Page 2 of 3 Oct 1851 Issue of Adelaide South Australian Register in Adelaide, South-Australia

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Adelaide South Australian Register (Newspaper) - October 3, 1851, Adelaide, South Australia National Library of Australia sales by auction this Day. By e. Solomon & co. At port Adelaide at 12 o clock 5 casks Batter. Also maa main teak Timber and shingles. And also wines and whisky. Ice in Ujj instr Htu heist or. An etude Friday october 3, 1851. Shipping intelligence. Arrived. Thursday october 2 the Schooner lady Flora 40 tons Tapley Muter from Yorke s Peninsula. . Game Day the Schooner Ankara 131 tons Hull master from if Obart town 11th september. One passenger. A Large snare ribbed Vesel was going Ronqui to the Rort at Sundown but evening and three others were in sight. Cleared out. Thursday october 2 the Cutter Lerey 100 tons Sullick master for Kangaroo Island. Passengers messes. Burfield Smith c. G. German Ridge Culman and Reeves. Cargo 2 horses Ridge and l horse Cleaver. Same Day the Cutter Roseanna 35 tons heard master for Waichen Bay. Passengers four servants. Cargo sundry stores for settlers. Miscellaneous su1ppixg. The Brig too it lends for Sydney sailed from the lightship yester Day morning. The barque Margaret Brock wan Laid on september 9 for our port at Hobart town. The Tam edges. The company s steam dredge is again at work opposite the. Wharf and seems to perform satisfactorily. The government dredge has been chartered by the Patent Copper company and will be employed in font of Prince s wharf. The Wellington dec ii certain funeral obsequies at the cemetery there from which we gather that a barque called the Maria commanded by capt. Plank bad been totally wrecked with the loss of All hands. The interments included the bodies of the Captain and 14 of his Crew. We see no mention of any survivors nor any precise information As to the scene of the dreadful catastrophe. Vessels in 1iakbouh. Adelaide barque492 tints Treme ame master arrived from London auth september discharging cargo. Alex. Thomson agent. Hurt brig150 tons arrived from port Wakefield 19th september. Ii. Simoum and co., agents. Anglia schooner1 j6 tons punch master arrived from Hon Kong 6th september discharging cargo. P. Levi agent. An tarts schooner131 Toas Hill master arrived from Hobart town 2nd october. Asia ship523 tons Roskell master arrived from London 1st septem Ber discharging cargo. A. Thomson agent. Augustus barque maj tons arrived Trust new zealand 17th april refitting. Cut butt a it. Billi Geich. Ship477 tons Todd master arrived from Melbourne 23rd september discharging cargo. Were Todd and co., agents. Bountiful Ketch tors arrived from Kangaroo Island 29th sept. Charlotte barque it 180 to is it Festy master arrive a from the lira zils 27th july loading for London. N. P. Be if Cir agent com Lution shipsm2 tuns Mainland master arrived from Liverpool 7th August discharging cargo. J s. Clark a ent. Devon alsip503 Tou i Oakley in is a in Rived from London 7th August discharging end co. Ocraman Cooke mid co., agents. Tiati schooner34 tons Carroway master arrived from port Lincoln 27th september. A. Mcfie agent. Eugene barque213 tons , master arrived Froais Singapore 23rd August discharging Banjo. jun., and co., agents. Fairy Queen barque251 tons Hynes master arrived from Antwerp 19th september discharging Carr to. Monte Xiuru and co agents. Fanny barque -1 w tuns Smith master arrived from London 21st August discharging mro. A. and co., a guts. Gazelle Brig 210 tons Scott master arrived from London 7th sep tember discharging ctr of. A. Thomson agent. Harder barque 400 Tous von Ila Gen master arrived from Bremen 21st september discharging cargo. A Ultenius Meyer and co., agents. Jane barque333 tons Shadur master arrived from Gravesend 5th september discharging cargo. A. L elder and co amounts. Lady Flora Schooner-10 tons Tapley master arrived from Vorke s Peninsula 2nd october. Laily brig143 tons arrived from port Wakefield 5th september. C. Ii. Goldsmith agent. I Sluty a barque Gisto is Hibbert master Arr veil from Plymouth 23rd september discharging cargo. C. And f. J. Beck agents. Inn Iii brigantine81 tons Douglas master arrived from Swan River 23rd september loading for Western Australia. J. Newman agent. Midge cutter15 tons Dowsett master. Xii Varino ship463 tons Paige master arrived from Plymouth 25th september discharging cargo. C. And f. J. Beck agents. Nem Fork Inch to barque270 tons dring Muster refitting. C. And f. J. Heck agents. Petrel cutter15 tons Carroway master arrived from encounter Bay 22nd september. A. M Fie agent. Reliance ship. 805 tons fell master arrived from Plymouth 13th sep tember discharging cargo. J. S. Clark agent. Reward brig278 tons Irvine master arrived from Leith 11th August discharging cargo. A. L. Elder and co agents. Riga barque. 