The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3927, 25 September 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1875.

The Opposition, after ineffectual efforts, among other irrelevant mattei’, to introduce a clause into the Abolition Bill, remitting the Export Duty on Gold, have given notice to move for leave to bring in a Bill for that purpose. This will be supported by some Goldfields’ members, mainly, we should imagine, in anticipation of the effect on the mining* interest at the coming election. It may not be a very popular view to take regarding the tax, but assuming it to be expedient to retain it, we see no reason why it should be remitted. In fact, there are many sound reasons why it should be retained. It has often been urged against it that it is a tax on industry, and that miners, through contributing to the revenue by miners’ rights, and in other ways are subjected to mere onerous financial burdens than other classes. We think this manner of mixing up a variety of grievances in favor of the repeal of one is not the proper manner of dealing with it. The miner may or may not be more heavily taxed than other classes; for our own parts we think he is not : but even assuming that lie is, it is not conclusive that, therefore, the gold duty is that which should be repealed. Precisely the same arguments will hold good for squatters being allowed free grazing, saw-mills free cutting down of timber, farmers free cultivation of the soil, coal miners free use of coal pits, as are brought forward in favor of miners being allowed to gather gold without payment of a royalty. We know of no fairer tax than the gold tax. It is only a small rental that a miner pays for the use of the soil, and has the unusual characteristic that there is no injustice in the mode of levying it as there commonly is in taxation. It does not tax labor whether successful or not, but merelyrequiresaminer to contribute to the revenue a small percentage on what he Ims actually earned. There can bo no doubt of the vast gain to a country of a gold mining population. They are always of the class of laborers who are most useful in developing the resources of a country. Being adults, and as able to withstand the privations of digging life, necessarily robust, their productive energy is brought at once into operation. If, therefore, they do not earn lull average wages, should they remain in the country, they are even then more profitable as contributors to the revenue, and valuable as consumers indirectly fostering and supporting other industries, than mixed immigrants of ages varying from infancy to middle age : for among the latter there is always a large proportion of non-producers. But there are drawbacks to their kind of work that must not be left out of consideration, and which ten times the value of the gold duty will never retrieve. These disadvantages do not ♦ ♦ i o mamtost themselves in the early stages of gold - mining, and are scarcely appreciable in countries so wide in extent as California or South America, But in limited areas like the Province of Otago they force them-

selves prominently upon attention. We who conduct our business in Dunedin without much consideration as to the changes going on up-country, are apt to imagine that the only damage done to the soil by gold-mining is making a hole and leaving it unfilled up. But this is a serious mistake. This was the case in Victoria to a far greater extent than in New Zealand, because of the different processes of extracting gold in the two countries. The destruction of valuable land in Victoria is very limited. A visitor to the goldfields of that Colony sees hillocks surrounding the mouth of a pit, with small rills of water used as carefully as if the country was on short allowance. But the process is different in New Zealand. Goldseekers do not, as a rule, raise lines of hillocks like dunes on a seacoast ; the time is past for that. They wash away mountains by the lavish application of water .drawn from high levels, and acting with enormous force. This process necessitates not only a full supply of water’, but the means of getting it away ; and, as of necessity a lower level is needed, the stream finds its way to some sheltered valley, over which it spreads, and deposits the mountain in solution over its surface. Very large areas of fine land have been thus overlaid and rendered useless. In other cases, where the bed of the river has formed the sludge channel, it has been raised so much that thousands of acres of fertile agricultural land have been rendered liable to be flooded, to the detriment and loss of those who own or farm them. We leave out of consideration the expense of forming roads for the convenience of diggers in rough and difficult passes. Like all other classes of producers, they have a right to be considered in that respect. But as far as the gold export duty is concerned, we look upon it as a very trifling return for permission to divert watercourses and destroy country. It must be remembered that gold-miners are allowed to do this, either experimentally or industrially, whether they gain or not; but they are not required to pay until they have found the gold, and sent it away from New Zealand. It has been said that they pay a heavy rent for a small area ; but if they had to pay for what they spoil as well as what they use, which in strict justice ought to be done, it would be found that 2£ per cent, on their earnings—about the amountof gold duty—would only go a short distance as compensation for damages. We regard the gold duty as the lightest and fairest form of rental for the use of laud that has been devised, and that the cry for its repeal is for election purposes.

There was only one case on the chargesheet at the City Police Court to-day. The prisoner, John Irvine, charged with stealing a qu ntity of greengroceries from the shop of James Forrester at Darley, was remanded till Monday. The Court then adjourned.

