FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 20

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

The new tariff again kept the House of Representatives busy this afternoon and evening, and two alterations ware made that will considerably afftct the revenue. The Colonial Treasurer first introduced amended resolutions to the Committee of Wnyi aud Means so that the schedule of the Customs Excise and Duties Bill should be in accordance with the resolation?. Ib was not until the evening that the bill got into Committee again. The first alteration made was in fixing the duty of Id per lb on apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, medlars, apricots, quinces, and tomatoea as applicable only to the local fruit seaeon — namely, from the lab December to the end of March ; for the resb of the year not; more than £d per lb is to be-charged. The second alteration was in tea, the Committee deciding that the duty of 4d per lb should come iuto operation as soon as the bill passes. Another alteration wes the reduction of the duty of 20 per cent, on Turkey twills, printed cot'.ons, and dress fabrics at and under 4d the yard to 10 per cent. The House was still sitting when RATING ACT AMENDMENT. The Colonial Trtasurer has introduced an amendment to the lUting Act which brings under the dtfiuition of " rateable property" all Native lands vested in the Pul»lic Trustee under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act. So much of them as are occupied by othera than Natives are to be rated for rates at full value, but those of the lands occupied by Natives, or unoccupied (not being situated

within a borough), will bo liable to rating only to onr.-half auy rate struck, and will not bo liab'e to any special ra'e. Tho Public Trustee is only to be liable for rates on these lands up to tho am unt of funds iv his hands. Other amendments proposed make NaMvo lands over which. Emveau'i have timber rigbta linble to rating. Wluto a building has been vncint fur uut iesa than six month* in tho rating year, who'her contiguously or not, it is to be only liable for half rates.