THE SUCCESSION DUTIES BILL.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 3, 4 July 1881, Page 2

THE SUCCESSION DUTIES BILL.

The Succession Duties Bill or, as it is more lengthily designated, " The Deceased Persons' Estates Duties Bill," which was introduced en the 23rd ultimo by the Hon. Major Atkinson, and read a first time, has not yet been circulated, but is understood to follow mainly, with one important exception, the Earns lines as last year's bill. That measure, it will be recollected, was passed by the Lower House, but rejected by the Legislative Council, the worthy members of that exalted body evidently dreading its bearing on the valuable estates of which they are commonly understood to hold so goodly a share. They threw out the bill, and thus not only diminished the estimated revenue by the amount of the increased duties which they refused to sanction, but also deprived the Government of some much-needed machinery which the bill provided for levying the duties at present in force. The need of such a measure is so urgently felt that we hear the new bill will not appreciably increase the amount of the succession duties, in order that the Council may not have this excuse for again rejecting it. In fact, from what we can gather, the new measure will be almost entirely a mere " machinery bill," and apparently it is hoped that this will soften the obdurate hearts of the "Lords" in its favour and secure its passage to the Statute Book.

A statement ha 3 been published to the effect that " there io to be no reduction whatever in sa'aries " of Civil Servants. This is obviously incorrect, because this Government stands practically pledged — on the speeches of Mr Hall and Major Atkinson — to show a reduction of a quarter of a million in the coming Estimates aa compared with those of last year. The exact shape which the reductions are to take will not, how ever, be disclosed until the Budget ,iB brought down. It is understood that the final report of Messrs. Batkin and Seed on, the practicability of further retrenchment in the Civil Service, and its reorganisation, will not be ready for another week, and possibly a fortnight. We learn with regret that Mr. R. J. Seddori, M.H.R. for Hokitika, who only arrived in Wellington a day or two ago, has been hurriedly summoned home again, owing to the death of his daughter. He left by tho s.B. Grafton yesterday for Lyttelton. when he proceeds overland to Kumara. He will probably return to Wellington and resume his Parliamentary duties about the end of the week. Only two grand jurors failed to put in an appearance thi« morning when their names were called. Mr. Justice Richmond did not enforce any penalty, observing that it was not usual to fine grand jurors when there was a good attendance. He added, however, that he always kept an eye upon persons who did not appear, so as to see that they did not make a habit of neglecting a public duty. The eastern sky at 6 a.m. this morning was singularly beautiful- First Mars and Saturn close together ; below these, and to the right, Jupiter and Venus ; below these the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades ; and then [just clear of the horizon Orion and Sirius in all their glory. The outer planet, Neptune, is near Jupiter, but is not visible to the naked eye. All this, however, does not foretel either an earthquake or the end of the world. We have this assurance on high authority. A meeting of the Try Again Quartz Mining Company (Ohan Beach) was held at the office of the secretary, Mr. H. Elliott, on Saturday. The report, which was considered very satisfactory, stated that the working party had got in one drive 40 feet, and another 25 feet. They were now on hard ground, when slabbing was no longer necessary, and had struck leaders showing 1 good gold. Some specimens taken from the latter, and tested by Mr. George Bennett, had yielded at the rate of 16 ounces to the ton. It was agreed to pontinu" the present operations, a proposition for placing crushing machinery on the ground being held "over for future consideration. Constable Mackey reports, with reference to tho paragraph which appeared in the Evening Post on Saturday concerning the accident to -the lad. Smith, at the Lower Hutt, that the accident occurred in the attempt of Smith, who was driving a 3art, to strike with hia whip a boy, named Jones, who had asked him for a ride. In dealing the blow Smith fell out of the vehicle and hurt himself. A meeting of the Wellington Co-operative St >res Company (Limited) was held r>n Saturday evening in Asher's rooms, Mr. D. Asher in the chair. The secretary (Mr. Alderdice) explained the object for which the meeting had been called. The chairman and several of those present, having spoken in favor of the proposed company, it was ultimately decided that a committee be formed from amongst the present meeting to make final arrangements for the formation of the company. A vote of thanks to the chairman was then passed, and the meeting separated. Dr. Gillon informed Mr. Justice Richmond at the loriminal sittings of the Supreme Court this morning, that the man Joseph Dewar, who, it is alleged, was recently stabbed at the Lower Hutt by Joseph Skerrit, alias Black, lies iv & very precarious condition at present, and it would be dangerous to remove him from his residence. The Municipal Fire Brigade has accepted a challenge from the Carterton Volunteer Brigade for a hose and reel competition, to take place in Wellington next Saturday. The Carterton men have also challenged the Master ton Brigade to a competition at the same time and place. A preliminary meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Pleasure Steamboat Company for the harbor of Wellington was held at the Empire Hotel on Saturday afternoon. There were eight persons present, and Mr. W. Fitzherbert presided. Apologies for non-attendance, owing to the limited notice that hnd been received of the intention to hold such a meeting, were received from several gentlemen who had been invited to be present. Mr. Bonnett submitted a prospectus of the proposed company. It was suggested that the capital of the company should be .£2500, in 20 shares of .£125 each. The advantages accruing from such an undertaking' were pointed out by the chairman and Messrs. Young, King, Bennett, Seager, and others, and the meeting seemed to agree unanimously that the enterprise would prove most successful, and yield large dividends to the shareholders. In consequence of the small attendance, it was resolved to adjourn till Wednesday evening, to enable others to attend and discuss the project. We hear that the proprietor of an omnibus in this city intends shortly to run his vehicle between Newtown and the Pipitea Point railway station at regular intervals throughout the day. He is inclined to think that that section of the travelling public, among whom the present tramway timetable has created considerable dissatisfaction, will be ready to support the undertaking in a practical way. Messrs. Wrigglesworth and Binns have just completed what is believed to be the argest group-photograph, taken direct in one operation, ever produced in the colony. The size ia 20 inches by 18 inches. The photograph represents the well-known Hill family of musicians, with the several musical instruments they play. It is qnite a triumph of photography, each li&eness being produced with wonderful clearness and fidelity, and has already attracted a number of visitors to the studio. It was produced by means of a fine camera of the newest construetiou, recently imported by the firm, who seeni always enterprising in the way of securing the latest improvements in the prosecution, of their art. The N. Z. Bradshaw for July has reached us with its usual punctuality, and appears to be compiled with the customary care and accuracy.

The ftacces3 which has attended the proluction of " The Pirates of Penzance" ihronghout the past week is remarkable. Lnother large audience greeted Saturday's jerformance of this increasingly-popular >pera, and the applause was as enthusiastic is ever. The efforts of Mr. Benham in the Mceedingly amusing "Tarantara" chorus md other portions ot the opera must not be jverlooked. The opera will be repeated ;hrou»hout the week. Theatre-goers who attended Herr Bandmama's performances at the Theatre Royal, jn the occasion of hiß previous visit, will be jjlad to hear that he announces his intention of returning for a season of six nights, commencing on 16th July. I

The remarkable sale of surplus Btock of Drapery and Clothing at Te Aro House is now an established fact. The elaborate catalogue which has been issued is pronounced to be the most complete ever placed before the public. Heads of families, fetation holders, hotelkeepers, and all persons about to marry, should seize this opportunity of getting their wants supplied at the unprecedentedly low rates that are now ruling at the Great Surplus Sale at James Smith's, Te Abo House. A word of advice to suchmake your purchases in the early part of the day.— [Advt.J