THE PROPERTY TAX.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 71, 26 March 1881, Page 2

THE PROPERTY TAX.

The Property Tax payments continue to come in remarkably well in all parts of the colony. The total sum received up to this morning amounts to no less than .£205,000, and it is known that considerably more will be forthcoming before the books are closed for the financial year on Thursday next. This is exceedingly satisfactory from a revenue point of view, while, on the other hand, it Bhows that the Treasurer's calculations as to the amount the tax was likely to yield were not very far out. It will be remembered that some prominent members of the Greyite party predicted that the tax would realise some hundreds of thousands of pounds more than was required, but their calculations were apt at times to be a little wild and over sanguine. However, it is encouraging to find such a large sum so easily collected in a few days, in spite of all the depression. The respective amounts contributed by the various places are not yet accurately ascertained, but we believe that, taking the principal places in ronnd numbers, Canterbury so far has yielded about £53,000, Otago about £43,000, Wellington about £30,000, and Auckland about £31,000. _________«_

The "Saturday Extracts" on the fourth page of to-day's Evening Post comprise: — " Ginx'a Baby at Patea," " Shocking Suicide in Sydney," " Household Recipes," a letter to the editor, entitled "Public Money Wasted," &c. The unfortunate accident to the a.s. Penguin, referred to elsewhere, unavoidably upsets the arrangements for the transmission of the Southern portion of the outward San Francisco mail. The Penguin should have gone to Lyttelton last night, and left that place to-night after the arrival of the Dunedin train with the Otago mails. Even if she is got off this afternoon she would not be in time, as the Hawea must leave Wellington to-morrow evening at the latest, for Manukau, to catch the San Francisco steamer. Under these circumstances the Government have endeavored, but so far without success, to communicate with the Stella, but she has not turned up anywhere within reach of a telegraph station to-day. The Lyttelton Harbor Board have since been applied to for the use of their powerful tug to bring up the mail to-night from Lyttelton, but this at first was positively refused, as severel large ships were overdue, which if they turned up the tug would at once be required to tow into port. It was pointed out, however, that as the tug would not have to leave Lyttelton until late to-night, and could be back there before daylight on Monday morning, no inconvenience could well be caused, Sunday being an "off" day at the port. The final answer of the Board has not yet been received, but it is believed they will consent to lend the tug. If not, the Hinemoa will be sent down at once from Picton to fetch the mail from Lyttelton. All that now remains for the Asylum Commissioners to perform is to visit the institution to make themselves personally acquainted with the present condition of affairs, and afterwards frame their report and forward it to the proper quarter. The 'investigation, it may here be mentioned, commenced on the 17th February, since which date seventeen afternoons have been occupied in taking the necessary evidence connected therewith. Altogether no fewer than 58 different witnesses have been examined. Of this number 25 were called in support of the case for the complainant (Mr. J. H. Shaw), 27 were examined for the defence, and 6 were " rebnttinsf" witnesses. Dr. Gillon, the resident Burgeon attached to the Wellington Hospital ; Mr. Christopher Duggan, a warder ; and Mr. Whitelaw, the Superintendent, were called both on behalf of the complainant and the other Bide ; while five other witnesses were recalled. The complainant's case extended over six afternoons, and that for the defence over nine, evidence in rebuttal occupying another afternoon, and the final addresses the remaining one. The total number of unbroken hours during which the Commissioners have sat reaches 50; and among the witnesses were patients and ex-inmates, warders and ex-warders, the secretary, superintendent, medical officer, inspeotor, the ex-matron, female attendants (past and present), men who have been employed on contracts at the institution, persons whose relatives or friends are or have been inmates, representatives of the police force, an officer from the I Government Audit Department, and two experts. The shorthand-writer'stranscriptoftht evidence forms a huge pile of folios. Whether it will bo printed or not is a matter for the Government to decide upon, but the great expense which such an undertaking would entail renders it exceedingly probable that this will not be done. The period for the return of the Commission, it will be remembered, has been extended until the 19th proximo. The depth of the water in the reservoir this morning was only 24ft 3in. This day last year there was a depth of 49ft 9in. The barometer is very high, and is still going up, so that there is little prospect of rain at present. Under these circumstances, it is almost superfluous to caution householders to be careful not to allow any waste of water. When the Queen's Wharf passes into the possession of the Harbor Board, it is to be hoped attention will be paid to the proper lighting of the wharf. If the captains of vessels frequenting this port were applied to they would point out the berths where additional lights are most needed, to enable them to bring their vessels alongside with safety. Colonel Header having received advice to the effect that the proposed Kaster Encampment of the Otago and Queenstown Volunteers has been abandoned, he has at the reqnest of Lieut -Colonel Pearce applied to Major Finn, at Invercargill, for the use of the tents there for the Nelson Encampment. The following is the Naval Brigade Band's programme of their musical performance on the wharf to-morrow : Quick