THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1895, Page 2

THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

. Though the acoounts of the laßt quarter of ' the financial year 1894-95 have been published, the annual aocounts have not yet been gazetted. The quarterly accounts, however, enable us to summarise the results for the year. Let us take the revenue first. Leaving out shillings and pence, the Customs revenue for the past finanoial year was £1,569,783. Compared with the year 1893-94, there waß a drop in this head of revenue of £85,719. This shows that the spending power of the people, notwithstanding the inorease > of population, has lessened. The stamps • and cash reoeived by the Postal and Tele- • graph Department amounted to £677,221, I showing a small increase of £2580 over the • previous year. Teetotallers will be inter- • ested in learning that the Beer Duty shows a • small decrease, the duty being £59,890, or £1906 less than laat year. The Land and • Inoome Tax was £370,076, bnt some of this amount was arrears. This was £9514 more than was collected in 1893-94. The main increase was, however, in the Income Tax, which realised some £12,000 more than in the previous twelve months. Perhaps this may be acoonnted for by a greater stringenoy |j in oolleotion. One important branch of the revenue is Railways, and this, like , Customs, ib moat important, as showing the vitality of our industries. We are sorry we have to record a decrease of revenue to an amount of £22,800 — the revenue beinir I £1,152,746. Under the head of Misoef- . laneous we find a very substantial increase of £6652, the revenue under this head having . jumped up from £56,521 in 1893-94 to r £63,174 in 1894-95. We must wait for some , fame before we get the particulars of the items that make up the Miscellaneous. . We have no doubt that everything that oould be got together has been put under . this head. Do our readers know how the snm of £56,521 waß made np last year? We give some of the items— There waa no less than £4975 of unclaimed moneys ; there were moneys in Courts, goldfields deposits, intestate estates (£4335), and land and other deposits. £155 16s whioh was standing to tbe oredit of the Canterbnry Provinoial Library was put in the " pot " instead of being spent on the Pnblio Library in Christohuroh. We suppose the Minister ! of Education assented to this. Void money orders amounted to £169 13s Id. We wonder how the additional £6000 has been got this year? Have nnolaimed deposits helped to inorease tho amount? Then the Cheviot Estate acoount for interest paid ie a previous year has been laid under oontribution. No less a sum than £6700 has been brought forward from this acoount, and of oourse there were issued £117,800 of debentures nnder the Consolidated Stook Aot, 1881. ' The Territorial Revenue— land sales, land > rents. &o.— -amounted to £316,163. Last ¦ year the amount was £313,059 ; the inorease is Blight. It shows that, with all the efforts to settle the land, people are not attraoted to country life. With low prioes and no > great security in land-holding and some ' harsh conditions of settlement, it is not but- , prising that land settlement ia not popular, i The expenditure side of the Account gives us, also, somo interesting details. Let us take what we pay for interest and sinking: funds ; and in quoting the amount let us not forget that almost all this sum goes to

foreign residents. The total sum paid was £1,716,887. If we had not had this Bum to pay as our tribute to foreign stockholders, wo need not have bad to rely on tho London money market or been in a state of frantio enthusiasm about borrowing at 3J per cent. It has boen often Baid that Dickens' Micawber was not true to life. There may have been exaggerations in tbo portrait, but to bow many docs not the issne ot a debenture of forty years' duration mean the settloment of a debt ? The tale of interest is forgotten. We oannot properly criticise the other items of expenditure till we have a table of the liabilities and of the Unauthorised Expenditure. Tho ordinary expenditure shows a saving on the amounts voted of £61,531, but this may mean voto3 postponed, or moneys that should have been paid not expended. Details will not bo obtainable till the full Public Aooounts for the year are published. The permanent appropriations show a saving of £21.875. This is mainly in interest. We presume the loans authorised not being raised in the financial year accounts for this Baying. Our readers are aware that £1,500,000 was to be raised under the Advances to Settlers Act in 1894-95. Nothing was raised under that Act till the first quarter of 1895-96. But wo can gather from the Accounts that various sums have been borrowed. Let us note some of them :— First, we have £117,800 under tho Consolidated Stook