THE New Zealand Herald AMD DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, APRIL 32, 1881.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 22 April 1881, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AMD DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, APRIL 32, 1881.

The few figures which we selectee and published the other. day from th< last annual volume of statistics, relating to the expense of management o: Highway Boards has caused a fluttei in many quarters. The accuracy-of th( figures has been called in question, buwe fear that investigation will onTj establish the truth of them beyonc cavil. The figures, however, are noi our own, but those recorded by th( Registrar-General.; We hare beer shown by. the Chairman of the Edei Terrace Road Board- a copy of the re turns of that district forwarded to the Government for. the year ending the 31st March, 1880. It establishes the truth of the figures of the Governmenl Blue Book beyond question. ' Th< volume of statistics gives the amquni of rate collected as £140, andithe duplicate copy of the return'shown us gives the same sum; The salaries, &c. are named at £20 15s Bd, and th< duplicate of the return states the same The Government Blue Book gives undej the heading of "other expenditure, , that is, expenditure other than thai upon public wbrks.and salaries, a sum o: £72 10s 3d. The duplicate of there turn in; the, possession of the roac trustees of this district gives tht same item in a little more detail as follows :— " Other expenditureoutstanding liabilities of old Board £60 18s 3d, interest on bank over draft, £1112s." Together these twosumi make the Government figures which w< published, £72 10s 3d, and this sun added to the admitted, amount of sal aries, &c, makes the total of £93 5i lid, to which . exception was taken. There is. no reason to believe that th< Government statistics are other thai strictly correct. Of course, a slightlj variant explanation might be made ir. each case as to the items included undei the heading, "Other Expenditure. , Legal expenses, costs of agreements deeds, tools, &c, may all fairly be in eluded under this heading, but the fact remains that the items under this heading are not returned by the severa Highway Boards as money spent or public works. Another fact is equally patent, how ever unpleasant it may be to many and that is that the present Road Boarc system is generally an expensive on< where small sums only are to be deal with. The total amount of rates raisec in all the Road Board districts in tin colony for the year ending March 31 1880, was £82,246 15s sd, whil. the sum included under the head ing of " Salaries, &c," was no les; than £23,206 15s 7d— nearly 24 per ceivt. of the total amount o rates collected. jSTow that the Govern ment subsidies are done away with country settlers will have to face th< naked facts without flinching. AVhil< the Highway Boards spent sums o: money contributed by the Government in many cases several times the amouni of rates collected, it was easy to shov that the percentage of costs on th( sums dealt with was a comparative!; low one ; but now that the rates alon< will have to be depended on,'it will, bi found that, though the sums of monej to bo dealt with has "decreased enor mously, the' cost of the several Roac Boai'd establishments will remain mucl the same as before. The result is no difficult to foresee. A remedy may easily be found in the case of suburban high way districts, but with country districts more consideration may be required. But the cost of individual highway districts varies greatly, apparently without any rule. The following examples will illustrate our meaning. The. Ahipara Road Board raised in rates £104, and the cost of salaries, to., was £9 3s. The road district of Matakohc raised almost an equal sum in rates, £106 6s Id, but the cost )f salaries, ifcc, for this district was no ess than £93 2s 10d. The contrast jet ween these two Boards is cerainly provocative of inquiry, as the :ircumstanccs are very similar, both >eing scattered country districts. Mount doskill raised £107 7s 5d in rates, but

