THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY APRIL 29, 1892.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8865, 29 April 1892, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY APRIL 29, 1892.

We have been hoping against hope for some time past that the Premier would address the country, and would reassure it respecting the legislation to be proposed when Parliament meets. Last session there was in reality no legislation. A new Taxation Bill was passed, hut no provision of it has yet been brought into operation. When it was being passed, the Premier and other Ministers stated that if it were found that any of its provisions pressed unfairly updfa particular interests, or were otherwise seriously objectionable, they could be modified or repealed without ever being brought into action. This is a very bad system on which to legislate, because there is nothing worse for the stability of a country than to be perpetually changing the laws, and putting into Acts of Parliament mere crude imaginings, which have not been thought out, and which cannot be put in force. All laws should be carefully considered, and should be discussed fully before being embodied in an Act. It is quite certain that there will have to be changes made next session in the Taxation Act, and the sooner we know what the Ministry are to propose the better. The Ministry have now been in office for some considerable time. They have had an opportunity of knowing how their proposals have been received in the country and in the 4 world. They must know on what provisions they will have to make modifications.

A few days ago the Premier addressed a meeting at Feilding, and we regret to say that there is no evidence in it of any desire to modify the violent and extreme portions of his programme. It is quite well known that some of his colleagues do not believe in his theories, and these gentlemen must'"view with alarm his present utterances. He began with the question of whether or not capital was leaving the country. He said

There were tests which might be applied to the assertion to prove its truthfulness or otherwise. Had the rate of interest risen in the country? Was money cheaper or more difficult to obtain on land or other mortgages ? If, as he contended, the statement could not be proved true by this test he would throw it back in their faces with a denial.

There is no sentiment about this matter, and we suppose that Mr. Ballance will admit that capital will leave a country when it is specially taxed, and when it feels itself unsafe. As a matter of fact, the bank rates of interest are at present a. half per cent, nigher in New Zealand than in Aus-

tralia. There is nothing which it dangerous to touch as the securiS!° { land. It has been said that no form calamity so confounds and ap pa ] 3 tt human mind as an earthquake wh" i disturbs the stability of the very e .!? ye tread on, and which men are w to consider the one thing stable steadfast whatever may happen. a'l so it is when property i n land • threatened. Mr. Ballance then , 13 ceeds:— pr °- It had become expedient that thev si , declare at once and forever that there a !° U ' 1 be 110 larse estates held in this country t" ferringto the demand tor finality of h,\' t- e " he said there could not be such a tli ' finality in politics. • Further, he would"]® 1 clare that if the large estates were nor r turbed by the present graduated tax hew u be prepared to propose that it should i doubled, as it was necessary for land-ow to be induced to form the opinion tluttlf" could not, with safety, hold large hiocLland in this country. fl °' We do not. like large estates, but is n heed to be paid to justice 1 These lar ° estates have been purchased from tf Government, which lias lived on til! money. By the cash paid for land bridges have been built, roads h av ' been made, schools and universities have been established and endowed And now the Government which | la ! had the money, which has the dealing in large estates, tells th f; . se men that it will be dangerous for the® to hold the land for which they h aVf paid, and that they cannot continue tc hold them "with safety." "Large estates" are defined according to what Mr. Ballance estimates is enough ot any man, and at the present time a large estate means any estate over £ooq in value. But Mr. Ballance gives an accurate definition of what he considers the proper limit of an estate He desired to pass a measure empowering the Government to buy land by private con tract, cut it up in 20 acre sections and <-i V people facilities to settle on it, by which means he believed a great stimulus would L« given to the prosperity of the country, He does not say where he is going tc get the money to make these purchases, but he evidently has in his eye the possibility of carrying out a line trans, action by acquiring at a cheap rate land which will be virtually confiscated by the increase of taxation which lie will impose. The Premier, however, is not content with a crusade against what he considers large estates. He is going to run a-muck against every person who at the present time considers that be owns land. "We are told that "Jli\ Ballance spoke strongly in favour of nationalisation of the land, and advised that no more should be sold. A man holding such opinions will, of course, endeavour to give them effect by every alteration of the land law, and by every opportunity he can get in taxation. He has lived hitherto on bribing the small landholder against the large. But in reality in his opinion they are all in the same boat. To be a landowner to any extent is to be a social pet, They must all in course of time be despoiled. By merely breaking down large estates into small, Mr. Ballance would not advance a step towards land nationalisation, which is his ultimate goal. But he means, if he can, to swallow up the small as well as the great. We regret that the Premier, on the eve of another session, should not have adopted a more moderate tone. Out sister colonies of Australia are now in such a bad way that it would require little to make New Zealand a place to which population and capital would rapidly tend. It only remains now tc see what Parliament has to say.