Aot of 188 L; then we have £50,000 under the Native Land Purchase Aot, 1892 ; £24,100 nnder the Land for Settlements Act ; £73.000 under the Loans to Local Bodies Aot ; £184,000 under the Land Improvement and Native Land Purchases Act —in all the large sum of £448,900 ! This is not amiss for a Cubinet that once proclaimed itßelf a non-borrowing Ministry. We have loft out the £150,000 of Consols, £250,000 to redeem Cheviot debentures, and the new 3i per cents., amounting to £782,380, aud for this reason : The first may have been used to take np some of the loans we have reierrod to. The second was issued to redeem an existing loon, and was not therefore new borrowing. Tho last was to redeem loans on conversion, and the Acoounts do not show exaotly how far tho debt haa been increased by conversions. But wo may say this, that tbo oolony has borrowed during 1894-95 no lass a snm than £1,637,280, and tho lowest rate has been 3| per cent. Whore, then, is tho great oredit to tho Treasurer for our 3 por cents, f Why did he not borrow this sum at 3 per cent. P We do not Buy the debt of tho oolony has been increased by £1,637,280, a3 part of the sum has gone to pay off old loans. We should think the debt has been permanently increased by over half a million for £54,681 of released Binking funds haa been transferred to the Pablia Works Aocount, instead of having been used to pay off some of our debt. So much for brilliant finance and non-borrowing. Again we desire to draw our readers' attention to the position. AVith money in London earning in some cases only 1 per oent., how is it wo have pledged the oolony for years to 3fc per oent. bonds to an amount of £1,637,280? We think our readers will agree that to tbo prudent, careful colonist, who thinks of tho future and of tbe wolfarc of tbo colony, and not of the present and of the evanescent in politics and Parties, the consideration of our Public Accounts is not very re-assuring. It is no wonder that oonfidenoo ia not quickly restored, and that the judioious grieve at the want both of knowledge of and consideration for our public finances.

On the fourth page we publish particulars of yeatorday's Supremo Court buaines', sketches of the Rev. H. R. Hawoia' career, and of the Transportation Commission's doings, a budget of letters to the Editor, and other matter. *" An improvement in the health of the Minister for Lands is reported. There were 49,940 sheep oarried on tho Wellington section of railway during the month of May. The officers of the Midland Railway Company have acoepted serviao nndor tho Government. A)l tho takings of tbe line are now being lodged to tho credit of the Public Account. Ministers will at an early date consider tho advisablenoas of surveying the uncon&tructod portion of the line, in order that formation works may be proceeded with. We have to thank the Government Statist of Victoria for Section 3 of the valuable Year Book of that colony for 1891. The Court of Appeal has further adjonrnod delivery of judgment in the oaseß of Ecclcs v. Mills and others and Winiata v. Tonore, affecting the Mangaone block, until the 29th instant. The Taranaki footballers expect to pay their visit to Wellington at the end of August or early in September. It is stated that the Wanganui Horald Company has taken over the management of the Marton Mercury. The only cases remaining to be heard ut the present criminal sittings of the Supreme Court are those against Charles Kioholson, oharged with murder, and Charles H. Perry and George W. Stead, indicted for attempted theft. The murder trial will take place on Monday. This morning the a s. Mawhora brought six boxes of gold, worth £22,568, from the West Coast goldfield branches of the Bank of New Zealand — viz., one box, value £3464, from Westport; two boxes, value £7152, from Hokitika, and three boxes, value £11,952, from Greymouth. Tho whole consignment goes on to Lyttelton, and will be sent Home by the Rinntaka. A quantity of ice was sighted by tbe Tokomaru on her voyage from London. The first was seen early on the morning of the 16tb May, in latitude 43.25 S., and longitude 38.1 E., one berg being about 135 feet high and a mile long. Two days later another large berg was passed in latitude 45.7 S., and longitude 49 39 E,, the vessel steaming within 300 yards of it. A quantity of pack ice was also seen. Amongst the list of names of New Zealand students appearing in tho prize list of Edinburgh University for the winter session are those of the following Wellington students : — Physiology, senior division, second olass, W. J. H. Hislop ; materia medica, second class, Ernest E. Porritt ; pathology, second olass, W. J. H. Hislop ; anatomy, first olass, W. J. H. Hislop and Ernest E. Porritt ; surgery, first class honours, C. Monro Hector ; practice of medicine, C. Monro