THE PROPERTY TAX RETURNS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 72, 28 March 1881, Page 2

THE PROPERTY TAX RETURNS.

It is now expected that at least £220,000 will be collected by Thursday next, when the financial year terminates. We understand that the total sum expected to be raised by the tax on account of this year is somewhere about £245,000 in all.

The Hon. R. Oliver, Minister for Public Works, was a passenger to Wellington by the Stella, which arrived from Lyttelton yesterday. In our issue of Saturday, we gave the details of the accident to the s.s. Penguin in Tory Channel, and the fact that Bhe had been towed off the beach in the afternoon by the s.s. Hinemoa. The Penguin, on being floated, started for Wellington, and arrived here at half-past six on Saturday evening, and to all appearances she had received no injury by her mishap. The vessel went round to tho slip early this morning. The Penguin went round to the Slip early this morning, and Captain Johnston, on behalf of the Marine Department ; Captain Bendall, on behalf of the Underwriters' Association; and Mr. D. Mills, local manager for the UnionS S. Company, also went thither for the purpose of inspecting the vessel. Upon examination it was found that the injuries received was practically nil, only about 20ft of the paint on the keel being scraped. This seems to indicate that the steamer, instead of grounding on a hard shingle beach, had run into a bed of ooze. The Penguin returned to the wharf at half-past one o'clock, and left this atternoon for Picton and Nelson. The City Council this evening will take into consideration the petition recently presented to them, praying them to take some steps to abate the nuisance caused by the prevalence of houses of ill-fame in the city. There ia no doubt the evil has attained very serious proportions, and it is to be 'hoped that the City Council will give the matter their earnest attention. The Council may not be able to take any active measures themselves, bnt at least they can bring the necessities of the case under the proper authorities, who would hardly be likely to disregard the representations made to them from such a quarter. As the representatives of the ratepayers, it is the duty of the Council to do what they can to check a nuisance that depreciates the property of the citizens, lowers the moral tone of the commnnity, and ia seriously injurious to the physical well-being of the inhabitants. Remaining in the Mount View Lunatic Asylum on Saturday last were 135 patientB — 77 males and 58 females. A meeting of the creditors of Hans Petersen, stonemason, was convened at the Supreme Court House this afternoon, but lapsed owing to insufficient attendance of creditors. The debtor set his liabilities down at .£l2O 10s, and his assets at £60. A correspondent signing himself " Observer," draws the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances to that portion of the Grant Road, near Featherston Terrace, where, he says, some person has for some time past been making the roadside a depot for the deposit of rubbish from his garden, which practise if continned will soon obstruct the pathway. In reference to the statement which we quoted from a Wairarapa paper to the effect that " Mr. Faber, the landlord of the Club Hotel, Featherston, has been burned out three times within the space of about a year — first in the Victoria Hotel, secondly in a private hoase, and lastly in the Club Hotel," we are informed that the burning of the Club Hotel took place about eighteen months ago. The second fire took place in a private honse, of whioh Mr. Faber was simply the owner, it being occupied at the time by a tenant named Lamont. In regard to the fire at the I lub Hotel, Mr. Faber estimates that he will lose .£IOOO upon the building alone in addition to his personal effects. He had removed about £500 worth of furniture from the Victoria to the Club Hotel, but bai neglected to transfer the insurance.