438 tons Dalma master Arr veil from Grangemouth 2nd september discharging cargo. A. L. Elder Aud co agents. Samuel Boddington barque6o9 Tow. Hurst master arrived from ply Mouth 8th september discharging cargo. A. L. Elder and co agents. Sarah Scott barque420 tons Spedding master arrived from Laun ceston22nd August discharging cargo. C. And f. J. Beck agents. Saullie. Ship8j4 tons Markland master arrived from Melbourne 28th september discharging car. A. Younghusband and co agents. Sea Bird ship500 tons Drennan master arrived from London 20th August discharging cargo. J. Ami x. Henriques agents. Sea Gull brig250 tons Stewart master arrived from Leith 19th sep tember discharging cargo. A. L. Elder and co agents. Selma barque400 tons Merwin master arrived from i Ort Wakefield 13th september loading for Sydney. J. F. Bennett agent. Thetis ship500 tons Dodds master arrived from Plymouth 6th september discharging cargo. A. Thomson agent. Titania barque351 tons Coulthurst master arrived from St. Johns new Brunswick 23rd september discharging cargo. Were Todd and co aleuts. Proceedings of Council. The Council went into committee yesterday on the adjourned consideration of the Tariff. The results of the debate were that the following articles were run fire re to that list and will consequent la be admitted without any duty viz., coals Loke All other descriptions of fuel and printed books. The duty on spirits was fixed at 6s. Per gallon but not without a division. The proposed additional duty of 5 per cent on drapery was abandoned so that importations of that kind remain subject to 5 per cent and Valorme As before the collector of customs declaring that the government would rely on the House to make Good if required any serious deficiency occasioned by the reduction of taxation. By the amended Tariff the duty on tobacco is reduced to is. 6d. Per it. The second Reading of the Bill for an increase to the salaries of the judges was carried though not without opposition. It was contended by one Hon. Member that the judges Here were sufficiently paid As might be seen by comparison with those of Canada. Generally however the necessity of making a distinction Between the salary of judge Cooper and that of judge Crawford was strongly enjoined. The second Reading of the Bill merely affirms the principle of increasing the judges salaries without fixing the amounts. The ordinance to continue the Powers of the City commissioners until the elections for the Muni Cipal corporation shall have taken place was read a first second and third time and passed. Or. Jacob s claim founded on the report of the committee appointed to enquire into it came under discussion and a warm debate ensued. It was con tended by some of the members that As the debt had been incurred by an irresponsible governor it was not just to enforce payment of it from the colonists. Some of the speakers were very Wroth at the opposition offered to the adoption of the report and expressed themselves in very Strong language. Ultimately however the report was adopted without a division. The appointment by the Council of three under takers for the railway was postponed till this Day. Latest dates from direct or indirect. Dates j remarks. London ? Vid Plymouth june 29 private advices Auckland ? Vid Hobart town july 9 Bombay ? i Singapore March 2s Cape of Good Hope ? direct May 20 Calcutta. ? fi-2 Singapore j Une 12 Ceylon ? ? via Mauritius feb. 11 Hobart town ? direct sept. 11 Hon Kong. ? Vid Sydney May 21 Honolulu ? Vid Sydney june 21 Launceston. ? Vul Hobart town sept. 6 Mauritius. Via Melbourne july 12 Melbourne ? Vid Hobart town sept. 5 new York ? Vid St. John s june 8 Portland ? direct aug. 8 Swan River Watn. Ails. Direct aug. 2 Rio de Janeiro ? direct m�y2 a mail san Francisco ? Vid Hoban town july 15 Shanghai ? direct March 17 Singapore ? i i Melbourne july 1 Sydney ? Viii Hobart town aug. 30 Wellington Vid Melbourne july 6 ship . Mails will be despatched a under for great Britain by the the tis to Madras and Overland this Day at half past 3 and by the , to Calcutta and Overland on saturday 4th. At half Nast 3. For East indies and China by the above vessels to India. For Victoria by the Rica this Day at half past 3 and by the Asia on saturday 4th, at half past 3, both to Melbourne. For Western Australia by the june to Swan River on saturday 4th, at 2 pin. For port Lincoln by the Emu on saturday 4th, at half past 12. For port Wakefield on saturday 4th, at half past 12. Final debate on or. Jacob s claim the motion for the adoption of the report of the select committee on or. William Jacob s claim and for an address to the governor to make provision for the. . In that of put Lyman of the sum declared to be due to him was submitted to the Council by its chairman or. A. L. Elder yester Day. It was subjected to a very official and most unsuccessful opposition on the part of the registrar general and the colonial Secretary. But on the other hand it was upheld and sanctioned by the almost unanimous voice of the rest of the Council. Language of the most decisive character was be \ elected by the various speakers in urging their sentiments on the occasion and pouring Forth their homage to the eternal principles of Justice and equity. The speeches generally in support of the motion were distinguished by a most wholesome and i refreshing re Dolence of honesty and indeed we believe there has not yet been heard within the Walls of the Council chamber such bursts of genuine earnestness and so close an approach to positive j oratory. Strong indeed must have been the in j trisic merits of or. Jacob s claim when besides the elective members the whole of the nominees j and even also two of the official members Viz the ? advocate general and the collector of customs j were in favour of its settlement. And we must do its two official opponents the Justice to say that they likewise did though unintentionally perhaps rather Benefit than injure the cause of truth and right inasmuch As the excessive hesitancy and difficulty under which they obviously Laboured were con j mincing and agreeable proofs of the very great variance Between their natural feelings and the perfunctory line of argument which their. Official position unhappily imposed upon them. Captain hat employed a Verv excellent argument when he urged that we could go into the London Money Market to effect our intended loan with a much better face and with much cleaner hands if we have manifested an anxiety to pay just debts and to