THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1259, 12 August 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 1872.

In the early days of the Victorian Gold Fields the digger was designated a " vagabond," and the beat efforts ot the then Victorian Legislature were devoted to his extinction. As the pure fact of digging for mineral was not sufficient to bring the offender within the pale of the law, it was arranged that other means should be tried, and the then legislators decreed that he should pay a license fee of £1 per month, and an export duty on the proceeds of his toil. All who have been personally acquainted with Victorian history, or who have read of it, must know the disastrous results that accrued from the domination that was attempted, and, in some cases, cruelly carried out. The Ballarat emeute, the general discontent, and the eventual triumph of the Gold Fields party are matters of record. Amongst other modes of extortion an export duty of half-a-crown an ounce was imposed, and, for years, the community concerned bore the burden without murmur. At last a different class of legislators came to the front, and eventually declared the tax an unjust one, reducing it from 28 6d to 6d per ounce. As in a variety of other fiscal matters, the legislators of New Zealand, on gold being discovered within the Colony, prudently, or otherwise, followed in the footsteps of their Victorian neighbors, and constituted Wardens and Warden's Courts, as well as established the other paraphernalia of Gold Fields, without loss of time. As might be very well supposed, a tax on the gold gathered was not forgotten, and export duty was one of the first ideas that suggested itself to those in power. From that time to this, that is to say from 1861 to the present date, the golden half-crown harvest on the Colonial yield has been steadily garnered, though the yield has fallen into Provincial hands. For a long time this payment, this levy on individual exertion, has been repudiated, but, hitherto, without avail. It seemed as though the governing powers were determined on collecting money without reference to the feelings, interests, or rights of those who were to be sufferers. A change has come over the spirit of their dream of late, which, though trifling in itself, at least shows signs of an awakening. By the latest Legislative news to hand it appears that

the proposed reduction of sixpence per ounce, from the late exaction of half-a-crown, has been sanctioned by the. Assembly, and what is more, the Government have agreed to either introduce a bill or support a bill brought in by an ordinary member having the same end in view. Without discussing the reduction in question, it seems as though it was altogether unnecessary or did not go far enough. Though under special circumstances the lesser impost might be valuable, as a whole the change will neither affect the miners nor the purchasers in any way beneficially. The principle is identical whether the amount is 2s or 2s 6d per ounce, and the allowance made, as far as the miners go, is not worth, in. olden phrase, a snuff. But again, it is not so much a matter of whether the tax should be half-a-crown, should be two shillings, or should be sixpence ; but rather it comes to be a question as to whether it should be levied at all. If the gold fields require special income, there is vitality enough to support it. There is no necessity for a gold fields tax on industry being imposed at all. There can be no doubt that, owing to the gigantic operations recently made in the direction of colonisation and settlement, some deficiency in ordinary revenue, notwithstanding the loan, may have taken place ; but at the same time, it cannot be considered right that one class should pay the penalty, as it may be termed, of enhanced prosperity. Though by no means admitting that any gold fields tax is just, it is very clear that there are other sources of revenue that the Government can quite as properly, and indeed with far greater justice, seek assistance from. A tax upon wool has been by many ridiculed and the phalanx of squatters in the Assembly at the present time is sufficient to cast a gloom on those who are convinced in that direction. But if all things are considered, we fail to see the difference in the tax. Without objecting, though by no means coinciding, with the gold export duty, it does really appear as if the shearers of the golden wool, or rather the proprietors of the Rtaple, were in all conscience as liable to taxation as the gold-digger, One obtains his reward from beneath the soil ; the other feeds his sheep on the surface, both at Government or the public expense. Both pay alike into the general treasury, and if one is taxable the other should be. The sue- . cession of fleeces and of lambs may be calculated with some certainty, but the yield of gold, even to the most indus trious and most practical, is at best but a matter of the utmost difficulty and uncertainty. If all were dealt with alike, there would be little objection on the part of the gold-digger, but there is on his part a strong dislike to bogus motions having for their object temporary and petty relief, meaning nothing but benefit to the banking corporations in existence. Such is the late reduction in gold duty, and thus the gre»t pastoral or woollen interest is left unharmed. If the utmost relaxation the Colony can grant to the goldminer is a paltry sixpence per ounce, the Assembly that was gracious enough to afford that relief should at least be prepared to impose some compensating impost on the at present untaxed flocks and herds in which a large number of sage legislators delight, and from which, in a great degree, they derive their inspiration, as they certainly do their incomes. Though they may deem it a light matter to trifle with gold duty, they will not attach so little importance to a wool export duty, though, should the gold duty be prolonged, the above must certainly follow. In the meantime, we may say that -the sixpenny reduction, though acceptable, is by no means a diminution that the miners, as a whole, care for. To put it shortly, they are willing to pay proportionately, but they require that those who obtain equal benefits with themselves from Crown lands — woolgrowers for example — should contribute to the revenue in equal ratio.