Messrs. Money Wigram's fine steamship Norfolk may be expected in Wellington harbor to-morrow. Private letters from har passengers — of whom she has 128 for this port — speak in the warmest terms of the ship and of the pleasantness of the passage from England to Lyttelton. Shortly ater leaving Plymouth, a h»avy S.W. gal.; wa-> experienced, which continued across tho Bay of Biscay; afterward light westerly winds to St. Vincent. From the Equator to Cape Town Btrong S.E. trades, with heavy head sea, were encountered; from the Cape to New Zealand fair westerly winds and exceptionally fine weather, canvas being carried all the way. The run from the Cape was made in 23 days; an average speed of 118 knots per hour was maintained, the best day's run being? 324 miles, or 13£ knots per hour. A succession of entertainments were given dnring the voyage by the passengers, and the utmost good feeling was shown by all on board. Among other items ''H.M.S. Pinafore" was performed with great success, Mr. Ihomas (Sarrard, of this city, acting as conductor, and Mrs. Garrard taking the part of Josephine. On arrival, the following pleasing address was presented to Mr. Garrard : — " Dear Sir — We, the undersigned fellow-passengera by the s.b. Norfolk, from London to New Zealand, desire, at the termination of our journey, to convey to you our best thanks for the efforts you have made in various ways to add to our entertainment during the voyage. We have also to acknowledge the hearty and efficient co-operation of Mrs. Garrard in our musical and dramatic performances dnring the voyage, and have much pleasure in asking her to accept, with our best wishes, the accompanying bracelet as a proof of our united good feeling and respect." Mr. Garrard also compiled a log of the Norfolk's passage, with a chart of her course, and various interesting particulars, which he multifolded on board by the chromograph process, and sold at 6d per copy, handing over the proceeds (£3 7s 6d) to the Seamen's Hospital Fund. The health of the passengers was generally perfect, only one death occuring — that of a child, Emma Young, aged 7, from croup. Mr. E. Shaw, 8.M., went out to the Kilbirnie Hotel at 3 o'clock on Saturday hist, to consider objections to the Kilbiraie Assessment EolL There were, however, no objections lodged, and Mr. Shaw had merely to sign the roll. An accident occurred at the Lower Hutt on Friday evening, whereby a man known as ''Frank," employed as a gardener at Mrs. Riddiford's, Lower Hutt, hod three of his ribs broken. While driving a cart round a corner one of the wheels came in contact with a large stone, the vehicle capsized, and Frank was wedged underneath the body. He was soon released from his perilous position, and taken to M'lntosh's hotel, where Dr. Wilford found he had sustained a fracture of three ribs and several bruises. The injuries were not considered of a dangerous character. The Eoyal Hotel, Featherston, had a narrow escape on Friday evening from sharing the fate of Toogood's hotel and being burned to the ground. It appears that the kitchen chimney canght fire, and the surrounding lining boards and framing speedily ignited. Fortunately, however, by the energetic efforts of the landlord (Mr. Williams) and the other inmates of the hotel, the fire was extinguished before much damage was done The following tenders have been accepted by the Wellington City Council for supplies for one year from Ist April next : — Bricks, Perrett and Smith ; drain pipes and lime, H. Hill ; coals, W. E. Williams ; ridging, bar iron, nails, muntz metal, locks, hammers, shovels, fencing wire, linseed oil, and a lot of sundries, -E. W. Mills; galvanised buckets, brooms, red and white lead, tools, and sundries, W. Dawson & Co. ; kerosene, K-. M. Cleland; iron bark, palings, railings, posts, weather boards, glass, and sundries, Stewart & Co. ; totara, red and white pine, and sundries, John Chew; waterworks supplies, divided between E. W. Mills and W. Dawson & Co. ; castings, Luke, Son and Williams. The Eailway Station presented an animated appearanoe on Saturday afternoon, when an unusually large quota of passengers left by the Wairarapa train. Among these were a number of natives from the Te Ore Ore meeting. These were mostly from the Napier district, and excited considerable attention, from their peculiarities of costume. Most of the women were attired very gorgeously in silk dresses of the most " fashionable" cut, and swept along the platform in a truly imposing manner. An old chief, fantastically attired in a feather head-dress, gaiters, and spectacles, also excited considerable attention. The railway officials had the curiosity to weigh one of the natives, of Brobdignagian proportions, and found he turned the scale at 20 stone — quite a Maori Tichborne in fact. Several passengers got