THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1893.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9292, 30 August 1893, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1893.

Amongst the multitude of bills at present before the Legislature is the Bating Act Amendment Bill, which has been brought in by the Hon. Mr. Ward. In it there are three parts. Part I. makes certain general amendments in the existing Rating Acts; Part 11. to relates the rating of native land ; Part 111. gives power to rate on the unimproved value. Taking the last part first, we are afraid that it would throw the finance of our local bodies into considerable confusion. At present the counties have the power to rate to the value of Jd in the pound on the value to sell. It is proposed that a poll shall be taken on the proposal that property shall henceforth be rated upon a basis of the unimproved value. If that proposal is adopted the county is to have the power of rating up to 3d in the pound. Those connected with local bodies say that the increase in the rate would not compensate for the change in system, and that the only resource of the local bodies would be to resort to exaggerated and false valuations. Local bodies have even now a difficulty in doing their work with the means at their disposal, and they certainly could not afford any curtailment. The design of the change is to relieve those who have improved their properties, and to throw j an additional burden 011 those who have not done so to the same extent. But in .many cases this means talcing the burden off wealthy men and placing it on poor men. We take a riding of a Northern couuty, and we find that the largest ratepayer contributes at present £23 8s 9d per annum. Taking the value ot' the land only, he would pay £8 15s. If the same amount of rates had to be raised in the district, the burden would fall on those who had not been able to erect such a line house as this particular ratepayer, or on those who were paying rates on land which'was of no value at all. Perhaps the clearest exemplification of the working of the new system could be had in the borough of Birkenhead. The improvements there are all about the wharf and at the Sugar Works. The rest of the borough is of comparatively small value. If rated upon the unimproved value of the land, the Sugar Company would probably pay somewhat about one-third of what they at present pay, and if the same amount were to be levied on the borough as a whole the additional burden would come on poor land at present for the most part vacant. It is a mitigating circumstance in this part of the Bill that it may or may not be adopted. But in many cases it would be adopted, and the change would be a loss to the local bodies, and in the long run be no gain to the poorer class of settlers. It is always an easy and popular tiling to talk about taxing the landholder who does not improve. But in many cases to attempt to improve at present would be to waste money. To insist upon high rates would be to clear the owners off', and to deprive the local bodies of what rates they do at present collect.

The second part of the Bill, giving power to rate native land, is not likely to pass into law, owing to the resistance of the Maoris. It would certainly not bo of much benefit to local bodies as it stands, but it would be important as establishing a principle. Native land within a rating district is to be subject to rating if the title has been ascertained by the Native Land Court, and native land the title of which has not been ascertained, but which is occupied in certain ways as defined by the Bill. There are, however, a number of important exceptions. The counties of Kawhia, Taupo West, and Taupo East, Sounds, and Fiord are excepted ; all native land situate more than five miles from any public road or highway open for horse traffic'; all land on which native tohares are erected, but not exceeding ten acres in extent ; all land, where, in the opinion of the Governor, the owners are indigent, and so on. No native land is to be sold for rates without the sanction of the Trust Commissioner. The practical benefit of this part of the Bill to impecunious local i bodies will be very small; but it is of

some importance as establishing the principle that native lands should contribute to local rating for road purposes. As regards the first part of the Bill, we are afraid that it will tax. the intellects of town and county clerks. We have already the Rating Act, 1876, and numerous amendments, followed by the bulky Rating Act of 1882, and also various amendments. The present Bill adds considerably to the expenses of the local bodies, and, of course diminishes their powers, diving these to the Government. The new Bill has not been submitted to any of the local bodies, or to the Municipal Association, although • a promise was given that copies of all Bills affecting local bodies should be supplied to them in good time for consideration. By Section 2, all local bodies under the Act of 1882, are to make out their own valuation roll annually, instead of being, as heretofore, supplied by the Government. Section 4 provides that when properties are let for over one month, the occupier is to be enrolled. The Bating Act of 1876 makes six months the term. This change will largely increase the work of local bodies, and increase the risk of mistakes in regard to the valuation roll. Under Section t>, assessors may sit with the judge of the Assessment Court. These assessors are to be appointed by the Government, but the local body is to pay for their services, as the Government may determine. By the 9th clause, all rates unpaid after three months from date when recoverable, shall carry interest at the rate of ten per cent. If this is passed, arrears of rates ought I materially to be reduced.

It is very doubtful, we think, whether this Bill will be amongst those which the Premier will announce the Government have determined to" go on with, notwithstanding that it was read a second time in the House yesterday. If it is spared, then a good many sections may be struck out with advantage.

