THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1356, 3 December 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1872.

On Sunday last by Act of Parliament, but practically yesterday, a new Bcale of stamp duties became law throughout the Colony. According to the Act which provides for this change, receipts and cheques are now only required to bear a penny, instead of a twopenny, stamp ; property^ may be conveyed for religious, educational, or charitable purposes without payment of duty ; and companies or associations formed for a variety of purposes specified in a schedule to the Act, will be relieved from the necessity of taking out a license. In the section of the Act referring to the reduction of the duty on receipts and cheques, several clauses havo been inserted to meet cases that have occurred, in which tho payment of duty has been avoided. For instance, an acknowledgement of a cheque for money due must henceforth bear a stamp. Receipts, by this Act, are defined as including any note, memorandum, or writiDg whatsoever, whereby any sum of money, or any bill of exchange, promissory note, cheque or order for money, amounting to £2 or upwards, is acknowledged to have been received, or which signifies or imports the settlement or discharge, wholly or in part, of any debt or demand, to the amount of £2 or upwards. Then, to ptovide against a practice of omitting to give receipts, or of giving a receipt in full for a sum under £2, it is enacted that if any person, in a case where a receipt would be liable to duty, refuses to give a duly Btamped receipt, or gives a receipt for a sum less than £2, or divides the amount paid for the purpose of evading the duty, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding JlO. The stamp on both cheques and receipts may be adhesive, and is to be cancelled simply by writing upon it the initials of the person giving the receipt or cheque, with the number of the day of the month and year. In the case of an agreement it will be sufficient if the stamp is cancelled by either of the parties at the time of signing ; not necessarily by two, as provided by the Amendment Act of 1867. The above method of cancelling is declared applicable to all cases where an adhesive stamp is used. The 27th clause provides that whenever by any Act now in force, or that hereafter may be in force, stamp duty ia imposed on any instrument, and anadhesivestamp permitted to be used, it shall be sufficient if the person required to cancal the stamp does so by writing on it his name or initials, together with the true date of his so writing. Special exception is, however, made by the 22nd clause in the case of transfer notes of shares in companies, which are directed to be cancelled (if an adhesive stamp is used) "in the manner required by the third section of the Stamp is to say, the transferor must so sign his name that his signature shall appear, continuously written, on the paper on both sides of the stamp and across the face of it. The reason for this particular exception may not be very obvious, but it is well that it should be. attended to, as the instrument of sale or transfer will be wholly void "in case of any omission or neglect so to cancel the stamp." As already stated, all deeds conveying land for religious, charitable, or educational purposes, or dedicating roads to the public, as well as all defining the trusts of property so corfveyed, are declared exempt from duty. Duty which may have been already paid in respect of such deeds will not be refunded, but otherwise the effect of these provisions will be retrospective. . The other sections of the Act will afford substantial relief to companies formed for the purpose of carrying on colonial industries, the original exemptions from tho application of the Stamp Ace having been largely extended. By the Act of 1871 all incorporated companies carrying on business in New Zealand were .compelled to take out a yearly license, and to pay for it at the rate of Is per cent, on their nominal capital; the maximum charge in respect of any oue certificate being fixed at £200. An exception was allowed in favor of companies formed for the working of mines or for the growth or preparation of New Zealand flax. The schedule to the present Act contains, in addition to flax and mining companies, such companies as may be formed for owning and working manufactories, also iron-works, implement, and machine works, flour, timber, saw or threshing mills; for whaling or sealing; for the carriage of passengers or goods by land or j water; for towing vessels or landing cargo or passengers ; for working coal mines or quarries, and selling coal or lime; for owning or working slips or docks for building or repairs of ships ; for meatpreserving or for boiling down ; for the introduction orjsettlement of immigrants ; for carrying on the buaineaa of Friendly Societies; and lastly, for owning or conducting halls, buildings, grounds, or other . places, for public meetings or recreation. Any question whether a company is entitled to exemption as coming within the schedule is to be decided, by the Commissioner of Stamps. These are the chief provisions of the new measure, so far as relates to the reduction and remission of duties, and, short though the experience, the commercial community are no doubt already able to appreciate that they constitute a considerable " change for the better."