We publish in another column a letter from " Victim,"' who has had to travel in the North lately, in respect to the " main trunk road" between Mangamuka and Oruru. It is unsafe, he states, for man or horse. The fact is that it may be said that in the counties of Bay of Islands, Hokianga, and Mangonui there are no roads whatever. A gentleman who was travelling by coach some weeks ago in the Bay of Islands county informs us that the driver had frequently to make excursions in all directions to avoid the road* which, with only a few showers, had become impassable. It is of no use appealing to the county authorities. They have simply no money to do anything with. In the South, when the counties were constituted, all the principal lines of road were handed over in a finished condition. And, besides, these counties could rate all the lands, some at a high value, as they had been long in possession of Europeans, and were greatly improved. In the North, the whole country was handed over to the local authorities, with almost nothing done in the way of road-making, while there are enormous areas of crown lands and native lands which pay at present no taxation whatever. If things go on as they are doing at present, or rather if they stand still as they are now doing, the main road of which our correspondent complains, and all other roads 111 the North, will remain unfit for traffic for a hunched years. Indeed, in the matter of roads, things in the North are becoming worse instead .of better, because the local bodies are unable, now that all aid from the Government is withdrawn, to keep in repair the roads and bridges which have been made. If the Premier would endeavour to solve this problem instead of considering how to nationalise the land, it would be better for the colony, and for his Government.

Owing to the gale yesterday, telegraphic communication with the rest of the colony south of Napier was subjected to serious interruption. Unfortunately, this is not an exceptional occurrence. The line southward from Napier, which is most extensively used, runs for some considerable distance close to the coast, and in a very exposed situation, the consequence being that during rough and stormy weather it invariably becomes unworkable. Time after time the attention of the Telegraph Department has been called tc the urgent necessity of adopting a more sheltered route inland for the wire, so as to avoid these recurring and annoying interruptions, but so far all representations on the matter have failed to stir the authorities into taking actionWe hope that the Hon. Mr. Ward will take the matter in hand. It is simply scandalous that a city like Auckland should be liable at the first gale to 0 cut off, partially or completely, from a' telegraphic communication with tn rest of the world because of the apathy or indifference of those whose duty i is to see that proper means should taken to prevent anything of the Kin happening. The telegraph depart me stands in need of reformation. »» 1 the subordinate officials do all tn J possibly can do with the appliances their command the time has come wli _ greater skill and energy and entei'P' should be shown by the controlling powers.