The calls for charity on the means of the citizens of Auckland are many, but we think something should be done to meet such a case as that of the man Thomas Pearce. He had been a patient in the hospital, and as it was found that lie was incurable lie was discharged. He left the hospital last Saturday, with a hopeless _ prospect before him. He was suffering from heart disease, for which there was no relief to be looked for, and which incapacitated him from doing any kind of labour. He does not seem to have made any application to the Charitable Aid Board. Perhaps it was after office hours 011 Saturday before he got into town. He had no money, and was absolutely destitute. It is scarcely to bo wondered at that he wandered to the wharf, and dallied with the thought whether it would not be better to cast

limself into the sea and be done with

life and all its miseries. On Sunday evening, at live o'clock, he spoke to a sailor on the wharf, and told him that he had had 110 food from Saturday at noon, when he had got something to eat from the men on board a steamer lying alongside the wharf. A little after seven o'clock his body was found in the harbour. He did not live long after lie spoke to the seaman. This is a very sad case. Like cases may-be of not infrequent occurrence. In these colonies ere use, always 11 number of men wandering about who have no friends to take care of them when in need. As years press upon them some chronic complaint becomes severe, they have to leave oft work, and they quickly become destitute. For a time they are treated in the hospital, but it is evident that they cannot have shelter there all their lives, and they are discharged. A correspondent suggests that a portion of the Costley funds should be devoted to a home for destitute incurables. We do not see where

money can be had for another institution from the Costley funds. Surely the present Costley Home is intended to meet such an extreme

case as that of the unfortunate man Pearce. When the hospital authorities discharge a man in a stale of destitution, they should give him a certificate stating that lie has been sent away as an incurable, and 011 this it should be imperative on the Charitable Aid Board to maintain him till his circumstances can be thoroughly inquired into, and until it be seen whethei; he is a proper subject for reception into the Home. The Home is primarily for aged people, and Peace is stated to have been only 45 years of age. If the authorities of the Home cannot deal with such cases, then there ought to be some public fund from which assistance might be obtained- It must lie with the Charitable Aid Board to take the first step.

It has been officially announced that the British Government intend to increase the Mediterranean Squadron. During the discussion in the House of Commons, Sir E. J. Reed, who was chief constructor of the navy from 1863 to 1870, created a sensation by naming twelve first-class warships which lie declared would, owing to faulty construction, turn turtle in the same manner as the Victoria if rammed. The latoat reports from Mashonaland are stated to be more re-assuring. Ib is nob unlikely, however, that the danger which threatens the territory of the Chartered Company from the warlike attitude of the Mababeles will lead to the Capo Government taking over the whole of the land acquired by the company. A proposal of this kind is roferred to in a cable message from Capetown. The cost would bo defrayed by an export duty on diamonds. Ib will probably be found that Professor Vambery is responsible for the disquieting statements published by the Vienna press regarding Russian designs on Herat. So far the reports current have nob been confirmed, bub it will surprise no one to find that they are substantially correct. Russia already practically commands the two roads loading to Herat from the west, and is in a position to swoop down upon that important strategic point whenever the psychological moment arrives. It is becoming more and more apparent that France intends to establish a protectorate over Siam and virtually annex the country. The fresh demands which she is making point unmistakably in that direction, while the apathy displayed by the British Government would appear to indicate that they have agreed to allow Franco a free hand in Siam. A dreadful railway catastrophe is reported from ' America. ' An excursion train dashed into a special train, completely demolishing the latter. The carriages were piled on the top of one another and taking fire many of the passengers, unable to extricate themselves from their position, were burned to death. The disaster is clearly due to culpable neglect on the part of the railway officials who permitted the excursion train to depart without informing the driver that the special was ahead of him. The Sherman Silver Act is now doomed. The House of Representatives has by a large majority carried a motion for its repeal, and the universal belief is that the Senate will now be compelled to follow suit. The Secretary to the Treasury has instructed the mints to coin gold to "their fullest capacity. M. Challamol-Lacour, president of the French Senate, is spoken of as a likely successor to President Carnot. Tho Chicago unemployed are adopting a threatening attitude. Strike riots have ■ occurred in Derbyshire/.

At the meeting of the Board of Education yesterday. Mr. Cooper, in speaking of the treatment by the Board of the town, in comparison to the country, said he felt that the Board had a tendency to limit the expenditure on country schools on the one hand, which they were usually very generous in voting moneys for the improvement of the town schools. In country districts the settlers, as a rule, were poor men, and the allowances made to the funds of the committees were quite inadequate to meet, such'demand# as these for fencing, etc. The Board hid recently expended a large sum of money in erecting an iron fence on a concrete foundation for the Newton West School. He thought the Board ought not in these matter? to deal parsimoniously with the country schools. He moved " That the whole cost of fencing be granted." It wa3 not reasonable to expect the country settlers to do what the Board did not require of the town residents. He had made no promises to country committees, bub he believed in treating them with justice.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued before His Honor, Mr. Justice Conolly, yesterday. Margaret. Turner, who on the previous day, had pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a quantity of plate from her employer's dwelling, was brought up for sentence. Mr. B,mine on her behalf applied to have her admitted to probation, but. the evidence of Mr. Res ton, Probation Officer, was so strongly against her that the learned judge with his knowledge of a previous case in which she had been indicted declined to admit her to probation, and sentenced her to 12 months' imprisonment. Henry I'utland was convicted of an aggravated assault on John O'Connor, and sentence was deferred until this morning. Thomas McDonald was then placed in the dock on a charge of unlawfully wounding John Driscoll. The prisoner was at first undefended, but subsequently Mr. Jas. O'Meagher appeared on his behalf, and cross-examined the witnesses. The case had not concluded when the Court rose at 6 o'clock. The charge being a misdemeanor it was not requisite that the jury should be locked up, but in dismissing them the learned judge cautioned them that they must let no person speak to them about this case or any other case on which they mirjht be engaged. One of the grand jury had complained that persons had attempted to influence him, but if any person attempted to influence any of them and it came to his (the judge's) knowledge he would see what the law would do in regard to punishing them. The Court adjourned at 6 o'clock until 10 o'clock this morning.

