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Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1940, 24 October 1874, Page 2

Upon what principle— if any — the Paroa Road Board conducts its assessments we are at a loss to know, but certain it is that this celebrated body entirely ignores the spirit of the Act under which if exists both in this as in other matu-:^. Take the case of the Greymouth Coal Company as an instance : this Company's property is assessed to the tune of £500 annual value — representing a capital value at five per cent, of without making any allowance in the terms of the Act for cosi of management, repairs, &c, whilst at the same time the Board allows waterrace and mining companies to escape almost scot-free. Why' should, for instance, that profitable property the Efohonu "Wafer-race not be rated, or any other of the public companies engaged ia mining ? We can understand the expediency of not rating or attempting to rate ordinary mining claims, and do not object to the limitation fixed to the. rates upon miners' huts, but why tbe Coal Company should be rated because it mines for coal instead of for gold is bejonrt our comprehension. It is clear that in any new Road Board Ordinance that may be introduced into the Provincial Council the discretionary powers of the Road Boards must be very much curtailed, and specific rules laid down for the assessment of all properties that may be fairly considered to be liable to contribute to the revenues of the Boards. At present a latitude is allowed which is much abused, and we question if it be not in many cases entirely exceeded.