The vert 0 f j lO j ur y in the Ravacha casu has cat, intense indignation. The: are accused . ow<ir dice, and there is n< doubt, that , ere intimidated, an( feared to retu verdict of murder agains the arcli-consitor. Their recommenda tion to mercy jie ground of extenuat jug circumstai, was a wretched am cowardly subter-p, nd as if pointed cm really constitute, justification of anarch i-ii!." The Uovcnent, however, are no bl.iflieles.-i in therter. When the Anarchis outrages comme-d, they failed to ac with vigour cnd-omptitude. The pre cautions which »y caused to bo takei to prevent a ivition of similar out rages were misery inadequate. Thi incapacity to pro the gravity of tin pittiation, or relucloe to do t heir duty, i; likclv to seriously .pttrdiso their position, Probably now thathty realise tlio trui nature of the git nan they may be stimu lated into somethinjke efficient measure to prevent a reign terror, which woul< inevitably sweep tir. from power anc prove disastrous to knee. The revolt it Vent /an la, about wlh so many conflicting repo.i!> have been ou;-nt is, still apparent!; iipr't.-sed. The Stan of Turkey is claim iiiu' rights over the It tin territory in Africa Ja the Canadian Parlmont a motion for ; prefereiit ial tariff in vour of Great Britaii was carried by a ajority of 3-1. Ai application for a pos'onement of the trio el the Windsor munrer has been refused In consequence Ids cuisel has thrown u] hi- brief. Adilitionl details of the dis serous railway coision in New Sout. Wales appear in or cable messages tin morning. The following ii an extract from th letter of a London orrespondent to a firn at Christ church ii crested in tho froze: cieaf trade of the plony :—" We wish voi could see the Qoenslund, Sydney, am Kiver Plate muttrn that is now comin; forward, you wiuld be surprised at it quality. More. is a New Zealander, yo' von Id be apprelunsive. My firm opinioi is, it you go or as you are doing, you unit ton will not top the tree very long Your qualities are all on the downwar trick, these ether countries are on th iraward and improving one, and the resul i- „ foregone conclusion. Fancy Plate sliee; weighing up to 801 and good at that. This slum'. 1 tend to make our sheep-owner t-i\e more attention to their flocks thai tticv at present seem to do, and endeavou to prodiiee, not an inferior article, but on. of a 'iiore superior kind than is at prescn being done. There is nothing that wil so.-ticr kill the large trade in frozen meal vhi.' i is now being built lip than the production of a poor quality article. 'The growing custom of placarding tin telegraph poles of this city was spoken o la-t night, at a meeting of the City Council bv 1': Walker, who said that it should bt *:q<»-fd. The, Town Clerk, Mr. Philip? f.ii.i'that having communicated on the su> jeer with Mr. Orchist.on, the latter h;C referred the complaint to Wellington, as ( v.i« .. subject to be dealt with at the lied crr.c -1; the department. j 'lire sitting at the Police (.'our; yestd da'.' morning was an exceptionally shii one. There were only four inebriates ' be dealt with. Two of these were fust < fen i'.rs. and were fined 5s and costs or def.ii:lt -1 hours' imprisonment. Hoi! S::.th. v. ho had been removed to the Ir ! pital an.l there treated, was fined 5s and £ ) ro-'s uf cab hire and treatment, or in i- I Lilt -Is hours. William Angell Mart?, l ; »!m rV;! int'i the harbour la.-c night, »s | c'i..:g- i with drunkenness, but did nop pr .r o.s he was at present, in the hosj.d. , Lis ca-e was adjourned until to-day. : ; 1 hiring yesterday the weather wafex* 1 trea:e!v cell!. the wind blowing a m:r>ng i pale .'torn the >S. K. At the Mat*au Head- ! southerly gale was blowing, lioh i prevent-, the steamers Mahinapu.-and j j liairkvh leaving for New Plymouth. fhey | < ate announced to leave this norng at j I eight o'clock, and passengers inen/ng to I • kaii by etttier of the boats williiat to go j i out by the train leaving at fit iinutes ; pa-t s'.-vea o'clock. Telegrams frrfii C.s----lor;.-, received yesterday state ha. aS. E. ( g.v.e «a- blowing there, while t lytteltm tic- -verity of the Weather wa intcrferirg 1 with tba arrival and departuJ of the va- ' A lire occurred at Epsom ibout elevm J o'cl- y.-stc-rday, in a w.storey staUe on 'he premises of .Mr. '■ W. Burtiji, 1 e sol: t ■!'. The ding waMnsured for 45 ; | in " - X-.w Z-.aiand insumce Conipaiv. j { Mr. I-t'.tr: i.a- in bed at the time of he putbr-_;-.k. :Mrt wb.