The Hawke's Bay Times. THURSDAY, 25th OCTOBER, 1866.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 432, 25 October 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times.

THURSDAY, 25th OCTOBER, 1866.

PCBUSHED EVEET MONDAY AND THURSDAY, “NUUJU3 ADDKTDS JDEAEE IN VERBA MAGISTEI."

Under the pretence of a revision of the Tariff, with the view of easing and equalising an almost intolerable' burthen on the shoulders of the Colony, Ministers have succeeded in adding most materially to that burthen by bringing under its operation a vast number of articles hitherto admitted duty free, and, so far from easing the pressure of the customs duties, have increased the probable amount to be derived from that source to something like twenty-five per cent, on its gross amount.

As the new Tariff is heavier than that which it supersedes, so likewise will it be found more cumbersome and costly in its operation, involving much additional labor on the Customs officers, and still more inconvenience and annoyance to importers; as, from the fact of different articles bearing a varying amount of measurement duty will often be imported in the same packages, it will be no easy task to discover the relative proportion of each. So as to be able to arrive even at an approximate estimate of the quantity of each, packages must be opened, and their contents subjected to official examination—often to their serious injury, and always to the annoyance of the importer.

Neither is the revised Tariff characterised by any display of wisdom in the selection of dutiable articles. As an instance, we may mention such items as sawn timber, Singles, posts and rails, &c., which will, beyond a doubt, add something to the revenue receipts, but which, we fear, will also add something to the cost of the excise service, seeing that there is nothing to prevent large cargoes of these articles being landed in bond, and as

there is at present no convenient receptacle for such goods, it seems that there must for the future be called into existence, at every port of entry, bonded timber yards, &c., in addition to the already existing bonded warehouses, —the rental of which, together with the cost of watchmen to guard them (which will also be necessary) will not leave much fiiivnliio 4- pahk/ia ont/tll *-T-»« wamam-.a iivui vulmw ovUaCu w SvVOii ms revenue. If people will bend their necks to any yoke a government may please to place upon them* they have but themselves to blame. We believe that it will not be long before the mercantile community, and through them the public generally, will discover the trick put upon them in this instance, where, to equalise the pressure of the excise duties, additional weight has been added, after the manner of the farmer in the fable, who, finding that he had loaded his ass too heavily on one side, proceeded to fill the other pannier with stones, to make the load balance itself, and make it easy for the animal to carry. There is no question now but the whole Colony must unite in raising its voice against the whole absurd, expensive, deceitful system of Customs duties, and insist on the wiser, cheaper, simpler, and straightforward system of FREE PORTS and DIRECT TAXATION—a system that, while it will add immensely to the prosperity of the whole community, will be a direct check on the present extravagant system of Government expenditure, and by clearly showing to each one and all the actual amount he is called on to pay for the support of the Government, will act as a powerful lever in the way of elevating and informing the masses that now in ignorance and poverty suffer the needless evils that are entailed upon them by the pressure of a Tariff that increases the actual cost of every article they consume, whether it be of food, clothing, or use of any other kind, to an extent undreamt of by iis victims, and which actual cost to them amounts to a sum altogether beyond comparison with that part of it which ultimately reaches the chest of the Government treasury.