the salaries, <fcc, only amounted to £5 7sJ Id, while the Lake district raised in rates £101 14s 7d, and spent on salaries, «&c, £18 3s. The Newmarket district collected £172 13s 6din rates, and paid in salaries, <fcc, £27 12s Sd, while Mangere district raisad nearly the same amount in rates, £177 14s 4d, but required £4S 14s 6d in salaries. The amount of rates collected in Opotiki was £173 4s Id, and in salaries, >fec., £154 2s was spent. The rates collected in all instances may safely be regarded as the standard income of the several Boards, and if a corresponding rate of expenditure were to be maintained, now that the Government subsidy is ■withdrawn, in many instances but a very small sum would be left to be spent on the public roads. The Road Board system, if it is to be maintained, will have to dispense with paid clerks, rented offices, vfec, but we have no doubt that the common sense of the public at large, when brought face to face with such a difficulty, will suggest the needed change or reform. It is not the Road Boards in the Auckland province alone we refer to, but the whole I Road Board system in the colony. As already stated, £23,206 15s 7d is consumed as salaries, &c, out of a total rate revenue of £82,246 15s sd. To the expense for salaries, &c, has to be added the " other expenditure," not made on public works, which amounted in , the year under consideration to £43,979 8s Bd. The salaries and expenditure included under this heading amount to £67,186 4s 3d, which, taken out of the £82,240 15s 5d collected for rates, would leave a very small. sum to be spent in improving the roads in the several road districts in the colony. The probable result will be, when Road Boards hare to depend wholly upon their own resources, that suburban districts will be grouped into municipalities, and rural road districts will.- probably merge in the several counties, when a modification of the Counties Act is made.

Auckland has always had reason to be I proud of her public institutions and the , uniformly successful progress of the Bank of New Zealand, and the present high position it has attained; as evinced in the report and balance-sheet submitted to shareholders at the half-yearly meeting yesterday, point to it as -worthy of the premier place in Auckland's list. Comparing the figures with the last report and balance-sheet, there is, as the Chairman remarked,"no very material alteration:save in the one or two items to which he especially referred, and his explanation satisfactorily accounts for the change in the figures. The resources of the bank appear very ample, and with so largo an amount comparatively unprofitably employed in London it must be gratifying to the shareholders as it is complimentary to the management that the profit and loss account continues to show such a balance as to fairly -warrant the declaration of the accustomed dividend, carrying forward the increased amount of £24,501 towards next half-year's results, or equivalent to 5 per cent, towards next dividend. It can be no matter of choice that .the directors are still keeping so much of their money comparatively unproductive in London, but it says much for their discretion that they do so rather than foster or encourage speculative business, or embarking iii transactions calculated unduly to inflate the commerce of the colony. The time will no doubt soon arrive when in the ordinary development of business opportunity will be given for the employment of a larger proportion of the bank's resources in the colony, and from the Chairman's remarks, it ie apparent the directors are prepared to welcome such opportunity. Apart, ( however, from the gratifying statement produced at the bank meeting yesterday, it is cheering to have the confident opinion expressed by one so well-qualified to give it as the Chairman as to the improved and improving condition of the colony. Prudence in public finance has been very- forcibly brought home to us in the taxation of the past year, and with the lessons of the past before us, it will be inexcusable if there should be any return to the prodigal expenditure which the previous few years witnessed. Besides the taxation, which all have more or less to bear, a serious injury' has been inflicted on the credit of the colony, though not altogether justifiable, but we heartily re-echo the hope of the Chairman of the bank that continued prudence may soon place the credit of New Zealand in the front rank of the Australasian colonies.

The fortnightly meeting of the CityCouncil was held last night. The proceedings were of considerable importance. The question o£ the water supply was brought up, and it was agreed to Have twentv-one-inch earthenware pipes laid from the springs to the tunnel at the pumping works, so as to insure the delivery of pure water. An extended report of the proceedings is published elsewhere. The adjourned meeting of the Harbour Board, was held yesterday, and the business was important and lengthy. The principal discussion was on a motion, of which the Mayor had given notice, relative to asking the Government to appoint an arbiter to settle the dispute between the City Council and the Harbour Board relative to tho roads on the reclaimed laud. A motion was carried increasing the salary of the Board's Engineer, on the understanding that he should not engage in private practice. The proceedings are reported in another column. We are glad to hear that there is every likelihood of all the obstacles. that have arisen to the completion of the arrangements between the Government aud Messrs. Grant and Foster, in reference to Tβ Aroha. being disposed of. The Government and Captain Steele have, indeed, come to an understanding on all particulars, and a telegram may be daily expected settling the whole matter definite!}'. Several families have already come to the colony, sent by Messrs. Grant and Foster, but, in the position in which affairs have stood, Captain Steele did not place them on the land. As soon, however, as word is received that no further difficulties remain, settlement will not be delayed. Those who come here to take up land at Te Aroha will be first-class settlers, and will cause a rapid change on the waste lands of the Upper Thames. Amongst the passengers from Sydney by the s.s. Tiirarua were Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Barber, Mr. W. S. Laurie, aud Captain H. F. Anderson. The other day, at Wellington, John Hill sued his wife, who had a protection order, for £100, being the value of goods belonging to him which were in her possession. Mr. Shaw, the R:M., nonsuited the plaintiff ou the ground that the husband and wife being one, the former could not sue the lattsr.

