THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1868.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 16

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1868.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

The taxation of the Country is a question which does not seem to attract much public attention; and yet there is no question which more directly or more intimately affects the welfare of every man in the community. The position of New Zealand at the present moment is, in this respect, • a most unhappy one. Its commercial energies are cramped in all directions, and yet the purpose for which this cramping process has been brought into operation is barely accomplished. A patriotic colonist, witnessing the disastrous effects of our financial policy on the best interests of the country, would naturally seek to console himself with the thought that great public benefits are secured by it. But where are the great public benefits? Who shall point out to the patriotic colonist the ample compensation derived from our public sacrifices ? To say that these sacrifices enable us to meet our public engagements is no proof of compensation, until it can be shown that our engagements could be met in no other way or by no qther means. Other colonies are burdened with public debts and financial deficits, but in no other colony shall we find such a ruinous system of taxation as that which prevails here. ...

The “New Zealand Advertiser” informs us that “ the commander of the Imperial War steamer Dor ade. arrived in Wellington by the Rangitira on Saturday evening. It is understood that he is commissioned by the. French Government to negotiate with the New Zealand Government and Captain Benson about the Panama steamers calling at Tahiti, or a branch line to that colony. The selection of a French Consul at this port is also said .to. be part of our naval visitor’s mission. The Dorade has been in Auckland for some two months past.” » It is stated that a company has been formed in North Wales for the purpose of establishing a cloth manufactury in the Province of Canterbury. A large body of emigrants, members of the association, were to leave Montgomeryshire, in Wales, during September • next. Their agent is . now in Canterbury, engaged m selecting a suitable field for their operations. The problem involved in that establishment of colonial manufactures will be most satisfactorily solved in this way—by an association of emigrants bringing with them the requisite capital and skill.

The "Wellington Independent” thus notices the revival of whaling enterprise:—“For some years past, this branch of industry has almost entirely been neglected; but we are glad, to observe that it ha s again been partially revived, and that oil and'whalebone will again figure in our list of exports. Two small parties have been established at Taewite, Queen Charlottes Sound, by the Keenan Brothers, and they have been very successful, William Keenan having caught one black whale and two humpbacks, with only one boat, which turned out about twentyfour tuns oil; and his brother James, with two boats, two whales, which, when tried out, made twelve tuns. Jackson’s party in the next bay with two boats, have caught two humpbacks, turning out ten tuns. The oil will be brought here for shipment to London.’

THE ESCORT. The Escort arrived in town last evening, bringing the following quantities of gold:— oz. dwts.

Switzers . . 604 0 Tuapeka . . 741 0 Waipori . . 378 0 Waitahuna . 252 0 Woolshed . . 73 0 Queenstown • • Arrow ... • • • 724 9 Dunstan . . • • • Blacks . . . • • 404 0 Cromwell . . 354 0 Manuherikia • 742 19 St. Balkans . 278 0 Hamilton . . 203 ‘ 13 Macraes . . Mount Ida . 304 0 Total . . 5062 1