Evening Post. MONDAY, JANUARY 13. 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 318, 13 January 1879, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, JANUARY 13. 1879.

A letter appeared in the Evbnino Post on Saturday last on the subject of " Pay and the price of living." This is a question in which everyone is interested. Living is dearer in Wellington than in any other city in the colony, and though, in many cases, wages of working men are somewhat higher than elsewhere, yet that seeming advantage is completely overborne by the great increase in rents, and in other necessary expenditure. In truth, Wellington is likely to suffer, and has already begun to suffer from the great disparity in prices which, exist in the city, as compared with prices in other towns in the colony. In the matter of rents, these are, at least, 60 to 80 per cent, higher than the current rates charged in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedio. Houses for middleclass people and working men stand at such an exorbitant rent as to cripple the energies of people with limited incomes, and, coupled with the enhanced cost of all articles of daily consumption, are calculated to inflict serious injury on Wellington. Bread and batchers'

moat, considering the price of flour and of sheep and cattle, are nnduly high-priced; clothing is dearer than in any other town we know j even ordinary vegetables, for which the public are largely Indebted to the despised John Chinaman, are, like ordinary dairy produce, exceedingly dear. Our city rates are by no means trifling, and in fact everything: conspires to make people unwilling to submit to the burdens which are the necessary consequences of dwelling in Wellington. We know that in many cases working men would prefer taking lower wages in Christchiirch than receiving higher pay in Wellington. We aro cognisant of one -case, which we are told is not at all singular, where a working man who receives 42* to 45s per week pays no less than 18s per week of rent for his dwelling honse, which is neither new nor convenient, leaving for food and clothing, recreation and doctor's bills ior himself and family the very moderate sum of 24 to 27s per week. Is Friendly Society contribution possible under circumstances like these 1 Verily, no. There can be no question that such a rent is very nearly three times what it should be. Certainly it is more than double what a man with such wages is able, justly to himself and to the community, to afford to psy for rent. We believe, too, that all the enhanced prices like high rents are in the mom attributable to one cause. What then is that cause? It is in every nun's mind; it is the frequent topic of common conversation ; it is felt to be the bugbear of the city; it is, in plain English, the fictitious prices which land has attained in and near the town. Can anyone deny that much of the land, except at Koine choice spots, is estimated altogether above its real value ? With only a moderately-built dwelJ:-; iolJse) ertctefl on , -m,«i-. piot of ground, with limited interior and exterior accommodation, rents tanging from £130 to £220 a. year are demanded • but such house* do not to readily fiud tenants as their proprietors hoped. Payment of such rents, according to fair proportion a3 regards living ana the proper rearing of a family, ought to infer an infcome of from £1000 to £1500 a year ; the actual fact not Unfre^iiently is that instead of tub state of things ruling, the rent frequently consumes from a fourth to a third of a man's income. We know cases of persons in Government employment who, as our correspondent said, have wife and childron to support ou £200 a year, and who pay £60 a year for rent. Landlords, not unnaturally, say, " Well, we can get that price for the use of our property, and wo shall take it." Very proper; it is the law of supply and demand which no amount of mere pen-and-ink argument can alter, but which events assuredly must correct. Why has the land so suddenly risen, a* it has done, to such a high figure? In the first place, much of it has been changing hands* not on cash, but on credit, which is i at once seductive and dangerous, especially to tne purchaser, and sometimes to the seller, although he and the auctioneer generally contrive, by deft and skilful management, to keep a wi-e hold over the property ; and not seldom, as non-fulfilled agreements fall in, to benefit considerably by tue forfeited instalment*. But it is the vicious circle of repeated sale and purchase of the same land on bills, until paper is afloat among the various purchasers to the amount of, perhaps, four or five times the actual cost or true value. Let us give an example: — A sells to B a plot of suburban land, say, some thrae acres, at £600. B pays 10 or 12£ per cent, cash, and the balance by bills at three, six, nine, and tweivo months By and by, after a few months, C offers B £800 for the land, and geta it, also on terms — 10 per cent, cash and the balance in bills as before, with perhaps extended terms. From C to D it descends in the same style aud on like terras, and from D to E, and E to F : who, by the time the land reaches him, finds that tbe value, as per paper sales, hss risen to some £1400. It is the interest then all round to keep up the price, so man> are concerned in it; and it will only be when experience shall show, and when the fact is demonstrated to tbe public that this system is both dangerous and hollow, that some prospect of a remedy will arise. Exorbitant rents of shops cause high price in tho ordinary articles of household consumption, and so the shadow goes round. It is our business to welcome and to draw population, not to drive it away; but if decent working men, with wages ranging from 45s to 50s a week, and clerks with £-200 a year, have to pay a third of the amount for rent, with living otherwise highpriced, there can be but one, or rawer two, results; firstly, workmen will be attracted to cheaper towns, and the class of clerks, whether in the public service, in banks, or otherwise, run a great risk of deterioration. A full exposure of the unsound system of buying lands on long bills, which lately reached little less than a mania, would do much toward bringing things to their proper level, and would help to show how many people had miserably hampered themselves, and tied their hands, and how many butchers, bakers, grocers, and other tradesmen's bills were left unpaid because of this mad land speculation, whose far-reaching and unwholesome influence bas been, and is still felt in all. branches of trade, and is affecting our social welfare.

