THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1830.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8161, 24 January 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1830.

♦ A week or two ago New Zealand Wa , surprised with the announcement that it was quite certain that at the end of the financial year there would be a large surplus of revenue, which the Parliament would be able to deal with as it thought best. The amount \ V;r stated variously at from £200,000 to £270,000, a very considerable sum seeing that for some time past we l laV been used to deficits, or, at the best, to just being able to square thing-;, The New Zealand Times, the Ministerialist organ in Wellington, devoted two lone leading articles to the consideration of the question of what we w«re to do with the money. Several other newspapers followed in the same line. It is melan. choly to think that with all the warnings we have had before us, with all the intolerable pressure of taxation upon us, some people thought that now we had a surplus we might at once go on with the Otago Central Railway. W e have said that the colony was surprised with the announcement about the surplus. But after all, we ought to have a surplus, if the calculations of the Colonial Treasurer were anything like correct. He had no right to calculate upon what lias taken place, namely a ' continuance of high prices for our products, and an unexpected revival of trade by a demand for new products. Since he made his calculations at the end of the last financial y-.ar, there has been a much better state of things for our export trade than we could reasonably have anticipated. The statement about the surplus was not a mere Ministerial "move" for party purposes. Ministers really were under the impression that one of the certainties of the future was, that they would come down to the House next session with smiling faces-, and with a surplus in their hands.

But, lo and behold ! the whole structure has vanished in a day. At the end of November there was shortcoming in the Customs as compared with the estimate of the Colonial Treasurer when he made die Financial Statement in June last, of £53,000. When this was known, various ingenious theories were started as explanations, and it was stud that the receipts for December would make everything straight. But here, again was a great miscalculation. The Customs revenue for December was £8000 behind the estimated monthly average, and the nine months' revenue, instead of a surplus approaching £200,000, shows a shortcoming of more than £61.000. Ministers are absolutely aghast. They cannot account for it in any way, We are told that the Customs officials are harassed by Ministers with demands for explanations. They are simply standing with their lingers in their mouths, in hopeless bewilderment. They have done their utmost. Every penny they could drag out of the Customs has been exacted. The collectors are given power to issue " readings 3 of the tariff", and they have done so in every case so as to favour the revenue. They can do no more. Then there is the railway revenue. The Commissioners have done their utmost to raise the revenue to the highest possible point, but the anticipations in this department, even with the Dunedin Exhibition, and the vast increase in our export trade, have not been realised. What would have happened if that increase had not taken placfc, if the prices of wool had become lower, if flax had fallen to an unremuneratiive price in the London market, is serious even to think of. Ministers are asking all round, what can be the cause of this, to them, moss unexpected result. They want to know how it is that with increased trade, and a better state of things all over, there should be a falling off in the amount which they should be raised from the colonists. Verily, they must be a dull set of men. The simple explanation is, that the taxation is too hea\y. We have often reminded them that a heavy taxation —more than the community can reasonably bear— the effect of diminishing the revenue. It is killing the goose which lays the golden eggs. To "do this has always been reckoned the greatest and most stupid crime of which a legislator could be guilty. Yet our Ministers and Parliament are busy doing it. We have pointed out how the expenditure might be greatly reduced. But our legislators will not look at this aspect. They think they have nothing to do to meet a large expenditure but to impose more taxes—taxes which they individually have only a very small share in payingSurely they will now admit that this delightful and simple process of imposing more taxation can be carried too far. It must come to an end sometime. 1 We cannot go on indefinitely piling on taxes. It is difficult to keep one's patience, with another class of people. The subject of taxation is arousing a wide interest, and all sorts of schemes and proposals are now in the air. Man)' persons seem to be under the idea that an advantage is to be gained tor the country by destroying and ruining certain classes. One set. of people cry out that we should at once relieve tne Customs taxation, and put more taxes on land ; another set think that all would be well if the Property lax were abolished and a Land and Income Tax substituted. Will all these people who are clamouring away in tins fashion not open their eyes to the iac« that the taxation as a whole is too heavy, and that we must remedy tins before we enter into the niceties or adjustment of the burden amongst different classes?" We have attempted to penetrate the minds of Ministers wit" the oft-told fable of the goose and the golden eggs. In this ease we must recall the classical and familiarapoioeue of the Irishman and his blanket. in» Hibernian had a blanket, but it was too short. When he stretched out his legs his feet were out in the cold, "» remedy he proposed was to cut »PJ off the ton and sew it on to the bottom.