march, " Uno." Cimino; fantasia, " Talavera," Metcalf; sacred march, from Sankey and Moody ; fanta«ia, " Concordia," Dibdin ; quick march, " Frivola," Spindler; saored march, " Holy gladness," Metcalf e. It is stated that Mr. Faber, the landlord of the Club Hotel, Feathers ton, has been burned out three times within the space of about a year — firßt in the Victoria Hotel, secondly in a private honse, and lastly in the Club Hotel. In our report of the City Council yesterday, we mentioned that four persons had " tied " each other in sending in the lowest tender for erecting the woodwork of the new fence round the plantation in Cambridge Terrace. This morning the competitors drew lots as to who should get the contract, and Mr. Henry Hitch secured the work at Is 3d per post for 400. The other tenderers at this price were Messrs. E. Sheehan, C. Simmonds, and H. Lawrenson. A mission of fifteen days will commence in St. Mary's Cathedral to-morrow at the 11 o'clock Mass, and will be conducted by the fiev. Theophilus Lemenant, S. M . It is also notified in our advertising columns that there will be no Masses at 11 o'clock on Sunday next, 27th March, and Sunday, 3rd April, at St. Mary's of the Angels, Boulcottstreet, but the Masses will be at 7.30 and 9.30. The anniversary of the Congregational Church will be celebrated to-morrow, special sermons being preached morning and evening by the Key. H. Williams, of Christchurch. On Tuesday evening.the anniversary tea meeting will be held, and the Eev. H. Williams will deliver a lecture on Westminster Abbey. We are requested to state that Herr Baudmann and his company, including Miss Louise Beaudet, will not appear in Wellington until after their engagement in Auckland, having severed all connection with Mr. Reynolds. A Johnsonville correspondent writes complaining at having to furnish particulars as to the cattle, &o , in his possession in making up his census return. He thinks the Government will want to know next " how much victuals and drink we have every week, month and year, and how much it costs each one. ' ' He further expresses the opinion that it is nearly time the Government " stopped some of their inquisitive ways," or else there will be a good many people, among them himself, leaving the colony. The pulpit of Wesley Church, Taranakistreet, will be occupied to-morrow by the Rev. L. Hudson in the morning', and by the Rev. W. J. Williams in the evening. These ministers proceed in a few days to their new spheres of labor, the former to Whangareiand the latter to Wanganui. 'Ibis, therefore, will be the last time their numerous friends will have the pleasure of hearing them preach during their present stay in Wellington, and there will probably be large congregations on both occasions. The Eev. C. Pym, of England, who has i been conducting a mission at Nelson, will I preach at St. Peter's to-morrow morning.

Mr. W. Hutchison, M.H.8., announcea lis intention of addressing his constituents, it the Athenaeum Hall, on Tuesday evening next, at 8 o'clock. Nothing fresh ha 3 transpired to-day with regard to the rumored stamp robberies ia this city. The detectives still have the matter in hand. The meeting of Justices of the Peace, to revise the jury list for the Wellington Disbrict, takes place at noon on the Ist prox. The police authorities are evidently desirous of thoroughly testing the disputed legality of so-called r< clubs." Following up their action against Mr. J. Strike, the steward of the now famous " Thorndon Club," they have just laid an information against Mr. Charlea Lewis, steward of th» Te Aro Club, charging him with Belling liquor without a license. The case will be heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday next. We are requested to state that the ladies' sale of work in connection with the Church Schoolroom. Tinakori Head, previously advertised for the 2nd April, has been unavoidably postponed. The Bale will take place about a month hence, and due notice of time and place will be given by advertisement. Mr. J. Atkinson writes to state the cricket match, Butchers v. Coachbuildera, was not " drawn in favor of the latter," as reported. The agreement was to draw the stumps at 6 o'clock, which was done, and it is always understood that when a one-day match is not played out it shall be decided on the first innings. The butchers' score in the firßt innings being 65, and that of the coachbuilders 62, the butchers win the match by three runs. The receipt of a donation of literature from Mr. Hart, and linen from Mrs. Batkin, is acknowledged by the Hospital authorities. A very successful entertainment of the Christy minstrel order was given at the Foresters' Hall, Tory-street, by the Te Aro minstrels — or in other words, the juvenile members of St. Peter's choir — in aid of the choir fund. The hall was crowded in every part with a very enthusiastic andieno. The first part of the programme consisted of the usual songs and choruses, which were given with great spirit, and were loudly applauded. The second part comprised a new farce, entitled " Uncle Jeff," in which the characters were impersonated respectively by Masters W. Haybittle, F. Morrah, J. Baillie, F. Young, S. vVatera, W. Blundell, G. Startup, and G. Kedmond. The boys were very well versed in their parts, and acted with great point and vivacity, the whole piece going off excellently and amid great applause. The financial results were extremely satisfactory. Messrs. T. K. Macdonald & Co. held an extensive land sale at their mart yesterday afternoon. There was a large attendance of business men. In opening the proceedings, Mr. Macdonald referred to the advantages offered by the Bale about to take place, and asserted that as the season of depression had been passed through, land would in a very few years increase 50 per cent, in value. He also mentioned that the Colonial Treasurer had in his speech on the property tax showed that the colony could well pay its way. The following properties were disposed of : — Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the sub-division of town acre 665, each with 30ft frontage to Sussex Square, were each sold for J2172 10s, or at the rate of £o 15s per foot, Mr. O. W. Ciayton being the purchaser. Two sections in the same town acre, with 30ft frontage to Banks' Terrace, were also knocked down to the same purchaser at .