The alterations which have recently been made by the introduction of the stamp fee system, and the new tat iff of fees in the Resident Magistrate's Courts throughout the' colony, will prove very beneficial to suitors, more particularly to those, seeking to recover sums not exceeding twenty pounds. Hitherto the fees for summonses for amounts under twenty pounds were excessively high. From calculations made of the business dono in the more important Courts of the colony, it has been ascertained that forty-eight per cent., or very nearly one-half of the plaints, ore for sums not exceeding five pounds, twenty per cent, for sums not exceeding ten pounds, fifteen per cent, for sums not exceeding twenty pounds, ten per cent, between twenty and fifty pounds, and seven per cent, between fifty and one hundred pounds. Tbe following table will show the old and new scale of fees for obtaining judgments: — Not Not Not Not Not Exceed- Exceed- Exceed- Exceed- Exceeding ing iug ing ing £5 £10 £20 £50 £100 Old scale 9s 13s 19s 23s 37s New do. 5s 8s 15s 3'Js 40s It will therefore be seen at a glance that in eighty-three per cent of the cases the reduction in the scale ot fees is considerable. It is very true that tke sum charged in the first instance on issuing a summons includes the fee for hearing, which may possibly never take place. This appears a hardship, but when it is borne in mind that in seventy-five per cent of the plaints the fee now charged for summons, service, and hearing, is no more than was originally charged for the summons alone, it will be evident that no iuconsiderable boon has baen conferred upon litigants. The fees charged for the recovery of the larger sums have been increased, but not in any undue ratio, for if the fee were calculated upon the percentage of the amount sought to be recovered it will be seen that, whereas the percentage on sums of five pounds is five per cent., on ten pounds a little under five per cent., on twenty pounds four per cent., the percentage on fifty pounds is only a trifle over two and a half per cent., and on one hundred only two per cent., so that there is really no ground for complaint on that score, and the apparent hardship of charging for a hearing which may never take place is still further removed when it is known as a fact that in the recovery of the larger sums, where the hardship, if any, can only exist, one half of the cases go to judgment, and in the other half it is not improbable that plaiutiffi, through the instrumentality of the Court in issuing the summons, derive tbe same benefit as if their < cases were actually heard. Tbe stamp fee system could not be so efficiently carried out if separate stamps had to be obtained at every stage of a suit, and it was mainly to obviate this difficulty that the system of charging one fee to include every charge for obtaining a judgment was introduced. It is natural to OKpeetethat some nersons will be found to raise difficulties and throw obsticles ig« wujof-aib reforms, and who either will not or cannot see the benefits to be derived from them. We believe this to be a step in the right direction, and have pleasure in giving the Minister of Justice, or whoever may have effected the change, credit for it. The opinion of most of the Resident Magistrates was taken as to the advisability or otherwise of the various Clerks of Court being made stamp distributers, so that suitors might obtain the necessary stamps in Court; and it was generally thought that it was unadvisable for clerks to issue any stamps beyond those which may be required at any interlocutory proceeding in Court. Only one stamp being required up to and including judgment, suitors will easily be trained to obtain stamps before issuing their plaints at post offices or from persons licensed to sell revenue stamps, and we understand that tbe inconvenience will be lessened in the Courts of the principal cities of the colony by licensing the head bailiff to sell law court stamps in the Court to which he is attached.

