BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3260, 1 August 1873, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Auckland, July 31. A petition against the new tariff has been signed by 3,000 persons. A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held to day to considgr the new tariff, and was very numerously attended. Merchants spoke bitterly against the action of the Government, They estimated the increase of the duties by the chance of tariff would he equal to L250,U 0 on the Colonial revenue. The chairman stated that he had received telegrams fioin all the Southern Chambers, expressing sympathy with the action of the Auckland Chamber. It was resolved :—“ That in the opinion of the Chamber the alteration in the tariff is impolitic, and unjust in principle and detail. That a return to the system of levying an ad valorem duty on general merchandise is objectionable, as offering inducements for dishonest practices. That the proposed rates are oppressive, the increase in the duties on general goods averaging 100 per cent. That whatever alteration of the duties is required, an increase of the present tariff is preferable to ad valorem duties, Mr Saunders quotes buyers of shares as follows :—Thames, L 5 15s ; Tokatea, LI 6s; South British Insurance, L2 10s. August 1. Share list: Caledonian, L 2 4; Thames, L 6 ; Tookey, L 9. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, several members spoke bitterly against the new tariff. The estimated increase on duties is equal to L 250,000 a-year. The chairman stated that telegrams, which had been received from all the Southern Chambers, expressed sympathy with their action. The meeting passed a resolution to the effect that the new tariff is impolitic. The Grahamstown Advertiser condemns the financial statement.

It is believed that the gold discovery at the lower level of the Caledonian mine will exercise a very important effect on the future yield of gold on the Thames goldfields. The proposal to revert to Provincial borrowing is generally condemned. Grahamstown, July 31. Great excitement prevails among holders of Caledonian scrip, and shares are rising rapiuly. Wanganui, July 31. The Meteor’s cargo has been sold at auction, An i) quiry was held into her wreck, and the decision arrived at by the Court was that the vessel was driven ashore through standing in 100 close before getting well to windward of the channel, thereby becoming unmanageable when the signal was made to stand to sea. Nelson, July 31. The new tariff is received with great disfavor, being regarded as indicating a protective policy, and an increase of taxation. The shelving of the West (..'oast Railway has created a strong sensation here. Christchurch, July 31. The Financial Statement has been received well here, but the new’ tariff is looked upon as oppressive, considerably enhancing the price of various articles, such as drapery. Lyttelton, July 31. The Ben Nevis, from hence for Hokitika, was wrecked yesterday at Kaikoura. Napier, August 1. The alteration of the tariff is generally condemned. AUSTRALIAN NEWS, Sydney (via Auckland), July 24. A deputation presented to the Government a petition bearing 1,000 signatures, in favor of a forty days’ San Francisco service, costing L 68,000, instead of a forty-five days’ service costing L48,0(’0. In answer to a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Parkcs stated that the Government were in favor of the best San Francisco service. They did not anticipate that the cost, after deducting postages, would be more than L 20.000. New Zealand had been offered the conveyance of its mails to Fiji at a cost of fid per letter postage. The Colony would also provide a branch service from hence to Melbourne. Adelaile. The Ministerial policy is not yet declared. Some stone from the Northern Territory yielded at the rate of 20oz. to 50oz. per ton. cablegrams. London, July 22. The Colonial Commissioners at the Vienna Exhibition gave a grand dinner to the Jurors in the Food and Wine Departments. The trial of the Tichborne Claimant is again proceeding. The Carlists are masters of Carthagena, and have seized four frigates in that port. A new Ministry has been formed at Madrid. The French harvest is small. The amount paid up for the Now Zealand Meat Preserving Company is L 200,000.