. The District Court sits this morning at 10 o'clock. During the storm which raged on Saturday afternoon a whirlwind struck the partiallyerected new two-storey store of Messrs Forsyth and Masters, and left it an utter wreck, bringing everything to the ground as if it had been a house of cards. The wreck 'was so complete that some of the frontage was lifted right round to the river; indeed, the greater part of the buildiDg is now in Mackay steeet instead cf having a frontage \to the store in Mawheta Quay. During the ; same gale many chimneys and fences about town went down, and the inhabitants generally were much alarmed by its severity. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather the play of the " Green Bushes, or One Hundred Yeirs ago," was repeated on Saturday evening, at the Volunteer Hall, to a fair house. This evening Bulwer Lytton's play of " Money" will be produced by particular desire, Miss Stephenson and Mr Drury sustaining the principal characters. The Grey road to the reefs will be opened for horse (traffic during the present week, and the Buller road in about five weeks ; but I understand that no waggons will be allowed on either of them (says the Westport Times) for some time after completion. The manner that these important public works have been pushed on reflects great credit on the . General Government, to whom the thanks of this community are due for their prompt action in commencing them.

At a meeting of the Hokitika Borough Council, hold on Friday evening, a letter was read from the County Chairman, urging the necessity of a public meeting being called to obtain an expression of opinion on the question of uniting the West Coast Gold Fields under one local government. A telegram from Mr John White, to the same effect, was also read. A resolution was passed, requesting the Mayor to convene a meeting of the inhabitants of Hokitika without delay, for the purpose of considering the question. The meeting will be held on Wednesday next.

A suitor in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ahaura, on Friday last, made some very strong objections to paying the exorbitant fees charged for mileage and service of summons, especially as he had performed the work himself. The summonses were issued for hearing at Ahaura, and the parties to whom they were addressed lived at No Town, in which district the plaintiff also resides. The plaintiff very justly complained of having to pay 26s mileage in each case before it was heard, which money he said he might never recover again. The rule of the Court is that these fees must be paid by the plaintiff before the case is gone on with. Litigants are told that the services of the bailiff are at their disposal, and they must pay for those services whether they avail themselves of them or not.' As it happens the bailiff of this Court performs his duties most efficiently, and to people whose time is valuable it may be a saving of expense to. pay the heavy fees and employ that officer to serve summonses j but to the poorer, and