Hector; midwifery, second olass honours, C. Monro Hector, Through the use of tho cyanide prooeas, the Waitekauri (late Golden Cross) Mine, on the Waitokauri Goldfield, Ohinemuri, promises to become a rich gold-producer. A crushing from it, finished last week, gave a return of 23Ctoz sdwt bullion, valued at from £3000 to £4000. Some few years ago the praotice of headmasters or other ttachers of tho State schools supplying books to children and receiving tho profits was very generally criticised, and condemned. It was thought that the praotioe had long be-n abandoned. Enquiries have elicited the fact that no directions haye been given by the authorities forbidding it, and it is said that it still obtains in the district. Indeed, at one Committee meeting recently the system was defended by a master on tbo ground of teachers' privileges and rights, there beingno instructions, by Act or otherwise, to the contrary. It has, however, been long discontinued in the City schools. Tho Committee of the Horticultural Sooiety mot last night, when aocounts amounting to £58 8s Oil, and the prizes won at the laat show (£54 lGs 6d), were passed for payment. The prize-money will be paid out on Monday and Tuesday next by the Hon. Seoretary at the office of the Sooiety. All money not claimed before the annual meeting, which will behold at the end of the month, will be forfeited to the society. Tho Wellington Branoh of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Society held its fifth annual meeting in the Exohango Buildings laßt evening. Mr. E. Willis presided, and there was a large attendance. The Secretary's annual report showed that the membership had increased by 20 tinoe the last report, the tot»l now being 137. Tbo credit balance of the branch was shown to be £21 la 7d. The following office-bearers were eleoted for the ensuing year : — Chairman, Mr. W. Beawiok (General Post Office) ; Vioe-t •hairman, Mr. T. Buokley (Telegraph) ; Secretary, Mr. W. H. Simons (Telegraph) ; Trsasnrer, Mr. A. £ Fordham (Telegraph), re-eleoted; Committee, Messrs. E. Willis (General Post Offiae), H A. Huggins (General Post Office), and J. F. Carr (Telegraph) ; Auditors, Messrs. W. E. Chisholm and R. Martin (re-eleoted} ; Trustees, Messrs. E. Sunley and W. D. Jenkins (re-elected). A bonus of five guineas was voted to the roaring Seoretary. Ie was also deoided to hold the annual "social" at an early date. Mr. Buokley, one of the Wellington delegates, gave an interesting acoount of the late conference, and he aud his fellowdelegate received a hearty vote of thanks for their services thereat. Mrs. Fulton, of Cambridge-terrace, acknowledges reoeipt of the following articles for distribution: — Mrs. Muir, one parcel olothing ; Wellington Biscuit Company, biscuits. She would like to oommunieate with some kind person willing to adopt a baby girl 10 months old, whose father has been left with seven other children. Mr. J. P. Firth delivered a lecture on the "Rules of Football" last night at the Exchange Hall. Mr. J. T. King presided, and there was a large attendance of football players. In bis address, Mr. Firth contrived to impart a large amount of information regarding the game. He urged players to thoroughly study its rules. Ignorance was the cause of at least half the disputes on the field. Several "knotty points" were snb. mitted to Mr. Firth, and at the conolusion of his address be was awarded a hearty vote of thanks. A very successful concert was held in the public hall at Kilbirnie last ovening to commemorate the winning of the Third-olass Crioket Championship by the looal olub. Songs were given by Mrs. J. E. Read, Misses Cnrtioe, 0. Rosa, and Williams, and Messrs. W. Ross, A. Watson, H. C. Lyon, and A. R. Holdship ; vooal duets by Mrs. Howe and Misa Williams, Miss Curtioe and Mr. Watson; reoitations by Messrs. J. E. Read and W. Naughton ; while a violin solo was played by Mr. H. Spademan, and pianoforte selections were contributed by Miss Mabel Jones andMesars. J. and H. M'Menamin. There was a very large attendance. At the olose of the concert the hall was oleared, and danoing was indulged in till 2 a.m. The arrangements in oonneotion with the oelebration were oarried out by a committee, of whioh Messrs. W. C. Hutohings and F. Cowlam were secretaries. The trophy presented to the Drapers' Cricket Association tome time ago by Messrs. Downes & Turner having been won outright by the Thorndon Open Olub, a gentleman connected with one of the largo wholesale drapery firms of the city hai generously offered a onp to be competed for by the drapers' olubs. The trophy, whioh is to be a very handsome one, has been specially ordered from England, and is to be won twice in succession, or three times at intervals, before becoming the absolute pro. perty of any olub. The donor modestly desires to remain nameless.