-n lie i-.ticed it, the tre had ,-uch a ho'.-i that theniilding could iot i be saved. Mr. Burton <n give no accoint I cf the origin of the conrhiration. i On Wednesday nigh .Tames Wlson, 1 .-•maker, of Pontonby.net with a gainful i 1 ticei'ietit at- the foot' olShortland-street, j 11 had been waiting for 10.3'1 tram, and j 1 m:. . cio-sing trie s'.ret he slipped on aj ' piece of orange pee', and ot a severe ound : 1 on th" hack of tlie head, ceding profusely. » L'r. Ktiigiit at.ended to Is injuries. 1 ( An inqtie-t was held n Wednesday on , Mr-, lid/. i Urit'.on, wife a special settler < at 0:n dia, who died sornvhat suddenly, by . Mr Angove, cor.uier. 1 appears that on , c-ine.-d.iv morning shi'ook pains in her j , head, and later in th day pains in her 1 ft.ur.ach, and died in he evening unob- '] ferv.el by the attcndai. The jury, after j ; hearing the evidence, eturned a verdict cf" Death from naturn'au-es." It appear.? . that d-cea.-ed had coialained of her heart, ; nt i was an excessi-dy stout woman, < vvigiiirig over 15 stou . by the kind ptnission of Admiral j Pa.!.igi:ii, the fine Jand of the French ■ v.'c dun Dubourdieu-'ill p'av in the Albert Park this aiternoon lt three o'clock, under the eiiiduc'.o! shi-j > Dandmastor Huberto. ' The bandmaster, « understand, has prefer,-.' : .cj-ny piece?''" music to the Artillery Par. i a- souvenirs The Dubourdieu leaves lor i aciti to morIt will be .-(.-erfrorn advertisement else- , where, that th annual meeting of the sinr- holders oft he Northern Steamship , 1 tnpany (Linked), will be held in the Company's otle on Friday, Gth May, at two o'clock, fo the pm j:o-e of receiving the report of thedirector.s, and balance-sheet for' tin; yeareriding .'list Marcii last, and any other gneral business. The transfer 1" ,ks of tit company will be closed from .Saturday n-<t to Monday, May 9. The prrtice of turning out horses at night, to, 'ft such herbage as they can in the pub!-' streets or on vacant allotments, tsppears-0 Ij2 on the increase. There is icarceha night that some pedestrians are riot .--atied by horses careering out of the va'-an' allotments across the [lavements. Trie iglit before hist, .'is if in contempt of tic c y by daws, a horse was turned out. in fron'of the Municipal Buildings, to graze on a: a!l(,tmerit there. 'litre will bo a special meeting of thn Pr-byter,' of Auckland in St. Andrew's L'hireh mi Tuesday evening, at seven wl.'"k Tin* object of the meeting is to oiidder three calls, and as it is seldom that Men a settlement of ministers is arranged or at fine sitting, the meeting is expected 1 o he ot special interest. ' v ''" are given to understand that the sd.iirs fit th,. late Mr. J. M. Alexander are I now being investigated, and that the result wiil he shortly made known. Messrs. , llesbeth and Itichmond, solicitors, notify hy advi-fti-c-ment that all persons having rlainis against the late John Macky Alex- , ! , of Auckland, solicitor, are requested 110 -end the same to them as early as pos-ible. '■ are not optimistic enough (says the Jt-'go Times) to suppose that the appointl,l'' nl of a truant officer for the Otago c' ; ci .nal district will have the effect of entirely removing the compulsory clauses of •'is Education Act from out the "dead f,l!t i category, but we have before ex-I'fC's-e.l t lie belief that it will greatly tend J° "Huitnix; the evil of non-compliance with the Act. The evidence given, as set forth i. the circular of the Education Board nehiiinir the duties of the truant officer, as ,' J ,llu value of such tin officer in Auckland, '* vtl '.v satisfactory. During the year 1890 BIJR J " 718 neglectful parents were visited "no warned. It was afterwards found peces-tiry to serve 538 of these with notice?. uf these only 75 had to be served with a fcond and 10 with a third notice, the "'■'ers having with few exceptions sent 'httr children more regularly to school." 1 would thus appear—and the fact is not a "frpricing one —that all that was necessary to look the parents up in order to •'Ululate them into a proper sense of their 'fy to their children. llio Agent-General reports that he has •■-"'-pted a tender at. £11600 for a lantern I,'' apparatus for Stephen's Island lighti's r"* j; v.- l '' bo l he first double flash light • i•; colony. if the tower is erected in * oe the light will be ready in a year.

