8.—19.

1908. NEW ZEALAND.

"THE PUBLIC REVENUES ACT, 1908" (DISALLOWANCE UNDER SECTION 30 OF) OF SURCHARGE MADE BY AUDIT OFFICE UPON COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS AT AUCKLAND.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Act.

Sir,— Audit Office, Bth October, 1908. In accordance with the provisions of section 30 of " The Public Revenues Act, 1908," I have the honour most respectfully to report that the Hon. the Minister of Customs has, in pursuance of the same section, and in the circumstances conveyed by the correspondence of which I beg leave to submit a copy, disallowed a surcharge of £71 4s. made by the Audit Office upon the Collector of Customs at Auckland for Cixstoms duty which he failed to collect on skips for mining ore. I have, &c. J. K. Waeburton, Controller and Auditor-General. The Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

COPY OF CORRESPONDENCE.

No. 1. Waihi Gold-mining Company (Limited), Shortland Street, Auckland, 16th October, 1907. Sic, — Hoisting-skips for Mining. This company has imported from Adelaide an apparatus, the first of its kind in a goldmine in New Zealand, whereby the hauling of ore from the mine is greatly facilitated. It is a system whereby a pair of skips, to carry 2 to 3 tons each, are loaded directly out of a hopper in a chamber underground near the shaft, hoisted at speed, and by special tumbling gear made to deliver the ore into a hopper on the surface. We do not contend that this effects any economy in labour, but it certainly does facilitate the quantity that can be handled on day-shift, and thereby makes work more comfortable for men. The apparatus is purely and simply for mining purposes. I cannot conceive any other use that it could possibly be put to. We therefore approach you with the request that it be admitted duty-free as " mining-machinery " as provided for in Schedule B. I enclose a copy of the invoice showing value at £323 18s., on which 20 per cent, is demanded. It is certain that no machinery is more truly mining machinery than the plant under discussion, and I therefore submit this matter with every confidence that you will see the justice of our application, and am Yours, &c, Chas. Rhodes, The Hon. the Minister of Customs, Wellington. Local Director. N.B.—No diagram available.

No. 2. Memorandum No. 1541. The Waihi Gold-mining Company request that " hoisting-skips suitable only for mining purposes " be admitted free of duty under Schedule B, Class XII, of " The Tariff Act, 1907." I regret that no diagram is available. Letter and invoice herewith. Johx Mills, Collector.

I—B. 19.