THE OTAGO WITNESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 253, 4 October 1856, Page 2

THE OTAGO WITNESS.

Dunedin, Saturday, October 4, 1856.

By the James Daly, from Port Cooper, we have Lyttelton papers to the 27th ult. They contain no intelligence of striking importance. There had been great fluctuation in the grain markets, wheat having been as low as ss. per bushel, and flour £18 per ton. The prices had again risen to 7s. for wheat, and £20 for flour. The few Wellington papers which have reached us are chiefly filled with scraps of the proceedings of the last days of the General Assembly. Mr. Sewell has resigned the office of Colonial Treasurer, to which office Mr. Stafford has succeeded, at the same time resigning the Superintendency of Nelson, and taking up his residence in Auckland. From the tone of the articles of the " Lyttelton Times" and the " Wellington Independent," it seems that the recent alteration in the Tariff v has not met with a favourable reception at either Canterbury or Wellington. In this matter there is a marked difference of opinion from the Auckland press, for the " New Zealander," in speaking of the alteration, highly commends the new law, remarking that " in it we find the great principle affirmed, that where taxation is necessary, articles of luxury and superfluity should be first selected and heavily taxed." We are at a loss to understand how this assertion can be borne out by the fact that silks and jewellery are charged per cubic foot no more than calico and earthenware; whilst the actual value of each description of goods is widely different. In one case we understand an unlucky importer will have to pay about 14s. each for some wheelbarrows. Whether a wheelbarrow comes under the description of a luxury, it may be difficult to determine. Much depends upon the use to which it may be put. There is an old song in existence which makes reference to a gentleman having taken his wife home in , such a conveyance. 1 If this be a general practice in the Northern capital, our contemporary's idea

of luxuries may be .accounted for, otherwise we should say the principle of the Customs Act, as exemplified in this case is rather absurd. In truth, the recent alteration of the Customs Duties cannot be defended upon principle. The object of the framers of the law evidently was to simplify the collection of the duties, and it remains to be tested by experience whether the increased facilities in the transac- | tion of business under the new plan are sufficient to justify such a total deviation from all the ordinary principles of taxation as the Act effects. We are well aware of the fact that even as far back as the first session of the General Assembly, the mercantile portion of the Auckland people was most anxious to make some such alteration as has been recently effected. At that period, a committee of the House of Representatives sat for some months enquiring into the subject, and although in its report it adopted a most extraordinary view of the subject, by proposing to tax .silks and such like articles by weight, its plan, except in this latter particular, was preferable to the one now adopted. That committee proposed to select about thirty articles of general consumption, to place a duty upon them, and to allow everything else to be imported free, and any deficiency in the amount of revenue, which it was supposed might arise, was to be made up by an increased duty on spirits and tobacco. That plan had one merit which the present | regulation has not, viz., simplicity ; ! In our opinion, no alteration of the Customs' duties is worth making, or will give satisfaction, unless the princi- J pie of simplification be carried out. j The present system of duties is as complex as the old one, perhaps more so. If cutlery and ironmongery be packed in the same case, how is the Collector to settle at which rate per cubic foot the duty should be charged ? He must , use a discretion, and such a discretion- ! ary power is for a dozen reasons objectionable. The Collector in one port may be a sensible man ; in another, the the same officer may be an absurd and whimsical one. We may safely affirm, as a general principle, that all duties j should be of such a nature as to preclude the possibility of a dispute. The importer ought to know exactly upon what goods, and how much duty, he will be called upon to pay, or he may be subjected to considerable loss. In illustration of this truism, every one will remember the anecdote of the first ship load of ice which was imported into London. The officers of customs could not make up their minds what rate of duty was to be charged ; the ship was detained whilst the knotty question was discussed ; and when the authorities had determined that the ice could be landed duty free, the cargo had melted away. In the present alteration of the Tariff, it appears to us that those who effected it had no faith in the principle they were attempting to carry out; they wanted to simplify the Tariff, but ' were afraid of losing some of the revenue ; they consequently jumbled togegether two imcompatible ideas — simplification, and a tax upon every known article, with a few exceptions; — but even in this latter point they have overshot the mark by making the duty so heavy on articles of great bulk and little value that it amounts to a prohibition, which, of course, puts the public to great inconvenience, without yielding any assistance to the revenue. It is self-evident that where this is the case, it would have been better to have admitted the articles duty free. We learn, however, upon enquiry, that many articles of furniture which we at first imagined would be prohibited by the rate of duty, will not be charged by the Collector by measurement over all, as freight is charged, but that he will charge for the actual cubic feet of material of which the article is composed. This will be a relief ; but after all it will nearly amount to guessing, for unless the Collector be a capital mathematician, he will be a little puzzled to calculate the cubic content of a handsomely carved chair, or even a pair of wheels. However, as we formerly re-