laughing £ this story " ! we have had any snse of the Pmltoos But the commimty seenu lud Jvpa large proportioi or people to ho vad. thf very'highet ideal of .hi absurd and nonsensical We had bought that the Irishman o the story 11 -In imagination not to e actually wa ii-« But here we have Ijndreds of rMI T. clamouring out thattll will be KSrUdSt we will be Lipletely varm and covered if we n nedy the iortnws of the blanket by cutting a piece from the top and so win it on to the bottom ! . n The huge falling oil in theLustoms, ,nd in wry department d the revenue in spite of every extjrnal circumstance tending .to an jincrease. Loves to demonstration that the evil •' simply this - that the. rate of taxation' levied upon New Zealand is ™ |,:«rh Is it possible that our legisffo««Wb?Vtto«th»{ Are hey blind and deaf, iini utterly unable to recognise the signs of the tunes / Till this is remedied, all proposals for ~1,-in-e are absurd. We will only do I,.,'rnf by changing one taj for another.

We apparently have not heard the last of' what the Wellington people call their " Jubilee Anniversary." In desiring to celebrate the jubilee of the laudjn'g of their pioneer settlers the citizens o "Wellington were animated by a very laudable "reeling, and one which every ironist could respect, but when they ..-uieavour to show that the landing of Governor llobsonasth.fi representative of Her Majesty was an event or. no importance, " and ought not to be recognised as the dace of the jubilee celebration, they only made themselves ridiculous. A strange fatality seems to ]>.-i\v marked the whole a Hair, and on the second dav of the celebration it appears the verv elements conspired to mar the festivities for, it is stated, the wind was disagreeable and the dust horrible." When people are prone to take offence, the occasion is soon forthcoming. It anwars that the address to the Queen was a deep-laid plot to put on record in Enciand by a side wind the fact that Jubilee Celebration was not that of ;l province but of the colony. In so doiii-r. and ignoring the Governor, some persons consider an atlront was put upon His Excellency. He, Lord Onslow, however, seems to have shown considerable diplomatic ability, for he politely L-.-rel all reference to the address in his reply, on the ground that it was not aikire>sod to him. as the Queen's representative, but to Her Majesty, and in doing this the Wellingtonians think thev have been tlouted. But worse was yet to come —the men-of-war displayed no bunting, and dipped no' pennant to the Corporation arms. On the contrary, they were busily engaged in coaling, as if the Jubilee had no existence. The champion shot had. it seems, a better welcome than the two colonial Governors, for he got a column in the evening papers, while their Excellencies were worked off in twenty lines ! Evidently the Wellington people are not in the best of humours. They have piped a Jubilee tune, and a lot of prominent personages have refused to dance. Throughout the whole wretched business, the people of Wellington have shown a petty provincial spirit, unworthy of the citizens of the seat of Government, and have turned what might have been, and should have been, a very pleasant festive gathering into a source of malice, hatred, and ail uucharitableness. To--33v, as of old, it is true, " Of:ences will come, but woe unto those by Thon> they come." and this the Wellingtonians will find out to their sorrow i:ni chagrin, so far as concerns the , Wellington Jubilee Anniversary. j