al The annual ¥7 Jubilee In* ;v stit.ute of the BlitV took place yesterday, io and the reports balance-sheet preid sen ted, as w/ a3 those of the si principal examiA'^' ere of a most aatisa- factory charac/- The retiring members t- of tho genera/" w ere re-elented, and id Mr. «T. Meed V® elected to fill the vacancy it on the exec/ ve - Feeling reference was h- made to eat ' l Mr. Joseph Newman ft by several makers. A detailed report of st the proceeds ß appears in another column. ct Our Ma/ correspondent writes The e- premises / rnt down the other night were 111 situated ' l ' ie Drury road, and wore the t'" Messrs. Irwin Brothers, who is are onl/ reoenfc arrivals in the district. 10 The hf° was insured for £00. and the ' 3 furniti/ r £120 in the New Zealand and K the l l ar( i offices. The cause of the fire ie is attP ute< l to wood being left on a l " colon? oven. ,1 A found two boys named Jones, ,d agec'l2 and S, outside tho Wellington tl Opt? House on Wednesday night, who said it tin/ they had been turned out by their lv fajF r > and had boon sleeping in the open i' i ai'or the last eight days. The R. M. said I tf best thing for tho children was to com,j tit them to Hutnham. The father was a [,J sunken character, and tho mother was J /liable to do anything for them, aj , Temporary repairs to tho railway line nt 1' Patea, where the landslip occurred, have i] been effected, which will enable the traffic s to be resumed some time before the line is ,i thoroughly repaired. i Yesterday morning Mis? Ella Beatrice ; Eat an was married to Mr. Francis Druce, ~ of Gisborne, at the residence of her father „ (Mr, Albort Eaton) by the Rev. W. Leo. )t The bridesmaids were Misses Ida, Jessie, )( i and Edith Eaton (sisters of the bride), Jaclson ('2), and Ring. Tho bride was ,o dreied in pale heliotrope. Only tho immedate relatives and friends were present ~j nt de ceremony, but tho presents received , n wcii many and valuable. The newly,ir varied couple left for Gisborno by the lT tenter Wairarapa shortly after the cere[Tj nay and the many friends of the bride [, 0 ril wish her every happiness in her wedded lit di >p ho Government inspection parades for ." 'd volunteer corps in the Auckland disrs -iit for May are given elsewhere, as dein lied in District orders. The whole of the ir jhnteer corps in the garrison, including ie leband, will parade at the Drillshed on it acufday, the 14th May, at half-past three 11 '.it.. '*7 The latives resident at Kihikihi are de- '" sirous d having a visit from the Hon. A. J. Cad mat during his trip to Otorohanga, in ' order :o bring sundry grievances, in con- ' nection with land matters, under his notice. I Mr. (.adman has acceded to their request, ' and vill visit them on his way down from . Otorohanga, and while en route for To A roil a. j The following intimations as to missing , friends are taken from Lloyds' Weekly of March 13 and '20:—Alls'.vorth (William Henry) iast wrote to his sister Marian in IS7S. Address, care of W. H. Beetham, Esq., Brancepeth, near Masterton, Wairarapa, Wellington, New Zealand. Freeman (Henry John), of Hastings, left London June 14, ISG9, in the Mountain Laurel, and i was last heard of from Auckland, New J Zealand, March 2, IS7S). Sister Harty and brother Dick beg for news. (Father died November 10, ISS9.) Gee (Mary and James) are sought by their anxious parents. Siiafo (William Hewitt) sailed for Melbourne on March 10th, lSfij, from Liverpool, and afterwards went to Hawke's Bay, Now Zealand, where ha was in ISG9, when lie last wrote to his sister Jane. Truman (George*, brewer, of Cumber well, went to Auckland, New Zealand, about 20 years since. Daughter Emma seeks news. Baker (Anne Goldsmith — Mrs. Baker), in 1577 was at Sandow sawmills, Wellington, New Zealand. Her brother asks. Eade (Henry) went to New Zealand in January, 1 Sti.3, and in July, ISB3. was near Invercargiil. Sister Emma enquires. A Queensland correspondent writes:— " Owing in part to the good seasons of late, stock in the colonies has increased at such a rate that, unless we can send away large and frequent consignments of frozen meat, we will have to revert to the old system of boiling down 'for tallow, for, should a drought come—and we might expect one soon — the losses would be heavy, much of the country being considerably overstocked, especially in New South