HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, JULY 31, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1082, 31 July 1871, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, JULY 31, 1871.

The new Corporation of Auckland has commenced its career by the imposition of a tax of ,£4 per annum upon hawkers ! This is the initiatory act of its financial policy, but, judging from the expressions of popular opinion, as shadowed forth in the public press, it seems to be far from receiving, general approval. For ourselves, we consider it as a most impolitic tax, as, while it places a formidable obstacle in the way of an industrious class of men who have taken up this in the absence of any more lucrative employment, and which will have the effect of driving many of them from it, it will act to the inconvenience of outsettlerS; who find the itinerant dealer an advantage, as ihey are by him supplied with certain necessary articles, the obtaining of which from distant shops will involve trouble and time. If, however, this tax is to be regarded as a practical instalment of the Piotectionist theories held by a portion of the Auckland politicians, it assumes a still more important aspect, as being the first false step in a course which, if followed up, may inflict serious eyils upon the community.

By the arrival, this morning, of the steamers Star of the South and Napier, we have received files of Auckland papers to the 28th inst. Extracts will be found elsewhere. We here append the latest items from the Thames goldfields, being telegrams in the Southern Gross, of the 28th inst. : Grahamstown, July 2•", noon. Caledonian.—Twelve hundredweight of specimens were taken out during the night. The face of the stoop looks splendid. Tremendously heavy rain fell during the night. The town and flats were flooded. 1 p.m. Mr O'KeehVs sale of Caledonian tailings was well attended. Good prices were realised. The rumor of another case of specimen stealing re Caledonian mine is not authenticated. 9 p.m. The manager of the Caledonian banked 996 ounces of gold, the yield from general stuff. The show of specimens is still good ; nearly four tons are on hand. Good stone has been taken out of branch string veins in the chamber in the new low level. There is very promising country in that part of the mine. A serious accident occurred in the Golden Crown mine to-day. John Gir- \ an and James yiport were working in the deep winze on the Caledonian boundary. A blasting charge exploded unexpectedly, burning their faces and the upper part of their bodies. They were not dangerously wounded.