The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 259, 31 October 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1868.

A short time since we referred to the Report of the Select Committee appointed by the Legislative Couucil to inquire into the practical effect of the present tariff on commerce and industrial pursuits; and especially with a view to ascertain whether the interchange of goods between this and the neighboring colonies might uot be placed on a more satisfactory basis. The evidence on which that report was based is now before us, and will amply repay

attentive perusal.

Amongst other persons Mr Seed, late Secretary and Collector of Customs, was examined, and we desire to draw espechl attention to that part of his evidence which refers particularly to the falliug-off in the importation of beer and to the proposed facilities for the importation of Australian wines, wliich it was the object of our previous article to support. It appears from Mr Seed's evidence that the increase and improvement in the manufacture of colouial beer has of lato years been driving imported beer out of the maiket, as is clearly shown by the fact that in 1864, 1,083,792 gallons of beer were cleared for home consumption, against 684,996 gallons in 1867. The average consumption per annum of duty-paid imported beer up to 1864 was four and a half gallous per head of the total European population. Iv the year 1867 it was only a little over three gallons,' a rate which will doubtless still further decline, as the consumption of colonial beer so rapidly increases. In fact Mr Seed seems to be of opiuion that in a very short time nothing save bottled ale of the best brands will be imported, and that perseverauce in the present high rate of Customs duty on beer will have the inevitable effect of considerably lowering the revenue derived from this source.

With regard to the importation of Australian wines, Mr Seed, io answer to the enquiry what in his opinion would be the effect on the Customs revenue of admitting Victorian wines free of duty, on condition that a similar immunity be granted to ale and other products of New Zealand, gave the following reply: — ' The effect of admitting Victorian wives free of duty would be a considerable loss to the revenue, but if Australian wines could be charged, say, at half the rate charged ou other wine, and the Australian colonies would admit our beer on the same favorable terms, I believe that both the trade and revenue of New Zealand would be benefited. The climate of Australia is peculiarly suited to the growth of wine, and the cultivation of vineyards is rapidly on the increase, many of them yielding wine of excellent quality. The climate of New Zealand, on the other hand, is pre-eminently adapted for the production of good beer, aud large quantities are brewed in all the principal settlements, some of which reaches Victoria, and is tbere highly spoken of. The interchange on favorable terms of these commodities between Australia and New Zealand, it must be manifest, would be beneficial to the interests of both countries.'

It will thus be seeu that the opinion expressed by Mr Seed is decidedly favorable to the theory that the establishment

of differential duties between the Australian colonies aud New Zealand in the matters of wine and beer, would be beneficial both to their trade and revenue, and, in spite of the opinion of the two Wellington merchants examiued, which may legitimately be regarded as of rather an exparte nature, that a uniform duty should be levied on ali wines, whether Europeau or Australian, we may be permitted to give utterance to our hope that, should the present obnoxious tariff undergo a revision during the next sessiou of Parliament, as is generally anticipated, it may take the direction iudicated iv the recommendations of the Select Committee to which we have referred.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning the following persons were respectively fined uuder the Cattle Trespass Act: — Robert Grant aud W. Phillips, two horses, 10s each; W*. Lloyd and H. Sharp, one horse, 10s each; James Downes and J. S. Gunther, one horse, 5s each; and Janet M'Donald, three cows, 30s; in each case with costs. — A case under the Scab Act) Nairne v. Jessop, was adjourned for a week. — A batch of no less than nine juveniles, a motley crew of various ages aud heights, was brought up charged, on the information of Mr Hugh Martin, Stoke, with trespassing on his property, with dogs and guns, on Sunday the Ilth inst. Mr Pitt appeared for the complainant, and it having been proved, by the evidence of Hicks Parker, in the employ of Mr H. Martin, that the boys had been warned off the ground (which was fenced in as a rabbit warren), on more thau one occasion, and all of them acknowledging that they had been on the ground at that particular time, Mr Pitt intimated that Mr Martin had laid the information merely to show that such conduct could not be permitted to pass unpunished. Taking these facts into consideration, his Worship said that, although the lads had rendered themselves liable to a fine ot £20 or two months' imprisonment, he should discharge with a caution four of them who had not been proved to have had guns or dogs with them, and the other five were fined 6d each and costs, amounting to £1 Os. 6d.

Information has reached us that the somewhat [cavalier treatment of the illustrious German traveller, Mr Schaefer, by tbe Maoris north of Aucklaud, has aroused the German settlers of the Waimea to a seuse of the propriety of taking some action in order to defend their compatriot's honor. A deputation is therefore about to wait upon the Consul General for Hamburg, resident iv Nelson, to request him to vindicate Mr Schaefer's character from the aspersions thrown upon it in cousequeuce of his alleged amour with a dark skinned Dulciuea.

A Wellington telegram announces that Major Turner of the 65th Regiment has been appoiuted staff officer with Colonel Whitmore. Mr C. H. Haughton, M.H.R., has also been appointed Secretary to the Defence Office. An attack was to be made yesterday on the Hauhaus on the East Coast, by the friendly natives and colonial forces combined. His Excellency the Governor will probably visit Nelson towards the end of the ensuing month.

