THE MINER.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 307, 29 September 1875, Page 6

THE MINER.

LOCAL ITEMS.

The crushing of stone from the Crown ant Cross reef, Carrick, although not up to ex pectations, has yielded satisfactorily. 261 tons tons yielded 126 ounces, besides whicl a quantity of tailings, &c, after manipula tion will yield a further cake of probabl; 50 ounces. The quantity of pyrites ha been a serious drawback to this company and proves the necessity of adopting som means of successfully treating them.

The Elizabeth Co. has made its final cal of 2s 6d, and it is probable the compan' will take steps to increase its capital, as tb prospects of striking the reef in the tunni are now very encouraging. The gres majority of shares being held in the district proves the determination of this compaiy not to show the white feather while thes are reasonable prospects of ultimate success

The Perseverance Co.'s tunnel is now o hard that the contractors have given notie of their intention to abandon their contra* unlftss a better price be offered. They ae some 600 feet into the hill, and expect o strike the old John Bull reef in another 0 feet,

The Lucknow Co. expect to receive to-dy from town some small castings belonging o their turbine wheel for which they ha*e been delayed for some weeks, and it is e;pected that in a few days crushing will le commenced. There are over 200 tons if stone ready to operate upon. Tlxe Lowburn Sluicing Company are etdoavoring to overcome the water in ther shaft, with only partial success, and it is probable that larger pumps will be requird. The Aurora mill, belonging to the CrcnweliCo., is now undergoing a thorough'cpair, and will shortly be in a position to <n able several anxious ulaimholders to test he value of their newly-discovered reefs at Bendigo. It is reported that Mr T. Logan has iisposed of two-thirds of his interest at Bndigo for something like L. 10,000, and although the price appears large several of Mr Logan's friends believe that the purchaers are fortunate in getting such a valuable >roperty for the sum named, and that a mch larger figure could have been obtained lad the property been thrown into a public ompany. That Mr Logan has still a larg interest in the mine is matter for congranlation, as his severance from the district wuld be a serious blow to its further prospecing, that gentleman being always foremos in assisting to developc its resources. ABOLITION OF THE GOLD DUTY In the Assembly last week, whilethe fifteenth clause of the Abolition Bill was under consideration, the question of rceal-

ing the gold export duty came up. Sir George Grey proposed that the duty should altogether cease on the coming into force of the Local Government Bill; while Mr T. L. Shepherd urged an amendment that the tax should be reduced year by year until finally done away with. The discussion that ensued is thus reported : Sir George Grey, replying to the Treasurer's statement that the miner would not be benefited by the repeal of the gold duty, showed that at least each miner would be relieved to the extent of 4d a day, which meant a loaf of bread to each miner and miner's child. Would that be nothing ? He considered that now we could do away 'with this taxation, we ought at once to do so. The Treasurer replied, saying that now both the House and the country knew what value to put on any statement made by the honor* able member (Sir George Grey). He utterly denied having said anything whatever of the kind attributed to him by Sir George Grey, viz., that each man repays 4d a day as gold duty tax. What he said was that it would only benefit a few large companies, and that only to the extent of about 2|d a day per man, therefore the pathetic picture of a miner covered with sweat, coming from his labour to his starving children, and finding they had lost a loaf a day, was all nonsense. He repeated in all sincerity that it was solely with a view to the interest of goldfields that he proposed the measure, for he was sure that House would never consent to subsidise goldfields and not require them to pay their quota towards the increasing expenditure required for public works in the district. Mr Shepherd said every gold miner he Was sure was in favour of repeal of gold duty, while, at the same time, he would not object to be taxed for roads, &c. A miner would rather pay Ll extra to the Customs than pay this gold duty. The honorable gentleman hoped Sir George Grey would accept liia amendment.

Mr Harrison denied there was any universal cry against the abolition of the gold duty. He concurred in all said by the Treasurer.

Mr Swanson said no good would ensue from postponing the abolition of this duty till after next session. No gold would be exported till then, but it would reimin in the strong rooms of the Banks.

Mr Bowen referred to a proposal by the Treasurer to withdraw the amendments, and bring in a Bill on which the question of duty or no duty could be debated on its merits, and outside the questions referred to in this clause of the Abolition Bill.

Mr Mervyn would feel obliged to support Sir George Grey's amendment, ivtvithstanding that he thought probably miners would themselves oppose the repe.il of the duty after the statement made by the Treasurer.

Mr Reid said he objected to Mr Shepherd's amendment because it was too much in tlio shape of a bribe for the members to go to their constituencies and say, " If you do not vpte for one who approves the Abolition Bill, you will lose the repeal of the gold duty." Mr Luckie thought the object of the gentleman who proposed the amendment (Sir Geo. Grey) was merely to cause delay in passing" the Bill. Ho criticised the siatement of Sir George Grey about miners being taxed fourpence a day. It was all clap-trap, and absolutely untrue He should oppose both the amendments.

Sir George Grey said he hop.id the Abolition Bill would never come into operation. He believed that, as sure as he stood there, it never would; but he wished at the same time to point out that the clause for the repeal of the gold duty would, if his amendment were brought into operation, become a fact within one month of passing of the Bill, and would not be affected should the Bill be subsequently repealed. Mr Tribe considered Sir George Grey was raising an entirely false issue by his amendment. This was a clever and ingenious' device, by which he would not be led astray. He would oppose the amendment. Sir George Grey denied his amendment was the result of party action. If it were not carried he would not support Mr Shepherd, but would immediately ask leave to introduce a Bill to repeal the gold duty, and also a Bill to give an almost freehold tenure to miners who were working in quartz claims. The honorable gentleman concluded by reiterating that he was acting quite independently of any member in the House, and was actuated solely by the desire to remove a tax which he felt was obnoxious to the interest of the mining population. Sir George Grey's amendment, on a division, was negatived by a majority of 17 —Ayes, 22; noes, 39. Mr Shepherd's amendment was negatived by a majority of 35—Ayes, 14 ; noes, "49. The clause as previously amended was then passed.