The Licensing Bench sits to-day at eleven o clock. The direotors of the Building Society meet this evening at the Union Hotel to consider applications for loans. Mr James Kennedy, of Messrs Kennedy and Hunter, butchers, Hatter's Terrace, met with a singular accident on Saturday while assisting to yard some very shy cattle. He was sitting upon the topmost rail of the stockyard fence, prepared to slip the panels into place when the cattle entered the enclosure, when one of the beasts, a young cow, rushed at the fence, striking it with great force, causing Mr Kennedy to lose his balance, and, falhug outwards to the ground^ he disabled hia left arm, There not being any surgical assistance nearor

than Ahaura or Greymouth, it was impossible to at once ascertain the exact nature of the injury. It was fortunate ie did not fall inwards, else he might have been gored to death by the wild infuriated cattle. Many thousand pounds' worth of am fell from the^ clouds yesterday along the West Coast. There had been indefinite indications of such a rain-fall for some days, but they were so prolonged that there were many fears as to its extent and value, and general predictions of a dull Christmas* The spell was broken yesterday, however. For the West Coast there was a fair average downfall, and by this time the Colony is consider* ably richer than it was twenty-four hours ago. In the country the change has brought great solaco to the sluieer, and in town it has made the heart of the washerwoman rejoicb exceedingly. A considerable rush has set in to new ground situated among the upper tributaries of Nelson Creek. The nature of the work is terrace tunnelling. The prospectors have driven across a tun of washdirt 30ft wide, 2ft in depth, and prospecting from 3gr to 7gr to the dish. The exact locality is about four miles above Hatter's Terrace, and in the direct, course of the proposed Lake Hochstetter water-race. Tenders are called for by the General Government for widening the Grey Valley road from the Coal-mine to Stillwater. The Wealth of Nations Quartz-Mining Company's machinery started working yesterday, and a telegram from Reefton last evening states that it is working satisfactorily. If the absence of Miss Stephenson from Greymouth has had the effect of making any one heart "grow fonder," it has also had the effect of turning numerous heads in the direction of dramatic performances. On Friday evening another entertainment by amateurs is to be given— this time on behalf of the funds of the Hospital. It is notified that the statement and account of receipts and expenditure of the Borough Council for the past year are now open for inspection at the Town Cle-k's Office. Mr Sale, formerly Commissioner for the Canterbury Government on the West Coast Gold Fields of that Province, and now Professor of Classics in the Dunedin University, was a passenger by the s.s. Rangitoto to Hokitika. Mr John White is now spoken of as certain to be a candidate for election as member of the County Council for the Arahura district. Frank Hanna, one of the drivers of the Bacchus Marsh coaches, has been fortunate enough to win LSOO by being a partner with the drawer in a LI 000 sweep of the winner of the Melbourne Cup. Mr Sauna's partner is a railway porter. There seem to be still some Jacobites about; Imagine, at this time of clay, a Mr Callender, member of the Otago Caledonian Society, offering a prize to the school children of the Province, for the best recitation of "Tlih wee wee German lairdie." Two large parcels of lint in the shop of Mr Higgin, chemist and druggist, Hokitika, were set on fire one day last week by a glass vessel in the .window concentrating the rays of the sun upon their inflammable contents. At the suit of Messrs M'Callum, Neill, and Co, a Melbourne publican has been fined for selling whisky which was not distiller! by Dunville and Co. in bottles bearing Dunville and Co's labels. The agents for Dunville and Co. might, with justice to their principals and the public, extend their prosecutions to other places besides Melbourne. The Minister of Public Works, Mr Richardlines in Otago. The Rev. G. Sutherland, late of Dunedin, and now settled in Sydney, is editing a new paper published there in the interests of Presbyterianistn. The Southland A'ews states that "it has been found that the piles (black pine) of the old railway bridge over the Puni Creek (built in 1863) are, with the exception of sap wood, perfectly sound. They are therefore being used for the new Mataura line bridge. The Daily Times understands that the General Government has issued instructions to the Agent- General to offer free passages to all suitable emigrants from Great Britain. Mr John Allen, J. P., has been appointed Resident Magistrate for the district of Blsnheira. A human skull was lately found near the Barry's Bay saddle, Akaroa. Since then