Though the colon}- has been passing through severe commercial depression, iouit or our local institutions are succeeding in carrying on a prosperous s:.d successful business. A telegram frein London states that the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have closed another successful year's operations. The annual report which lias been issued to the shareholders shows that the net profit of £90.752 lias been made upon the years transactions. This is a considerable advance upon the profits made in i*j*, which amounted to £82,153. In the latter part of li-SS half-a-niillion sterling was added to the capital of the company, which has increased the earning power during 1889, so that practically the rate of profit made by the company this year has borne about the same ratio to the capital employed as in the previous. The directors have seen their way to recommend a dividend at the rate of 10 per sent, per annum upon the paid-up -•apit.il. which is about 7 per cent, upon tiit present market value of the shares. In former years in addition to the 10 per ;tnt. dividend, a bonus of 5 per cent, wa; usually declared, making the net return of profit to the shareholders 15 per cent, upon the company's paidup capital. This year no bonus is declared, though the company could have done so out of earned protits, and t.';e iiiom-y which would have formed a bonus of "> per cent., £20,000 has been ' ad'ii-d to the reserve fund. A balance w£lio3v» has been carried forward to the new account against £12,340 last year. This is about £600 increase upon t:;e )d.it. ye.tr's balance —a result no doubt also due to the wise policy resolved upon and carried out of strengthening the company financially '*.'!<•!! trouhl'ous times were ahead, In the whole future working of the company the benefit of increased resources will no doubt be abundantly Manifested, as may be shown by the difference i n the amount of profits earned this year as compared with *..°* °* ]r ss ' which is no less than 4,5&9. The policy of increasing the resources of the company, and building P a large reserve fund, which will at * u times be available, is one of pru- ? fcr 'W, safety, and profit, and will ; gely tend to bring about that state 01 confidence in trade circles which is so pessary for the successful conduct of ■ie large commercial operations which jorm such a characteristic feature of *: Je present age. The only sure founda«on tor these gigantic undertakings is iUiple resources at command, and when "nes improve, labour becomes abundant, prices of produce good, and pro-/'satisfac-tory, the large increase of "Pital resolved upon by the company £if I - otic : wiU doubtless be benenally felt in many directions.

en ~s er of terrible storms have occurred ill Atlantic, and we are told that thirty j, 'Wen? are now overdue at New York. Hat" 1 '" s^'( ' r "o'> w have the names of the colo v"' Wh ° are to re P resent the different j° nies at the Federation Conference. th e Benzon > "the Jubilee Plunger," csiv " VUn ° man whose foolish doings retain t f lnu ? h attention from the world new* .": t, ' ,ne since, has emerged in <* ch» C! 'P? clt yi having been arrested on a Pol? « fortin S « cheque for £1000. The M" - ' ng iri Portugal against Engd'.u '" re,fcrei ice to Zambesi is now calming

that able message from Adelaide states (]a«n»-5 rams havo fallen, and great s'rov . of cub eat have been decoyed.

«feim ? the Passengers by the Southern C" >' est « r «Hy for Wellington was Dr. and 4- i°' of .Hospitals fcrtni ums > who has been during the past Union* enßain inspecting these instiihon*'; ' are meetin S °* employes in retail Hniit chr,3tcl, last night, 150 preab°utaH W 8 ! decided to take steps to bring toe o'cWk y ° U atui ' da y afternoons from

Attention has been drawn to the danger of concentrating 300 to 400 natives at the North Shore, during the Jubilee, belonging to tribes in which tribal hatreds and jealousies are not dead, bub sleeping, unless every precaution is taken to control the liquor traffic. At the outset of the arrangements for the advent of natives at the sports, some of them asked Mr. Devore whether, in addition to rations, they would be supplied with beer. Mr. Devore, on behalf of the committee, gave a decided negative to any such suggestion. But there is nothing to hinder the natives, during their hours of idleness, procuring from tho hotelkeepors as much drink as thoy can pay for, with results which may be more easily imagined than described. We had a sorry scene at tho opening of tho Calliope Dock, in which certain volunteers, with arms in their hands, and under the noses of their officers, came out very badly, solely through the dispensation of drink. The danger would be much greater in the case of a drunken fracas arising among natives of opposing tribes, as in case of a disturbance there is only a sergeant and constable available. It has been customary in country settlements where there have been largo assemblages of natives attending Land Courts, for the Judges to warn the hotelkeepers against selling drink to natives. At the YVhatihoehoe meeting Mr. Bryce, then Native Minister, issued a proclamation prohibiting the hotelkeepers at Alexandra from selling or giving any liquor to natives during the whole course of the meeting. Possibly the Jubileo Committee might get the Licensing Bench to take the necessary precautions, or if they have not the power get the Native Minister to issue a similar proclamation. It will be a thousand pities if through the introduction of drink anything should occur to mar either the visit of the natives to tho city or the pleasure of witnessing their dances and sports. The danger referred to above is not an imaginary one, and it may be stated that the police authorities have contemplated such a contingency, and are taking steps in the matter.

