TASMANIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 460, 1 April 1857, Page 5

TASMANIA.

We have papers from Hobart Town to the 12th. instant, and frompjaunceston to the 13th. In the Legislative Assembly, on the 10th. instant, Mr. Chapman, the Colonial Treasurer, in committee of the-whole, announced that the ministry, in deference to the wishes of the country, had modified their financial scheme. He would therefore withdraw the proposed tax on the transfer of real property, the auction duty, and the duty on bank issues and on postage. He also proposed to withdraw the quay, wharfage, and tonnage dues, in deference to the voice of the people. With reference to the tariff the administration intended to adhere to it as introduced with the exception of the proposed increase of the duty upon tea, sugar, and rice. The question was then put on the proposal to make the duty on all spirits 12s. per gallon, when an amendment was moved that the committee should rise and sit again that day six months. After considerable discussion the amendment was negatived on a division by 17 to 9 Finally the motion was passed on division'by 12 to 9. The increased duties on wines, beers, and tobacco were also carried. In the Assembly on the 12th the Customs -Bill was read a third time, and passed on a division by 16 to 9. / /•+!,-„ The following remarks on the passage ot this bill are from the Daily News of the 12th :—• < In spite of all the petitions which have rained in upon the Assembly against .the additional taxes proposed by the Colonial Treasurer, the bill for the imposition of an augmented duty on wine, spirits, tobacco, and cigars,. waa read i a third time yesterday by a majority of -lo tc, J. It remains to be seen whether the Tfg^ve Council will read a lesson to the 'Peoples House'—or sanction by its concurrence m the bill the creation of this most objectionable addition to the public burdens of the colony. It .seems strata that it-should be so, but men s eves now turn with anxiety to the second chamber, in hope of redress, from the mauspicious legislation of the Assembly. And no wonder. After what has come to light abou, the meeting of Government supporters (to t.ie number of 19 out oC 30 members) at the ofhce of the Premier, we cannot be surprised at any distrust, in any quarter, of the Assembly s whole. Some few individual members may still deserve and retain" the confidence of the. constituencies and of the. country,but the He v*.. itself has forfeited its claim to public recogmtiau make a virtue of necessity, and pretend to ha*e

I'econsidered.their budget in deference to this declaration of opinion. But the public voice has pronounced against taxation before retrenchment—and this view of public finance, ministers distinctly refuse to accept. They have abtamed authority to spend some £350,000 in the course of the current year—they have obtained a loan of £86,000, and there is no prospect of any attempt at reduction or reform in the 'establishments;' no "diminution of the number of officials or of the amount of their salaries.' An adjourned meeting of the Hobart Town Chamber of Commerce was held on the ._ 9th instant to receive the report of the committee on the estimates, and on the proposed increased taxation, and to adopt a petition to both Houses of Parliament on the subject. The report was a document of great length, and went fully into details of Government expenditure, pointing out where reductions might be made. The general principles of it were—That a great reduction might be made in each and. every department of the Government ; many offices might be abolished—others reduced-—arid others consolidated, without imparing the efficiency of the public service. That the necessary reductions could only be completely effected by constructing an entirely new system of government. It advised, also, a reconsideration of the estimates for 1857, and that any deficiency should be met by a loan—and not by increased taxation; —to be granted on the understanding that the existing system be altogether reformed. A petition in accordance with the spirit of the report "was adopted. The anual general meeting of the Hobart Town Gas Company took plaGe on the 9th inst., when the affairs were stated to be in. a highly prosperous condition, and it was expected that the city would be lighted with gas on the Ist March. Robert Nichol, the late Cashier of the Commercial Bank, was tried on the 9th instant for feloniously stealing moneys from the bank to the amount of £7000. Ho was found guilty of larceny, and remained for sentence. ■ Flour was quoted in Launeeston at £16 per ton, and wheat from ss. (3d. to 6s. per bushel.