Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1878.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 210, 4 September 1878, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1878.

Major Atkinson was not equal to the task he set himself last night in criticising the measures and policy of the Government. He attacked some of the main points, but in regard to the Land Tax Bill, which formed the immediate subject of debate, he displayed a degree of incertitude which, considering the whole tenor of his Bpeech, was contradictory. If, when a woman hesitates, she is lost, much more is a politician who assumes a leadership, or at least takes the line of action supposed to attach to that position, even though the holder may have formally vacated it. It maybe mentioned here that Major Atkinson is a strong advocate of a property and income tax, and declares that it should be levied n >w ; but we do not think he understands its working, or even the basis of all direct taxati-n, otherwise he would not have made the comparison he did regarding the unearned increment of value on land improved by local works or other colonial progress. He instanced three cases — one "f a man whose land, originally costing £2 an acre, was raised to £20 an acre by being near a railway ; another less near, was raised to £10 ; and a third to £4 per acre. Now he said the first (at the rate of £d per pound value) was taxed lOd per acre, the second sd, and the third 2d ; which he declared was altogether an unequal and unjust taxation. Yet, as it is impossible to obtain a tax which, amidst all tin various surroundings and position of individuals, can always press equally, so is it necessary to adopt a practical method which can te worked and carried out. The principle is seen in the system of local rating. A householder pays say Is on the ponnd of his rent, whether that be £50 or £500 ; in the one case he pays 50s, in the other £25. So a man, with a thousand acres at £20, would pay £41 16s Bd, while another, with a thousand acres at £4, would pay only £8 7s 4d, or one-fifth of that amount. The almost universal practice is to base taxation on the value actual, or annual. That very property and income tax — a motion iv favor of which was unwillingly forced on Major Atkinson's Government last year, which he strove even then to avoid, and for which he now displays such wondroua zeal — that tax is based not on how or whence the wealth or income arises, but merely on the fact of its existence. It is a tax on the annual product, in the shape of profits or income, arising from all kinds of property, or capacity for making money. This taxe3 improvements, or rather the results of them, in the shape of profits, because all such improvements represent wealth or means. Jhere is a seeming anomaly in this taxing of land, less the improvements, which was touched on and made much of by Major Atkinson. ' He instanced a case where an owner sells his property, which had been improved, say, in the ratio of from £2 to £20, and with something of triumph he asked, in effect, how we could catch that person who sold out and left the country, or invested his money not in joint stock companies? The answer to this is very simple. The Land Tax is a burden on the land, and will, to the extent of capitalized value of the annual amount of the tax, be carefully calculated by the purchaser, just as is done m the case of land tax or road rates at Home ; and by so much will the purchase price of the property be affected. But to discuss details and misconceptions like these is trifling with a principle, and shows what is too apparent, thit although many have property and income tax on their lips, yet few, indeed, understands its workings, its application, and the far-reaching character of the provisions under which it is and can be administered. What was perhaps the most remarkable feature in Major Atkinson's Bpeech was his mournful prediction. As a prophet of evil, he made his appearance as the Opposition leader last year. Then he warned the country that the revenue was failing ; that the credit of the colony was declining; that the loan could not be floated ; and

he did his best to secure the fulfilment of his prophecy by doing as much damage as could be done by the speech of an ex-Premier and Treasurer, who reduced the four million loan by a milli~ n anda half ; and kept crying, " Ichabod I" the glory has departed since himself had vacated the Ministerial seats. What happened? Every prophecy was falsified. The Cnstoms revenue, which had fallen £26,000 during the last year of the Atkinson Ministry, rose £75,000 in the first year of the present Ministry. Here are the figures :—: — Customs ... 1875-76 ... - £1,225,313 „ ... 1876-77 ... 1,199,140 „ ... 1877-78 ... 1,274,667 Similarly with the imports and exports :—: — Imports Exports. 1875-70 ... £7,417.111 ... £5,649,573 IB7G-77 ... 6,894,380 ... 5.467,794 1877-78 ... 7,395,496 ... 6,211,828 Could anything be more convincing than this of how little Major Atkinson understood the state of the country when he prophesied di»aster '! Our exports are larger than they ever were; our customs revenue is more elastic and expansive than ever before ; and as for the loan, we all know how it flourished, and the House and the country will not soon cease to remember that to Major Atkinson and his party ia owing the fact that the Loan Bill was shorn of its fair proportions, that it was reduced by a million and a-balf ; one-third of which amount was sacrificed by means of sharp party practice, which, pnducing an actual injury to the colony, and to its credit and financial power, can only be characterised as a political meanness which will not soon be forgotten.* And now he ia urging further borrowing ; and a more speedy construction of railways than ia proposed by the Ministry ; and once more indulging in tbe luxury of prophetic woe by declaring that the land fund would inevitably fall off ; and that means could not be procured to carry on the works. If we judge by the past, the prospects of our land iund are certainly better than they were last year, and the vaticinations of the modern Jeremiah are as likely to be falsified as they have already been.

