Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1877.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 61, 14 March 1877, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1877.

Mr. Hutchison has not dealtfairly with our criticism of his remarks on the subject of a land tax. In his first speech to the electors in St. George's Hall, Mr. Hutchison said that if direct taxation were required, then a land tax should be imposed. We pointed out that while fully agreeing that land should t8 taxed, it would at the same time be necessary that other descriptions of property as well should also be made to contribute towards the revenue. Mr. Hutchison in his speech last night apparently disagreed with that view. He stands up for a tax on land alone, and says nothing whatever about imposing taxation on bank stock, snares in public companies, and on income. This cry of " tax the land" is always a popular one with a certain class of electors, and in Victoria is frequently accompanied by the further watch word of " Burst up the big estates." Nevertheless, most people who have given thought to the subject are convinced that when direct taxation is imposed it should not merely iuclude land but property generally. We hold strongly with the view that in many parrs of this Colony the holdings are far too large and the land in too few hands. In some parts for instance, of the Rangitikei district there are large holdings still in their original natural condition of flax and fern, which, if cut up into blocks of two to three hundred acres each, would, when cultivated, support scores of families in comfort and prosperity. If direct taxation of land would promote the subdivision of these large holdings, and thus stimulate settlement, then a good purpose would be served. Nevertheless, it would not be just, as Mr. Travers pointedly stated in a recent speech, "to make any distinction in the incidence of taxation, which would save one class of property at the expense of another. All property," continued Mr. Travers, "should contribute aliKe— real and personal estate — income and property. There is scarcely an individual in this country who is not an owner of land ; and it seems to me to be utterly absurd to talk of imposing taxes upon land alone merely because we happen to have here and there some large proprietors owning more than you and I do. If additional taxation has to be imposed, it should be in regard to all classes of property and income — there should be a limit to the taxation of income — but all should contribute, in proportion to their means, to the necessities of the State." Only in the manner indicated by Mr. Travers would it be just to impose direct taxation. If it were proposed to tax land alone, there would be at once an outcry raised by the owners that they were especially selected as the victims of taxation, while the wealthy holders of other descriptions of property were allowed to escape. By making direct taxation applicable to property generally as well as land, no reason would be given for such a complaint, while the owners of large holdings, being made to bear their fair share of the public burdens, would discover that land to be made profitable must be utilised. The tendency of such taxation would bs to cause the cutting up of large estates, and the division of land amongst a large number of people Moreover, if a portion of the revenue were raised by direct taxation, it would be possible after a -time to reduce the amount of Customs duties on articles of necessity in general use, so that the great body of the people would benefit by b3ing able to get more tor their money. It has to fc3 noted that in the case of an income tax, an amount of income sufficient to supply necessaries should be exempted from taxation. Both candidates now in the field, it will be observed, speak as if the necessity for imposing additional taxation will probably be avoided. We do not share their somewhat sanguine views on this point. But in any case the day is not far distant when the great majority ot the people of this colony will demand a change in the incidence of taxation, by which land, property, and wealth will be made to contribute their fair share towards the revenue of the State. In Victoria people are already face to face with this question, and this will soon also be the case in New Zealand.