£5 5s per foot. Two cottages in Austin-street, on an allotment of land with a frontage of 20ft, wore sold to Mr. S. Dawson for .£250. An allotment of the sub-division of town acre 188, having a frontage of 40ft to Peroival- street, was purchased by Mr. Lillington, at £3 10s per foot, for .£lO7 10s. The interest of the lease of the shop on Lambton Quay, formerly occupied by Mr. George North, fetched .£ls, Mr. Aldous being the purchaser. The total sales realised .£1527 10s. A telegram to the Melbourne Argus in reference to the assassination of the Czar states that the Grand Duke Michael was amongst the wounded. The shook caused by the explosion was so great that the windows of houses situated at great distances from the scene were shattered. Some trifler has been amusing himself with endeavoring to discover the exact amount earned by the famous prima donna, Adelina Patti, during every minute she ia engaged in singing before the public, and he has fixed the amount at 30s. The gentleman in question must be very far out in his calculation , as the following figures will show : — Four years ago Adelina Patti's salary was J6200 per night (it is more than that sum at the present time) ; in return for this she would sing four songs, occupying say ten minutes each, whioh would raise her earnings to £5 per minute. This amount she has frequently exceeded, as, for instance, in St. Petersburg, where, after being banished by the Czar for her conduct to her husband, the Marquis de Caux, she refused to return under a salary of JJIOOO per night. She got it in addition to one of the most enthusiastic receptions ever accorded to a public singer. The Australasian has some strong remarks on the conduct of Mr. Long in scratching Grand Flaneur, at the last moment, for the Australian Cup, it being generally believed at the same time that he had an interest in bets in the running of Sweetmeat. When Mr. Long made his appearance in the weighing yard after Grand Flaneur had won the Town Plate, he was greeted with groans and hooting, not only by the occupants of the hill, but from a great many persons in the members' reserve. The writer in the Australasian adds — " During the many years we have witnessed racing at Flemington, we never remember so hostile a demonstration, and we trust never to witness such a scene again." The virtne of a Mongolian's wife formed the subject of litigation in a case of Ah Law v. Who Ah Sbin, an action to recover damages for slander, whioh was tried at the Melbourne County Court recently. The plaintiff, who is a tea hawker, says the Age, left Melbourne about two years ago for China, and left his wife and son to manage his business during hig absence. About a year after his departure Mrs. Ah Law went also to China to join her husband. They travelled in the Celestial Land lor about six months, and after their tour returned to Melbourne. On arrival here both Ah Law and Ms wife were astounded at hearing that a rumor had been circulated by Mrs Ah Shin, nic Simpson, and ' best kuown by the latter name, to the effect that Mrs. Elizabeth Ah Law was obliged to leave the colony for China to be confined of what was alleged to be an illegitimate child. So damaging an effect had this rumor on Ah Law's business that an old customer named Mary Simms refused to take her usual supply of tea lrom him for her family consumption until his wife's character had been cleared ud. For the defence Mr. Fullerton submitted that there was no proof of the defendant's wife having a separate estate of her own, and by the 18th section of the Married Women's Property Act the husband could not bo held liable for the libel of his wifo. His Honor nonsuited the plaintiff. The Melbourne City Corporation are trying the experiment of laying down a wooden roadway, and the intersection of Collins and Swanston-streets has been chosen as the site. The process is being watched with much interest by the public. A concrete foundation of 6 inches' thickness has first been laid down, and upon this there is being laid a roadway formed of red gum blocks 3 inches wide, 6 inches deep, and 9 inches long. The rows of blocks are kept apart by slips of wood from a qnarter to half an inch in width and 2£ inches high. The remaining space to the top of the blocks will be filled in with tar and screenings. The original cost of the new roadway is large. The exact amount (says the Age) will not be known until the completion of the work. In London, the cost' was about 14s per square yard ; in Sydney, 20s 2d per yard. Some interesting facts were given at a meeting held under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, at the Mansion House, on the 4th January, under the auspices of the National Temperance League, to receive information as to the progress of temperance in the Army and Navy. Mr. Bichard Bae, the secretary of the National Temperance League, said it had been estimated t»iat there were not fewer than 20.000 teetotal soldiers in the Army. Of these about 8000 belonged to regiments stationed in India, where the proportion ot abstainers was higher than at Home. The progress of temperance in the Royal Navy had been not less cheering. Of the 60,000 men in the Navy, upwards of 7000 were registered abstainers, and the officers' branch consisted of 158 members. Much attention had been given to the 4000 boys on board her Majesty's trainine ships, of whom more than one-half were pledged abstainers. It will be seen from an advertisement that anniversary sermons in connection with the Sunday school will be preached at the Primitive Methodist Sunday School, Sydneystreet, to-morrow. On Tuesday the anniversary tea meeting will be held.