ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Times, Volume 3, Issue 139, 6 September 1845, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

(7o the editor oj the Auckland Times.) Bir, —During the past -week ; perhaps the first week of this month was selected for >port by o'd recollections ; the Treasury authorities have been active in bagging their a a me, the unfortunate colonists for arrears "of I ncome Tax and penalties. If ever there was an iniquitous law passed, this is one, and the means taken to enforce it equally tyrannical. The Governor in his wisdom abolished the Customs, and replaced them by bis Property Rate ; but the weathercock turns, and the Customs are replaced with the pleasing addition of the Property Rate continued with its penalties to the 30 th April, not the date of its repeal. Rut as if the law were not sufficiently harsh, Mr. R. McKenzie, executor of Mr. M‘Lennan, is summoned for arrears and penalties, when he actually proved that he tendered the amount to Mr. Hogg, who refused it, saying, his impression was, the estate was not liable. In this case, lam happy to say Mr. Hogg was saddled with costs and penalties •, but what will any one say, when persons are summoned for arrears and penalties, who have Mr. Hogg’s receipt for the amount in their pockets. Two such instances have appeared before the Police Court, and more would have come to light, but that the other receipt-holders escaped summons by exhibiting their receipts. The two who were summoned, wisely cast the costs of prosecution on the proper party. But these cases are more serious than they at first appear. Is it negligence in the Treasury that the officers know not who has, and who has not paid, or is it (as I suspect, Sir,) that Mr. Hogg has received the money and not accounted for it ? Either through negligence or fraud , a double charge for Property Rate amounts may be successfully resisted, but who can estimate the probable, or possible loss to the Government, should the sam q failing occur in keeping the books of account in the Customs or Post Office at Wellington, where Mr. Hogg is now stationed again. Notwithstanding the evident mistakes of Mr. Hogg (to use a mild term), the officials in the Police Court refuse to give receipts for monies paid into their hands, although the words of the Ordinance are, that the Collector or any person receiving payment under the provisions of the Ordinance, are upon demand, to give a receipt. The demand has been made, and refused.

I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, A Colonist. Auckland, September 4, 1845,

[We have already expressed oar opinion upon this subjeot, and it is hardly necessary for us, now, to repeat our perfect accordance with the sentiments of the writer. There is one tax imposed as a substitute for another which is repealed. Under the blessed system of our imperious, and hurried legislation, the old tax is restored before (he expiry of the proper period for the payment of the new one: so that like Doctor Sangiado’s hot water" ai d breeding system, they are both working together, to the manifest depletion and destruction of the patient, becanse, and because only of Capt, F itzroy’s tjraonical will and pleasure. Every Convict on of the Polioe curly wigs under this pro c e eding is manifestly illegal, but the whole brochure is in admirable Keeping with the kite-flying c a reer of Capt. Fitxroy’s finance. Look at the Ordinance, it such execrable productions as our Ordinances be, may be considered worth looking at at all, and it wiil be quickly apparent that the taxsttatherer is demanding one whole month’s more impost than he has legal authority for ; —not only so, but is enforcing payment with enormous, unjust, and very cruel fine and forfeiture; —for the paper plaything called au Ordinance, abolishing the Castonis, began to dance upon the wing upon the first of November, and consequently could not complete the second quarter of its eleva'ion until the thirtieth oj April; but the Customs were re imposed and collected from and after tbejfrrst of April ( Tom Fool'* dav) —the one Ordinance thus giving the death blow to the other. Law and logic would alike extinguish the claim of the curs rent quarter from those who had not paid it; but no, — tvlr. A'torney General, with that matchless acumen which Lord Stanley has so highly praised —and the Governor, with that indifference towards public opinion for which he has such enviable celebrity—and the Police Magistrates, with that perfectly spaniel pliability which is every day more and more apparent—go on front day to day trampling down law and justice, aud robbing those wito are most destitute, of their little means o! existence. But this matter is all of a piece with the whole career of the New Zealand Government; they must first set up an unnecessary and expensive establishment, and, having done so, no effort is to be spared to wring the cost of it out of the unhappy settlers. The Secretary for the Colonies says to the Governor “ Yon must raise your revenue by book or by crook;” the Governor says to the Council “You must provide for it by any crotchet I may devise, however often I shift my notions;” and the Councillors, laying their heads together, say ‘‘ Our salaries depend upon oor compliance, and though the G vmtor be madly mistaken and his adviser an as», We must swallow all his measures, eve n sine grano salis Every one ot the Colonists who has paid ibe ftll two qaarters bus an obvious right to draw back one third of bis payment, aDd this would more than counterbalance the results of these harsh, iniquitous, and illegal exactions. Those who wisely made no returns (accordin,' to our advice) go scot free in this mon? slrons business ; but we grow disgusted with the subject, and shall say uo more—except that it coutd only be under such a Governor, and such au Attorney General, and snob a Legislative Council, that such things could come to pass.— Ed. Times j