out at the Hutt, and proceeded to M'Nab's Gardens — which are increasing in popularity with the Wellington citizens, as a place of resort on Saturday afternoons. In spite of the long drought, the gardens preserve a wonderful amount of brightness, there being not only a beautiful display of dahlias, asters, and other autumn flowers, but the roßes are still lingering on the trees, and there are many other evidences that the summer has not yet left the fertile valley of the Hutt. At to-morrow's sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, the following debtors will apply for their discharge : — Kobert George Williams, of Masterton, saddler; Alder G. Stratford, Thoa. Bould, J. L. Kimbell, J. W. Nomon, and J. H. Hudson. We understand that the Kaiwarra Bines have sent Home for uniforms similar to those worn by the City Rifles. The corps has been considerably strengthened of late, and now numbers 56 members. The cricket match played at Karon last Saturday between the Karori and the Eising Star (second eleven) cricket clubs resulted in a tie on the first innings, each side scoring 54 runs. For the Stars, Turner and Helyer were the highest soorers, contributing 11 and 8 respectively, and for the Karori players Lancaster compiled 24. A cricket match between Present v. Past Collegians was played on Saturday afternoon on the College grounds. The Past Collegians made 67 in their innings, and when the game was concluded the Present eleven hod three wickets down for 75. The Eev. H. Williams, Congregational minister at Christchurch, yesterday conducted the anniversary services of the Woodward-street Church. There was a large attendance at both morning and evening services. In the afternoon, Mr. Williams addressed the Sunday School children. A tea meeting in connection with the anniversary of the same church will be held on Tuesday, and will be followed by a lecture on Westminster Abbey by the Eev. H. Williams. The Auckland Herald, referring to Mr. Angelo Forrest's firsi; concert in that city, says :— " Mr. Forrest's performances last evening fully sustained the high reputation aa a musician which had prpceded him, and we congratulate the musical circles in Auckland on the accession to their ranks of po accomplished a professor of the ' divine art." The usual monthly inspection parade of volnnteers took placo at the Mount Cook Barracks on Saturday afternoon, when 263 officers, men, and cadets answered to the roll-call, the following corps being represented: — D Battery Artillery, under the command of Lieut. M'Ciedie and Sub-Lieut. Brandon, 27 men; Engineers — Captain Simpson, lient. and sub-lieut., 24 men ; City Rifles — Captain Crowe, Lieut, Ballinger. 54 men (including band) ; Wellington Guards — Captain the Hon. Eandall Johnson, Lieut. Young, 49 men (including band) ; Naval Brigade — Captain C. Johnston, Lieuts. Bennett and Hialop, Sub-Lieut. Wallace, 82 I men (including band) ; Cadets — 18, under command of Lieut. Davy. Inspection over, a series of review movements were gone through on the College Reserve, under Lieut. - ColonelPearce. It is proposed to hold special batallion parades in view of the approaching encampment at Nelson. We learn that the Wairarapa is Buffering severely from the want of rain. Many of the oldest settlers say it' is the dryest season they remember The creeks and rivers are drying up, wells are failing, and, unless rain speedily arrives, the consequences are likely to be Berions. There was a capital house at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, when the Baby Pinafore Company again appeared in the comic opera, " H.M.S. Pinafore." The performance went off as well as on_ the previous night, and fie audience were just as enthusiastic in their applause. The "Baby" Company will appear in the same piece this evening. The inauguration of the Snnday School in connection with the " Church of Christ" in Wellington took place on Sunday afternoon, in the Academy of Music, Lambton Quay. There were upwards of 50 children present, besides a large number of adults, who attended for the purpose of forming an adult Bible class. The school hours are from 3 to 4 o'clock, and it is hoped that this Sunday School will supply a want in the city. Mr. A. Anderson is the Superintendent. Hundreds of people assembled on the Queen's Wharf yesterday afternoon, attraoted thither by the strains of the Naval Brigade Band, whose performance appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed. The Eangitikei Advocate publishes a rumor current in. Wellington some time ago to the effect that Mr. G. E. Tolhurst was about to leave the Bank of Now Zealand and transfer hia services to the firm of Messrs. W. & G. TurnbulL We made some enquiries into the truth of the statement at the time it originated, and were informed it was without foundation.