unfortunately the larger, class of^ suitors, who have plenty spare time on their hand", tbis rule presses with extraordinary severity. To compel these people to pay hs ldsful of money for the performance of work they could well do themselves, savors too much of extortion. The bailiffs : i this part of the Province of Nelson are not paid by fees, so that the excuse of taking the" work and fees out of the hands of the hands of those officers does not hold good, in the above cases the Magistrate made an order that -in future parties taking out summonses should make them for heaung at the nearest Court to where the litigants reside, otherwise the plaintiffs, even if successful ; "i obtaining judgments, would not be allowed the costs of mileage and sen ice of summons. The plaintiff explained he went to Ahaura because it would be too expensive to procure lep.al assistance at the Court at No Town. The Magistrate said the rule would have a general application forthwith. We are informed that Mr Solomon, the only qualified aurist, oculist, and optician in New Zealand, can see sufficient inducement to prolong his professional visit in Greymouth. As will be seen in another column, he will positively leave here on the 17th inst, therefore we commend sufferers to consult while there's yet an opportunity. The Ahaura Musical and Literary Society gave an entertainment at Ahaura, on the evening of Friday, 9th inst. The performance opened with an overture : " La Gazza Ladra, on the cabinet organ, by Mr Pownall. This was followed in succession by glees, .readings, songs, and recitations, by members of the society— the event of the first part of the performance being a song, " The Sad Sea Waves," by a lady amateur— her first appearance. The same lady, with Mr Henry James, sang the duet, "Goodnight" in the second part, and both performers were enthusiastically applauded. Mr Whitefoord read from the " Orpheus C. Kerr " papers, and ••• The Pilot " by Mr Webb was well received. Mr Greenwood read the " Naggletons at the Derby," and Mr Weiss gave an entirely new rendering ot Hood's "Bridge of Sighs." This gentleman is a decided acquisition to. the comic element of the society. The glee " When the wind blows," by Messrs Greenwood, Weiss, and James was encored. Selections from "La Traviata" by Mr Pownall, and the "National Anthem" by the company, concluded the entertainment.

The other evening, at the meeting of the creditors of the Ross Drainage. Company, it was decided to subscribe the amount of the mortgage on the plant held by the Bank of New Zealand, and in less than, two hours, above L9OO was paid in by the creditors. It was also decided to send a deputy to • Hokitika, to be prepared to pay off the mortgage, in the event of the tender of the creditors (L 1600) being accepted, and Mr Graham left Boss for that purpose on Friday morning, accompanied by Mr. John Davie, who was deputed to act for the Directors of the Company. Tho weather has been very unsettled in the country districts during the last two weeks. Alternate days of sunshine and fog, with heavy frosts and rain at intervals, have occurred with disagreeable regularity. On Thursday, the Bth, it rained incessantly all day and the greater part of the following night. Friday was fine and frosty, but it commenced to rain again at daylight on Saturday, and continued without intermission till midnight. At sundown it began to blow from the north-west, and the storm increased in violence until it became a perfect hurricane at midnight. The rivers did not rise as much as was expected, but this may be attributed to the fact that great quan tities of snow have fallen on the ranges while it was raining in the lower country. This is admitted to be the. most severe winter experienced on the West Coast since 1865. With regard to the late sea encroachments at Westport, the Times Bays :— " The work of removing the Post Office buildings was commenced yesterday morning. The rearmost building occupied by Messrs Pitt and Fislier, having been dragged out of the line, and now mounted on rollers, is travelling up Paknerston street to the reserve, where it will do duty as a temporary office until the other buildings are also removed thither. Preparations are also being made for the removal of the gaol buildings. The Nelson Board of Health, at a recent sitting, passed resolutions to the effect that, being only appointed for the Port to carry out Harbor and Quarantine regulations j the Board had no authority over the town of Nelson, and could not therefore interfere in case of any infectious illness breaking out, and also that it considered the Provincial Government should at once take such steps, with the advice of the Provincial Surgeon, as may be considered necessary, and that the Board would rend ei; all. the assistance and information in its power. For some time complaints have been made to the police at Ahaura of a number of petty pilferings, but the authorities did not get an opportunity of taking any action until Friday last. On that evening between nine and ten o'clock, Mr Hayes, draper, missed a waterproof coat and a woman's petticoat from his shop. The articles had been hanging at the door all day. From information the police received they obtained a warrant, and on Saturday they searched the house of a man named William Day, a dairyman and gardener, living just outside the town. They did not succeed in finding the articles stolen the day before, but in the house they found another overall, which was stolen from the shop of Mr Hayes on the sth July. Day was arrested and brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court at Ahaura on Saturday. Mr Hayes identified the coat as his property, and said he did not sell or give it to anyone. On the application of Mr Staite, who appeared for the accused, the case was remanded to the 16th August. Mr Staite said the accused had a good defence. The arrest of Day on such a charge has caused some surprise. He is an old resident of Ahaura, holding considerable property in cattle and land, and he has hitherto borne the character of being a hard-working industrious man. Quoting from the columns of the Hansard, under date July 18, in the matter of Mr O'Conor's land purchase, the exact words of the motion moved by Mr Steward are as follow :— "That a. Select Committee be appointed to inquire into all matters connected with the petition of certain residents of the Buller district, relative to certain land purchased by Eugene Joseph O'Conor, Esq., M.H.R., with power to call for persons and papers, and to examine witnesses upon oath ; to report this day three weeks." Perhaps when the report is made public it may convey some reasonable excuse for the committee foregoing the right to call for persons, and adopting the ridiculous resolution expressing merely a willingness to hear persons interested, either personally or by council— at their own option and expense of attendance.