It will be recollected that some months ago Air. E. Rowland, aerated water manufacturer, Melbourne, forwarded to Messrs. John Gray and Sons, of this city, one of their patent pillars and a charged cask of aerated waters for exhibition. It was fitted up at the Imperial Hotel, where it was on view for several days, after which it was returned. Mr. John Gray has just received a letter from Mr. Rowland, in which ho says, " I am most thoroughly ploased with the efficient manner in which you have worked my patent in your city, and delighted to find you so cleverly got over the difficulty of a broken globe". I feel most truly grateful to you."

It is announced in our advertisement columns that the art union for Mrs. T. Pocklington's large picture of Auckland from Ponsonby, now on view at Air. McGregor Wright's, Shortland-street, will be drawn on Thursday, 6th March.

A railway carriage which has been specially litted up for the conveyance of the Earl of Onslow and his suite to Auckland, will leave the Auckland station on Monday for Lichfield to convey His Excellency thence on Tuesday next.

Mr. Mark Rawlings, of the firm of Rawlings and Baber, Fort-street, has been appointed agent to the trustees of the Rawlings' scholarships in place of the late Mr. John Milne.

We have again to sound ft note of warning in regard to the sharks which are swarming in the harbour, and which get into the most unlikely places. The intake at Mechanics' Bay has usually been considered safe from the intrusion of these monsters, and is consequently much frequented by boys in the early morning, and there they enjoy their baths from the logs. Mr. Cuthbert, express driver, informs us that at six o'clock on Wednesday morning, when for a wonder there were no boys bathing in the intake, he saw a shark from five to six feel in length swimming about within a few feet of the logs from which the bathers usually jump in. Mr. Smith, railway engine-driver, was passing at the time, and on Mr. Cuthbert calling his attention to the shark, Mr. Smith noticed a second one swimming about close to the other. It would therefore be prudent for parents and guardians to prevent, as far as possible, their boys from bathing in the intake at present.

Railway Employees Benefit Society at Dunedin had a balance to credit at the end of the year of £1921.

Mr. Harper, of Dunedin, who goes homo next month, undertakes to bring out a professional coach for the principal cricket clubs.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Sunday-school Union takes place this evening in the Tabernacle schoolroom. The annual report and balance-sheet will be presented, and officers elected for the coming year. The president, Mr. Battley, will take the chair, and give an address relating to the World's Sunday-school Convention, held last year in London. The Dunedin student, Mr. J. F. Jones, who has been furnishing temporary supply to the Baptist Church, Mount Eden, pending the arrival of the new pastor, the Rev. Mr. Cox, from Victoria, left yesterday for Dunedin by the Te Kapo. On the previous evening a farewell meeting was held at the church, at which he received a letter expressive of the church's warm appreciation of his services ; and the Bible-class conducted by Mr. Jones presented him with a memento in the shape of a watchguard compass, encased in gold, as a token of their esteem.

A telegram from Dunedin states that the Earl of Kintore, Dr. Stirling, and Mr. Horn (M.1 J ., South Australia), the Hon. G. McLean, and the Private Secretaries to Lord Kintore and Lord Onslow, left on a fishing expedition to Waitaki yesterday.