It is only in the spirit of fair play that we again refer to the late Corporation banquet, and the payment of its cost out of the city funds. Mr Councillor Maginnity, in addressing the ratepayers last night, corroborated the explanation of the affair, which was formerly given in our columns. He said the idea of entertaining 1 the municipal and county delegates was first brought up at a private meeting of the Council, that Mr Dransfield, the Mayor, said he would pay tho cost, out of his own pocket ; but that the Council declined to allow this declaring it was a public affair and ought to be paid for out of the rates. And this was agreed to by all the councillors then present. That it was a mistake in view of the provisions of the law we have already stated, hut it was done ia apparent ignorance, and the only way it could be arranged was by the Council adding an equivalent sum to the Mayor's salary. This was roundabout and irregular; but it is only right to do justice to the Mayor, and Mr Maginnity did so last night by explaining the facts of the case.

When the House was about to adjourn at half-past one o'clock this morning, an attempt was made by the Government to have the debate on their policy adjourned until eleven o'clock this morning. Sir George Grey said that Ministers expected that the debate would last at least ten hours longer, and they were anxious to go to a division as quickly as possible. After some discussion, the Speaker expressed doubts as to the propriety of making such a motion just as the House was about to adjourn, and ultimately the motion was withdrawn. Motueka must have been the very Elysium of old topers until recently. According to Mr. Hurst house tho old lock-up there had " neither sides uor roof." How prisoners were lockedup Mr. Hursthouse did not condescend to say. But this happy state of Arcadian b'iss lasts no longer- A tyrai.ical Government have built a brand-new lock-up for inebriates and lightfingered gentry. There is one consolation, however. They have built it in the wrong place. Singularly enough, this appeared to be an additional grievance to Mr. Hursthouse. The Government steamer Hinemoa leaves Wellington with the members of the Assembly on their southward trip at six o'clock this evening. Militia officers will not in future be exempted from serving on juries if the Juries Act Amendment Sill pa ses in its present form. Two new clauses were added in committee in the Legislative Council last night, one exempting bank managers from serving on juries, and the other making it necessary that the finding of all juries of four shall be unanimous. Dr. Hodgkinson has given notice of the following motion for Wednesday next — "That this House considers it desirable that the Government should, during this session, bring in a bill for the readjustment of the representation in this House ; or if such bill cannot be got ready during the present sussion, that the Government be requested to prepare one during the recess. After wo went to press yesterday some further evidence was given by the prosecutor in the charge of forgery against Alfred Henry M'Lean, and the case was then adjourned till Thursday. The Wellington City Rifle Company's match — Married v. Single — comes off at the Polhill Gully rifle range, on Saturday next, at halfpast one o'clock puncturlly. It will be seen by the names of the teams, that the Married have all the old and reliable shots, but the Single having the rising " cracks " of the City Rifles, they intend making it a close contest. The following are the teams : — Married : Lieut. Walden, Color- Sergeant M'lntosh (winner of C.R.V. Challenge Medal for 1877), Serg-eants Bowie and Harris ; Privates J. W. Ballinger, Cording, Guise, and Watson ; emergency — Pooley. Single : l apt. Crowe, Privates A. Ballinger, H. Ballinger, Croucher, Hales, Buchanan, North, and Scott ; emergency — C. Stewart. A match has al«o been arranged betwetn the Wellington Artillery and City Rifles, to take place on Saturday, 28th September. The shareholders in the D'Urville Island Copper Mining Company are informed by an advertisement in another column that a first call of 2s Gd per share has been made, and is payable on or before Wednesday next, the 11th instant. Requisitions are in course of signature to Mr. Andrew Young and Dr. Newman, to allow themselves to be nominated for Te