a further nearch by MrR. Stewart has led to the discovery of the bones belonging to the body. From the position in which he found the bones, Mr Stewart believes the deceased had died at the foot of a tree, sitting between two long roots. The skull had toppled forward, accounting for its being found by itself. The vertobne were in a heap, and the leu bones lying horizontally removed from them. Not a vestige of clothing was discovered with the remains. The new Masonic Hall at Westport, built by Messrs Tonks and Hughes, was opened for public entertainments for the first time when the Japanese appeared. The Times says—" The Hall loses in comparison, as regards loftiness and breadth, with the Theatre Royal, but as a compact, substantially built, and comfortable room for select assemblies or concerts, and as a lodge room for society meetings, the Masonic will supply what was previously a very obvious void. The scenery by Mr Thornton is not yet quite completed, but sufficient of the artist's handiwork was displayed to give a fair idea of the general effect to be hereafter produced." As an item of election news, it is stated that Mr Donovan as well as Mr Ross oppose MrßalfeatOkarito. . * The people of Wanganui are this week called upon to decide by vote whether they shall establish a free public library under the Public Libraries Act. Mr Charles O'Neill, M.H.R., is a candidate for the seat in the Auckland Provincial Council for the Pensioner Settlements, rendered vacant by the death of Captain Freer, one of the late members. A fire occurred at Blneskin, Otago, on Saturday week, in the flax mill belonging to Mr Adam Bell. The mill was entirely consumed. There was stored in it at the time about three tons of cleaned flax, and the damage is estimated at L4QO. The place was not insured. . ' The Oamaru harbor works are progressing fayorally, some sixty 20 to 30 ton blocks being now ready for laying. The concrete appears to set exceedingly firm, and to become as hard as granite itself, A steam crane, to raise these and lower them to their bed, is being manufactured in Dunedin and is expected to be ready for delivery in January. It will cost L2OOO. At the inquest on the body of Thomas Inrnoull, who was drowned off the Mikonui Kiver, one of the men whu was saved, named John M'Kenzie, stated that when they cot into the "break" two seas came aboard and newly filled theboat. Told deceased to co on baling, and he and the other man tried to pull out to sear Deceased baled, but the water came in too fast, and witness and Davis left the. boat and struck out for the shore. Deceased remained by the boat for a time, but when witness had an opportunity he looked over his shoulder and saw

deceased swimming for the shore. He spoke to witness, -and passed him, swimming strongly, and soon got forty yards ahead. Just at this time three or four seas came in ono after the other, and witness knew no more until he found himself close in shore in a very exhausted state, and was assisted out of the water. When the boat swamped they were two or three hundred yards from tb.3 shore. The sea was calm, but there was a ground|swell. Neither;witliess nor Davis were under the influence of liquor, and deceased was sober, but had been drinking on the previous day. Deceased was a very good swimmer. Persons who, at races and out-door sports, have been deluded into drinking claret cup will be able to sympathise with the Canterbury Press "Loafer in the Street," who thus relates his experiences at tho recent races :— " The only thing that called up any approach to emotion during the three days racing was some claret cup I inadvertently swallowed at a booth. It was a cheap performance, but Quixotic. I look upon claret cup now as the most horrible compound that the versatile mind of a Boniface ever invented ; let it fade from our view. I hear the time made in some oE our races was much better than they can make in England, and I'm pleased, but the claret cup spoiled these races for me." Gallagher, a prisoner in Dunedin gaol, who was lately flogged, w»s ordered other fitty lashes for insubordination. He asked to see the Visiting Justices, to whom he expressed great regret and contrition for hjs misconduct during his imprisonment in gaol, and his very great anxiety to go to work and conform to the whole of the Regulations. He said that owing to the excited stale of his mind, he had not slept for two nights, after receiving the sentence. The Justices informed the prisoner that the sentence referred to should remain in force for three months from this date, to be carried into effect at once by Mr Caldwell, Governor of the Gaol, in the event of any repetition of misconduct. Gallagher has suffered severely from the experienced hands of the new arrival that administered the late lashes, every one of which made the culprit writhe and groan in fearful agony.