SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1881.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 59, 12 March 1881, Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1881.

TEN THOUSAND POUNDS AEEEAESr *. Some monthß ago we laid down two positions — lat. That owing both to the depreciation in the value of property and to the decreased means of payment, we mnst be prepared for a material diminution in our oi vie revenue ; 2nd. That therefore we must make up our minds to curtail our expenditure to a sufficient extent to bring it within our actual income. We pointed out that the theoretical reduction in the value of the rateable property would not represent the practical lessening of its rate-producing value, because the falling off in the marketable worth of city properties was by no means the fnll extent to which the owners' means of payment would be contracted by the commercial depression which lowers the value of their possessions. Arguing from these premises, we came to the conclusion that it would not be safe to reckon on collecting anything like the total amount due on account of oity rates, and this opinion i waa strengthened by tho City Treasurer's report that out of the .£6062 due on account of rates during the last half-year (ended 30th September, 1881) only £3881, or considerably less than two-thirds could be I collected, more than one-third being in arrear. The Treasurer added a special note that " times are bad, and great difficulty is experienced in collecting the rates." We showed that there was no reasonable ground for supposing that this difficulty would grow less as the year went on and as the sums due continued to accumulate, and we strongly urged the Council to " acceptthe situation," and retrench accordingly. A local contemporary somewhat rashly challenged these conclusions, and indulged in a vast outpouring of gushing, if slightly illogical, protestations against the supposition that the Wellington citizens were " so insolvent as to be unable to pay their rates," and insisted violently that all the arrears of the last half year would be comfortably wiped off during the present one, so that nobody need be in the least degree alarmed lest the city revenues should run short,the corollary being.of course, that there was no necessityfor cutting down the expenses. We esrnestly wished we could accept this consoling assurance, but the facts and figures were too strong for us, and we were compelled to adhere to the opinion at which we had deliberately arrived, after a most careful and exhaustive investigation. Time has flown by, and now we are within a few days of the close both of the current half-year and of the municipal financial year. At the meeting of the City Council on Thursday night, Councillor Allen put a question to the City Treasurer as to how the rates were coming in. The reply was that they were not coming in at all satisfactorily, the arrears being larger than at any previous time. Councillor Allbn then stated plainly that he knew the arrears amounted to no less than i>l<>,ooo, and aa thia public statement, made by a City Councillor in his place in the Council, waa not contradicted, or even questioned, we are justified in assuming that he is right, and that the city rates are JE 10,000 in arrear. It is not difficult to estimate the chances of these tremendous arrears being got in during the few days which elapse between the present date and the 31st inst., when the Corporation financial year terminates. Only a, very small proportion evidently can be relied on, and thus we shall commence another year with several thousand pounds of arrears on our books. What prospect is there of this position being improved P Our local contemporary when it made the grave mistake of challenging our conclusions — since proved to have been so accurate — suggested that the rates must be paid, because they were levied on property, not on individuate, and the properly was responsible. No doubt; that is perfectly correct in theory. But we should like to ask his Worship the Mayor and the worthy City Councillors how they would like to begin a course of wholesale selling-up of the Wellington citizens to liquidate their arrears of rates ? When the subject was mentioned the other night, one Councillor observed that they ought not to " rnsh " the ratepayers. That meant, we Bnppose, that it would not do to press too hard for payment. "Yet, if this is not done, how is the current expenditure to be met? If we have this year arrears amounting to several thousands of pounds, is it at all likely that these will be more easily got in next year with the additional burden of the current rates then accruing? Is it not more probable, judging from present appearances, that the trouble will inprease, until at length the City Council aye forced into a choice between two alternatives — either writing off a huge proportion of the arrears as bad debts, or eke "selling up" the citizens right and left to raise the sums due ? It is quite clear that the hitter course will be unavoidable if all the money is to be got in, kaa erejy peony will 6e wanted to defray '

the current expenditure. Morever, the money wil ! be required wiih at least eqnal urgency next year, and perhaps more so because as the unused balances of the Waterworks and Street Improvement loans decrease, the charge on the special rates for interest will necessarily grow heavier. What then is to be done ? It is plain that every farthing levied for general and special rates will continue to be absolutely needed so long a* the expenditure continue* at its present rate. It appears to us now, as before, that tht answer is self-evident— reduce the expenditure. That must be done, and when the citizens begia to find themselves dunned and summoned and sold up in all directions for [ their arrears of Tates, while fresh rates are I constantly coming due, they will speedily raise such a howl of execration as will abso- ! lutely force on the City Council the initiation of a thorough system of retrenchment The citizens cannot now pay the rates they nsed so easily to furnish. Several of the largest ratepayers have become insolvent, and this tends to increase