NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2379, 17 November 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PEH PBBBS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, November 16. Private Enterprise-Thirty-two Auckland men, including firms, subscribed for 70,000 shares of 151 each in the Thames Valley and Rotorua railway project. Political. A requisition is being signed asking Mr T Peacock to stand for City North. MayoralMr J. MoOosh Clark has been re-nominated as Mayor of Auckland. The Pilot Service QuestionThe Harbor Board has appointed a committee to enquire into the differences between Wm. Burgess and W. Jenkins, coxswain of the pilot boat service. The Poor Man’s Friend. It is stated that Sir G. Grey will go South before the polling. WELLINGTON, November 16. The Property Tax. Active proceedings are about to bo taken by the Property Tax Department against all who have neglected to reply to the circulars recently issued requiring returns under the Acts of lost session. Some 4000 circulars were issued, and only about 1500 replies have been received. Impudent DemandThe Benevolent Society recently received subscriptions to defray the passage to Scotland of the widow and children of the man Dewar, who was stabbed at the Hutt. The society expected the Government to subsidise

this £ for £, but the Colonial Secretary has declined to do so.

[yBOM THE own COBBESPONDENT OF THE “ PEKsa.”J WELLINGTON, November 16. In reference to the Property Assessment Amendment Act pasted last session a very strong representation hsa been made to the Government by the sheep farmers in different parts ot the colony to the effect that under F the new system wool on the sheeps' backs will , bo taxed twice over, as the sheep were valued 1 last year in wool and now the wool has to be valued separately. It is contended that this would more than make up for the farthing i nominally remitted on the property tax by imposing double taxation on one article. The question has been submitted for the opinion of the proper officer, which is as follows : “Wool is not taxed double; the only alteration in the Act in respect to wool is the date upon which sheep are to be valued. The Amendment Act provides that the date of valuation shall be as on the Ist October, whereas by the Act of 1879' the Ist of April was the date. All that is now required from eheop owners is the additional value between the date of tb» first statement of value and the let of October. In very many cases cheep were returned at 5s each, and owners claimed a reduction as a liability for advances obtained againet their wool because it wee out of the ; colony/’ ASHBUBTON, November 16. The Ashburton County Council election J was held to-day. The pollings are understood

to be approximately as follow* : —Green atreet booth—Sl. O - . Wright, C/i ; Thomas Btsllook, 330 ; O. J l . Harper, 45. Maronan booth— Wright, 2S Bullock, 14 ; Harper. 11. Ashburton booth —H. T. Winter, 277; Hugo Priedlander, 252 ; John Grigg, 141; W. P. O’lSeilly, 41 Longbeaeh booth—Winter, 39;

Priedlander, 32 f Grigg, 132; O’Reilly, 1. Messrs Wright and Bullock no doubt are the successful candidates for Upper Ashburton riding, and Messrs Winter and Friedlandew for Ashburton riding. In the latter case the contingency of a protest on Mr Grigg’s part is not unlikely, owing to the alleged inaccurate compilation of the electoral roll. The polling for Mbunt Somers was as follows : Duncan Cameron, 341; A. E. Poaohe, 48; W. O. Walker, 99’;; but Cameron having pulled up at Alford Forest, it i* understood that he and Mr Walker are the successful candidates.