The Jewish New Year commences on Wednesday evening, and I'hursiay and the following day will be observe I as strict holidays by those belonging to that faith in this City. - aturday week (rhe 9tb prox.) will be (Youm Kippoor) their greatest fast day. Mr Johns--n. fixe of the d-putaiim of volunt ers to form the new Fire Brigade, which waited on the committee of tsio City Council on ihursday evening informs us that our report was (-.lightly incorrect. The deputation ata ed that LSOO would not pay 'he expanses of f >rty men, and asked for L 6 0. The Council’s committee then pro po-v.d to reduce the Brigade to thirty m-n, an if afterwards it be found nec aaary to increase it to forty, they would vote another LIOO.

A concert and ball, in aid of the funds of 'he district library, tooK place in the Mornington Hall last evening. Mr Bussell occupied the chair ; while Mr Sykes gave some piano solos, and accompanied with his usual ability. The concert passed off very successfully, the room being crowded, and the audience fully appreciating the performers’ efforts. It was stated that the proceeds would quite cover the debt incurred, audhopea were expressed that gatherings of the kind would be more frequent. Dancing was indulged in till a late hour. The Temperapoe Hall was well filled last evening on the occasion of the benefit of Mr Ifavies, the ventriloquist. The “ spelling bee,” which had been looked forward to with no small degree of curiosity—it being the liist held in this City—proved a failure. Notwithstanding the constant appeals of Mr Weighlmaun, the examiner, for candidates, only six boys and three men put in an appearance, and the first prize was awarded to a Mr Aldred. To-night this clever troupe make their final appearance, acd to thos*; who have not seen the Man-fish or Mr Davies we recommend a visit.

The City Council’s order paper for next Wednesday’s meeting contains the following notices of motions :—By Cr. Gibson : “ That Harbor terrace and Union street, to Pelichet Hay, be formed to their permanent level ” By <Jr. Reeves ; “That the portion of the town belt lying between Queen street and M'Glashan’s Valley, and between the Wood haugh and Pine Hill roads be opened up by cutting footpaths through the bush, and troucLang and roughly forming the same and by (Jr. Chapman : “That step- betaken to prevent persons from endangering the safety of the main pipe from the waterworks to the City.” I he annual entertainment of the Knox Church Young Men’s society held last evening in the school-room, the place being crowded with people. The musical programme provided contained many new songs and duets, and they were diversified by occasional well-selected recitations. Mr G. Thomson acted as pianist and among the vocalists were Mrs Fraer, Miss Jago, and Mr Fnser, Messrs Thomson aud Israel gave -e idings. 4 vote of thanks to the chairman md to those ladies and gentleman who had given their services to render the entertainment successful, concluded the proceedings. The following is the bankruptcy.list for Monday next: <\djourned final < xamiaaturn and discharge : oamuel l ewis, ulam pi’'tt ('lark, Henry Edward i attersfieid. iual examination and discharge : John •J‘lndoe, J. a. P, Stamper. James D.-nham, ■-ibraham ■ ustin. Credi ors’petition for adjudication : Eugene Hawthorne, Petitions i or aoj jdicatiou : harles Bentani, Benedick lopperth. Al x M’ ntyre, Frederick B nnett, Matthew Waolell, Benjamin ullerenshaw, William Wyber, Declaration of com-

nlete examination of deed : Francis Gab lasher, Pharaoh Thomas and 'William Berryman, Joseph Harding, Richard Montague Payne,

The Port Chalmers Choral Union gave their third concert last evening, when they produced a varied and well chosen programme. We were sorry to see so poor an audience, but this might be partly accounted for from the fact that the concert had been postponed for a week, -owing to the bad weather. The performance opened with a well-executed overture by Mr Ueorge Syke--on the piano, who also acc mpanied the ■dngers. The president (Mr M'Kiunon) introduced the singers. The choruses were decidedly good, especially “Foresters Sound.” “Ye Banks and Braes ” ; and the quartette, “ L le of Beauty,” was excellently rendered, as were most of thesongs and glaea. Altogether a very pleas »ut evening was spent by those who attended the concert. The New Zealand 1 Herald ’ (Auckland) commenting up m the views expressed in an article published in this journal, showing the necessity for Mr Maeaudrew’a Bill for placing the Education reserves in trust, reads us a lecture on what it is pleased to term “ the parish - po l itician spirit in which it is written, In our remai ks we pointed to the grasping, repudiating spirit manifested in the North Island, and we think them amply just fied by the following unblu-h ng avowal with which vhe * Herald ’ closes :—“ Our Southern fri< nis may agitate or become a itat d just as they pleas.-, but no sure as they possess a land fund so sure must the proceeds therefrom fad into the bands of the General Government or be so apportio ned by the House for the purposes of expenditure wherever expenditure is needed most “Hamlet” constituted the programme at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, ana there was a capital downstairs attendance, Mr Bates gave an excellent representation of the part of the Danish Prince, his acting in the closet-scene being especially good. He was called before the curtain at the close of every act. Mrs Bates played fairly as Ophelia ; and Mr Steele was excellent as the