Aro and Thorndon Wards respectively. We understaud that the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell has declined to stand for Thorndon. Mr. S. Danks has announced himself as a candidate for Cook Ward. Councillor Maginnity has given the following notices of motion for to-morrow evening's meeting of the City Council :— (1) " That it be an instruction to the City Surveyor, in laying < ff the Thorndon Reclamation, to reserve a portion for a market ; " (2) •' That steps be taken to carry out the resolution of the Gth June, in respect to drainage of the city." The ordinary weekly meeting of the'committee of the Wellington Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present — Mr. J. Woodward (in the chair), Archdeacon Stock, Rev. R. Coifey. Rev. W. H, West, Her. J. Paterson, Rsv. H. B. Redstone, Messrs. J. G. Holdsworth, L. Levy, D. Lewis, and C. P. Powles. The following subsi riptions were received :— W. Lyon, £5 ss ; E. F. Norri«, £1 ; Mrs. C Knight, £2; box at the Working Men's Exhibition, £1 3s 3d. The bank balance wa* said to- be £43, exclusive of the £300 invested, and beariug interest. Several cases of distress were considered and relief granted. The Public Works Committee, in their report, which will be presented to the City Council to-morrow evening, recommend — That asphalte channelling be laid down in Nairn and Bolton-streets. That in cases where water meters have not been fixed from the first, the average be taken from the first three months that the meter is in us 9. That a line of concrete slabs be laid down the footpath in Custom House Quay, leading to the wharf. That certain alterations in the curves of the tramway *jis proposed by the company, ba agreed to, subject to the approval of the City Surveyor. That street lamps be erected at the corner of Vivian-street, and opposite the Tramway Station ; also at Brook-street. That the City Surveyor be authorised to obtain a patent horse broom, and street scraper ; also, two new mud carts with air-tight covers; estimated total cost, £200. The sitting of the Supreme Court in banco, which was to have been held this morning, has been adjourned till Friday next, in consequence of Mr. Justice Richmond being unwell. Mr. Henry Mace has intimated formally to the Corporation that he intends to claim compensation for prospective damage to his property near (he sea, arising out of the scheme of drainage for the city of Wellington adopted by the City Council. Mr. Mace's notice has been referred to the Drainage Committee. Messrs. Cheevers, Kennedy, and Bent's company of minstrels opened at the Theatre Royal last evening to a very good house, notwithstanding the unfavorable weathfr, the dress circle being well filled, while the stalls and pit were crowded. The first part of the

programme consisted of the usual "chair business," which went rff capitally, the favorite songs being Mr. T. Campbell's " S*-eet chiming bells" and Mr. Horace Lent's " My old bat/ 1 both of which were encored, while several other songs were heartily applauded. Messrs Cheevers and Kennedy iv their " original specialities" and- changes of character were exceedingly good, and each item was c cored with enthusiasm, especially their song •' Take nic home." Mr. B nts original sketch " The lawyer's clerk" and "The Man from America" were very funny, and elicited roars of laughter. Mr. Thompson played an effective violin solo, and Messrs. Cheevers and Kennedy danced a "Double American Land Jig" with immense effect. Altogether the entertainment," was a highly popular one, and, doubtless, will draw good houses during the troupe's season in Wellington. They have an excellent manager in Mr. Martin Siinonsen, who is well known here. The Maori difficulty which arose in reference to Centre Island, in Foyeaux Strait, has been settled agreeably by a simple process. It will be remembered that some Maoris took possession of the lighthouse recently erected on Centre Island, claiming that the inland had been bequeathed to one of them by a deceased relative, subsequent to his safe of the island to the Government, which "they regarded as consequently annulled, although a duly signed and executed conveyance of the property is in posses ion of the Government. When the Stella went down recently to Centre Island (whence she returned last night), Captain M'Kersie was empowered to take the