Wales." The Mutual Improvement Society in con nection with the Pitt street Wesleyan Church inaugurated its winter session last night by a vocal and literary entertainment in the Wesley Hall. There was a very large attendance. The Rev. J. Berry presided, and in a few introductory remarks explainacl the aims and scope of the society, and commended it to the young men present. The following programme was then presented, the various items being highly appreciated : — Flute duet, Messrs. McKoan ; song, "Thelniage of the Rose,'" Mr. Simpson ; recitation, "Robert of Sicily,'' Mr. Kekwick ; song, "Only Once More," Mr. Musker; piano solo, Miss Peak; recitation, Mr. Mears ; duet, Messrs. Bruce and Mercer; song, Mrs. II W. Taylor ; pianoduet, Misses Taylor and McMaster ; song, The Warrior Bold," Mr. Stebbing; vocal trio, Messrs. Rosser, Caley, and Musker; recitation, "The Midnight Charge," Mr. Potter; sontr, Miss Bruce; duet, "Peace to Thy Spirit," Misses Blackburn and M.irbrook ; song, "The Sightless i and," Mr. Musker ; instrumental solo, Professor Lambert; song, Mr. W. .3. Cousins. A very successful entertainment was given last night at the Avondale Asylum to the patients of that institution by Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and other friends. The programme comprised songs, recitations, and selections for the pianoforte, violin, flute, and bagpipes, as well as Highland dances. At intervals there was dancing, in which the patients joined. A specimen of professional whistling was given by one of the inmates, Mr. England playing a piano accompaniment. Mr. Christie, who presided, having heartily thanked the visitors, the entertainment closed with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne " by the company. The annual meeting and social gathering of the Young Men's Christian Association will be held this evening, at half-past six. A bountiful tea will be served to all-corners in the Social Hal!. The choir of St. David's Church,under theconductorshipof Mr. J. H. Phillpot.t, will render some choice selections. An address will be given by the Rev. L. H. Outrain, M.A., and brief speeches by Messrs. emery, Kekwick, N'orrie, and Twentyman. A pupil of Professor Carrollo, Mr. F. Macindoe, will give an exhibition of light Indian clubs. It is to be hoped that the public will give a liberal patronage to the entertainment, to indicate their sympathy with the objects of the above useful institution. The Burns (Tub held its usual fortnightly social last evening at the Masonic Hall, Newton. Mr. Homo presided. There was a fair attendance. The following programme was gone through in a highly satisfactory manner : —Piano overture, Mrs. Angus; song, "My Nannie's Awn'" (encored), Mr. Tait; recitation, "The Old Sergeant's Story," Mr. Allen ; song, " A Highland Lad my Love was Born," Miss Jessie Bain; reading, "Fireside Mutual Improvement," Mr. Parker; song, "Tho Hose of A Hand ale'' (encored), Mr. Carter ; recitation, "Dream of Eugene Aram," Miss Knight; song, " Wo are a'John Tamson's Bairns," Mr. Carter. The proceedings closed with " Auld Lang Syne.' Sundry notices relating to Highway Boards will be found in our advertising columns. A grand concert will be given on Friday evening, May 0, in St. James' Hall, by the pupils of Mr. J. H. Pnillpott, assisted by a few friends. The first part will be (for the first time in Auckland) a descriptive cantata, entitled the " The Bells of lilsinore," and the second part miscellaneous music. A social gathering will take place in Holy Trinity schoolroom, Devonport, this evening, at half-past seven o'clock. The programme for the evening consists of songs, choruses, recitations, etc. Half of the items- will be provided by the men of H.M. s. Ringarooma. It is desired and hoped that there will be a large attendance on the occasion. An important auction of real estate will be held by Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons at their land auction rooms, 85, Queen-street, to-day, at two p.m. As the properties are being sold to close accounts in various estates, they will be allowed to go cheap, and investors will do well to attend. _ The lots comprise a comfortable house in Richmond Koad, cottages in various parts of Ponsonby and . Archhill, two splendid corner allotments in j Queen-street, farms at Takapuna and Pakui ranga, and land at Matakohe. j