGO.andhavingcomemto operation on tho Ist January List. A preliminary objection was taken that the prosecution should have boen by the Attorney-General, if at all. It was also urged that the prosecution was calculated to bring tho Judges into contempt, seeing that, before they consented to Mr.Smythies's application for ad-' minion to practise, they had inquired into all the circumstances now alleged ; and seeing also that, even after the Amendment Act cause into operation, Mr Smythieu paid, the fees for, and received, a certificateauthorising him to practise during the year ending on tho 10th January, ISUS. The Magistrate held that, after tin; evidence given, he had 110 alternative but to commit for trial; but he at once complied with the suggestion made by the prosecution, and accepted Mr Sraythies's personal recognisances for appaarance in the .Supreme Court. We report the case at sumo length, in another part of this paper.

Tho U'utk'HimH llfraid of Tuesday gays : —" Quite an interesting event took place at the Spit on .Saturday last which, we think, deserved mention, as from the Hinalleafctrifles often great things spring. The lighter alluded t<> in a previous issue as in course of building by Mr Paget, shipping agent here, was on the day referred to, successfully launched, and duly christened under the appropriate and significant name of 'Spec,' in the presence of a number of peraooH who had been specially invited to witness and take part in the proceedings. The .Spec yesterday received her maiden load, discharged from the Hope, and proceeded up the river, where it was Landed adjacent to tho Main North Iload. The object for which the lighter has been built will, we feel sure, answer admirably, aud prove very serviceable to importers and shippers of goods to aud from this port,"

Referring to the financial condition of Auckland, the Svuthem CV<ww says:—"Turning to the akstroefc of revenue and expenditure for the December quarter of 18GG, one perceives at a glance the fallacy of the estimates on which the public services for tho financial year of 180067 were based. r Yesterday, we alluded to the statistics in general term*, having only the Colonial Treasurer's quarterly «t~atc-inent <jf revenue before us ; by tho fuller detail*, wliich the Provincial nccountj sup];ly, we Jiud our position Htrongthencd. ThuH, the Cittiinate of Cn.stoms tljrte-eighth.s for t)io year 18(>7, was LsS,yof> ; tho gr«H,s receipts at Auckland, on the .December '.juarler, 18Uf>, w«,*r« Ll2/210, or at the rate per annum of LO.I.'iG le^s than tiie estimate lor 1807. And every one knows that the CuHtoinn reeoipUi at the ports of Auckland have fallen on" steadily and very cnnsiderablysince the beginning of October, I'Sfis}. Turning to the actual receipts lor the past year, under tho head of Cutftoms, we iiud a glaring disproportion between the estimate tor the y«ar and the actual rveoipta. Thus, the estimate for IS'jli was Uil,yOO; the rw;eipLi wan: L">i!,S!).") Jsii 4<l, or an itcav x-i uinv be, LSOOO under tlie ei;tiinat<-4i. Tlie Provincial revenue last year amounted to L{O,2i'» liin .'id. The total receipts under this head for the December quarter of tho p:ust year amounted to Llr»."/J I.'?h 2d, which does not prmniiiO a contiuuiuce of the largo rec^jipts stated above."