For the first time, to-day the Evening Post has been folded by steam power and machinery. Week by week, the fast increasing circulation of the Evening Post has made the difficulty of printing off, folding, and distributing each night's edition within a reasonably short space of time, fc9come greater and greater. When the number of copies to be printed ovF is very large, as it always is in the case of the Evening Post, then much time is occupied in folding by hand labour. To do this work quicker, a folding machine, with all the latest improvements, has been constructed by one of the most skilled engineers in Sydney, and is now in use at this office. It is a wonderfully complex piece of mechanism. The papers, as they are thrown off from the printing machine, are plaoed on the folding machine, which is worked by steam power. Sheet after sheet passes with great rapidity through a series of rollers, and comes out neatly folded ready to be taken off by the " runners." The machine is capable of folding 3000 copies per hour, so that the savjng of time as compared with hand work is very great. As each "runner's " number of copies are folded, he will at once secure them and proceed with the work of delivery, so that the Evening Post will in future be earlier in the hands of our numerous reader?. The full advantages of this machinefolding process will be experienced when the copies can be printed off more rapidly. Only eighteen months ago a printing machine capable of throwing off 1800 copies per hour was obtained from England, which it was thought would meet all requirements for a considerable time. That machine is not nearly fast enough now, so a new machine is being imported, made expressly for the proprietors of the Evening Post, by a noted London house, which will print off from 3500 to 4000 copies per hour. This machine will shortly come to hand and be put into use in conjunction with the Folding Machine. By the employment of these improved and modern mechanical appliances, the work of publishing the Evening Post will not occupy more than one-third of the time which it does at present, and the delivery of the paper will consequently take place at a much earlier hour. The necessity of obtaining entirely new and improved machinery has arisen entirely owing to the enormous and unprecedented increase which has taken place in the circulation of the Evening Post during the last sixteen months — an increase which week by week still steadily goes on. It is very gratifying to be able to say this, and in thanking our readers for the liberal and generous support which has thus been accorded to the Evening Post, we may remark that it shall t3 our earnest endeavour to deserve it by making, from time to time, such improvements in the paper as the progress of Wellington may demand.

The tenders for the new buildings in addition to the Odd Fellows' Hall were opened yesterday, when that of Mr. Charles Taylor, at £1320, was accepted. The work is expected to be completed in about three months. The additions include a new hall for the purposes of the Order, to be used in lieu of the present one, which has been leased by Mr. A. A. Barnett for 42 years. This new hall will measure 46ft by 21ft ; there will be also a library, waiting room, and other- apartments, and a handsome facade to Lambton Quay. Mr. Thomas Turnbull is the architect. In consequenceofamistake having been made in the hour given for closing entries for the tit. Patrick's Day Sports on the Basin Reserve, it has been resolved to extend the time to the hour so named in error — 8 o'clock this eveuing. Nominations for the handicap swimming race, which will take place at the Tuorndoo Baths on Saturday next, close at 8 o'clock this evening, at the Pier Hotel. The entries for the other races are numerous, and altogether a most successful meeting is anticipated. The following list of successful tenderers is published for general information : — Construction of Maungatawha punt. Baker & Abraham, £77; Manawatu punt, Baker & Abraham, £77; Wangaenu punt, Baker & Abraham, £84; falling and clearing 900 chains of roads north of FeUding, T. J. Allen 13s lid per chain;

approaches, Tauherenikau bridge, M. B. Card,£l4B ; -deviation West Coast road, Thomas Power, £G44; Pilot Station road, 38 chains, E. Short, -£93 «2s; falling and clearing 260 chains of bosh on roads north of Feilding, Wenyell Kroupa, £1 7s 6d per chain. ' Rangitumau roads, Contract No. 1, cross road, 370 chains, Nib Persen, Ids,, per chain ; Contract No. 3, cross road, 325 chains, J. Swanson and others, £1 Is per chain. Maungapakeha roads, Contract No. 5, John Quain, £384 ; Contract No. 6, John Quain, £896 10s. Falling and clearing 224 chains of bush on Bunny thorpe road line. Brown & M'Kenzie, 18s 6d per chain. Mr. Travers will meet and address the electors at the Princess Hotel, Thorndon, tonight, at 8 o'clock. A meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday next at 4 o'clock. Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood and Co., have come to the decision to withdraw their boats from the Sydney trade, and to confine their trade to that between Melbourne and New Zealand, as formerly. It is understood that this step is taken in consequence of the Tararua, which had taken the place of the illfated utago in the Sydney trade, being required for the Adelaide line. Mr. Edwin Davey begs thankfully to acknowledge the receipt of the following subscriptions, viz. : — Collected by Mr. Firmin, £9; Mr. Spinks, £3 17s 6d; Mr. Coffee, £2 15s 6d ; Captain Stack, 10s. Mr. Henry Southee desires us to state that he took the special prize for butter at the Hutt Show. Mr. W. F. Burgess likewise desires the fact to be known, that he took the secoud amateur prizes in kitchen apples, kidney potatoes, and Hamburgh fowls. It is notified that Henry Edward Tonks, of the City of Wellington, cornfactor, has filed a deed of arrangement with his creditors, under the Debtors and Creditors Act. The first meetiug of creditors will be held on the 29th instant. The inward Suez mails which arrived by the -Ringarooma this morning, two days in advance ! of contract time, consisted of 298 letters, 220 book-packets, and 500 newspapers, via Southampton ; and 614 letters, 270 books, 685 newspapers! ; The outward San Francisco and i Suez mails dispatched on Saturday and Sun • , day last consisted, the former ot 5130 letter-!, 110 book-packets, and 3486 newspapers: the latter of 412 letters, 5 book-packets, and 66 newspapers, via Southampton ; and 225 letters, 3 books, and 6 newspapers, via Brindisi. The San Francbco mail was the heaviest ever yet dispatched from Wellington. The yacht Minaehaba took advantage of the light northerly wind yesterday to have a cruise round the Bay. When the southerly breeze came up it was' found necessary to take a reef in the mainsail, which was lowered accordingly, but unfortunately the sheave of the throat-hal-yards carried away, and the sail could not be hoisted. Seeing the s^Storm bird coming up the bay, the yachtsmen hailed her, and got a j tow home. We are requested to contradict the statement which has' bee tf published, to the effect that the Minnehaha had lost her rudder, was half full of water, and in great danger. Nothing of the kind occurred, the sole mishap being the trifling one mentioned above, which would have delayed her getting back, but in no way endangered her. Mrs. Scott-Siddons, the celebrated actress, and Mr. J. B. Steele, the popular actor, arrived by the Taupo from the South to-day, and will appear at the Theatre Royal tomorrow evening, in "Romeo and Juliet." The following are the names of those who are to take part in the cricket match, Public Works v. other Departments, on the Basin Reserve to-morrow : — Public Works — Werry, Knapp, Horwood, Lynch, St. George, Hickson, Campbell, Vincent, Shepherd, A. D. Smith, Back ; Wymond, emergency ; Bate, scorer. Other Departments — Gray, Edmunds, Russell, Evatt, Davies, Thoruhill, Glasson, Kennedy, Irvine, Armitage, Thompson ; Belcher and Hall, emergency; Lloyd, umpire; Humphrey, scorer. The Wellington Literary Association held its opening meeting last night after the summer recess. The following officers were elected for the ensuing season: — President, Rev." James Paterson ; Vice-Presidents, Rev. C. S. Ogg, and Messrs; Farmer an 1 Scott;. Treasurer, Mr. G. M. Macdonald ; Secretary, Mr. Hopklrk ; Librarian, Mr. R, {tenner., Committee, Messrs. Bishop, Gardner,' Hullett, 1 Murray, and Renner. Several excellent standard works have been added to the library of the association. At the Theatre Royal last night ''Old Fidelity " was repeated. This evening Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Hall make their last appearance in Wellington, playing "The Octoroon," Mr. Hall taking the part of Salem Scudder, and Mrs. Hnll thatofZoe. The Chicago Minstrels performed very successfully again last night at the Odd Fellow's Hall; This evening they appear for the last time in Wellington, for the benefit of Mr. C. Wallace, when a new and most attractive performance will to produced. In addition to the usual attractions, Mr. Winter will give some of his popular performances on the musical glasses, and several amateurs will assist in the vocal selections. The regular weekly meeting of the managing committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon at the Provincial Library. Present — J. C. Crawford, Esq. (chairman), Right Rev. the Bishop of Wellington, Yen. Archdeacon Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. C. S. Ogg, Rev. J. Paterson, Rev. Mr. Redstone, Rev. Mr. Trivett, Messrs. H. Bunny, J. Woodward, J. Burne, J. G. Holdsworth, and Richardson. Several cases of distress were dealt with. The Mayor's letter and proposals were discussed. It was resolved (1) that the item funerals be not entertained