satisfy just claims than if we had betrayed any toleration of the tempting principle of repudiation. We think it is a Complete mistake for the govern ment to have originated an opposition to the adoption by the Council of the recommendation which a is a unanimous one of the select committee in this Case. It would we conceive have been sufficient and at the same time no More than its duty to have apprised the Council of the amount of claims that might possibly be presented in connection with transactions with previous administrations. But their responsibility in the matter went no further. Each application will have to be subjected to special investigation and must be decided upon its own merits. And it ought to be a source of just congratulation to the friends of this Colony that the representatives of the people have taken High ground on this subject and shown a Noble readiness to recognise and to take upon themselves the fulfil ment of such outstanding colonial obligations As Mav be substantiated to their satisfaction even though they May have been incurred under an irresponsible regime. The people of South Australia have not uttered one word of dissatisfaction with reference to the decision of the committee in or. Jacob s Case and while they feel Confidence that no claim of a doubtful character will be admitted by the Council they Are animated by a Universal desire to see Justice done to All who have any Bond fide claims upon the Public honesty or the Public purse. New South Wales. By Way of Hobart town we have news to the 30th August. The receipt and exportation of Gold Are now become re Fular and systematic. The sold exported per mount Stuart a Elphinstone was Worth .�21,000 the following is the circular of or. Lloyd which appears in the Sydney morning Herald Gold circular. The weather during the past week has been very unfavourable for mining purposes and Many of the miners have been flooded out the yield has therefore not been so productive As it would otherwise have proved still a considerable Quantity has found its Way into town. The escort which by an Accident was detained upon the Road until yesterday morning brought Down 2,61 1 ounces. There has also arrived by the three mails since our last report about �5,000 Worth making the total received this week �13,000, Independent of any that May have come in by private hands. It will thus be seen that our mining operations Are not by any Means unprofitable inasmuch As the above sum May very fairly be estimated As one week s produce which if equitably divided amongst the whole mining population would leave to each individual a very respectable week s wages. Many instances of extraordinary Success might be Given and some instances of failure but the following being a Peculiar Case is worthy of note five men from Camden named William flan Hady Joseph Wasson John Dunbar Thomas Meales and Leonard Meales worked for one month on the mountains at the Turon in dry diggings. The first three weeks they were unsuccessful but the fourth week Fortune favoured them and on tuesday last they received from or. Samuel Thompson a Cheque for �590 17s. Lod. As the result of their four week s work. Intelligence has reached us of the discovery of Gold in the neighbouring Colony of Victoria possessing apparently the stamp of authenticity by the Issue of a government notice cautioning parties against working without licences. We shall probably be in Possession of further facts in a few Days. The Wentworth diggings Aud some new diggings at the world s end about 30 Miles from the Turon Are attracting considerable attention and will no doubt prove of great value. The Price of Gold in Sydney has been affected this week by a reduction in the Exchange and is now not realizing More than 66s. 6d. To 67s. 6d. Per ounce for Fine samples. The Only Export since our last was that on the 25th August per mount Sttuart Elphin sume 6,523 ounces 6 dwts., which at 65s. Per ounce amounts to ? �21,200 14 6 making the total shipped to this Date ? 68,688 18 3 Exchange on London drafts against Gold 2 j per cent discount. Freight to London i per cent. Geo. A. Lloyd. 474, George Street August 30. The following is a communication from Camden ? August 27. Sever did the crops of All kinds look More promisingly but i fear that the growing desire to go to the Gold diggings will leave us a poor Chance of Harvest. Nature will do her part but Man ungrateful will turn his Back upon certain Prosperity at Home to seek pre carious wealth with hardship in a Distant land even at the risk of breaking up his Domestic arrangements and his j social happiness. In every Point of View this new occur i nation of Gold seeking is fearful to contemplate parents j forsake their children husbands their wives and hundreds who lightly go away will Piso Facto never know happiness More while serious loss if not ruin will result to individuals and the Community at Large by the withdrawal of that labour which usually secures the produce of the Fields the flocks and the vineyards. In this state of things what is to be done who can help the country out of its peril assuredly no Power but the executive government which by simply suspending the Issue of Gold digging licences for a time would cause labour to re sume its usual Channel and thereby prevent certain misery to the country. Indeed it is the Only Way to save the country from ruin a ruin which otherwise must certainly accrue to the proprietors of farms and flocks before that extensive immigration shall have time to arrive which ultimately will come and afford labour enough for All purposes. Tasmania. Our dates include the 10th september. There had been a great meeting of the a