the bad debts. The only remedy for the present and in- ! creasing difficulty ia economy. The expenditure will have to be reduced until it is brought within the limits of the citizens' diminished paying capacity, and this will have to be done at once. I Our usual "Saturday Extracts" will be found on the fourth page of to-day'B paper. They include — "Sentence of Death," " Serious Gas Explosion in Glasgow," " Extraordinary Death," " Tricks of Stage Costume," "Flirting on Ocean Steamers," j " Household Recipes," &c. The Property Tax payments continue to come in rapidly in nearly every part of the colony. A considerable sum has already been received since the compilation of the return published in our last issue. Large numbers of taxpayers are taking advantage of the facilities afforded them for paying their tax locally through the postmasters, instead of sending it direct to head-quarters. The result bo far ia regarded as very satisfactory. The civil action, Mann v. Carter, which waa struck off the list at the Resident Magiatrate'a Court yesterday, owing to the non-appearance of either party, was to-day reinstated. The action has reference to the collision between the cabs of the parties thereto, about which so much has lately been heard, and will be taken at Monday's sitting of the Court. The enquiry into the affairs of the, Mount View Lunatic Asylum still drags ita length along. It commenced on the 18th ultimo, and up to the present eleven afternoons have been occupied in the taking 1 of evidence and the address of the learned counsel for the defence, the latter of which alone engaged the attention of the Royal Commissioners for three hours. The case for the complainant extended over six sittings, during which 24 witnesses were examined. The case for the defence is now on the eve of conclusion. So far Mr. Edwards has examined 27 witnesses, exclusive of the medical officer, who is now under cross-examination. The total number of witnesses called up to the present is therefore 52. It is understood that the complainant ia likely to produce nearly a dozen witnesses for " rebutting evidence," so the enquiry will not probably be closed for several days to come. An attempt will be made this afternoon to blow up the old hulk Camille, which sank in the harbour, off Kaiwarra, a few weeks ago. The operations will be conducted by the Corps of New Zealand Engineers and Submarine Miners. A charge of 3001bs of blasting powder has been placed in the foretold, and a like charge in the mainhold, and these will be exploded simultaneously by electricity at about half-past 4 o'clock. It would be well for boats to keep well out of range of the explosion. The old hulk, which waß formerly a barque, was built at Nantes, in France, in 1855, and was registered at Newcastle, N.S.W., her tonnage being 365. We have received the following memorandum from Renter's agent : — " Owing to the discovery of a telegraphic mutilation in transmission, it is found necessary to cancel the announcement contained in Melbourne telegram of yesterday, that an Exhibition award had bean made to Mr.- Henry Walton, of Wellington, for basils." Further litigation is likely to arise out of the case Taylor v. Whale, tried at the R.M. Court a few days ago, wherein tho defendant waa charged with receiving money from Mr. Walker, under false pretences. Whale has, we are informed, instructed Mr. Gordon Allan to institute proceedings against Mr. Taylor for false imprisonment. The funeral of the late Mr. R. Port took place this morning, and was attended by a large number of old settlers. Mr. S. Costall ' conducted the ceremony. The deceased left five children (not four as previously stated), who, we regret to learn, are almost unprovided for. The eldest son, however, intends to continue the business. The concert given at the Athenaeum last evening, by the members of the Harmonic Club, attracted a crowded audience, and the proceeds must have formed a very handsome contribution in aid of its very deserving object — the Home for Friendless Women, who, indeed, appear to have a great many friends, judging from last night's attendance. The club being a private one, we follow the usual rule in abstaining from any criticism of the performance. We mentioned yesterday that all the expenses had been defrayed out of the concert proceeds, so that the remarkable phenomenon ia exhibited of the net profits being equal to the gross receipts. This is an example which well may be followed with future entertainments ior benevolent purposes. The anniversary sermons of Wesley Church, Taranaki-street, will be preached tomorrow, in the morning by the Rev W. Kirk, and in the evening by the Rev. W. J. Williams. The annual tea and public meeting will be held on Tuesday next. The programme of addresses appears in our advertising columns, and it will be seen that th«re ia such an interesting and important selection of topics as should ensure a large attendance. The Wesley Church Choir will also furnish suitable selections of music. The following is the Naval Brigade Band's programme for to-morrow's wharf performance :— Slow march, " Eastern Queen," Harkuis ; fantasia, " Talavera," Bleger ; sacred march, "Holy Gladness," Metcalfe; slow march, "Soldier's Return," Nerrell; sacred march, from " Mose" in Egitto," Rossini; fantasia, " Austerlitz," Metcalf. Professor Weaten'a entertainment at the Academy of Music was fairly attended last night. Thia afteraoon he gave a performance forthe convenience of children. There was a very meagre attendance at the Foresters' Hall, Tory-street, last evening, when Mr Dixon, of Auckland, delivered a lectnre on the question, ' ' Is Man Immortal?" Admission to the hall was free. The lecturer contended that man became immortal only by believing in and being united with Christ. He quoted numerous passages of Scripture in support of this contention, and at the conclusion of his lecture distributed gratuitously a large number of periodicals and pamphlets a e voted to the exposition of Scripture respecting conditional immortality, resurrection, the return and reign of Christ, and the final destruction of all evil. The lecture was listened to with the utmost attention. A dispute between a theatrical agent and his principal was partially ventilated in the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. Mr. H. Alexander sued Mr. N. Griffiths to recover .