THE REVENUE.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 76, 1 April 1891, Page 2

THE REVENUE.

The financial year terminated yesterday, and the Treasury will now have to apply itself to the work of making np tho accounts of the period, so as to enable Ministers to know their exaot finanoial position. It seems to be generally understood that there will be a Burplus, whioh some sanguine people cay will reaoh or slightly exceed six figures, but at prosent only the roughest of guesses can be made at the preoise amount, and it will probably be some weeks before even Mr Ballanae knows precisely what Bum he begins the new year with as a nest egg. We doubt whether it will mnoh exoeed half the sum named by rumour, but even a clear JJ50.000 will, we think, be generally regarded as satisfactory under the circumstances, and it will give the new Ministry a good start for whatever may be the finanoial policy of the fntnre.

On our fourth page to-day will be found a report of the proceedings at the Federal Convention at Sydney yesterday; also correspondence. There are no fewer than 35 cases of typhoid fever under treatment in the Hospital at the present time. The Premier and the Hon. J. G. Ward, Postmaster- General, were passengers by the train from Taranaki last night. The Hon. Mr Ballanoe had just taken part in the Jubilee celebrations at New Plymouth, and Mr. Ward was completing his journey from Sydney, where he represented New Zealand at the Postal Conference. We have the authority of the Premier for stating that Ministers have no intention of appointing a Committee to enquire into the working of the Government Insnranoe Department, as alleged by a contemporary. The idea has not even been thought of, for the Government are thoroughly satisfied with the manner in which the business of the department is being conducted, bo far as it has yofc come under their notice. This assurance will also serve to contradict another report whioh has lately been in oiroulation, viz — that changes were contemplated in the higher offices of the department. The only alterations that have been under consideration are minor suggestions as regards matters of detail. The s.s. Waihora with an English mail arrived at the Bluff at 11.30 this morning. The Wellington portion of her mails cannot reach here before Saturday. The draft of tho new contraot between the City Council and the Gulcher Eleotrio Licht Company has been forwarded to Mr. De Castro, Chairman of the Company, who is at present in Dunedin, and if he approves of it a fair copy wjll be made for signature. Dr. Ewart, the Medioal Superintendent of the Hospi a-1, informs ns that Fredk'. IllmaD, tho young man who was injured by the bursting of a gun at Palmerston on Saturday, is progressing favourably. To-morrow evening a meeting of the Public Works Committee of the City Council will be held, and on the following evening the Council will meet for the transaction of business which has accumulated during the past fortnight. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Postal and Telegraph Officers' t'ooiety commenced at the Royal Oak Hotel on Monday, but so fir no business of publio interest has been transacted. Arrangements have been made for an interview- with the PostmasterGeneral, with the objoot of endeavouring to obtain official recognition of the Society, The names of the delegates have already appeared in pur polumns John Kennedy, the unfortunate yonng man who was seriously injured through jnmping from a train on the Manawalo Line ' a few days ago, still lies in the Hospital in a preoarious state. Particulars of the aooident show that he had alighted from the train at Otaki while in motion, and atter getting on board again was warned against repeating acts of the kind. On reaohing Tawa Flat he wif hod to leave the train, and, as it did not stop at this station, he jumped off, with the regult that he fell into a ditch and stiuok the bapk of his head against a post. In addition to the injury to the head and spine there ia a severe wound jn 'the abdomen, and inflamation of the boweja has get in, making bis oondition very serums indeed. Owners of unregistered dogs should take heed of the fact that David Drake was summoned by the Registrar in the Magistrate's Court this morning for keeping an unregistered animal, and fined 5b with 7s oosts. The quality of the provisions supplied to the volunteers at the Palmerston North encampment by Messrs. J. E. Nathan and Co. gave every satisfaction. Excellent bread was supplied by Mr. C. Grnbb, who also presented the Wellington Navalß with a quantity of scones and cakes. Men who nave extended encampments for years deolare that the catering arrangements were better at Pnimerstoh than at any previous oatnp ever held in the Wellington provincial district. The children attending St. James' Sunday Sohool, Petone, held their annual pionio yesterday in Mr. Riddler's paddock, on the Hutt-rcad. The day being beautifully fine, the young folk spent a very happy time. A man named John CahiU appeared befcre Mr. W. A. FitKherbert, J.P., at the Lower Hutt Court yesterday morning on a charge of drunkenness and riotons oonduot at the Hutt. He was fined 5s with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment. The Catholic Presbytory, Boulcott- street, has been added to the Telephone Exchange list. A long bioycle tour has just been com.' pleted by Mr Howard, of the Wellington Telegraph Offloe. Leaving Longburn, he rode up to Taranaki, then on to Napier, and returned to Palmerston North. Daring the time he was on the wheels he journeyed over 3qO miles. The roads in some places were bad, but, on 'the whole, the outing was a very pleasant one. " ■ The prires won at the last sporla meeting of the Amatenr Athletio and Cyoling Club are to be presented at a oonvereazione about the end of the present month.