laity in Launceston the particulars of which we must re serve for our next publication. In the meantime the fourth Resolution proposed by w. Hefty jesq., is sufficiently indicative of the objects of the meeting. It was As follows 4. That this meeting whilst it acknowledges the necessity for new canons and Constitution ecclesiastical to regulate the practical working of the Church in this Colony deprecated All Imperial legislation on the subject previously to the voice of the laity being heard thereon and of the Bishops of Sydney in october last it is of opinion that the resolutions and recommendations of the meeting Many of which the Lay members of the Church do not agree to should have been submitted to the clergy and laity previous to their transmission to England and that this omission has been injurious to the interest of the Church in this diocese there had also been a Public Gold meeting in Bobart town at which the following Resolution was carried that the subscribers of the fund now form themselves into an association for the promoting the discovery of Gold in Vandiemen s Laud South of the 42nd line of latitude or. Chapman announced the subscriptions to be �516. The people of Launceston declined to co operate and they Are therefore excluded from the arrange ment by the proposed limitation. Gold is said to have been discovered on or. Armitage s estate near Brown s Kivi r the info ? nation is tolerably circumstantial. California. San Francisco in Burns. By Way of Hobart town we have news to the 15th july. The following particulars Are extracted from the week la san Francisco Herald. July 1 this ill fated City has been again reduced to ashes and has thus fearfully verified the predictions Given in a Para graph below which we had extracted from the Tidney Herald before the arrival of the Emma with the disastrous tidings of the total destruction of san Francisco by fire it appears that the fire broke out on the morning of the 29th of june in a Frame House on the North Side of Pacific close to Powell Street. The wind was Strong and the Progress of the fire fierce and unrelenting scarcely Twenty minutes elapsed before the fearful storm swept along every Street in succession. Thousands witnessed the spectacle with dismay and grief. The Gigantic efforts of Gallant firemen were next to useless. The space of devastation extends six streets East and West and five from North to South including the entire squares and the major portion of six others. The principal buildings consumed Are the new presbyterian Church of the Kev. Or. Williams of Stockton Street the Large building occupied As the armoury of the new California guard the Jenny Lind theatre the Alto California. Office the City Hall the City hos Pital athe Pacific news thus refers to some recent incendiary attempts the House burners seem to be still at work. On Friday night an attempt was made to set fire to the rear portion of a House belonging to or. Edward Boeggman on Mongomery Street Between Bush and sansome. Not much Progress had been made before it was discovered and extinguished. On saturday evening officer Montgomery discovered a fire in the rear of the Marble Yard on Dupont Street above Pacific which had evidently been kindled by an incendiary. The lord have mercy upon any of these villains who happen to be caught in such acts the same paper alludes to two dreadful outbreaks of popular indignation loud complaints were made of the lax execution of the severe Laws in cases of convicted and condemned criminals. The populace had openly expressed a de termination to take the execution of the Law into their own lands and opportunities soon presented them selves of so doing. A Man named m Cauley was sentenced to be hanged for murder but on the Day preceding that fixed for his execution the sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. The Pacific Zeics thus notices the re sult this becoming known to some of the citizens of Napa a Large number of them proceeded to the cell of m Cauley Between Midnight and morning on Friday and coolly Aud deliberately hanged him up to a beam where his body was found next morning the other victim was named Jenkins who professed to be a native of London. He had been known to the police for months As a desperate character from the penal colonies. The mob hanged him for Bur gloriously taking a Money Safe which was found upon him the following notice is abridged from the Alta California of july 15 we Learned last night that upon the arrival of the american barque chief Captain Kelly from Sydney yesterday afternoon she was boarded by a Revenue officer from the Cutter Polk accompanied by a boat s Crew of five men. He informed the Captain of the barque that he had received orders to prevent any of the passengers or Crew from Landing or any boats coming alongside until further orders. There were 15 passengers on Board Only one of whom we understand has a certificate from the american Consul at Sydney. What further action will be taken in the matter is unknown but we presume that such As do not come with a certificate of Good character or some sort of documentary evidence that they Are not convict Immi Grants will be compelled to return or leave for More con genial climes notices of motion and orders of the Day. Ronda to. 3rd . 1. Or. Hall to ask whether any notice Hai been Given of tha intention of placing a Light upon Cape Wiloughby to the Trinity House Deptford strand 9. Or. Hall to ask whether it is the intention of the government to adopt and bring into operation in this Colony the mercantile Marine act of 13 and 14 Victoria Cap. 93. 