More Taxation.

As there is no likelihood of the tariff proposals now before the House of Representatives being passed in their present form, it is scarcely necessary to go into particulars regarding them. The outlook, as regards trade, is not, however, encouraging. Instead of an anticipated surplus of £1,500 the Treasurer reports a deficit of over £92,000. Neither the Government nor the House, so far, have manifested any desire for retrenchment, and the only resource appears to be an increase of nearly £200,000 on the year's taxation. This is proposed to be effected partly by an increased property tax, but chiefly by increased Customs Duties. As these are to take the protective form, they will (if adopted) yield the minimum instead of the maximum of revenue. Many articles heretofore admitted free are to be taxed; and stationery and other goods formerly paying 15%, are to be increased to 20%—really nearly 25%. So greatly would this restrain trade, as most likely to result in actual diminution instead of increase in the revenue. But the worst of all signs is the absence of self-reliance on the part of the colonists themselves. There is scarcely a trade or industry (the noble craft of printing excepted) which has not made some kind of appeal to the State to bear its losses or implement its gains.

Heavy gales, with shipwrecks and loss of life, have prevailed during the present month. On the 11th inst., the Northumberland, with all her English cargo for Napier, and a good deal of home cargo shipped at Lyttelton, was driven ashore in Hawke's Bay and broken to pieces. The crew were saved, but four men were lost by the capsizing of the steamer Boojum, which had gone out to render assistance, and was also wrecked. Among the cargo was a quantity of books and stationery, and twenty bales of paper shipped to two of the local newspapers.

A deputation of Otago gentlemen interested in the printing and publishing trade waited on Mr Downie Stewart last week with reference to the proposed duty on imported almanacs and calendars. Mr Wilkie, the spokesman, said that almanacs for the year were already ordered, and as agreements with the importers were already made, the latter would have to be at the loss or cancel the orders. The deputation only asked at present for the removal of the duty for the present year, but if it were not removed altogether the importation of almanacs would be stopped. Mr Stewart said he would lay the matter before Sir Julius Vogel. If the deputation would make up a list of the classes of printed goods that could be turned out in the colony, and another of those that could not, he would submit them to the Colonial Treasurer.

Mythology is not a strong point with the colonial comp. The ketch Frithjof was wrecked on the coast early this month, and her name turns up as « Frithjoy » and « Free-joy » in the telegrams.