Anniversary services in connection with the Sunday bchool of the Primitive Methodi-t Church, Sydney—treet, were conducted yesterday — in the morning by the Rev. D. Dutton, and in the evening by the Key. J Hinton. Mr. Button's se-mon in The morning was addressed specially to Sunday school teachers and parents. He urged the teachers to persevere in their good works in spite of all difficultieo, knowing that if they did their best the responsibility of failure did not rest with them. The work of the Sunday school teacher he held to be one of the noblest a man or woman could engage in. The rev. gentleman pressed upon parents the necessity for giving their children instruction at home, and of setting them a good example, otherwise the work of the Sunday school would show but small results. The Sunday school was not intended to impart the whole of a child's religions instruction, it was meant more as an aid to the instruction imparted by parents. In the afternoon Mr. Dutton addressed the children, who afterwards gave a number of recitations in a very creditable manner. The anniversary tea meeting is to be held to-morrow evening. The Treasurer of the Home for Friendless : Women acknowledges the following bud- ! scriptions :— For maintenance, J. E. Nathan, Esq., £2 2s ; Mrs. Hector. £2 ; Mrs. G. Randall Johnson, £2 2s ; Miss Spinks, 2s 6d ; Mrs. Bethune, .£l. For the building fund, Captain Williams, £5 ; balance from concert, £1. At the Wosley Church, Taranafei-streat, yesterday, the Revß. W. J. Williams and L. Hudson preached farewell sermons, both i these gentlemen being about to leave the district. Mr. Williams in shortly to take up his abode in Wanganui. and Mr. Hudson leaves for Whangarei. There was a large attendance on both occasions — especially in the evening, when the Key. W. J. Williams preached an eloquent sermon from 2 Cor. xiii, 11—" Finally, brethren, farewell," &c. In the course of his remarks he took a retrospect of the three years dnring which he had been stationed in Wellington, characterising them as probably the most eventful three years in the history of the city. He drew a graphic picture of the apparent prosperity in which he found Wellington on his arrival, and the sudden crash in commercial affairs which took place about a year afterwards. In trenohant terms he referred to the amount of immorality still prevailing in the city, observing that while there were so many hotels kept in a flourishing condition, and so many houses of illfame, it was evident that the people had not fully taken to heart the lessons which should be taught them by the period of adversity through which they had been passing. The preacher also spoke upon the vicissitudes through which the church had passed during the period he had been ministering among them. He dapioted the sorrow of many members of the congregation whon the Manners-street Church, which was hallowed by so many associations, was destroyed by fire, and he referred in terms of cordial appreciation to the zeal Bhown in securing the present building. He also alluded in very feeling language to the losses which they had sustained by the death of prominent church-members The reverend gentleman was listened to with the greatest interest throughout, and evidently was mnoh affected at leaving his charge. A very general feeling of regret is felt among the members of the Wesleyan body in Wellington that the inexorable rule of the Society, by which ministers are removed at the end of every three years, compels the departure of so popular a pastor. The Treasurer of the Benevolent Institntion acknowledges the sum of 2s 6d, paid a 8 a reward for finding, and restoring to its owner, a tui akin. The Rangitikei Advocate mentions as a rumor that Mr. Travers intends to run for Manawatu at the next election, and that his speech in making Palmerston the terminus of the West Coast Railway was a bid for the support of Palmerston and Feilding. Crt dit that in the event of Mr. Halcombe contesting the seat (adds the Advocate) an opponent to him will be pat forward from the Foxton end of the constituency. After permitting the subject of street tramways to agitate their minds for six years, the City Council of Auckland have at length allowed themselves to be influenced by the spirit of the times, and are now even anxious to follow the example of Wellington, Dunedin, and Christchurch. They have not only decided to have street tramways, but they intend, so that there should be no mistake about it, to construct them themselves. A plan of the proposed lines and copies of a pamphlet containing specifications have been forwarded to the Town Clerk of Wellington. Another instance of the precocity of the young Australian is recorded by the Sydney News. A boy, who had escaped from a reformatory, and was re-captured made a second attempt to escape from the trooper, who cautioned him, tolling him that if he atttempted to escape again he might find himself covered by a revolver. The youngster replied, " You can't do that; I'm not outlawed yet." A moat peculiar accident happened last week to a little fellow about ten years of age, a son of Mr. John Skene, labour agentl •f Dunedin. He was playing after sohoo, with some schoolfellows, and during the sport ran with considerable force against the end of a projecting plank. He fell to the ground, and was helped home by his