3. Or. Hall to ask whether the works now in Progress at the government wharf port Adelaide Are sanctioned by or under the cognizance of govern ment 4. Or. Kingston to move for leave to bring in a Bill in titled a Bill to ii Ciliate and simplify proceedings by and against the joint Stock company established in Adelaide called the South australian mining association and for other purposes therein mentioned 5. Or. Neales to move ? that the petition of messes. Primrose and Bunce respecting the distillation Bill be read and considered 6. Air. Hare to move that the Council do consider the prayer of the petition of the working classes which or. Hare presented last tuesday 7. Captain Bagot to move that the petition of k. F. Macgeorge be referred to the select com Mittee on claims 8. Or. Hart to move the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the steam dredge expenditure orders of the Day. Tuesday 1th october. 1. Or. Baker to move for leave to bring in a Bill to give Relief to persons having claims against the local government of South Australia by authorizing them to try the Validity of such claims in a court of Law 2. Or. Angras to ask the registrar general if it was positively determined to place the line of the City and port railway on any part of the present common Road and if so what precautions would be adopted by government to prevent accidents to persons travelling upon the common Road inseparable from such an unprecedented and dangerous arrangement wednesday 8th october. 1. Or. Hare to move the appointment of a committee to consider the propriety bringing in a general education measure the recent forgeries. Forgeries to the extent of �1,500 have been traced to the unfortunate individual in charge. They Are of various amounts Between �97 and �110 Are All forgeries of or. T. C. Bray s signature and having found their Way into the hands of various parties have been discounted by All the Banks. The Dis covery was accidentally made by or. Bray in consequence of a conversation with or. Ayers but at the time this took place or. Smith was at the port and had taken his passage to Sydney on Board the two friends so that another Day s delay would probably have enabled him to get Clear off. It appears that for a considerable time past he has been in the habit of discounting forged acceptances of or. Bray retiring them himself As they fell due. Sketches of Adelaide. We have just seen three views in Adelaide drawn on Stone by or. S. T. Gill in a Superior style and lithographed by messes. Penman and Galbraith with their usual ability. The views Are calculated to afford to persons out of the Colony a Correct and very favourable impression of our growing metro Polis. The first in order was taken from the upper part of Hindley Street West looking eastward the second from the Corner of King William Street looking West and the third from a position in front of the office of this paper looking up Rundle Street. The three views comprise there fore the chief business Sites in Adelaide. Among the animated objects depicted in the City streets is merry Monarch being a striking likeness of a valuable Racehorse the property of w. Vansittart esq., Aad drawn expressly for that gentleman who intends to transmit some copies to England and to distribute Many amongst his numerous friends in the Colony. Legislative Youngil thursday. 2nd october. Minutes of former sitting read and confirmed. Present All the Hoh. Members. Petitions. Or. Dettt fun presented the following not virion ? to the honourable the legislative Counce of the province of South Australia. The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of Adelaide and its Vicinity respectfully show eth that your petitioners believe there is at the present time a great Deal of distress existing among the working classes owing to their want of employment your Memoria lists therefore Pray that your honourable House will give the subject such due consideration As the urgency of the Case requires and further Pray that your honourable House will cause the port railway to be immediately commenced As also other urgent government works for the Benefit of the Public and the unemployed. And your Memoria lists As in duty bound will Ever Pray a. Here follow 77 signatures petition read and received. Notices of motion. Captain Bagot gave notice that he would move to Morrow that the petition of r. F. Macgeorge be referred to the select com Mittee on chums or. Hart gave notice that he would move to Morrow the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the steam dredge expenditure or. Angas gave notice that he would on tuesday next ask the registrar general if it was positively determined to place the line of the City and port railway on any part of the present common Road and if so what precautions would be adopted by government to prevent accidents to persons travelling upon the common Road inseparable from such an unprecedented and dangerous Arr gement or. Hare gave notice that he would move on wednesday next the appointment of a committee to consider the propriety of bringing in a general education measure questions. Captain Hall enquired of the collector of customs if the colonial custom House was under the management of the local legislature or whether it still remained subject to the control of the Board in England the collector of customs stated that in Decem Ber list it was arranged that the customs department should henceforth be managed by the local legislature and although the commissioners of customs sent out their instructions As formerly he considered himself under the management of the local authorities. Hear hear the Tariff. On the motion of the collector of customs the Council resolved itself into committee for the adjourned consideration