25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 102, 24 January 1933, Page 8

25 YEARS AGO

When Revenue Was Rising

(from “The Dominion,” Jan. 23, 1908.) The Premier (Sir Joseph Ward), in the course of an interview last evening, gave a representative of “The Dominion” some interesting figures regarding the. financial position of New Zealand. “The revenue of the Dominion continues to display wonderful elasticity,’ said Sir Joseph Ward, “as the following Treasury figures will show:—For the nine months ended December, 1907, the receipts amounted to £6,307,102, as against £5,826,060 for the corresponding period of the previous year—an increase of £481,042. For the increase, the railways were responsible_ for £118,795, the customs for £127,405, stamps, etc., £126,605, and land tax £75,127.”

Mr. J. C. Williamson, the well-known Australian theatrical manager, has closed a contract with Sarah Bernhardt, the great French actress, for an Australasian tour of a hundred performances in the mid-summer of 19.09. Madame Bernhardt is to receive 500,000 francs. This contract was completed while Mr. Wiliamson was crossing the Atlantic in the big Canard liner Lusitania, and was closed by medium of a Marconigram.

A large c?owd congregated in the vicinity of the. visiting warships’ landing stage yesterday, and watched the movements of the small craft coming and going with untiring interest throughout the day. The two small steamers, Riwaka and Moturoa, conveyed excursionists during the day, but the journey, though short, was anything but pleasant. The warships, decked with bunting, presented a fine spectacle. The display of bunting was considered by many to be in honour of Wellington’s anniversary, but this idea was wrong. The anniversary of the Accession of King Edward to the Tbrqpe was celebrated yesterday by the British Navy throughout the world, and the Australian squadron did its share on this auspicious occasion. »