With regard to the present movement "for separation from Nelsop, the latest Charleston Herald says :— " Forms of petition in re the desired alteration in the present form of Government for the West Coast Gold Fields, have been forwarded from the Westport Committee, and lay for signature at our office, the Empire, European, and Melbourne Hotels, while forms are in the hands of private individuals. If the Charleston people are in earnest for separation, or for some system of government by which they will not further lay themselves open to robbery and

jobbery at the hands of Nelson officialdom,, let them immediately si^a these petitions. There is no time to delay, they having to be returned by Thursday. The. Government only await these petitions to strengthen their hands, and in order to see what in reality the desire of the West Coast residents is. If such is not' immediately forthcoming, farewell all future- attempts to obtain local, self-, government for these gold fields ; indeed we should ndt be worthy of it. "

It has lately been rumoured upon very good authority that tho Nelson Government is getting up a bogus petition on the SouthWest Gold Fields against the Separation movement, and is employing paid, canvassers, to obtain signatures. On this subject the Westport Times says : — "ln answer to a host of inquiries, we are enabled to state that the anti-separation petition now in circulation in Westport, was received from Nelson yesterday, and was accompanied by a precise letter of instructions from an officer of the Provincial Government." In another issue of the same paper we find the following on the same subject :— " A fair subject for inquiry on the part of our local M.P.o.'s wfll be the source from whence the money comes to be disbursed to canvassers obtaining signatures to the Anti-iSeparationist Petition. Our respected townsman, to whom the work is deputed here, can hardly.be expected to disclose anything he knows of his employers secrets ; but it is a significant that a sub-collector of signatures has received the promise of one shilling each for every signature he obtains. Cheap at the price no doubt, but the next official returns of authorised and unauthorised expenditure will be worthy of careful scrutiny." . From the Dunstan Times (Otago) we learn that work has been started at Bendigo, and the Cromwell, Colclough, and Aurora Companies have all their batteries in motion with a plentiful supply of water. The Cromwell Company has an. immense quantity of stone grassed, and their mill, it is fairly assumed, will for the season ba kept constantly crushing. The Colclough. Company is engaged on a parcel of stone they had commenced before the hard frosts set in; ere now, it is supposed they have, finished. This Company lately invited tenders for the construction of a tunnel some 400 ft long, none of the local tenders were accepted, it is understood, however, that a Dunedin. party have taken it at 12s 6d per foot, and that the work will commence forthwith. - The tunnel is to be six feet high and four feet six inches wide. Mr Reuben Waite, in the columns of the Westport Times, sets forth a grievance under which he has long labored, and which he now seeks to remedy. In the record of proceedings in the Nelson Provincial Council, 1868, it is shown that, on the motion of Mr fientley, it was then resolved that Mr Waite should be allowed to purchase SO acres in the Buller District as a homestead, at a cost of 10s per acre, on condition that he paid for the survey. Such privilege' having been accorded to Mr Waite as a reward for his pluck and perseverance in opening up the Western Gold Fields. For some reason which needs explicit explanation, this privilege has been withheld from him, although he has long since paid the cost of survey. It seems, therefore, a necessary subject for inquiry, and among the many acquaintances who know Mr Waite as an old experienced pioneer on the coast, few will be found to refuse their signatures to so legitimate a petition. Things have not gone well with him of late ; the resent loss of his schooner the Pioneer, in exploring the Earamea waters, was one among many mischances, and a little friendly help just now by the Nelson authorities would' be nothing more than should be accorded Him without much solicitation.