of the Tariff. The collector of customs said taxation was a sore subject to every one one sure to Breed discontent which it was a pity to aggravate by erroneous statements and assertions regarding its probable operation upon the working classes and though he would endeavour to Dis abuse the minds of honourable members it was not in a spirit of recrimination that he should endeavour to meet their attacks. The honourable member for Victoria bad in a former debate Given a history of taxation but it was too late on that Day to make any reply but he the collector of customs would briefly describe the history of taxation in this Colony. Prior to 1842 this Colony was not self sup porting it had not then become a producing much less an exporting Colony and therefore it could not be taxed but by an ordinance in 1838, nos. 3 and 4, certain duties were levied upon spirits Aud tobacco. There was also a wharfage duty a most obnoxious duty amounting to 14 per cent which was not levied on contents but on the bulk of a package. In 1842, governor Grey wishing to Render the Colony Independent of that support which it had hitherto received from the Home government by an ordinance no. 2 of that year levied certain custom House duties As Well As an and Valorme duty on certain excisable articles. The percentage duty was also increased at that time but this obnoxious duty was repealed in 1845. In 1846, ordinance no. 4 provided for a further increase of customs duties though the and Valorme rate remain the same. Ordinance no. 16, of 1840, provided for no increase but substituted a fixed rate for an and Valorme duty. Then ordinance no. 2, of 1848, did create a reduce on upon existing duties of 4 per cent. And the ordinance at present under consideration proposed a further reduction to the extent of 6 per cent. He wished to state a few Points showing in its True Light the principle of taxation As it affected the laborious classes. It had been said that this Colony was higher taxed than great Britain or than any other country in the world and to exemplify this Hon. Members had included such items As the assessment of Stock postage and the slaughtering licences now he the collector of customs maintained that the assessment of Stock was a rent charge for it was precisely the same thing a sum per head was paid to government or a rent for pasture was paid to some private individual neither was postage to be looked upon As a tax it was no More a tax than the payment for Carriage of parcels or. Letters by any other source. Any person could transmit letters by private hands of of but the Post office was preferred on account of the greater safety and Economy which was afforded under government management a charge was therefore necessary to Render this institution self supporting. The collector of customs went on to state that the Pilotage was about to be thrown open and what Ever charge was made would be paid direct to the pilots therefore it could not be considered a tax and ought to be out of the question. The present custom House duties Are �100,000, which upon a population of 63,700, gives an average of �1 us. 7d per head throughout the Colony. In great Britain the Nett amount of taxation in october 1849, exclusive of collection was �47.290,395, which was divided Over a population of 20,925,931 persons giving an average of �3 5s. 2d. Per head or including poor rates �2 14s. Per head or nearly As much again As that of the Colony. He the collector of customs regretted therefore that an erroneous impression should exist on this Point or that they would propose a system of taxation which would act oppressively upon the Labouring classes. He would claim the attention of the House while he read some calculations taken from an average of invoices for several years showing How the proposed duties would operate Between the working Man and a person with an income of from �500 to �800. The collector of customs then entered into the greatest minutiae showing that the full amount of taxation for All purposes which would fall on the working Man did not exceed �2 12s. 9jd. Per annul for a married Man including imported articles for House building which latter if not a direct tax yet might be looked upon As so much additional rent to the landlord. The above calculations were based upon a comparison of invoices and he considered the working Man Hano cause to complain. The collector of customs went on to detail the articles with the amount of taxation which would affect a Man possessing �500 to �800 per annul forming in the aggregate a sum of �14 12s. 2d. He the collector of customs had Felt him self bound to go thus into extreme detail in order to show they did not intend to impose a system of taxation which would Bear unjustly upon the Labouring class but one which made a just distinction Between him and his More wealthy fellow colonist hear hear custom House duties he thought had considerable advantage Over direct taxation in consequence of the convenience afforded far the payment of them. Under the bonded system the importer does not pay the duty until after he has effected a Sale. He would now proceed with the free list on which several suggestions had been offered by various Hon. Members which the government had endeavoured to adopt As far As it was thought compatible with the principle of keeping up the Revenue. It was True that some reduction of the amount of Revenue would be con sequent on the alterations made but it was Only such As the government might fairly h be would not be attended with any very serious inconvenience. He would now read the pro posed alterations. Drapery had been withdrawn from the list of articles on which it