Hawke’s Bay Ageiccxttjb4 l Society.— lt will be seen by the advertisement elsewhere that in consequence of the present unsettled state of affairs in this Province, the proposed Spring Show in connection with the above Society is postponed. Blackhead. —The brigantine Esther will leave for the above place on Saturday next, as will be seen by an announcement which appears elsewhere. N.Z.S.N. Company. —Wo understand that Messrs Kinross & Co. have been appointed agents in Napier for the above Company. The Late Captain Valentine. —The body found by Mr R. Northe, on Sunday last, in the marshes near the Tutaekuri river, proved, as we suspected, to be that of James Valentine, late master of the brigantine Balmoral. An inquest was held on Monday, at 3 p.m., at the Commercial Hotel, which resulted in a verdict of “ Found Browned.” The State op Teade at Te Waieoa.—Notwithstanding the constant report received from the Wairoa of the continued dulness of trade, we fancy that there is a little lining of silver to even that cloud. Amongst the passengers for Auckland on Tuesday last by the s.s. Star of the South, we note the name of Mr S. F. Prentice, of Wairoa, who has gone, we believe with the intention of chartering a vessel from Auckland direct to that place,—the said vessel to bring down a cargo of general merchandise. The Mail Service. —We have no doubt our readers will read with considerable surprise the following j aragraph, which is taken from the (Wellington) Evening Post of Tuesday last:— “We are sorry to learn that the Government find it necessary to carry into effect the recommendation of the Postal Committee, and still farther cramp the present limited mail service of the colony. The New Zealand Steam Navigation Company have received notice that the running of steamers to the Manukau, Nelson, and Picton, for the collection of mails for England by the Suez rou;e, is to be discontinued; and that the mail steamer for Napier is to be stopped.” Unsettled State op the Waieaeapa. —The Evening Post of Tuesday last contains the following letter from a correspondent at Greytown, who writes under data 21sfc October:—“ Greytown and its vicinity are at present in a state of uneasiness. Yesterday (Saturday) it was understood on all sides that an armed body of Hauhaus intended to march through the village. The volunteers here and at Masterton were called out for service, but the invaders did not leave a strong at Moaki, although extremely bouncible and warlike in tone. This morning a party of Grey town settlers left the village with the intention of visiting Moaki, but on nearing the pa, the inmates ordered them off, and threatered. to drive them away off the main road. It is my impression that the party of fanatics will not pay Grey town itself a visit, but if unmolested will bounce a little and theu make for the interior by way of Papaia. Colonel Haultain is at Masterton and has been in communication with them by means of a messenger and a white flag, but the result of the interview has not transpired.” A correspondent of the ludepeadeut writing same date says that the armed Hau-haus would leave and that it was not intended that the armed- party should pass through the townships. Sir George Grey. —The Wanganui Chronicle of the 17th inst. informs us that His Excellency the Governor arrived at Wanganui by the Colonial Government gunboat Sturt early that morning. The same paper adds:—“ Ho paid a visit to Putiki, and we understand, will proceed to Patea by the same steamer to-morrow morning.” Fire in Wellington. —A fire broke out on Wednesday night in the cottage of H. do T. .Sampson, messenger to the Native Office, which in less than half-an-hour had completely consumed the building. The cottage was situated on the Tinakori-road, just below its junction with Moles-worth-street, and was fortunately detached. About half-past one o’clock Mr Sampson was roused out of his sleep by the flames, which were burning fiercely in the room in which he and one of his children were sleeping, his wife being away at the time in attendance on a lady. He had barely lime to jump out of bed, run to the cot in which the child was sleeping and snatch it away before both bed and cot were alight. Having taken the child into the street, ho next ran up stairs, having absolutely to go through the flames in order to get out the other children—four in number—which were sleeping in an upper room. Three of them let themselves down from the window and the fourth, a little boy eleven years old, ran down stairs, and had to pass through the flames with his father before they reached the street. Both a good deal burned, especially the boy, and not one of the inmates had more on them than their night-clothes. By this time Constable Harris, whose cottage adjoined that of Sampson, was roused by the fire, and harried his family and as

much of his furniture as he could save into the street. Persons began to collect, and the fire-bells* ■were set ringing. There was no prospect of saving the burning house, and those present turned their attention to Harris’ cottage, on which wet blankets were placed, and as copious a supply of water as could bo collected in buckets thrown. To this prompt action and to the extreme calmness of the night was it due that the second cottage was not destroyed. Owing to the distance from the fireengine stations, the brigade was not able to get on the ground until their assistance was of little use, the burning house being then reduced to a charred mass of timber, and all danger to tbe adjoining premises having passed. One of the first persons on the ground was the Hon. Mr Johnston, who, by his personal exertions, was in a great measure instrumental in saving Harris’ house, and who at once sent the houseless children to his own place, where they remained the rest of the night. Other gentlemen also used the most praiseworthy efforts to save property. "We hear that the house, which is the property of Mr Stuart, was insured in the Liverpool and London Office for £3O. The origin of the fire has not been ascertained, but • there is no doubt that it was purely accidental, and we cannot but sympathise with Mr Sampson on his loss. We are pleased to hear that neither ho nor his son are likely to suffer any .permanent injury from the scorching they underwent. —Mew Zealand Advertiser, Idth October,