by the institution ; (2) that the proposals submitted by the Mayor be given effect to for the period ending the 30th June, on the understanding that should it be necessary to employ a relieving officer, such officer should be appointed by the Benevolent Institution ; (3) that a letter be addiassed to his Worship the Mayor, containing copies of the resolutions passed. The following subscription was received :— Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, £10. In the absence of. the Rev. R. Coffey, consideration of Mrs. Turner's case was postponed. A misprint occurred in our report of Mr. Orraond's reply to the Wairarapa deputation yesterday, his answer to the question, " When the railway would be open to Pakuratahi?" being given as about five weeks instead of five months. The billiard room in connection with the Clyde Quay Hotel has just been completed, Mr. Boner, the contractor, having carried out the work in a very satisfactory manner. We may mention that Mr. Dashwood, late of the Union Hotel, has leased the Clyde Hotel from Mr. Murphy, the proprietor. A special meeting of the general committee of the Choral Society was held last evening at Messrs. Bethune and* Hunter's office, the President, Mr. Hunter, M.H.R., in the chair. It was decided that the next subscription concert should be given on the 12th April — four weeks from to-morrow — when Sir Michael Costa's oratorio "Naaman" will be performed in its entirety. Various arrangements were made in reference to the following concert, the programme of which will be miscellaneous, the iirst part consisting of selections from various oratorios, the second of secular pieces. It is intended to give this concert in the mouth of May. Anglo-Australian writes : — " A marriage has been arranged between Mr. B. L. Farjeon, the popular author, and Miss Jefferson, the daughter of Joseph Jefferson, Esq., the eminent actor of ' Rip Van Winkle.' " Referring to the removal of the surveyors, the News Letter remarks : — " The removal of j a number of surveyors from this province to j others where surveys are in a backward and unsatisfactory state, is undoubtedly one ot the highest compliments the Surveyor-General could pay to Mr. Jackson, the <~"hief Surveyor of Wellington. At the same time we should like to kuow how the unfinished surveys here are to get on. We trust the staff will not be left in the weak state into which it will be thrown when the removals are effected." Another very pleasant and successful entertainment was given at the Mount View Asylum last evening. The programme consisted of negro farces and songs, winding up with a dance. There was a large atteudance of visitors, and everything passed off as pleasantly as possible. Yesterday, after we went to press, the divers recovered the other donkey engine from the sunken bulk Eli Whitaey. The two engines are valued at about £400. Mr. R. Somerville, the proprietor of the Victorian Stables, Abel Smith-street, has been very unfortunate with his horses during the last week. On Sunday he provided a par>y, who were desirous of proceeding to Porirua, with a horse and buggy, but when they had reached Ngahauranga the horse was evidently

80 ill that it had to be taken out of the trap and left there. It died a few hour? afterwards. Yesterday another of his horses dropped dead as it was being along the street. Those persons who are in favor of establishing a temperance newspaper are invited to attend a meeting to be held at the Rechabite Hall at 7 o'clock this evening. The Hon. William Fox is to occupy the chair. Their Honors the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Richmond sat in Banco to-day. The only case of any public interest was that of Poll v. Tonks. It will be remembered that the plaintiff got a verdict of £200 damages against the defendant for injuries sustained by him through a runaway horse, and defendant moved for a new trial. The argument on this motion was proceeding when we went to press. Mr. Travers appeared for the defendant and Mr. Barton for the plaintiff. The election of a new member of the City Council must take place within fourteen days, dating from to-morrow. We hear of Mr. Krull as a possible candidate. The s.s. Hinemoa returned to harbor this forenoon from the Brolhers. It is probable she will leave for Napier with the Hon. Dr. Pollen on Friday or Saturday. How to Meet the Winter. After the debilitating heat of summer, the constitution is illfitted to encounter the sudden climatic changes of winter. The interval between the two seasons is the time to brace up the system to encounter the variations of temperature to which it will be subjected. Taken three or four times a day during the autumn and at the beginning of winter, Udoli-ho Wolfb's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps fortifies the system against coughs, colds, rheumatism, and other complaints incident to the latter season. — Adt.