SUMMARY OF STAMP DUTIES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 135, 8 September 1870, Page 7

SUMMARY OF STAMP DUTIES.

Agreements affecting mining property, such as sales, transfers of waterrights, claims, sales of interests in claims, transfers of mining or agricultural lease interests, must be written on duly stamped paper.

Agreements only under hand can be rendered valid by attaching duty stamp of Is if the value is over £20; the stamp to be cancelled by both parties. It is advisable, however, to stamp all agreements, as a general rule. — (See next clause.)

Agreements by Deed — 10s. It is difficult to decide what is an agreement sometimes under hand only and an agreement by deed. Au agreement by deed generally contains a specific covenant, and is often sealed.

Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes must also be drawn upon duly stamped paper. The duty is Is for every £50. 1.0.U.'5, if not drawn as promissory notes, require no stamp. Bills of Sale, and Bills of Sale by way of Mortgage, and Conveyances, require registration, within 21 to 28 days. In these matters the general public had better consult some mercantile man, agent or solicitor, as to stamp duty, &c. If a counterpart of any lease or agreement by deed (as in sections 1 and 3, as above) is required — 2s 6d. As this -would be his duty to paj the charge. Leases. — The charge for duty is 5s per £100, or 2s 6d for every £50. They should be written on stamped paper, but can be sent to town to be stamped. There are ad valorem duties attached.

The Wellington correspondent of the "Oamam Times" writes as follows: — The question that men are asking themselves here, both inside and outside parliament, is — who is to carry out the G-overnment scheme ; and I think even this session an attempt will be made to get rid of Mr. Yogel, whose ability nobody doubts, but whose stability everybody questions. The speeches of the leaders in. the House tend to this conclusion, and as the Bill is to be discussed clause by clause, and already the House is asking information which it has a right to know, but which the Colonial Treasurer will not give, there is every prospect of a pleasing little "row," No one can object to the principle of the Immigration and Public Works Scheme, but as to its administration, there may be grave doubts — and this question of administration is now really the one Iwe have to solve. Eight millions well spent on serviceable public works may benefit us, but if h,alf the money is wasted, and a quarter given away to buy political support, the colony will be worse off at the end of the ten years than it is now. This is being talked of here, and people ask, " Are we to put eight millions of money into Mr. Vogel's hands?"