was proposed to increase duties. On other articles a Small additional duty bad been placed. The Hon. Member then read the following list of alterations. Proposed alterations in the new Tariff Beer Porter &c., per gallon 4d. Coffee per cwt., 6s. Drapery and Valorme 5s. Per cwt. Spirits per gallon 6s. Manufactured tobacco per lb., is. A manufactured ditto 6dv cigars Che roots and snuff 2s. 6d wine per gallon 2s. The House would see that it was proposed in compliance with a suggestion that had been made to make the duty on spirits 6s. Instead of 5s., As he had originally proposed. He would now address himself to the free list and would add coals and other fuel and propose that it should stand As altered. Or. Neales wished to know whether books that consisted principally of pictures with letter press description As also portfolios or pictures bound up but in such a Man Ner As to be Able to be taken out and distributed in a drawing room to the various persons composing a party would be considered As books. He certainly thought that All taxes on knowledge should be removed. Hear hear. The collector of customs said he must consider those referred to by the Hon. Member As books. He was As anxious As the Hon. Member or any one else could be to remove All impediments from the attainment of knowledge in favour of education but he begged to observe that the duty of 6s. Per cwt on books was in fact Only a duty on the raw material of leather and paper of which they were made it had no reference to the matter of the work or its intrinsic value whether As the production of an eminent writer or a scarce Book which was oat of print it was not in Short a tax on adventitious value. When the time should come for the removal of All duties on knowledge he Woma of Iouna amongst the i Oremosu to pro Moio it uni the House must be careful of not falling into an error which had. Before been fallen into by former legislators. It would he a great fiscal error to take the duty off books whilst it was allowed to remain on the raw materials such As paper printing presses Type and Ink. Now it must be evident to. The House the duty could not be taken off these. At least without an equivalent increase on other articles of general consumption or the loss would he More serious to the Revenue than it could Bear. He maintained that it would be inconsistent and unjust to the printers of this Colony hear hear to take the duty off books in their perfect state without taking it off the materials of which they were made. Or. Hall wished to know if taking the duty off coals would make any reduction in the Cost of collecting the Revenue. He found that the whole amount of duty on Coal during the past year was �170, and he believed that the amount of the expenses of the custom officers at port. Wakefield whose principal importation was Coal amounted to nearly that sum. The collector of customs said it would not make any difference As an officer must be placed on Board vessels carrying goods exempt from duties in order to see that nothing bearing duty was bought in under Colour of free goods. This was an error into which even sir r. Peel fell great finance and Able statesman As he was in supposing that an extensive reduction of duties would necessarily involve a reduction in the expense of the customs. The fact wa3 that the collection of the duty was not so serious an item in the customs expenditure As some might suppose the principal expense As Well As labour was in making up Correct accounts. Or. Hall thought that As the government had resolved to give the Public the Benefit of an exemption of duties on coals they ought to make some arrangement to Lessen the Burden of collecting the customs duties at the same time particularly in reference to the establishment at port Wake Field. The collector of customs scarcely understood the meaning of the Hon. Member but thought that was not the time to enquire into the propriety of making reductions in the custom House establishment. The time for that would be when the estimates were under consideration. After some remarks from or. Elder or. Neales said that if books were particularly such As he had named not to be exempt from duties then news papers which were to a Large portion of the Community the Only books used ought not to be exempt from taxation Many of these papers consisted almost entirely of pictures and prints. Or. Angas was in favour of the removal of All restrictions upon knowledge of every kind. Captain Bagot thought that the paper printed on ought to be put on the same footing As the paper not printed on otherwise the exemption of the former would act As a Bounty on printing done out of the Colony. Hear hear on the question being put that books should be put on the free list the ayes carried it. The collector of customs in reply to or. Baker said that passengers Luggage was already on the free list. Or. Hart suggested that the expression personal baggage would be More definite. The collector of customs said that in the act the term baggage was sufficiently defined and no difficulty was experienced in practice. On the question that the free list do Brand As altered being put it was carried in the affirmative without a Dis sentient. Or. Baker would not follow the Hon. The collector of customs through All the calculations in reference to the parties who possessed an income of �500 per Annam although he thought some of them admitted of correction and particularly those founded on the supposed amounts of spirits wine and tobacco consumed by the possessor of �500 a year. He thought Little weight could be attached to calculations founded on incomes in this Colony since they were so fluctuating. The question