host. Miss Vivian surprised a largo number of those present by her playing as the Queen, but the other characters do not call for special comment. We were glad to see that our hints as to the unnecessary length to which the combat between Laertes and Hamlet had, on former occasions, been spun out, were not without effect; and their curtailment last evening was an undoubted improvement. To-night “ Guy Manner.ng” will be produced, and the performance will conclude with “Bamboozling,” in which Mr and Mrs Bates appear. On Monday, “Check and Counter Check,” by Mr Dttiug, of this City, will be produced. This drama has been specially written for Mr Bates. Last evening a number of members of the Ancient Ort'er of Foresters presented Dr Reimer, medical officer to Court Pride of Dunedin, with an illuminated address and gold watch. The inscription is as follows : “A.O. F. To Bro. Carl M. Reimer, We, on behalf of ourselves and a large number of the me ■ bers of • ourt Pride of Dunedin, Independent Order of Foresters, earnestly desire to express the high esteem we entertain of your abilities aud the services you have rendered to this Court whilst acting as our medical officer for the last nine years, and ample evidence of your having given satisfacdon. We respectfully request your acceptance of the accompanying gold watch as » slight mark of our good will. May you live longingoodhealth to make use of it. Cun edin, lew Zetland, 22nd September, 1875 Alex. M‘Gregor, Chairman ; W. G. GeikUs, Treasurer; Richard (homas Wheeler, Secretary ” Ihe watch bore the following in-scrip-ion A. 0. P. Presented to Dr i ciuier by hia esteemed friends of the Court Pride of . unedin. September 22ad, 1875 ” nr Reimer returned his hearty thanks for the unanticipated presentation. The following is from the ‘Tribune* of the 13th inst, ;—“The Hon Mr Reynolds has for some time been weary of Ministerial life; he has never seen his way ‘to breaking up his home in Dunedin a *d of course he feels the discomfort and inconvenience of living away from hia family ; and it would appear in writing privately to an Otago friend, he had xpressed the. hope that, after toe next election, he might see his way to resigning his portfo io, and taking hi» place simply as a member of the nouaeof Representatives. There does not seem to ordinary folks anything very wonderful or even reprehensible in the indulgence of such a hope in the circumstance-.; but it seems, according to the ‘Post,’ that a grave constitutional question is involved in it, and that, because Mr Reynolds baa looked forward at some future time to retiring from the Government, his dong so should him to retire even now. Really political opponrnts are hard driven for causes of offence when they get a newspaper to publish such rubbish ■»« this. They need not trouble themselves farther on this point. Mr Reynolds wi I not resign to please them; he n-iu do his duty, without fear or favor, as long as he continues a member of the Government; and when he does resign, we venture to say it will be in a manner honorable to himself, and so as not in any way to etnbarass his colleagues. Mr Reynolds is just now the best abused member of the Government. Why or wherefore it is impossible to say Words are put into his mouth he never uttered, and pledges are ascribed to him he never made. For example, it has been once and again said that Mr t-'eynolds stated to his constituents, when last addressing them, that he disapproved of the Provinces of the Middle Island being included in the Abolition Bill. It ia not so ; aud a reference te the files of the ‘Otago Daiy Times,* in which his speech, is reported, will .verify our denial.”

The Dunedin Collegiate School will commence its fourth quarter on Friday, Ist October,

Ihe Treasurer of the Dunedin Synagogue will attend on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. for the purpose of allotting seats. A meeting of officers of the various Volunteer companies will be held at the Militia office on Monday, the 27th inst,, at 4 p m. We have received from Mr J. Braithwaite, Fleet street, copies of several editions of Lett’s Dianes for 1876, which are got up in their usual first-class style. f e . comi }iittee of the Dunedin Funeral Re* torn* Association announce, through our adver. tising columns, that they are now prepared to undertake funerals. Full particulars can be obtained of Messrs Craig and Gillies. The Dunedin Cricket Club have arranged to hold a Speldng Bee, in aid of their funds, at the Temperance Hall next Thursday, September 30. The chair will be taken at eight °°lock by Mr H. 8. Chapman. Valuable P r izes will be given, and well known gentlemen of ability have undertaken to act as examiners. The usual weekly meeting of the Caversham Band of Hope was held in the school-h use last evening, when Mr Thus, ifates O'cupicd the chair, and an excellent programme was gone through, Mome good singing was given by juvenile Good IVmplatv pre-ent. and some excellent dialogues by the Misses Manner and others of the Remington Baud of ope. An address by Mr Wilson was listened to with much ntrrest. ihe melody, “ Touch not the Cup,” brought, the. mooting to a close.

Ardent Love, —A Milwaukeee chap kissed his girl about forty times right straight aiong, and when he stopped the tears came into her eyes, and she said, in a sad tone of voice, “ Ah! John, I fear you have ceased tp love me.’’ “ No, I haven t, ’ replied k Johu, but X must breathe,”