The first results of the new tariff, which came into force at the beginning of this year, are satisfactory. So far from the revenue suffering from the reduction of the duties on tea, sugar, &c, there is a material increase up to the present date. This, of course, cannot be counted on as a permanent augmentation, for the reason we explained a few days ago, namely that importers had been holding- back as much as possible at the end of the year, waiting for the new tariff to come into operation before clearing their goods. During the first ten days of this year, the total duties collected id the colony on tea amounted to £7216, as compared with £2270 for the corresponding period of last year. The sugar duties yielded £6985, as against £1276; and tin Australian wine duties £281, is compared with £100. The increase on tea and sugar duties is most marked hi Wellington, being respectively £1348 and £1150, as compared with £328 and £405 last year. Auckland shows £1154 and £617, as against £311 and £437 ; Lyttelton, £1331 and £1448, against £496 and £582 ; and Duuedin, £2082 and £2350, against £572 and £1924. Australian wines yielded £57 at Lytteltou, as against nil last year; at Auckland and Wellington, £75 and £54 respectively, as against £11 at each place last yew. At Dunlin,

strange to say, there is a decrease, the returu being only £41, as compared with £48 last year. The produce of the Australian vineyards evidently is not so much appreciated in the Southern as in the northern parts of thh colony. .

''here ia one point ia the report of the Governors of Wellington College which deserves notice, and that is the proposal to lower the fees now chargeable. Tbia is a wise proposal, tor we believe good management cau, by causing increase in the numbers, do fat more than make up for the loss resulting from the reduction in the scale of fees. It will not, however, be advisable, as it seems, to us, to reduce the status of the College by lowering masteis* remuneration, and reducing the number of the staff. That will prove to ba very mistaken economy, and has, before now, proved the ruin of many an institution that wanted generous fostering, not starving. The income seems to be somewhat understated in the Governors report, which puts it at £1000. Surely that does not include the rent of ground which it w proposed to let on long leases, and which will yield nbtfnt £600 a year. This should make about £2400, besides which the Government have promised, and the House will, we believe, fulfil it, a grant to tha College, to make up for endowments, which nave been scantily furnished to Wellington. Again^ what should stay the Governors from acting witu precipitation is the fact that the Royal CaiSmissidn on Higher Bducatbn is about to begiu its sittings, and benefit might be obtained from the suggestions which may be expected to flow from their enquiry. It does not seem a very judicious process of strengthening an educational establishment by at one sttoke reducing emoluments and tha staff of teachers.