marked, with a judicibus Collector the law may possibly be worked to the satisfaction of the trading community, who are the best judges, in the matter. But we hope, when the next attempt at reform is made, the principle of Sir R. Peel's Tariff bill will be borne in mind, and a sufficient rate be fixed on a few articles of general consumption, leaving all unenumerated articles free. The Strathmore, from London direct, arrived at the heads on the Ist instant. She has brought a very small mail, the New Zealand mail having been sent by way of Melbourne. She has made the passage in 95 days, and we observe from the passenger list that there have been four deaths, viz., Andrew M'Master, an infant ; William Leslie, an infant ; Jean C. Grieve, aged 18 years ; and Richard H. Cumberbrach, aged 25. The latter has left a wife and four children to deplore his loss. The Strathmore has on board 184 passengers, all of whom are for this place, and are principally friends of settlers here, who have come out under the Provincial Government arrangements. By this opportunity we have home news to the 25th June. The subject of education was largely engaging the attention of Parliament. The Ministry had been defeated by a majority of eight on a motion by Mr. Walpole, the effect of which motion was to destroy the system of national education in Ireland, by allowing the public schools (as the Times says) to become instruments of proselytism. The decision has been reversed by a subsequent vote, carried by a large majority. The trial of Palmer had resulted in an unanimous verdict of " Guilty," and the prisoner has suffered the extreme penalty of the law. There is no important intelligence of a political nature from France. There had been in that country some terrible inundations, which had destroyed a large amount of property, and produced much misery among thousands. The details are not to be found in the papers which have reached us. The news from the Italian States is much the same as usual — cruel and bitter persecutions for supposed political offences, and constant expectation of revolutions. It does not appear from the tone of the Times that the danger of war with America is so great as we were led to believe from the last intelligence which reached us from Melbourne. The enlistment question has been allowed to drop. The Central American affair still presented a troubled aspect ; but we do not imagine ' there is any real prospect of war, as the funds were rising, and there is no surer ' indication of the mind of the British | public than the state of the funds. General Walker was said to be reduced to the last extremity. The Southern States of America strongly deprecate the warlike tone of the United States Government, but the state of political parties in America is an enigma to us. The very names are beyond our comprehension. There are " Know-No-things," " Filibusters," " Nigger-Driv-I ers," " Anti-Nigger-Drivers," " Nigj ger - Worshippers," "Pro-Slavery Know - nothings," " Anti - Slavery Know-nothings," a " Patriotic Religious Party," a " Philanthropic Religious Party," "Radical Abolitionists," and a dozen other parties with uncouth names. The real state of matters presents a rather unpleasant view of life in America. A guerilla warfare is raging in the territory of Kansas, and fights in the street, in which revolvers are used, appear common, editors of newspapers being the usual combatants. We have at present but little room for extracts. We shall at a future period give fuller details of these matters, and it is sufficient to say that it is satisfactory to learn that at present there appears no certainty of a war. The Education Board met on the Sndinst. After a lengthened discussion, a mtotion to levy a tax of 10s. per head was carried by a majority. Owing to the lateness in the week on which the, meeting was held, and the arrival of the Strathmore y we have deferred the report of the proceedings of the Board until our next.

ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR on proroguing the general assembly, saturday, august 16, 1856. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, ' I am happy to be able to release you from the duties of a protracted and laborious session. j The zeal and assiduity which you have displayed in the consideration of the va- I rious questions of importance which have come before you, deserve, and will, I feel assured, obtain the approbation of the colony. It was but reasonable to expect that the introduction of the system of Responsible Government would, at the commencement of the session, for some time engage the attention of the Legislature to the exclusion of ordinary business. I have now to congratulate you that that form of Government has been so successfully established to the promotion of the practical legislation of which the colony stood so much in need. The measures which you have passed relate to important questions which have for some time past engaged the attention of the colony, and with respect to which legislation could not have been deferred without detriment to the public service. Amongst the most important measures of the session are those financial arrangements by which it is proposed to provide for the debts and liabilities of the colony, and equitably to apportion the public burdens. The confirmation of these measures by the Imperial Government will, it may be expected, wholly remove a most serious cause of discontent and mutual jealousy amongst the provinces. Measures passed during the present session have vested in the provincial authorities the administration of the "Waste Lands and Land Revenue. It cannot be doubted that a judicious and economical application of the Territorial Revenue to works of. public utility in the district where it arises, and under the supervision of those most interested in its proper application, must tend to accelerate the settlement of the country. Such will, I trust, be the result of the prudent exercise by local bodies of these large powers. •' For many years past the numerous unsettled land claims have been a source of serious embarrassment. I entertain a strong expectation that the Land Claims Settlement Act will be found to provide a mode of determining these claims with equity to the claimants and without prejudice to the public interest. In transferring to the provinces the management of the waste lands, it was essential that the rights of the holders of scrip and unexercised land orders should at the same time be defined and secured. The set-" tlement of this question also has been effected in such a manner as not unduly to impede the administration of the public J lands, but with just regard to the vested rights of individuals. The nature of the Customs Tariff had ' long given rise to general complaint. ] Amongst other grounds of objection its mi- I nute enumeration of articles subject to duty was vexatious alike to the revenue officer and the importer, occasioning great loss of time, expense, and other inconvenience. The alteration now made will, I hope, be received with general satisfaction, based as J it is on a recognition of the principle that revenue should be raised in the most simple and inexpensive manner, and a so far as possible from those articles of luxury which are the most legitimate subjects of taxation. In dealing with this most important branch of revenue, it was at the present time an obvious duty to avoid impairing the public income. The new tariff secures this object without curtailing the comforts of the j people. During the present session the Assembly has given legislative sanction to a body of rules respecting the pleading and practice | of the Supreme Court, which constitute a complete code of procedure in civil cases. For this, valuable accession to the laws the colony is mainly indebted to the labours of Chief-Justice Martin, who, aided by the present Acting Chief-Justice, has devoted several years to the completion of this most important work. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, — I thank you for the liberal provision which you have made for the public service, and especially I have to acknowledge the additional provision for the maintenance of the office I have the honour to hold. The supplies which you have granted will be

applied with a due regard to economy in the public expenditure. The sums voted for steam communication will not only effect the establishment of a rapid and regular postal service in tM* colony, but, in connection with the- recent arrangements entered into by the Imperial Government and the Australian colonies, will probably secure communication by steam between Great Britain and New Zealand. Honourable Gentlemen op the" Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the House ok Representatives, — The relations established at the commencement of the session between my responsible advisers and- my self with reference to the government of the aborigines still subsist. It is my intention, however, to refer this important question for her Majesty's consideration and decision ; meantime those relations will continue unaltered. The session now about to close furnishes an additional instance of the vigour and sue--i cess with which a free legislature is "enabled j to act when assisted in its deliberations by J ministers of the Crown possessing the confidence of the people, and gives earnest of ■ the good results to be expected in this colony from that form of government. That valued constitutional practice of ' which this is here our first experience, by ! increasing the power of the General Goj vernment, and especially by harmonizirg its action for the common good with that I of the other institutions of the country, may, | I trust, secure to the Central Executive | the respect, attachment, and cordial support of all classes of Her Majesty's subjects throughout these islands, may preserve the unity of the colony, and finally, by God's blessing, may raise its scattered settlements from small beginnings into a happy and virtuous nation. I do now prorogue the General Assemj bly of New Zealand to Wednesday, the Ist J day of July, 1857, and it is hereby proi rogued accordingly. I Thomas Gore Browne. j Auckland, August 16, 1856.