The Christohuroh Press holds up the recent Ministerial appointments to the Council of tho Middle District University College as a warning of what might happen if the constitution of the governing body of the Canterbnry College wore popularised and made subject to political influences. The seleohon of members of the Middle District Counoil is scathingly condemned. With deep regret we ohroniolo the somewhat sudden death of Mr. James Oliver, of Messrs. Ross and Glondining's staff, which ocenrred at his lodgings on The Terrace yesterday afternoon. Mr Oliver was well known in tennis and athletic circles. A melanoholy point in regard to his death is that none of his relations in Dunodin were able to reach Wellington in time to sco him. This is the second bereavement in the family within the last two months, a brother having quite reoently died in the South. An inquest was held at the Family Hotel, Lower Hntfc, yeaterday afternoon before Mr. Job. Ashorof t, Coroner, on the body of Jas. Banbury, a single man, aged 37, whose body was fonnd hanging in the barn of his employer (Mr. T. Canning) on Thursday night. Mr. Poroy R. Purser was foreman of the jury. Tho rope by whioh the body was found suspended was about 6ft long, and deceased's feet were 2ft from the ground. Samson Rowe, farmer, said he had been informed by his sons that deceased was exorcised in his mind this week in consequence of a letter ho had misposted. On one ooaasion he told witness that when ho had saved .£IOOO he would go on land for hirußolf. He also stated to witness' sons lately that he had saved .£I2OO. He was a splendid worker, and witness considered that after having received 30a per week at Hastings he did not like working for 10s a week at his late employment, in which be had been since the Ist inst. The jury returned a verdiot of Suicide during Temporary Insanity. Jos. Eastwood— who has been repeatedly remanded within the last few weeks on the obargo of having defrauded William Gilmer of £5 by means of a confidence triek — appeared before Mr. Martin, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, and was convicted on the evidence already given. His Worship was anxious to give Eaßtwood another chance, and ordered him to enter into his own bond in the Bum of £a to come up for sentence when called upon. Ellen Tobin, a middle-aged wom\n, on remand, charged with stealing a chemise, tho property of Mrs. Corbett, and a saucepan from another woman, was discharged. The Committee of the Arawa Sailing Club met in the Empire Hotel last night, tho VicoCommodoro (Mr. A. H. Turabull) presiding. A sub-oommittce, consisting of Mesdames F. W. Vaokenzie, C. W. Tanner-, J. H. 3. Jaok, J. Jone3, Misß Turnbull, Dr. Mackenzie, Messrs. J. C. Chalmers, H. Penty, H. Dix, and R. 0. Renner, waß appointed to manage the " social," whioh is to bo hold in Thomas' Hall on the 19th inst. Iv moving that the resignation of the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer (Mr. Claude M. Banks), who is leaving for Christchurch, be acoepted, the Chairman spoke of the regret that was felt by all the members at losing his services, and moved a hearty vote of thanks to him for what ho had done for the olub since its formation. The motion was agreed to. Mr. R. C. Renuor was appointed Secretary and Treasurer for the remainder of the prosent season. Edward Charles Ferris was summoned to the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon to show cause why he should not support his wife. Mr. Jcllicoo appeared for the defendant, and, after some evidence had been taken, intimated that be intended to institute divorce proceedings on his client's behalf. His Worship adjourned tho case till Monday, to give tho defendant lime to carry out this intention. By the Talune, which loave3 for Sydney this afternoon, there aro being forwarded 100 Loicostor and 50 Lincoln rams shipped at Dunedin, and 50 Romney Marsh ramß shipped at Lyttolton. Mr. G. H. Scales is sending away from Wellington by the same steamer 150 Romney Marsh sheep from the station of W. M'Konzie, Masterton, consigned to Pitt, Son, and Badgory (Limited). The Now Zealand Lo»n and Mercantile Agency Company