he wished to ask was what kind of Glass was intended to be exempt the collector of customs explained that the Hon. Member by a reference to the Tariff would see that it was Crown and Sheet Glass. The larger kinds and plate Glass for mirrors and shop windows would be subject to a duty As they were luxuries. Hear hear or. Baker was particularly desirous to see some reduction made in the duty of Low priced sugars. He would consent to an increase on Coffee if a reduction could be effected on sugar. The collector of customs was anxious to meet the wishes of All parties but thought the Revenue could not Bear any reduction on sugar if the duty on tobacco was to be reduced is. Per la. The chief consumer of the Low priced sugars was the working Man and he would not feel the additional duty of is. Per cwt. On sugar so much As he would the addition of is. Per la. On the tobacco. In Addi Tion to this the reduction on tobacco would certainly have the effect of diminishing the amount of smuggling one of the demoralizing practices which it was desirous to Abate whilst the reduction on the Low priced sugars and molasses would have the effect of increasing illicit distillation the other of the obnoxious practices. He knew that the greater. Portion of the molasses which was imported from the Mauritius would be applied to no other purpose than distillation from the state in which it arrived. By making the duty on molasses the same As that on Musco Vado sugars illicit Dis Illarion was much checked. Or. Angas thought the tax on sugar would he a severely Felt by the sheep Farmer As that on tobacco. The collector of customs remarked tha it would not be of any serious amount since the sugar and tobacco that were served by sheep Farmers to their servants were Only a portion of their wages and therefore the tax would not in reality be paid by the sheep Farmer hut by his ser vant since if the rations were not Given an equivalent in the shape of Money wages must be Given. After some further rather desultory discussion respecting the duty on tobacco for sheep washing during which or. Kaker observed that from experience he had found that native grown tobacco would answer All the purposes of the sheep Farmer and was much cheaper or. Waterhouse said he would rather have the duty on tobacco than on sugar but he did not see that it was necessary to have it even on that since tobacco was considerably cheaper in America now than Here. As to the observation of the collector of customs that the molasses was mainly used for illicit distillation he begged to say that it was extensively used by the working classes particularly by the germans for spreading on bread instead of butter More particularly when butter was at the very High Price which it sometimes reached and the contemplated increase would amount to As much As 50 pet cent or. Baker observed with regard to the smuggling carried on in tobacco he was sure that such was the Case for he had some stations in the North and to these he never had occasion to Send tobacco though he was quite sure As much if not More was used than at his other stations to which he was obliged to Send it. Where or How it was obtained he did not know and As he did not belong to the customs it was not his business to make particular enquiries. A laugh or. Younghusband observed that the present duty on sugar amounted to 15 percent and it was not Desir Able to increase it after some remarks from or. Hall in reference to illicit distillation and the difficulty of bringing Forward facts in proof the collector of customs said that if his present proposition did not meet the views of Hon. Members he had another which he submit to the House and As he had said before he was anxious to meet the wishes of the majority of the House provided it could be done without infringing on the principles to which the House had bound itself respecting the amount of Revenue and the prevention of smuggling and illicit distillation. He had no particular predilection for either provided there was no More serious loss to the Revenue the present loss from tobacco and books &c., amounting to near �6,000 or �7,000. Or. Baker thought the amount would be so trifling that it would not be important and the increased consume ? Tion would probably make it up if not an additional duty might be placed on other articles. Or. Neales thought it would be Best to go through the items seriatim and then if at the end they found that they ? had made too great a reduction they could return and add something on some one or two articles. He thought this plan would save time. Or. Peacock seconded. The motion on being put was lost or. Baker would move that the duty on sugar be reduced to one shilling or. Hare seconded the motion. The collector of customs was anxious to meet the views of Hon. Members but As the loss by the redaction ofthe6d. On tobacco would amount to nearly �3,000, he hoped the House would should there be any inconvenience Felt by such a reduction in the Revenue consent to Supply it by sanctioning a supplementary vote seeing that the government had consented to the redaction to meet what he imagined was the opinion of the majority of the House. Or. Peacock hoped the House would not consent to any greater amount than 5s., As the loss would be made up by increased consumption and great moral Good would be effected by the suppression of illicit distillation and smug gling and he was sore the House would make up the loss ? if any. ? or. Hart thought if the duty were not doable the Price there would be no inducement to smuggling and tha. New 6s. Duty would be Little less than the Cost Price of

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