playmates. A doctor was called in and examined him, and came to the conclusion that he had broken one of his ribs. He was kept in the house, and in a few days it was deemed advisable to remove what appeared to be a piece of the broken rib. On being taken out of the little fellow's side, the supposed piece of rib turned out to be a piece of slate-pencil, three or four inches in length, which had been in his pocket at the time of the accident. The point was very sharp, and the force of the concussion had driven the pencil right into the boy's side, leaving it in the vicinity of the ribs. Had it penetrated a few inches lower down, the bowels would probably have been ruptured, and the acci- i dent would have had a fatal ending. As it is, the lad is quite well again. Lord Beaconfield's new novel, Endymion, does not appear to command unanimous admiration. For instance, the Freeman's Journal says : — " It is not an encouraging symptom of the times that a man who has been an English Premier, and who has for some years passed the allotted period of human life, should, instead of saying hi* prayers, repenting of his sins, and looking after his poor old soul, quietly sit down to write a very bad book." This is " rough" on Endymion. Those engaged at Mr. Good's City Sawmills, says the Colonist of 22nd March, received what was to them a terrible scare. One of the employe's, who was attending to the boiler furnace, having bhovelled some wood, Ac, into the furnace, noticed on top of the rubbish what he took to be a packet of brads or something of that sort, and he at once drew the small package from the furnace. On examining it, however, he was horrified to discover that the parcel consisted of a dozen packages of dynamite, and on his telling his fellow-workmen of the fact the feeling became general that they had all had a miraculous escape from * terrible death. We have been informed that the package alluded to was evidently dropped while removing goods from one store to another by the local agents for the lithof racteur. A story in one of the Scotch papers will bear repeating :—": — " A fond husband had left his spouse in England, and was to return by the train that broke down on the Tay Bridge. Nothing was heard of him after the accident ; his faithful wife came up to view the bodies, but could find no signs of her lost one. Like a good woman, she wept for him as lost, put on the conventional weeds, and became a lone widow, comporting herself decorously to all. Her husband was collecting acoonnts fora firm, and they too gave him np and the accounts for lost. One day, however, in a tram-car, sitting comfortable and happy, was he espied by one of the firm, and being traced home he was unceremoniously disturbed in his new home with a new wife, whom he had married on the proceeds of the moneys he had embezzled. He now, after 12 months' hard labor, returns to the world, bnt he is in great doubt as to which of the wives he is in duty bound to select." It will be remembered (says the Lyttelton Times) that abont two years ago an expedition was formed at Wellington, for the purpose of exploring New Guinea, with a view to the opening up of trade, and eventually j the colonisation of a portion of it. A barque, called the Courier, was purchased for the purpose, and the members of the expedition returned a few months ago. They were not so successful in a pecuniary sense as was hoped, partly owing to the man who sold the barque having overreached the purchasers in certain particulars, and to other circumstances inseparable from an enterprise hurriedly undertaken ; but the promoters have, apparently, gathered enough to Batisfy them that another expedition would be certain of success, for they are now taking stops to form a company with a capital of £20,000, with the same object as the original venture. The Courier visited Astrolabe Gulf, on the north-east coast, and found the natives very tractable, and disposed to trade. They parted with land readily, showing a childish eagerness to acquire empty bottles, hoop iron, old nails, &c, and according to the description given of them, were ready enough to work upon being shown the way. Scented woods were found in quantities, and tobacco and sugar were both, we were informed, growing there. The idea of the promoters is to obtain about 2000 men with some capital, say about £200 a-piece, colonise the hind properly, and develope trade generally. Mr. R. Mills, who accompanied the former expedition, states that he has received a very large number of applications already, and he expects to be

) able to sail about 'tigttst. Mr. Mills has { brought with him numerous views taken on I the spot, which give a good idea of the kind of natives and aspect of the country." Attention i 3 directed > to Dr. Cole's advertisement, appearing in another column. Dr Cole is a kite medical officer of health for the City of Dunedin, and a-sistant surgeon to the Armed Constabulary of New Zealand. He posseestis excellent credentials as a physician and surgeon, and is the author of Beveral medical treatises.

Up to Saturday laßt the receipts on account of Property Tax in the various parts of the colony were as follows : — Canterbury £52,617 Otago 43,173 Wellington 38,000 Auckland 31,481 Hawke'sßay 12,000 Waitaki 11,108 Nelson 8,400 Southland 7,621 Country Post Offices (about) 1,000 Total (about) .6205,400