-,> A meeting of tho Licensed. Victuallers* Association was held yesterday, at th* United Service Hotel, at half-past 2 o'clock The following members were elected officers of the association for the ensuing year • V President, Mr. P. Gorman; vice-president ' Mr. H. Oram ; treasurer, Captain Mahon • secretary, Mr. H. Fuller; committee.' Messrs. S. Williams, Ratson, Kidd Gal lagher, and Fisher. Mr. E. K. Tyler chosen solicitor for the association. A vote of thanks to tho Chairman closed the meet > ing. Tho Tararua brought six Chinese from Sydney for Auckland. They are described as miners. We learn that Mr. P. Leslie, of 'Wartle. Waikato, has sold his farm of SSO acres to Mr. Baragh, for £7 per acre, cash. Jfr :j> Leslie, after the resideuce of a good manv I years in Waikato, is about to leave fnV Australia, of which he is an old settler Mr' Leslie's leaving will bo felt as a loss to his neighbours in Waikato, as he has all alone been highly respeoted for his straightforward disposition and 'rank and genial manners Mr. Barragh, who enters into possession of Wartle Farm, is an English fanner, .who was advised to come to New Zealand by MessrT * * Grant and Foster. He is possessed of ample skill and capital tc work his farm.

The report which has been goias the rounds of the papers that Mr. P. if. p Brookfield has been appointed a judge of the Nativo Lands Court turns out to be a canard A meeting of the members of the Civil Service Cricket Club will be held on Satur- ' day. Two teams will then be picked, every- v one present to join in the game. This match will conclude play for the season. A very serious accideut vras caused to a boy, named Walter Pulnian, 11 years of age, stepson of Mr. John Blackman, of Shortland- . street, on Thursday evening, by the rough play of some of the boys returning from the City East School. A group of these boya headed by a youth named Percy Freer stepson of Mr. T. B. Hannaford, threw the poor lad so violently that they fractured his collarbone badly. Dr. Kenderdinc was called, and set the fractured bone, but numj weeks will elapse before the poor lad recovers. . ' \ The drawing for the prizes in the grand art union in connection with the Catholic bazaar, took place yesterday in the large school, corner of Hobson and Wellington streets. There being 5000 tickets to draw, the operation took from lialf-past 3 in the afternoon until 11 o'clock last night. The ■*( prizes will be distributed to the winners at ' n alf-past 7 o'clock this evening. : j The friends of Mr. Cole, basketinaker, will learn with regret that he sustained severe loss by the fire yesterday morning. Mr. Cole had been insured for eighteen years, but the company who held the policy intimated that they did not wish to renew the risk, as the building was a wooden one.. When that'* policy expired Mr. Cole did not again insure. Mr. Gillies' Industrial Albert Hall; ; to which we have already referred, is being patronised by a f air'number of visitors.' Among the models inspected is one of a toy fire-engine, constructed by Mr. , Gillies, which throws a jet of water a distance of 30 .' feet. Several engineers have exhibited;the iugenious products of his mechanical skill, among them we noticed Mr. James Stewart, c.E. ' •-. •' ,: .' '■-.':.;" :.:■'■'