The Auckland Herald of Friday last says : —Some doubt has arisen as to whether Sir Georgo Grey's nomination is perfectly regular, it being contended that, being out of the colony, the cable message giving his consent is irregnlar. The nomination papers are in rcgu'ar order, but the cnn3ent, in the opinion of Iho I'elurning Offioer (Mr. J. A Beale>, is wanting. The cable message from Sir George ia in the following terms : — " Letter sent consenting nomination for Newton " The Returning Offiopr holds that there is no legal consent ; all that he is informed is that there is a letter coming to hand. If the letter arrives by the Monowai in proper form all will be regular Tho nominations cloee on Monday by date, but Monday is a publio holiday, and 'J nesday becomes the last day for receiving them The Returning Officer is of opinion that if Sir George bad cabled a message in tha following words, " I hereby consent to be nominated for Newton," it would have been all right. | Since tho above was in print a letter has been roceived from Sir George Grey consenting to nomination in regular form J Amongst tho passengers booked by the s.s. Takapuna, which sails for L> ttelton th's afternoon, is the Hon. J G. Ward, Postmaster General. A number of the Canterbury cricketers left for tho South at 5 p.m. yesterday by tho Hauroto. Cheers were given by tho local team as the steamer moved away from the wharf, and were vigorously responded to by the Southerners, who have expressed themselves as being delighted with their visit Thomas Benjamin Nordisch, who had oolebratad Easter Tuesday not wisely but too well, appeared before Messrs. C. C Graham, R.M., and J. Lachman, J.P., in tho Magistrate's Court this morning, and was fined 10s, or, in default, 43 houw' imprisonment. An examination, which Dr. Ewart has made of the body of Otto Campen, who died in the Hospital yesterday from the effects of a fall of earth upon him at Porirua, shows that the intestines and the bladder were ruptured, aod tho pelvis fractured The District Coroner will hold an inquest on the body at the Hospital at half past 7 o'clock this evening. Campen arrived in tho colony from Australia only a few weeks ago. Charles Boyd and Thomas Hamilton, aged respectively ton and nine years, who were suspected of breaking into the hon.Be of Edwin Arnold, expressman, of Karori-road, last Friday, and stealing money and other articles of the value of £6 12i, were brought up before Mr. C. C. Graham, R.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when they pleaded Guilty to entering the house, but denied having taken anything more than Bs. The mothers of both urchins wore present in Court, and eleoted to have their sous dealt with summarily. The proßOontor stated that the house was ontered during his absence, through a window, and a enur* of £1 6s in silver taken from off the mantleshelf in the bedroom, as well as £2 Is 6d from a boy's money box, some jars of jam, cigars, and other things. 1 his mornii g a lad named Baldwin brought him 2s, with a message from the accused, that they would return the remairder of the money they had taken as soon as they could. After hearing other evidence, his Worship decided that a birohing would do the youngsters moro good than a torm of imprisonment, and they were accordingly handed over to the police to receive six strokes apiece with a birch rod. The punishment was administered shortly afterwards and the boys handed baok to the care of their parents. Mr. W. Copley, Commissioner for Crown Lands in South Australia, who toured this colony recently, was, on his return home, interviewed by a Sydney Daily Telegraph reporter. Mr. Coplpy expressed himsnlf greatly pleased with his trip, and especially with the beautiful scenery with whioh his tour had been associated. He is muoh impressed with tho great natural resouroes of New Zealand, and especially the frozen meat export. For agricultural purposes, ho says, he has seen nothing better than the land about Timaru and Oamaru, but he thinks the North Island is better adapted tor stock raising. With prudent government he belioves the colony will overcome all its difficulties. The informations which have been laid by tho polios against Mrs. Ellen Harding, of the Temperance Hotel, Manners-street, for alleged sly-grog selling, oharge her (1) with having unlawfully sold two glasses of whisky on the 22nd instant, not being a person