The inward San Francisco mail from London sth December is due fit Auckland to-morrow. The outward Sue* mail closes per Arawdta to-mofro^V. It is officially notified that the Educatidn Board having been entrusted by the Government with the distribution of the Library Grant for tho current ySar, in terms^of the Public Libraries Act, 1877, the secretaries of all public libraries are invited to send in a claim for their share of the grant. Payments will be made in proportion to the amount of voluntary subscriptions received for the the year ended 31st December last, and exclusive of subscriptions ia respect of which any portion of last year's grant was paid. Claims, supported by a statement of the am <unt of subscriptions received, must be forwarded to the office of the Education Board not later than 28th February next. All libraries supported by voluutary subscriptions not included within boroughs are entitled to a portion of the grant, and all libraries within boroughs also are entitled, providing that the readiog rooms be free to the public. A paper by Dr. Hector, read before the Philosophical Society on Saturday evening, gives a somewhat Tomantic description of the discovery of a new species of tree (Pomaderis) made by the learned author during his recent visit to the Mokau. Dr. Hector was much interested in hearing from the natives that a peculiar tree was growing on the spot where their ancestors first camped when they abandoned the "Tai nui" canoe, io which they came from Hawaikij and that this tree had sprung from the rollers or skids and the green boughs that -were brought as flooring to the great canoe. On his doubting this, thoy offered to take him to the place, and if he could not recognise tha tree as being found elsewhere in New Zealand, thoy would consider it as a proof that the tradition was correct. To his surprise they took him to a clump of trees which had previously attracted his attention from its similarity to an old apple orchard, and as it certainly was a tree quite distinct from any hitherto described from New Zealand, the tradition receives a certain amount of confirmation. Dr. Hector added that he Deed hardly -point out that if it were true, and we could hereafter determine the original habitat of this tree, it might give us a clue to the whereabouts of the mythical Hawaiki, or the place from whence the Maori originally immigrated to New Zealand. Mr. Kirk, F.L.S , who opened the discussion on the paper, spoke of the discovery as being of great interest, but was inclined to believe the plant would prove identical witb an Australian species, notwithstanding its larger size. In other parts of New Zealand the natives had traditions that certain trees wore the paddles or canoe poles, which had been fixed in the ground on landing and had taken root. The wharf, which was in a very dangerous condition in some parts, is being replanked. A new lamp i 3 also being erected near the woolshed, whore one was much required. Captain Fraser, of the s.s. Jane Douglas, reports that the Hydrabad was all ready for launching, but just at high water a strong westerly breeze came in and compelled operations to be discontinued. The ship then was fully afloat, and in order to keep her steady and prevent her bumping, 800 tons of water had to be pumped into her. If the weather be fine this will be pumped out, and an immediate attempt made to haul her off, but at present the barometer has a decided downward tendency, and it is feared that another westerly gale is imminent. About twenty-five patients from the Hermione still remain on the quarantine island, all of whom are progressing very favorably. It is probable that some of them will be released during the present week. A meeting of the Philosophical Society was held in the Colonial Museum on Saturday evening, Dr. Newman, Vice-President,' in the chair The following 1 new members were announced : — Mr. J. Brown, Mr. W. France, Mr. G. J. Binns, and Mr. George Ashcroft. The, following papers were read : — "Catalogue of plants collected in the Okarito district," by A. Hamilton ; " Notes on Mr. A. Hamilton's collection of Okarito plants," by T. Kirk, F.L.S. ; "On a curious duplication of tusks in the common wild pig." by A. Hamilton ; " On the export of fUDgus from New Zealand," " Description of new species of Lycopodium," " Description of new species of Hymonophyllum," by T. Kirk, F.L.S. ; " Notes on Mr. Howard Saunders' review of the laridat, or gulls," by W. Buller, C.M.G., &c. ; " Description of new species of Pomaderis," by Dr. Hector. C.M.G., &c. Some other papers were taken as read ; and it was announced that the annual meeting and conversazione would, in all probability, be held on Friday week. A meeting of the Regatta Committee will be held at the Pier Hotel at 8 o'clock to-night, when it is hoped that there will be a large attendance. It is also desirable that all subscription lists should be handed in. "Amos Clarke" was repeated at the Imperial Opera House on Saturday evening with great success. Mr. Rignold was called before the curtain at the conclusion of every act, and Miss Jenny Watt also received a most flattering reception, and the audience were not slow to recognise the ability shown by Mr. S. Whyte and Mr. H. Power, as the fiddler and hedge-priest respectively. The piece is to be agaiu placed on the boards this evening. A shock of earthquake was felt in this city at a few minutes before 7 last night. It was of very short duration, lasting barely a second, and was unaccompanied by the rumbling noise which is usually a feature of an earthquake shock. Amongst other presents given to the Regatta Committee is a very large and handsome silver cud, presented by Mr. Davis, manager of the Athenaeum Bazaar. The celebrated Stewart Family are coming, and will open at the Opera House in their popular entertaiment on Saturday evening next. The Southern papers speak in terms of high praise as to their ability, and the attractiveness of their performances. Signer Pompei left for Nelson to-day to arrange for a visit of Miss Sherwin to that town, where the Tasmanian prima donna will * giro two concerts. We would suggest that she .might give one or two concerts at the Athen»um Hall before her final departure, on the plan adopted by Mdlle. Charbonnet. Her late appearances at the Theatre Royal were not under favorable auspices, the entertainment being too " mixed " to be attractive to musiclovers. A few farewell concerts at the Athenaeum we feel sure would draw well. Mr. Henry Budden, secretary for the Nelson Jam and Fruit Preserving Company, has arrived in Wellington, and will be prepared to receive applications for shares in this promising undertaking. Further particulars appear in our advertising columns. i The Wanganui Chronicle speaks in terms of highest commendation of Mr. R. W. Cary's Panorama of the Arctic World, which will be exhibited in Wellington shortly. Our Wanganui contemporary predicts that " when it is shown in Wellington, where the spirited manager will have more time and stage accessories, it will have a long run of popular patronage, as it certainly deserves." | The Vestry of St. Mary's Church, Karori, held a meeting lart week for the purpose of receiving a statement of accounts connected with the bazaar in aid of the building fund of the church. The total receipts amounted to £210, but there are still some smaller amounts to be collected and a considerable quantity of goods yet to be disposed of, by which the committee hope to realise upwards of £50. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the numerous kind friends and others who had contributed so much to the success of the bazaar, and particularly to his Excellency the Governor and the Hon C. J. Pharazyn for their handsome donations. It was not finally decided as to the disposal of the funds until the bazaar committee of lady contributors should be consulted. A number of concrete blocks, belonging to Mr. iSaunden, contractor, and lying on the Thorndon reclamation, have been maliciously destroyed by some persons unknown. Mr. Saunders offers £50 reward for any information which will lead to the apprehension and conv'ction of those who were guilty of such a wanton and senseless piece of mischief. The raffle for the beautiful silver Indian claret jug, presented by Mr. C. C. Graham to the Karori Church bazaar, cams off on Saturday .afternoon, at the Town Clerk's office,

