TARANAKI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 443, 31 January 1857, Page 5

TARANAKI.

Copies of the ' Taranaki Herald' to January 17th have come to hand. The Provincial Council of New Plymouth was dissolved by the Governor on the 13th of December, by proclamation in the 'Government Gazette' of the loth. Mr Charles Brown stood again for the Superintendency; and was opposed by Mr. Cutfield, who commanded a large amount of support, including that of' Taranaki Herald.' The principal charge brought against Mr. Brown involves an important point of law, and is thus stated by the ' Herald: —

The .'-week.'is memorable for the confiscation of the Absentee interest in the Town Lands of New Plymouth by the_ Superintendent, for nonpayment of the five shilling tax imposed under ■a local Ordinance for the maintenance of Public Works. .W e sa7 DV nls Honor, because he has proceeded to a Sale of these lands in utter disregard of the deliberate recommendation of the Provincial Council to the Superintendent, "to suspend the sa!e oi" Town Sections as advertised by his Honor until after the next meeting of the General Assembly." The Superintendent's flippant re P ly to this resolution has already appeared in our columns. Let it not be said that we cUi m for the absent Land proprietors exemption fr°m a»y tax on the land for which the. Resident is justly rateable. A portion of our revenue, properly expended, should surely suffice for the inconsiderable public works within the Town. This of itself is a good objection to the particular tax, but we especially protest against it for its. daring remedy of seizure and sale of the land as a means of obtaining the Tax. Under a previous Ordinance of the same Session for regulating the occupation of the unenclosed Town Lands, the -Super-" ihtendent has already let these same lands of the Absentees for pasturage purposes.—Taranaki Herald, Dec. 20th. The election came off on the 13th and 14th of., -January.-;' ■ the latter being the day of poll. At. half past one, the numbers were, for .Mr.' ■ Bro^n, 89; for Mr.-Cutfield, 184.; when Mr. Brown withdrew from ; the contest. Mr. George Cutfield is therefore, the present Superintendent of New Plymouth. The elections for the Provincial Council were to follow immediately. The crowd of electioneering matter excludes other subjects of interest.