The arrival of oranges from the Islands within the past three weeks has'been'veij heavy. The Pirate brought 60,000,.- the Sybil 45,000, the Waiwera 80,000,' the; Transit 120,000, the Sovereign 61,000: total, 366,000. To these must be added a number not specified brought by the ketch Pearl, from Karotonga. The Pirate's cargo sold at 9d and 10d per dozen, but latterly 6d was considered fortunate. " '_ A race between the "Madge arid tie Observer for a nominal sum, has been arranged to take place to-morrow afternoon, ah threi o'clock. The boats will not be : sailed by professional sailing masters,' but the proprietor of each will do the best he can for his own advantage. . . Mr. : Stodart, umpire of the .Ponsonby Regatta, has disallowed the protest entered by Mr. Halstead, owner of the flattie Mar, against the Sybil in the race for yachts under three tons. The Papakura Eaces will be held on Insday, 24th May (Her Majesty's Birthday). A very liberal programme will be issued in a few days, and we have no doubt it will be well attended, owing to its being near torn, and no ceunter attractions on that day. Mr. Parris and Hone Pihama will select the native prisoners who are to be liberated on this occasion, and who will probably number over 100. ■•■•■■•-'-. The full court at Sydney recently gave an important ruling. It was decided that when t in a prosecution for bigamy the defence is | set up that the prisoner had not known of ! the existence of his wife for seven years be- i fore the performance of the second so-called marriage, the onus did, not lie on the pn- ] soner of proving that he did not know of | his wife's existence, but" on the Crown of j proving that he did know of her existence, j A cricket match will he played to-rnorrow j morning in the Domain on No. 3 wicket, be- i tvreen an eleven from the Bank of New Zealand and ah eleven chosen from the combined j banks. Play will commence at 9 a.m. sharp. This match will no doubt be closely con-, tested, and we hope become an annual event. A band has been engaged for the occasion.

The Auckland Weekly News ViU .be found particularly interesting this week. Eiefflnstrations consist of splendid portraits of the lute Eui Beaconsneld and Ker. ~\V. M. Punshon, aa well amcultural and poultry, cuts. Under their special «?»• ings will be found graphic accounts tf the -™" 1 ™ raco meetings, and other sports and amusements; anring the Easter holidays, as well as tho.usual MUM sketches and agricultural articles. -The.iadie PSJ is speciaUy attractive, as it contains well-selected am authentic fashion notes, and other items of entfinos interest to the gentler sox... ". '. The salvage from the late fire is to be sow to-day, at 10 o'clock, by Mr. E. Arthur. _ • T Attention is directed to the ' contents list and an important notice re prm" ,, " will be found on the sth column of the Ist pa;eAn entertainment and concert are to te given in tho Mount Albert Public Hall of Thursday next. The entertainment begun Messrs. Mason Brothers publicly tta& those- who assisted them during the tetebxt. *l also intimate that they have opened a place ior ness on the opposite side of Queen-street. Those on the look-out for choice artjd» in the draperv line we would direct to "eso™ ment of Milne and Choyco in another colomadiscount for cash is to be allowed. A third dividend in the estate tf <*•»», G Lewis is now payable at tlie office of JU , - w Lewis, Queen-street. ' ' . .: ." The revision of the burgess list for city is to take place at the Council chambers" 2Sth instant, at noon. The banks are-to be closed .to-™" 10 " , bcins St. George's Day. ■ j * be A sale of Crown lands is advertised to held at tho Lands Office to-<!ay. The land >i 5i.-» in the Whangarci and Whakatane Counties T. McMaster, Queen-street, has j<& t ceived liis first shipment of winter Oxford, from London, comprising various novw. A ladie.', children's, men's, and boys tfd choice aolection of ladies' and children s mautlcs, new shades in velveteens, Frenca u nielangos, and merines. The stock of Urge and varied. New shapes in plush »J and bonnets are very pretty and cheap. AS" *.■&&, of hosiery, gloves, ribbons, &c. BlanSets, u> ff tweeds, men's and poys , clothing wiU be j. low prices. Wo advise our readers '?. , Mcllastera stock before making theirpurcßW":