whptx Mr. Frederick Cook, manager of the Colonial Back, bad the good fortune to draw the winning ticket, and thus became the possessor. When Mr. Krull was called upon to serve on the'special jury case of O'Neill v. Brown this morning, Mr. Oliivier said he understood that Mr. Krull had considerable business transactions with one of the parties, and it would perhaps be advisable that h9 should not serve. The Chief Justice said Mr. Oliivier should have struck off Mr. Krull's name at the proper tittle. He could not take upon himself to discharge him unless both parties consented. Mr. Buckley, however, declined to do this Mr. Krull then represented that it was mail day. and that his partner, Mr. M'Tavish, was also on the jury, for which causes he beseeched Mr. Buckley to object to him, continuing his entreaties until he was sworn, when he accepted the inevitable with the best grace possible. Mes-ra. Beaker and FarroH this evening open at the Theatre Royal for a short season of six nights only. "Conrad and Lizette" will be the opening piece. The company are so wellknown in Wellington that they will doubtless attract a good hou»e. Tyson, the champ-on Wrestler of New Zealand , passed through Wellington to-day oti Ms way to Napier, with the trophies won at the Dun* edin Caledonian Sot-iety's sports during tbo last three years. He first defeated George Robinson, the half-caste; then Tom Fothergill, and finally Thomas, the Victorian champion. With the latter, it will be remembered, he wrestled twice, coming off the victor each time. The prizes which Tyson brings with him, consist of a belt with heavy silver mountings, value £40 ; a cross of Scotch pebbles with a bar for each victory, value £30, and a massive gold watch, value 60 guineas. He does not intend to don tbe jacket any more, as the champion belt is now hh property, having been won three years in succession, but in future he will devote himself to bis business at Kopua, Hawke's Bay, where he has a sawmill. The ship Warwick, according lo advices received by tbe Brindisi mail, was to sail from London for Nelson and Wellington on tbe 22nd November. The Warwick ha 9 200 Govern* ment immigrants and 14 cabin passengers, in charge of Dr. Gore Gillon, brotuor of Mr. E. T. Grillon, of Wellington. Dr. Gillon is a native of Otago, and is, we believe, the first native born doctor who has had charge of an immigraut ship to the colony. We have been requested to draw attention to the fact that the summer show of the Horticultural Society will be held in the Athenaum on Wedesday next. For particulars see advertisement. Robert Neiil, who was on Thursdaj last fined 40s. Lr non- attendance as a juror, today attended the Supreme Court, and, through Mr. Buckley, explained that he was ill from his long confinement in tha vitiated atinosphero of the Court. The Chief Justice remitted the fine. The action brought by Miss Jones against Mr. Kenneth Wilson, the Principal of the Wellington College, for wages and damages, which was specially fixed for this afternoon at the R.M. Court, could not be hoard owing to the summons not having been sorved. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Wm. Walker, express driver, of Wellington, was called for this morning, but did not take place. Some interesting particulars respecting tke export of fungus from New Zealand were given by Mr. T. Kirk, F.fl.S., at tho meeting of the Philosophical Society on Saturday evening. The author stated that the export of fungus dated from 1872, and had gradually advanced uutil in 1877 it was valued at over £11,000; during tho six years ending 1877 the total value was over £32.000, two-thirds of which probably represented the amount actually received by the collectors, who were mostly settlers striving to maintain themselves on their land. The fungus was confined to a single species (Hirneola polytricha) common in all forest districts in the colony. No labor was involved beyond collection and carriage. Inquiry by the Commissioner of Customs showed that it was used by tbe Chinese as a medicine for purifying the blood, as food on fast days, and recently it bad been ascertained that it was largely used in soups, &c, as ordinary food. It appeared that it was retailed in China at 10|d per Ib. As only Id per lb at most was paid to the collector, somebody realised a high rate of profit.

The miserable stuff hawked about by itinerant pedlars, and vended in the cheap shops under the name of Sohnapps, is nothing but the most villainous compounds of bad gin. This article is often fetid and acrid, and taken into the stomach not only burns the intestines, but acts with such drastic power on the bladder and kidneys as often to produce chronic inflammation. It is a certain poison. The only true, reliable, and healthy precaution is Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam abomatio Schnapps.— [AdvtJ _____________