NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1966, 12 June 1880, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBBSB ASSOCIATION. | NEW PLYMOUTH. June 12. The Hannah Mokau The Collector of Customs and Inspector Bullen proceeded to Waiters last night and made a seizure of the Hannah Mokau on behalf of the Government. The Artful DodgerTe Whiti has ingeniously turned the road making and telegraph erection into a fulfillment of his prophecy that the Governor would come to him. He tells the Natives that the wire is being brought to Parihaka so that they can talk with the Governor, and therefore the Governor was coming to him, as he prophesied years ago. AUCKLAND, June 12. Train up a Child, &e. Two boys, named Foreman and Brown, were charged at the police court this morning with misappropriating five £ notes. It appears they picked them up on the floor of the Thames Hotel and divided the amount. DUNEDIN, June 12. The Property Tax. Public meetings at Boslyn and Mosgiel last night passed resolutions in favor of the property tax. INVERCARGILL, June 12. A Rabbit RunA run of 60,000 acres, lately thrown up by the Hon. R. Campbell on account of the rabbits, has been rented by some rabbitters for £3O for the purposes of their avocation. They expect to make a good thing of it. It is said that steps will be taken to improve the breed of rabbits, so as to increase the value of the skins. TIMARU, June 12. Criminal SessionsThe Supreme Court to-day is taken up with the Waimate arson case, in which Clarke a saddler, his wife a milliner, Hayes a farmer, and Thompson who is in Clarke’s employ, are all charged with setting fire to a shop in January last. The case is likely to be a long one. Our TaxationThe Chamber of Commerce yesterday passed a resolution recommending the abolition of the Property Tax and that taxes on tea and sugar and school rates be imposed instead. It was estimated that a house tax for education of £1 par house, and 5s per head school fees, would produce £IIO,OOO net revenue. The committee reported in favour •fa land tax, which was sturdily supported by the Mayor and other members, but eventually it was resolved that neither a land nor a property tax were advisable at present AUCKLAND, June 11. The Stella. The Government steamer Stella left this morning for Russell, on lighthouse work. Nautical Inquiry. The inquiry into the collision between the John Bull and Columbia yesterday is proceeding at the Customs. CommittalJoseph Worms has been committed for trial on three charges ,of forgery and uttering. The Constabulary. About eighty constabulary have arrived from the camn at Cambridge to go into winter quarters. Native Lands Court. The Puknrangi block was completed today at the Native Lands Court, except the final settlement for the claimant. Te Whetu’s small block of 3000 acres occupied the Court to-day, to be followed by Takarora, one of the largest blocks. Local Interests v- Property Tax. A public meeting will be held next Wednesday to protest against the property tax unless the North Auckland Railway is provided for by money or land. The North Auckland Railway committee have requested Sir G. Grey to bring forward in the House the injustice of levying the tax in Northern districts where so little borrowed money had bean expended. New CaledoniaIntelligence has been received from New Caledonia to May 28th. It is rumored that another bank is to be started unconnected with official administration. Probably Communists! The schooner Marian left Noumea for Auckland on May 14th with twenty-one passengers, probably Communists. Mr Sbeeban. Mr Sheehan leaves Auckland to-morrow for the Thames, to address his constituents. Tbe Property Tax. A meeting re the property tax to-night was poorly attended, and was adjourned till Monday. NAPIER, June 11. Licenses for Clubs. The Working Men’s Club have decided to petition Parliament against the provisions in the Licensing Bill requiring clubs to hold a license. An Explanation Wanted. It is stated here that no special or private intimation was received relative to the beer duty, but that the merchants and brewers who got rid of their stocks did so because of the Hon. Mr Whitaker’s statement in the Legislative Council. He is reported in “ Hansard” to have said —“ I am afraid that my hon. friend’s (Col. Whitmore) beer also will have to bear taxation as well as his property.” The matter is under consideration. This however does not explain how it was known, more than twelve hours before the financial statement was delivered, bora that the tax would be 6d per gallon. Gold Mining.

There is some excitement about a reported gold discovery in the Mohaka district, and halt a dozen parties are working on the reefs. Some stone which was alleged to have been taken from Thompson’s claim yielded at the rate of 20ozs. to the ton. Many doubt whether the stone was obtained there. There is nothing to justify a rush. The Beer Tax-

Both papers here support the beer tax, although the “Herald” regards it as excea-

eivo. The petitions against it are being largely signed by the publie. WELLINGTON, June 11. Irish DistressThe following message baa been received by Dr. Lemon from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, for circulation to the Irish relief committees in New Zealand: “While acknowledging with the utmost gratitude the magnificent contributions received, I feel bound to say further that any assistance which can be extended will be much needed during the next two months. I would therefore ask that your subscription lists bo not closed, and that any further contributions may be forwarded.” The Royal AssentA despatch has been received from Sir Michael Hicks Beach, late Secretary of State for the Colonies, intimating that the Royal assent has been given to the Acts passed by the New Zealand Parliament last session. , TIMAETJ, June 11, The Criminal Sessions. The Supreme Court sittings were resumed to-day. True bills were found in all the remaining cases but that against James Anderson for horse stealing. James Kelly for larceny, received four years. John Griffin, barman, for larceny from the till, was recommended to mercy on account of his youth, and was sentenced to six months. William Quinn, Charles Pontiff alias Hankins alias Deaf Charley, John Keen, Michael Lynch, and Joseph Sims were found guilty of forcible entry on the land of John Coll at Makikihi. The judge reserved his decision on a point of law, prisoners being ordered to come up next session if called upon for sentence. Stewart Deig a-d John Soott were found Not Guilty of horse stealing and discharged. The Cours resumes to morrow. OAMARU, June 11. The Harbour Board. The Harbor Board committee have decided to recommend the building of a north wall which would enclose an area of sixty acres. This area would be dredged to a depth sufficient to admit of home vessels loading up. The probable cost will be about £72,000. DUNEDIN, June 10. EarthquakeA slight shock of earthquake was felt at Tapanui on Friday night. The Beer TaxA meeting of publicans and brewers was held to-day to consider the beer tax and new Licensing Act, and was attended by about sixty persons. In the first place the brewers were asked tofstate definitely their intentions in regard to the beer tax. All the brewers present said they could not pay the tax, and if it was imposed they would charge it to the publicans. A long discussion ensued as to the inability of hotelkeepers to submit to this, and a decision was ultimately arrived at that two delegates be appointed by the brewers, and two by the publicans, to proceed to Wellington, and if necessary to work in conjunction with other associations to secure the repeal of the tax. It was proposed that the tax be reduced to 3d, but this was opposed by a large majority as admitting the principle of excise. Regarding the new Licensing Bill, the following amendments were proposed : “ That the license fee for clubs be £SO, and that they be liable to police supervision and to £the operation of the local option clause ; that wholesale licenses be £SO, also subject to the local option clause ; that the only restrictions re barmaids be, that they shall bo limited in their hours of work to ten hours ; that the provision with regard to lamps should not apply to cities and towns lit at the expense of the ratepayers.”