is also forwarding on behalf of Mr. M'Kenzio to the same firm 500 Romney Marsh sheep. A caße of Tory sudden death from heart disease ooourred this morning. The viotim was a married man named Joseph Lawrence Young, aged 46 years, a stockman employed by Freeman Jackson & Co., stock auctioneers. Young, who had been attended for the past two weeks by Dr. Adams for heart trouble, was in tho act of dressing himself at 6.30 this morning at his house in Tinakori-road, when ho fell down, and before the arrival of Dr. Cahill, who was at once sent for, he had expired. As Dr. Adams has given a certificate of the cause of death no inquest will be held. Mr. H. P. Tuokey, Secretary of the Wellington Collego Old Boys' Association, has received a letter from the late Prinoipal of the College, Mr. Joseph Mackay, now residing at Midhirßt, apologising for the delay which ocourred in replying to the invitation sent him for the annual Bupper last Saturday, and expressing heartiest wishes for the prosperity of the institution and the old boys. " The Strategist" was played for the last time by the Kennedy-Lucas Company at the Opera House yesterday evening. Tonight the company appears in a sensational drama entitled " Fighting Fortune." It is brimful of sensational incidents, developing strong dramatic situations and sparkling comedy scenes. Mr. Ingleson has painted new scenery for its production. The setting includes a fire scene and a snow scone. Mr. Wall, chief officer of the Talune, is taking the vessel across to Sydney this trip. Captain Phillips remained behind in Dunedin owing to illness. The monthly meeting of the Women's Temperance Union was held yesterday. A letter was received from Mrs. R. W. Stephens, London, intimating that she had accepted the office of Corresponding Secretary for New Zealand to the International Council of Women, and suggesting tho formation of a National Counoil in Wellington at once. Pamphlets were also received setting forth the aims of tho International Council. Already 17 organisations had federated, oarrying out the following lines of work : — Religious, philanthropic, educational, professional, social reform, moral reform, and government reform. Mrs. M'Laren, Secretary to the International Counoil, strongly advocates that each country's constitution should be formed on lines specially adapted to meet that country's needs. The members of the Union were all agreed as to ' desirableness of federation. Since the enfranchisement of women so many societies had been formed that it was necessary that in the event of any sooial or political question arising they should bo able to act in ooncert, and a resolution was adopted aoaordingly. The new Licensing Bill was considered, and amendments suggested. The Superintendent of tho Home for Aged Needy, Adelaide-road, desires to thank Mr. Albert H. Hustwiok for fernß for the Home; Mrs. Odell and Mr. A. H. Bonnie, of the Caledonian Hotel, for illustrated and other periodioaU ; and Birman," euro of Mr. O. H. Gillespio, of the Shepherds' Arms Hotel, for three boxoß of books and periodicals, for tho use of tbe inmates. Tho trophies won by members of the Petono Rifle Club during the past season are to bo presented by the Mayoress of Petone at a concert and dance in the looal Oddfellows' Hall on Wednesday next. Some of the best musioians of Wellington, Potono, and the Hutt are assisting. Arrangements have been made with tbe New Zealand Express Company for the conveyance of the sample of dressed rabbit pelts which the Department of Industries and Commerce has decided to send to Canada, with a view of opening a market in that country. St. John's Lodge, 1.0. G.T., met last evening. Bro. Spiers presided, and fully 150 members wore present Two candidates, one of either sex, were initiated. It was announced that a free concert at the Seamen'a Host, nnder the auspices of the lodge, would be given next Thursday. The evening was spent in parlour games. A very enjoyable concert was given last night at the Sailors' Rest by Mr. M'Glashan's orohestra. Mr. M'Glashan played a violin solo and Mr. Zachariah gave a recitation; and there were songs by Miss Spencer and Messrs