A lady correspondent reminds us that the 9th of November is close at hand, and as an announcement that the Band of Hope would walk m procession, &c, on that day is the ouly intimation which has hitherto been made of any intended loyal demonstration on the occasion, suggests that immediate steps should be taken to devise and carry out some means of celebrating the anniversary. Perhaps another Volunteer Ball, conducted as successfully as the last one, " would meet with our fair correspondent's approval.

The following despatch from his Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chaudos to Governor Sir George Bowen has been published by command of his Excellency : — Downing-street, Ist August, 1868. Sir, — I have received and laid before her Majesty the various despatches in which you describe the auxiety felt by the European and native inhabitants of New Zealand to give a suitable welcome to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, and transmit the expressions of their regretatthe misfortune which has deprived them of the opportunity of doing so. I have much pleasure in informing you that the Duke of Edinburgh returned to this country in perfect health, ahd that it is the intention of her Majesty that he shall hereafter resume the tour which was so

unhappily interrupted. It is probable ia this case that his Royal Highness will proceed in the first instance however to India; and you may be assured that- he will, in the absence of some insuperable obstacle, not fail to accomplish his contemplated visit to New Zealand. I shall have the honor at a latter period of communicating to you the arrangements of his Royal Highness.

We take the following from the Hawke's Bay Herald of the 1 7th inst.:— We have little to thank Mr Stafford's Government for. It is painful to consider that the exercise of the commonest prudence and judgment might have averted what is now occurring, and the consequences of which it is impossible to foresee, and upon which we will not speculate. It must be matter for painful cousideration to Messrs M'Lean and Ormond to find that all they have felt sure would take place — all they warned the Government of the country and Parliament beforehand would occur, is now happening; and to feel that, had their advice beeu but taken, the preseut crisis might have been averted, and this province saved from the risk of again becoming the seat of war.

The Petty Sessions Act is brought into operation at Havelock. On July 1 last the port of Havelock was declared to be no longer a port for the purposes of the Customs Regulations Act. It is now declared expedient to annul the said order, and to reappoint the port for the purposes of the above-mentioned act.

The petition of 81 ratepayers of Wellington, praying that the city be constituted a borough under the Municipal Corporation Act has been published in the Gazette for general information. A letter from the Superintendent, stating that he does not dissent from the petition, is also published. It is notified that his Excellency the Governor will consider the petition on December 18 next.

The Melbourne Argus offers some very salutary advice as to the fashion in which the New Zealand war should be conducted. It suggests that troops similar to the French Zouaves — men capable of following the enemy into the densest bush — men chosen for activity and strength, whose training has transformed them into athletes and endowed them with the powers of the wild man in the capability of scaling the rock or threading the forest in nimbleness of foot and keenest of the senses. Speaking of the colonial forces, the Argus says: — In a hurry, you can no more convert men picked up at random, and without any early training of the kind, into effective irregular soldiers than you can expect a man to become a good horseman who is put iuto the saddle for the first time late in life. This is the reason, and the only substantial reason, why these Maori wars are so peculiarly hard to manage.

Tuesday last, the 20th inst., witnessed the final departure from Auckland for England, via Sydney, of the Right Rev. Bishop Selwyn, whose name, apart from his episcopal office, is a household word in connection with New Zealand history. The day was observed as a partial holiday, the Government offices, stores, shops, and all places of busiuess were for the most part closed after 2 o'clock. Divine service was performed at St. Paul's Church at 3, when there was a crowded congregation of persons ofall denominations, after which the Bishop was escorted to the steamer Hero by a most numerous assemblage of his fellow-citizens, anxious to pay him this mark of respect.'

A disgraceful scene lately took place ia the In dependent Methodist Church, Christchurch. The minister, who ifc appears has recently become a Swedeuborgian, took a public opportunity of defending his change of views. The church was densely crowded, and at first the audience were pretty orderly. At the close of the first parfc of his address however they began to interrupt him, aud at length, according to the Press, a large part of his hearers got into a state of almost frantic excitement, and abused their late pastor in no measured terms. The cause of this riotous 1 conduct appears to have been their dissatisfaction with his conduct in transferring the building; but whenever he attempted to explain they refused to listen to him, and hooted him down in a most disgraceful manner.

The bonus of £1500 offered by the Victorian Government for the production of a certain quantity of woollen cloth was the subject of a deputation the other day to the Commissioner of Customs at Melbourne. The bonus is claimed by tho Geelong Woollen Cloth Manufacturing Company, as the actual producers of Jhe

■cloth; and it is also claimed by certain parties on the ground that they originated the scheme which resulted in the establishment of the factory. It was ultimately arranged that the company should receive the £1500, and assign 3>o paid-up shares among the other claimants.

*It is impossible,' said one politician to another, ' to say where your party cuds and the opposition party begins.' ' Well, sir,' replied the other, ' if you were ridinc a jackass, it would be impossible to say where the man ended and the donkey began.'

An Indiana paper, announcing the death of a gentlemau out West, says the deceased, though a bauk director, is generally believed to have died a Christian, and was much respected while living.

A Calviuisticold lady, on being asked ■about the Universalists, obserred. 'Yes, they expect that everybody will be saved; but we look for better things.'