£23, being the balance of an account allegod to be due to the plaintiff in connection with the tour of a combination company " formed in Wellington some time ago tor the purpose of visiting the West Coast. Mr. Gordon Allan appeared for the defendant. The tour in question was apparently a profitless one, since the expenses connected therewith amounted to £288, while the takings only reached .£194. The principal artiste wa3 Madame Franzini, the bicyclist; and Mr. Alexander, besides acting in the capacity of agent, said he also appeared as a performer, though in what department was not made known. He paid JBIO for the privi.ege of joining the speculation, on the understanding that he was to receive one-third of the profits, if any. During the tour he advanced various sums to Mr. Griffiths from time to time, the whole of which, with the exception of the balance now sued for, had since been returned. Like the celebrated babies in "Pinafore," the accounta between the parties appeared to have become " mixed up," and the magistrate offered to adjust a statement between them, if furnished with the whole of the documents on both Bides. The action was adjourned till Monday to enable thia to be done. The Wellington Young Men's Christian Association's meeting thi3 evening, and the various services to-morrow, will be addressed by reverend gentlemen now in Wellington in connection with the Presbyterian General Assembly. . A case in which a father had seriously illtreated hi 3 daughter, of nine years of age, was heard at the Dunedin Police Court a day or two ago. The girl presented a dreadful appearance, her whole face being black and swollen, particularly about the eyes, out of one of which she could not see for the swelling. Around one of her ears, too, the skin was bruised and greatly discoloured. When she removed her hood (says the Otago Daily Times), quite a murmur of sympathy ran round the Court. The father was fined £ 10, with two months' imprisonment in default, for the assault. It is stated that Lord Hervey Phipps, the son of his Excellency the Governor of Victoria, is about to marry Miss Blanche Clarke, daughter of the Hon. W. J. Clarke, M.L.C. Misd Clarke only "came out" this season, and gained universal admiration. A shark, nearly nine feet long, has been captured at Timaru by two fishermen with an ordinary hand-lino. '

Tho monthly meeting of the Kilbirnie Highway Board waa held last ni^ht. Present— Messrs. Hendry (Chairman), Mace, Agate, and Oompton. ques were passed to the amount of i>ll2 for contracts finished. The Chairman said no further contracts could be entered into until tha Karori .Board forwarded the amount of the award. Several jther matters of minor importance having oeen dealt with, the Board adjourned. A quantity of literature has been sent from Government House to the Hospital for the use of the patients, and is acknowledged with thanks. A musical and social entertainment will be given by the Orange Lodges on Friday | next. A good programme has been arranged, and a most enjoyable and profitable evening is promised. Particulars will be found in an advertisement. A maliciously-disposed correspondent of the Taranaki Herald writes the following letter to that journal:— "Sir— l see in a letter in your issue of Saturday, signed 'Querist,' what appears to be a quotation, namely — 'Ne subor ulbra cepidan.' Can you inform your readers the meaning of this, and the language to which it belongs? — I am, &c, Inquirer." The Editor is by no moans non-plussed by this epistle, but cheerfully replies in the following refreshing little foot-note :— " We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents, nor the language in which they express themselves. Our duty is to ' follow copy.' " Mr. J. D. Oakly, who has for some years acted as Mr. T. W. Pilcher's Wairarapa agent, announces that he has started in business at Featherston as a forwarding and receiving agent. Full information will be found in our advertising columns. It will be observed from our advertising columns that the pulpits of the local Presbyterian Churches will be occupied to-mor-row by prominent members of the General Assembly now sitting at Wellington. The attention of those anxious to purchase a cheap cottage property is directed to the sale on Monday next, at 2.30 p.m., by Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co., of a property in Alma Lane, off Tory street. Full particulars appear in another column. We are requested by Messrs. Croskery, Hasell and Co. to draw attention to the sale, under distraint for rent, of farm stock and household furniture, at Karori, to take place on Tuesday next. Mr. Sidey will sell on Wednesday next a desirable freehold country sea-side residence. The property is only about two miles from town, and will no doubt attract the attention of those who may be in want of a healthy place of abode Fnll particulars will be seen in the advertisement. When in 1840 the first settlers landed in Wellington they found it very different from what it is now. Lambton Quay was nothing but sand and scrub. Little did those early settlers think that in 1881 they would be able to buy a first-class Lockstitch Sewing Machine for 455, yet it can now be procured at Robt. Gardner & Co.'s Cheap Sale, Lambton Quay.— fAim I .] One Pound Free Gifts.— The proprietors of Wolfe's Aromatic Schnapps, to induce the destruction and prevent the improper use of their wrappers and labels, and thus further protect the public againts fraud and deception, have inclosed in the bottles, or under the label on the quart bottles, since Ist October, 1878, and continue to inclose in every day's packing THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THREE £1 ORDERS, which are drawn upon the undersigned, and which will be cashed by their agents. To secure these gifts, the public must be careful to ask for and accept nothing but the Genuine Udolpho Wolfe's Schnapps, with our name upon the top label. M. Moss and Co., Wynyard Lane, Sydney. — [Adyt.]