Pierard and Alt Johnston. Two orchestral pieces completed the programme. The audienoe was large and enthusiastic. The recital by Mr. T. C. Webb in connection with St. Mark's new organ took plaoe last evening, the church being again filled. Tbe instrumental features of a varied programme were Mendelssohn's grand " Sonata in B-flat," Gounod's bright " Military M&roh," Leintnen'-fi impressive " Storm Fantasia " and Jude's " Trumpet March." The organist's performance of the sonata fell short of expectations. The other organ pieces were the beautiful andante movement from Haydn's last Sonata, Sootson Clark's Angels' Chorus," and an arrangement by Lux of the " Sioilian Mariners' Hymn"— all fine numbers, played with excellent taste. A large chorus, oomposed of members of the Musioal Union and the ohurohohoir, assisted, rendering the " Gloria," from what is generally known as Mozart's " Twelfth Mass," and "The Heavens are Telling," from Haydn's " Creation," the former with very fine effeot. For those items Mr. Trimnell, organist of St. Peter's, played the aooom. paniments.Mr. Webboonduoting. The solos, «.»r Kno 7, th **, m y Beodeemer Liveth'' ("Messiah") and "Consider the Lilies," were sung by Mrs. Greenwood and Mr. H. btebbing, and were both acceptable items in what was on the whole a very successful reoital. An offertory taken up (during whioh Mr, Webb played an improvisation) returned .£ll l6s for the organ improvement fund. Sjnoethe last reoital, the front part of the instrument has' been tastefully diapered, and^the woodwork stained the oolour of old oak, the general effeot being very pretty. An unfortunate aooident happened to the' 1 instrument yesterday, the leaden water pipe whioh supplies power for the bellows motor bursting, and finding its \way into the •instrument, doing damage whioh it will take some time to repair. For last night's reoital the old hand bellowa' was used. Mr. Trimnell was to have given the next recital 'on the 21st, but inconsequence of the-aooident this may have to be postponed. At the weekly meeting of the Managing Commitee of/, the Wellington, Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Sooiety, the Seoretaryand Treasures -were instructed to oable to syaney wi^n the objeot of Beouring a competent pigeon judge, to take allthe pigeon classes at the approaohingShoTv, as in the opinion of most exhibitors it -will be too much i to expect Mr. Maude.of Melbourne,' to judge the w>ole Show. J . It was deoided to leave the ppultry-judging in all classes to Mr. Maude. Several other important mattws in oonneotion with the Championship meeting were gettled,. The Treasurer (tir. E.B/ Bnstow) announced the following subßorip. twns j-Messrs.Bing, Harris and Co., £3 2s ; W. Kenning, £% 2s i J. M. Harris, 10s 6d J. B. Haroonrt, &l Is ; Mrs. Rhodes, £1 Is Mra. Levin, £1 U j United Fanners, 10» fld.; Several trophies were also mentioned ai being promised by Tarioua tradespeople. -

We are sorry to learn that there is little or no improvement in the condition of Mr. Wilson Littlejohn, who was seized with a paralytio stroke a few months ago. A patient in the Mount View Lunatio Asylntn,' J. Mouat Curtis, formerly a oommission agent in Wellington, esoaped from the institution on Thursday, but was recaptured in Oriental Bay after he had been at large for about two hours. The news cabled from Melbourne as to the intention of the Victorian Government to remove the restrictions on the importation of New Zealand Bheep into that oolony, will be received with great gratification by sheep farmers throughout New Zealand. When this oolony was deo'ared free from scab in 1891, New South Walos, Tasmania, Queensland, and Sonfch Australia at once removed the restrictions on the importation of sheep from New Zealand. Victoria, however, declined to move in that direction, and has continued till now to insist that sheep from here should be dipped on reaohing her shores. In oonsequence of thU regulation very few have been sent to Victoria for some years, but it is expected that as soon aB the restrictions have been removed large shipments will be made from time to timo. Three judgments were delivered by