exempted by the Licensing Act, 1881, from requiring a license to sell liquor, and not being duly licensed to sell; (2) having sold four glasses of beer and three of whisky at half-past 10 o'clock on the evening of the same date; and (3) having sold a glass of whisky and one of stout at about half-past 9 o'olook on the evening of the 23rd instant. The cases will be heard on Friday, in the Resident Magistrate's Court. A prominent footballer in Auokland, in the person of C. Caradus, is about to take up his residence in Wellington. He is one of the best half-backs in tho Ponponby Club, and will be a dcoided acquisition to the ranks of Wellington footballors. The Faust Family and London Bellcingers repeated their entertainment at the Opera House last night, and met with a very hearty reception from the audience. The various musical performances of Horr Yon der Mehden and the bell-ringing party, the humourous sketches and "Risley" performance of the Faust Brothers, and Mr. Gub Lynoh's oharacrer delineations were each warmly roceived. The company will again appear to-night. The boy Astwood, who was found sleeping in a railway carriage on Monday night, waa reclaimed yesterday by his father, who resides at Karori, and taken home. The quarterly meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance, Advance Division No. 24, was held in the United Methodist schoolroom last evening. On aooount of the holidays the attendance was not very large, but the Order is steadily advanomg, as evinced by the fact that eight new members were proposed, and will be initiated at the next meeting. The receipts for the evening were olose on .£l2. Ihe annual Easter pionio of the employes of the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company was held on the grounds of Mr. Brown, Upper Hntt, whioh were kindly lent for tho ocoasion A special train oonveyed the picnickers (some 250) to their destination. Various amusements were indulged in. Toys were plentifully supplied to the little ones, and the whole affair passed off very successfully. Some very handsome prizes for racing were presented by City merchants, who were loudly cheered by the employe's for their g nerosity. The following were the results of the principal events :— 22oyds Handicap.— J. Mnirhead, jun.. 1. Married Women's Raoe. — Mrs. Beardsell, 1 ; Mrs. Armitage, 2. Married Men's Race, 100 yds.— E. Taylor, 1 j M. Armitage, 2. Married Women's Race, 75 yds.— Mrs. Kerr, 1; Mrs. Simpson, 2. Single Women's Race, 100yds.— Miss C. King, 1 ; Miss S. Barber, 2 Single Men's Raoe, 120yds.- J. Rodgers, 1; J Hamilton, 2. Boys' Kaoa— M. Adams, 1 ; J. Findlay, 2 Boys Raoe (14 to 16yrB), 100yds.— 8. Rodgors, 1; P. Hoppleston,2. Girls Raoe (16 to 18yra), l2ovds.— Miss List, 1: Mies K. Smith, 2. Girls Race (14 to 16yrs), 100yds —Miss Woods, 1; Miss List, 2. Sack Race— C. Berntson, 1. Three-Legged Raceß —No. 1, Hopplcston and Burnley, 1. No. 2, Cates and Vincent, 1. Committee's Baoe — C. Lustip, 1 ; A. W, Hamer, 2. The programme of the military display and sports whioh are to be conducted in Newtown Park on Saturday of next week by tho Heretaunga Monnted Infantry appears in our advertising columns. The troop have been preparing for the affair for some considerable time past, and a satiafao tory degree of proficiency has been attained. The horses have been trained under the direction of Monnted Constable fchepherd, and du'ing the recent Easter encampment they performed in a manner whioh excited the admiration of the spectators. The display and sports promise to be well worth witnessing, and if the weather is fine the attendance of the goneral publio will no doubt be very large. Entries olose with the secretary at Petone on Monday evening next. Says an Auokland paper, referring to the bootmakers' strike there :— " It is somewhat remarkable after all tho talk there has been about arbitration and Boards of Conciliation to avert strikes, that the very first strike whioh orops np, the only reply should be, 'the statement, the whole statement, and nothing but the statement,' backed by a resolve to have no further parley with the employers It was understood that the Employers' Association intended to fulfil a mission in this way, and if so it is time that something praotical was done.'