AUCKLAND. 3rd September.

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

AUCKLAND. 3rd September.

The Licensing Bench has been very chary this time about granting new licenses. A short time ago they refused to license a large house already built in Queen -street, and to-day another application from Parnell, supported by 200 neighbors, was refused. Another bitter discussion is going on in reference to the Grammar School, in consequence of the head master's refusal of a favorable certificate to one of the masters who was applying for a school in Christchurch. The teacher appealed to the Board of Governors, stating that he had been five years in the school, and his class always had been favorably reported on, while there never had been any complaint. The Board declined to interfere, but the head master's attitude is severely censured in press correspondence. The Star to-night, commenting on the debate in reference to the Government financial proposals, says: — "The arguments used in the House are a fair sample of the opposition which any Ministry may expect in attempting chauges in the incidence of taxation. Every class affected by tho alterations will find more or less sympathy in Parliament." After criticising the objections, it concludes — " The joint stock companies' tax, land tax, and all other imposts proposed by the Government with a view of making the burden of taxation fall more equitably had each its typical opponent in the House last night, irrespective of party, and Ministers must have realised the fact that open enmity is less objectionable than captious, cantankerous, and lault-finding friendship. A great want of loyalty has been displayed in the attitude which avowed supporters of the Government have taken upen this vital question. Petty fault-finding is not the way to advance a great cause. The bitterest opponent could wish nothing more damaging, and if the Government desire to earn the confidence of the colonists they will nail their colors to the mast, and compel their supporters either to respect them or to go to the country and settle accounts with their constituents."