his Honour the Chief Justioo this morning. Black and another v. the Government Life Assurance Commissioner and others was an aotion to determine the right to moneys payable under a life polioy falling dne to the assured if he survived a certain date, or acsruing to his wife and children if ho died in the meantime. The principal question was whether an appoitionment onoo mode could be revoked and a new apportionment made. His Honour held that under the Act of 1881 the husband could not revoke any apportionment he might have made by en. dorsement on the polioy except in the case of an apportionment by will. Jn November, 1881, by endorsement, ho apportioned to his wife one shilling, and to his children the remainder of the sum assured with all bonus additions. The instrument subsequently revoking this apportionment was ineffective both as to the wife's portion and as to that of the children. Certain oosts of each party were ordered to be paid out of the funds. In the Wanganui case of Surman v. Akers, a motion for a new trial, the jury having awarded plaintiff £450 damages for illegal distraint, the Judge found that, though very large, the damages were not so excessive as to justify the conclusion of misconduct on the part of the jury or misapprehension by them o£ their duty. The motion was refused, with ten guineas costs. In the Foilding case of Elkington v. the Phoanix Fire Insurance Company, a special case stated for the opinion of the Court, his Honour decided that where an insurance company wished to cancel a polioy it must do so in writing, and not by verbal notice, the latter being insufficient. * Mr. H S. Wardell, of the Wairarapa, is now relieving Mr. H. W. Bishop of his magisterial duties in the North Canterbury district. Mr. Beetham, S.M., at Christohurcli, is absent on sick leave, and Mr. Bishop is filling the vaoanoy. Two Wellingtonians — Messrs. G. Hansmanu and H, Hooper— leave for Sydney hy theTalune this afternoon to ongage a variety oompany , which is to perform at the Criterion Theatre. The Hon. Secretory of the Wellington Rugby Union received a letter this morning from the Secretary of tho Auckland Union statin? that a team from that distriot will positively be sent Sonth at the end of August. At the weekly meeting of the Women's Democratic Union last night, Mesdames Kinniburgh, Kitohing, and Tasker were appointod delegates to the Seddon Birthday Committee. A vote of thanks was given to Miss Boyd for her reading of " England's Ideals." The discussion which followed waß taken pirtin by Misses Boughton and Price, Mrs. Kinnibnrgh, Messrs. Scott, Hindmarsh, Rnssell, and Pound. Tha speakers thought that the high price of tho necessaries of life and the low rate of wages were fast bringing our people down to tho level of tho poor in England, whose woes and vices wore becoming colonised. How, it was asked, was it possible for a married man with a family earning £1 per week to be provident f If he grumbled he would be dis. | charged, and a boy taken on at 0s per week. The Tivoli Company will re-appear at the Exchange Hall this evening, when a new programme will bo presented. The company will also appear on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Permanent Building and Investment b'ooiety inserts an advertisement in another column to which the attention of our readers is direoted. Tho sooiety, although only in its fifth year, has already obtained a firm footing, and last year credited 8 per cent, to members' accounts from profits. The Secretary informs us that there are now over 800 investment shares on tho register. The programme for Mr. A. H. Gee's conoerta appears in this issue. The concerts will bo under the patronage of His Excellency the Governor, and if musical excellence counts for anything, they should prove satisfactory to the benoficiaire. Mr. Gee has ohosen for iho first evening songs that have boen identified with him in other parts of the oolony. Mr. Barnett, whose first pnblio performance, apart from his own concerts, will take place on Wednesday, has ohosen items that should prove both suitable to the size of the hall and to the tasto of the audience. Mr. Maugban