necessary steps to secure the property. On arriving at the island he found a strong force of Maoris there, and they flatly refused to resign possession of the property, unless the Government would agree to pay a rent of £40 per annum for the portion of the island occupied by the lighthouse and its appurtenances. The Stella then steamed back to the Bluff, and having taken on board Inspector Fox and three constables, returned to Centre Island. On landing they found that a 1 the Maoris had left excepting '• the Claimant " and one old woman, who held possession of the lighthouse building, refusing to open the door, which was locked. After a short parley through the window, where the claimant persisted iv his deraaud for £40 per annum, Inspector Fox decided to break open the door, and was just about to Ao su when the garrison made a sudden and unconditional surrender, on union Captain McKersie took pos-ession and kindly conveyed the claimant with his venerable squaw to the Bluff, where he was put safely ashore and left to his own devices. The Visiting Justices of the Wellington Gaol at length have come to a decision in reference to the case of the com i<*t Hawkins, who was alleged to have been maltreated by the warders on his recapture after an attempted escape. The Justices consider that the evidence conclusively proves the prisoner to hive received ill-treatment from one of the warders, who has received a severe reprimand, together with a warning that any repetition ot such misconduct will be followed by in*tant dismissal. The Visiting Justices also thought it advisable to caution the warders generally that they mupt keep strictly within the prescribed rules in ther dealings with the prisoners, and that exceeding of their duty will be punished with summary dismissal. The abridged prospectus of the Ravenscliff Mining Company, formed in London for the purpose of working the property at Cape Jackson, Queen Charlotte t-ouud, formerly owned by the Turner Gold Mining Company, in conjunction with the Duryea Copper Mine, York's Peninsula, South Australia, appears in our advertising columns. Mr. C. H. Turner has been appointed the company's representative in New Zealand, and is now in Wellington for a few days. He may bo seen at the offices of Messrs. Ledger & Hickson, where he will be happy to afford any information to intending investors. It will be remembored that the City Solicitor was instructed by the City Council to communicate with Mr. J. C. Crawford, with the view of ascertaining what sum that gentleman would accept as compensation for the land belonging to him intended to be taken by the Wellington Corporation for a sewage depot. Mr. Travers wrote to Mr. Crawford accordingly, and an answer has been duly received. Its contents must have made our city fathers open their eyes considerably. Mr. Crawford politely intimates his willingness to accept the trifling sum of £40,000 sterling in full liquidation of all claims both as to the value of the land taken and any prospective damage to his other properties. This very modest demand — which only amounts to half the entire estimated cost of Mr. Climie's scheme or onethird that of Mr. Clark's scheme — has been referred to the Drainage Committee. This afternoon Mr. George Thomas offered at auction twenty-two shares in the Equitable Building and Investment Company, which were bought by Mr. .G. M. Ken bell, at 7s. premium. Foxton U now coming to the front and is asserting its right to be a township of some importance. Firstly, it anticipates shortly being declared a Customs port of. entry ; and secondly, a further advantage is to be given to it, the Government having resolved to connect it by rail with Wellington. As we have already mentioned' the place has now also a newspaper of its own — the Manawatu Herald, which appears to be making very fair progress. The production of Lord Lytton's great play " Richelieu " at the Opera House last night drew another capital house. Mr. Hoskins' representation of the famous cardinal was grand as ever, the striking contrasts between his ordinary tone of caustic cynicism and bitter humor and his passionate patriotism, his fond paternal love for his ward, and his affectionate remembrance of her dead father, or, again, between his aged debility — as often simulated as real — and his terrific bursts of passion, overwhelming in