-' The Oamaru Mail, one of the strongest Ministerial supporters in the colony, in regard to police retrenchment;, says as follows :— When the Government, therefore, propose to reduce the number of Police Inspectors, it is a highly improper and uufuir proceeding to raise an objection to the reduction op purely personal grounds. The only considerations that should weigh with the people are whether the redactions oan be given effeot without detriment to the service, whether the right men are aeleated as the victime, and whether the best and fairest method of reducing the number of officerp is proposed to be adopted. The Wellington Post, howevar, breaks higher ground, and argnea with nndemablo forco that the reduotion of 'the nnmbor of Police Inspectors will bj detrimental to the publio good, and that upon th*t ground it is indefensible. We are strongly inclined to adppt the same view as onr Wellington contemporary] for there are unquestionably many occasions on whioh it is of the highest importance that the officer in oharge of the polioe at places like Inveroargill, Oamaru, Wanganui, and other towns should be able to aot promptly upoir their own responsibility. Were such stations as we have indicated under the care of non-oommissioned officers, no matter how urgent the case might be, authority would first have to be sought and obtained from a superior officer before action could be taken, for the power of acting upon individual responsibility oan only ba conferred upon commissioned officers We on readily conceive of tha delay occasioned in this way rendering action impossible, where prompt action might have been of the utmost importance. But, while we bold this opinion, we are not disposed to uphold the contention that it is neoesary to have 12 Police Inspectors of equal rank and 'pay, and do not at all see why police offioers cannot be graded, and the minor polioe districts placed under the charge of Inspectors of the second olbbs. By this means the serious objection that has been raised by the Post and endorsed by onrselves might be overoome and jastioe done to old and good offioers, and yet something aooom. plisbed in the way of retrenchment. In onr opinion, real and substantial economy in the Police Force oan bo attained by a better method than the retiring of five Inspectors. What is required is a thorough reorganisation of the Force, and the adoption of a police system under which there would be less olerical work and redtapeism. The next of the series of organ recitals at St. Paul's Churoh will be given by Mr. B. Parker to-morrow evening. The programme will include some new and interesting works, and will be varied by some vocal musio by the choir appropriate to the Easter Festival. The offertory will be for the Organ Enlarge ment Fond,

Writing on New Zealand's attitude with regard to Federation, the Argus says :— lt ia evident that New Zealand would like to be admitted into the commercial union, and to stand apart from the politioal federation; and it ia also clear (hat for many reasons any pnch onrFO is impcmible. It would bo difficult under any circumstances to induce Victorian farmers to regard with equanimity the prospect of reciprocity with New Zealand, and a one-Bided bargain by which New Zealand ahould obtain reciprocity and should escape the responsibility cf the fdderation couM not be proposed here. It ia probable enough that what Captain Russell aayB is correct, and that Australia will have to take certain lines of produoe from New Zealaud for all time, and this mnet be the consolation of our Western Pacific friend 3. If a genuine superiority exists in any article, the damand for it is not killed by the imposition of Customs duties, and it iB possible that an active trade will continue to exist between continental Australia and the New Zaaland isles, even though the latter remain outside the Customs union of the immediate future. The future will probably be afforded the opportunity of solving this problem. . . . The difficulties remain that a thousand miles of ocean separate the two lands ; that the two people understand each other's politics very little ; that it is almost impossible for New Zealand to send 40 or £0 representatives — that is to Bay, men who would worthily represent her -for six months in the year, to Australia. Such reasons as these point to the conclusion that New Zealand must Btand apart for tho present, and must eleot at some future time whether she will oome into the Australian union or will form a Western Piioifio confederation