Barnett commenoes his second series of concerts on Monday evening next, in the Art Gallery. Beethoven's " Sonata Pathetique," Liszt's fine transcription of Paganini's " Catnpanella," and a gavotte composed for Mr. Barnott by Mr. A. F. Hill, will be included amongst the piano solos; and violin bolos by Baoh and Wieniawaki will be played by Mr. Hill, who will join Mr. Barnett in the performance of Grieg's "F" Sonata for piano and violin The series of conoerts is nnder the patronage of His Excellency the Governor and Lady Glasgow, who will be present on Monday night. Sir Robert Stout will deliver a leoture on " Scottish Life," in St. Andrew's Schoolroom, on Tuesday next In connection with the tea-meeting and gift auction to be held at St. Mark's Parochial Room next Tuesday evening, we are asked to remind those who have promised gifts to send them in on Tuesday morning. Mr. Manghan Barnott will give his fifth organ recital in St. John's Church on Friday evening next, Mr. A. H. Gee, the wellknown and popular vooalist, will assist. Members of the New Zealand Paoific Lodge of Freemasons are asked to meet on Monday evening and visit Lodge-Waterloo. A particularly fluo display is to be made in the windows ot Te Aro House to-night. Tho mantle wimlow contains many handsome novelties, and some new ilanuelette blouses that are shown arc marked at very low prices. Tho quality of goods supplied by P. J. Pinny is attested by a testimonial which appears in our advertising columns, which came quite unsolicited from a well-satisfied customer. Mr. Pinuy lias just opened up some first-class pianos and organs, of latest style aud make, which aro available uuder his tune payment system. This week's Canterbury Times, in addition to a lull supply of general news and special articles, contains a capital portrait of the lflte Bishop Mornn, and views of, the lying in stato nnd the funeral. t A. T. Bate, sharcbrokcr, 2i, Lambron-quay, i advertises in another column a list of shares for sale. It is announced that Sunvtnra tea, claimed to be pure, wholesome, refreshing, and economical, can | bo procured from all leading storekeepers. Maxton, Slander & Co., Grey-street, Wellington, have an announcement jn our advertising columns. The ordor of services at St. Peter's Church for to-morrow is advertised. Tho Bey. H. E. Haweis, M.A., of St. James', llarylebone, will preach at St. Paul's Pro-Cathe-dral to-morrow evening. Kliandallah people will note that in fntnre the time of assembly for the local Sunday.school will be 2 p.m. Foreign Mission services will be conducted in all the Wesleyan Churches of the City to-morrow. The Bey. S. J. Gibson, lata a missionary in Fiji, is announced to preach iv Wesley Church in the evening, and also to give a descriptive lecture on Tonga and Fiji in Wesley Chnrch School on Monday evening, mid in tlie MolesworUi-strect School on Tuesday evening. At the Terrace Congregational Church, to. morrow, the services will be conducted by the Eev. J. Heed Glasson. At the Courteuay-place Church Mr. B. S. Gray will conduct the inorniiig service, and Mr. Costall the evening. The services in the Primitive Methodist Church, Webb - street, to-morrow, will be conducted by the Beys. E. Drake aud J. Guy. The preachers for the other Primitive Methodist churches are advertised. In the Free Methodist Church, Courtenar-placc, to-morrow morning, the Eev. H. B. Bedstone wili give an address to the Boys' Brigade, and in the evening the Eev. H. B. Bedstone and Mr. D. Varcoe will deliver addresses. Lectures in connection with the Forward Movement will bo delivered at the Bechabite Hall and Ballance Hall, Manners-street, to-morrow. The subjects are advertised. The services in connection with the Baptist Church, Vivian • street, to-morrow, will be conducted br Bey. C. Dallaston. At the Church of Christ, Dixon-street, tomorrow evening, Mr. A. F. Turner will preach. A service will be held ia the Gospel Hall, Herbert-street, to-morrow evening at 7. A Bible reading will be given in the Hunterstreet Hall to-morrow afternoon. A leoture "ill be delivered at the rooms of the Wellington Psychological Association, Ghuzneestreet, to-morrow evening.