There were three prisoners in the lock-up last evening on charges of drunkenness : Henry Maginn, for being drunk in charge of a horse and cart in Victoria-street; and Joseph Robinson and Henry Donnelly, for fighting in Albert-street.

At the sitting of the Charitable Aid Board yesterday, about thirty-seven cases for relief were dealt with, u number being from Onehunga for renewal, most of them being old men.

The police authorities are still pursuing their inquiries as to the fate of the missing man, Kerr. Inspector Broham has telegraphed to Karangahake, where he had been working as a miner, in order to ascertain whether he had any friends there or in Auckland, or anyone who could throw any light upon his antecedents.

The Waitara annual regatta takes place on the river t<s-morrow, when several interesting aquatic and other events will take place. Among the most important is the champion whaleboafc race, which is bringing forth four crews. The Mnnuknu crew left Onehunga by the Gairloch yesterday to compete, and it is anticipated they will land the big prize. However, up to yesterday morning, they were staunch favourites.

A telegram from Invercargill yesterday states : The Lowther Hotel on the Kingston line was destroyed by tire on Wednesday afternoon. Nothing was saved with the exception of a sewing machine. Air. Malone, the proprietor, was at Invercargill at the time, his wife was out visiting, and the maidservant was in the garden, so that the origin of the fire is unknown. The house was an old one, and whether insured is not yet known.

Messrs. W. R. and S. R. Wilson, who have been making a short stay at Rotorua, have returned to town, and proceed South, to-day, per Wanaka. Mr. W. R. Wilson has derived considerable benefit from the baths, and we are glad to say, is now in much better health than formerly.

At the annual meeting of the St. John's Ambulance Association, Christchurch Centre, held last night, it was stated that the centre is in a very satisfactory position. Steps are being taken to establish a nursing corps in connection therewith, to attend the sick poor.

The popular sports committee at Christchurch, last night, voted £00 to the charitable institutions of the city, out of the proceeds of the anniversary day sports.

A letter has been shown to us which is rather a curiosity in its way. It is addressed to G. F. Rees, Esq., Epsom. This apparently was incorrect, for it is initialled by no less than 14 different postmen to whom it has been entrusted but who have failed to find an owner for it. Finally as a last resort it was sent to Mr. Rees George. He opened it and found a circular announcing the important intelligence that a grand pianoforte recital is to be given on Jubilee night at the Choral HalL

A special meeting of the Crown Lands Board was held yesterday, the reason being that the regular meeting day would fall in tho Jubilee week, and it was thought advisable to hold the meeting yesterday instead. There was a fair amount of routine business transacted, and a considerable number of applications for land were received. Tho proceedings are reported in another column.

Gas and coke consumers aro reminded that Monday next is the last day upon which full discount can be allowed on their accounts.

A rare opportunity of getting cheap drapery and clothing is now afforded the public at Messrs. 11. H. Abbott and Co.'s, Ifpper Symonds-street and Karatigahape Road, who are giving up business, and selling off their stock at a groat sacrifice as Mr. R. H. Abbott leaves the colony in a few weeks.

It will be seen by reference to our advertising columns, that the Public Works Office invite tenders until noon of Wednesday, the 19th February, for the Utawai contract, Blenheim-Awatero Railway; also, tenders until noon of Wednesday, the '2(jth February, for the Makarau contract, Helensville northwards railway.

Tho brethren of Lodge St. Andrew are invited to attend the quarterly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge, S.C. V this evening at eight o'clock.

The quarterly communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge, North Island of New Zealand, Scottish Constitution, will be held in the Freemasons' Hall, Auckland, this evening, at eight o'clock. The valuable property known as Firth's old mill will be sold to-day by public auction, at noon, by Messrs. T. M. Jackson and Co., auctioneers. Mr. G. P. Pierce notifies that he is a candidate for re-election as auditor to the Auckland Gas Company. The transfer books of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company will be closed or fourteen days, from the 24th instant.