of her own, her scheme embracing in somo loose form the isles of the Pacific. She could do a groat work for the Empire in this direotion It was oourteoua of New Z 'aland to send representatives ; her delegates are ornaments to the Convention, but their presence need create no misapprehension as to her real position. Tho Folkestone steamboat reoently, says a Home exchange, arrived at Boulogne having aboard a hundred oaßes containing seventy, five million francs in gold from the Bank of England, in repayment of the recent loan from the Banque de Franca. The oases were landed at one_ o'olock in the morning. They filled three railway truoks, and were so heavy that each required two men to carry it. They were aooompanied by an esoort of five persons. Speaking at the Federal Convention to the motion for the admission of the press to the proceedings, Mr. Dibbs (New South Wales) said :— " If we are to work in the direotion of beooming one people, we must take all the people of all the colonieß into our confidence, and to that end I propose that the press and public should be part of the Convention " He proceeded to point out that by making the proceedings thus completely publio the people wonld bo able to judgo for themselves the work of the Convention, they would have no uneasiness, and they would not be able to form tho idea that the Convention was anything like a Becret conclave contemplating the taking of something from them. Mr. Playford supported Mr. Dibbs' view, and sir Samuel Griffith, to the surprise of some poople, announoed that he always believed in the admission of the press, and at all times. Ho admitted that he had hitherto been misunderstood on this question. The attention of members of the Wellington Naval Artillery Volunteers is direoted to an order which appears in another column, countermanding the eider for usual parade this evening. Mr. Ayres to-day advertises his Lion brand baking powder. The sale of the powder, which oan be obtained from all storekeepers, is rapidly increasing. Messrs. laery and Co. will sell to-morrow the household furniture and effects of Mrs. Jobberns, 216, Adelaide-road South. Catalogues have been issued, and considering the various items advertised, and the condition of every article to be aold, thero should be brisk competition. Noble Campbell & Co. will sell to-morrow fruit, &c.

Dresses— Wehave now opened out our two first_ shipments of autumn and winter dress fabrics, whioh have oomo to na rooently by the steamers Aorangi and Arawa Wo may oonsoientionsly aflSrm that no finer, more varied, or well-selected goods have ever previously passed the portals of Te Aro House. DBBSSBS-In the limited spaoo at our command, there is not room to give anything like an adequate description of our new antnmn dress goods, but it is sufficient to say that they are of excellent value, of superior finish, well assorted in Btyles and colourings, well adapted to meet the tastes of our numerous lady patrons. We solioit an early inßpeotion of these, at Te Aro House. Dressmaking— Our two large and commodious dressmaking rooms are still under the same efficient management, and can guarantee in this season, as in all past seasons, instant attention, prompt exeoution, faultlesß finish, and perfect fit. Ladies who want their dresses early should at once place their orders at Te Aro House. Jackets, Mantles and Ulsters — We have opened out a very fine assortment of these, in all fashionable makes, styles, colours, shapes, and sizes. Onr man tier oom is now filled with all the latest novelties, suoh as Should induoe an early visit to Te Aro Honse. — Advt. The shooting season ib near, and sportamen will require guns, rifleß, powder, shot, cartridges, &o. The best plaoe in Wellington is Messrs. Wilkins & Field, llannersBtreet, who have on hand or to arrive immediatoly the largest, best, and most varied stock of everything necessary at the lowest possible prices. — Adtt. There oan be no doubt that the best display of ironmongery in Wellington is to be Been at Messrs. Wilkins & Field, Mannersstreet Amongst the numerous articles just arrived is a beautiful sot of fireplace brasses, comprising ourb, fireirons, fire dogs, Btop, and coal va«o, all to matoh, also a large variety of blaok and brass fendcrß, afternoon spirit lamps, &a , &o. — Advt. Patent Wheels, Cycles, Perambulators.—Agents wanted. Dankley, Birmingham, England. — Advt.