their terrible intensity, were all marvels of histrionic art, and elicited continual bursts of enthusiastic applause. Miss Colville played Julie with her accustomed charm and pathos Mr. Walter Hill was seen to better advantage in Baradas than in any other part he has yet played here. He acted extremely well, and often was deservedly applauded. His very distinct enunciation is especially praiseworthy, although at times he is addicted to exaggerated emphasis. Mr. Graham playod De Mauprat creditably, but his articulation greatly lacks distinctness through his excessive " mouthing." , The minor parts were fairly supported. To-night " East Lynne " will be played for the benefit of Miss Tilly Andrews, whose versatile accomplishments merit substantial recognition. A meeting of the Wellington Literary Association was held last evening whon the following officers were elected : — President, Rev. J. Paterson ; vice-presidents, Messrs. Gardner, Campbell, and Bishop ; committee, Messrs. Farmer, Hopkirk, Renner, and Waddell; secretary, Mr. C A. Baker; treasurer, Mr. J. Kerker; librarian, Mr. W. Muller. At the meeting of law clerks held last evening at Mr. Ollivier's office, Mr. O. Samuel in the chair ; the draft rules of the proposed association were read and adopted. The following officers then were elected : — President, Mr. W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S. ; vice-president, Mr. M. Chapman j secretary, Mr. Speed; committee, Messrs. Harrison, May, Devine, Lcckie, and Parkins. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman for his exertions in the matter, and the meeting then adjourned. It will be seen by an advertisement in another column, that the unsold allotments of the Creswick Estate are open for selection during the present month, at the upset prices. A circus is always a popular species of public entertainment. Mr. Levoi, formerly agent for Professor Ben Allah, the ventriloquist and wizard, is at present in Wellington, as advance agent for Hayes and Benhamo's International Circus, now doing a flourishing business in Christcuurch. The company is expected to arrive in Wellington in the course of three weeks.' We are glad to see that Mr Whitcombe, a gentleman formerly on the press in Wellington, is making his mark in another capacity, having painted the scenery for the new Theatre Royal at Marton. The local paper says :— " We must congratulate the artist on the success of his efforts, and regret that his talents have not a wider field. The proscenium is taken from that of the Opera Comique at Paris, and though rather heavy for so small a stage, the colors harmonize well. The drop scene represents an Italian fishing village, and is artistically executed, the light and shade being admirably brought out. The scenery consists of four scenes, capable of being converted into six complete sets. The manner in which the whole has been executed reflects great credit on Mr Whitcombe, proving him a scenic artist of great ability." We learn from the Rangitikei Advocate that Chinese have been employed on railway contracts north of Wanganui, but the Kuropean workmen have refused to work if they are employed. With the ordinary navvy, that heathen Chinee does not consort amicably, and some of the latter have been forcibly run off by the British navvy. At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade, held at the Brandon-street station on Monday evening, Captain Moss in the chair, it was resolved to vote a donation of £3 3s from the members' private fund, in aid of the unfortunate man Preston, who was hurt on the wharf recently. The date of sale of lots 1 to 14 advertised by Messrs T. X McDonald and Co. in another column has been altered from 9th September to 23rd September. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning William Brown was charged with the larceny of a pair of trousers, a alue 3U<, the

property of Edward Wood, a painter, residing at Wellington. Prisoner was sentenced to four weeks' hard labor. A new arrival by the Zealandia this afternoon, having imbibed rather more than was good for him, got the idea into his head that he wa* a constable and proceeded to "run in" one of the wharf assistants. A genuine policeman soon made his appearance on the scene, the tables were turned, and the " amateur" is now in the lock-up on a charge of drunkenness and assault.