Ab the meeting of the Board of Education yesterday, an application was received from Mr. V. E. Rice, secretary, asking that his increase of salary might date from the beginning of the year. Mr. Wilding moved that tho application be granted. Messrs. Muir and Buckhurst spoke against it. Air. Grant said lie did not think the resolution was in order. The chairman said that notice of motion would have to be given before the Board could grant the increase." Mr. Luke has therefore given notice to move at the next meeting of the Board, "That the increase in the secretary's salary date from the Ist January last."

An inquest was held on Monday at Ivaiwaka, on the body of a settler named James Morrison. From the report of Special Constable Moir, of Mangawai, Morrison died suddenly on Saturday evening. The medical evidence was that death arose from acute gastric irritation. Deceased had been a resident of Kai waka for thirty years.

A considerable amount of business was disposed of by Dr. Giles at the Police Court yesterday, the sitting being a rather lengthy one. The young girl, Edith May George, charged with attempting to commit suicide by swallowing match heads, was discharged, Dr. Giles first having a private conversation with her. Two cases of larceny came up for consideration, and a great deal of time was occupied in the hearing of a charge of assault brought by Thomas Nicholson, the poundkeeper at Devonporfc, against Richard Henry Davies. The defendant was fined 10s and costs.

The idea of a Hying machine is by no means new. but the advent of one that will stand satisfactory demonstration is decidedly something out of the common. Arthur Marychurch, of Waotu, has for some time past been experimenting., with this matter, and at last is reported to have succeeded in inventing a machine which will actually ascend into the air, rising, falling, and turning at the will of the navigators, and is not affected by a head wind. It will, however, probably be some time before it is available for use.

A child, said to be between seven and ten years of age, was sent by a man named Robert Lawrence, living at Te Arai, to fetch cows from the bush on Friday afternoon. Drizzling rain was falling and tho night came to be very stormy, while the child never turned up. Next day Lawrence communicated with the police, and several men went out to search, but they had not been successful up to the afternoon of Sunday. The child's relatives live about Warkworth.

Information was given to the police yesterday that a man named James Edwards wan lying in a house in Greystreet, ill and destitute. Sergeant Lyons wont up, and found the poor fellow lying on the Hoor of a kitchen, covered with some old sacks'. Mr. Strathern, inspector of the Charitable Aid Board was duly informed, and he got Dr. Hooper to attend to the man, and also supplied him with food and other requisites.

In reference to a report which has received currency that the schedules of the Auckland Domain Vesting Bill are incorrect, we are informed that the plans and boundaries were supplied by the Auckland Survey Department.

With reference to the case of the gumdigger, George Pearce, who was discharged from the Hospital on Saturday, found drowned on Sunday evening, and on whose body an inquest was held on Monday, as published in yesterday's issue, Mr. Schofield, house steward of the District Hospital, writes as follows :—" I should like to state that I saw George Pearce (whose body was found in the harbour on Sunday evening) between 9 and 10 a.m. on Saturday last, and knowing that he was in need of assistance, I gave him a letter to the Secretary, asking that gentleman to assist him. The deceased at the time stated that he was anxious to get into the country, but would not present the letter if any of his mates were in town, as he could get assistance from them. Deceased had his dinner in the Hospital. The letter referred to above was not presented to the secretary."

A special course of ten lectures on chemistry will be delivered at the University College on Saturday, at a quarter-past ten a.m., beginning on Saturday next. These lectures are designed to meet the wants of teachers in the public elementary schools, and of candidates for the E and D certificates of the Education Department. After each lecture a practical class will bo held, in which instruction will be given in the art of making chemical experiments.

Ib is nob often the prosaic routine of insurance business is relieved by an element' of romance, but an incident that occurred only a few days ago (says the Sydney Telegraph) illustrates the old paying that " truth is often stranger than fiction." A tall, well-built young stranger, whose face had bronzed with many years'■outriding on the torrid Barcoo, walked into the City Mutual Life Assurance Society's office, Sydney, and producing his policy, with a certificate of his birth, asked for an endorsement of the admission of age. The certificate, however, bore a different name from that on the policy. Ib bore a name the owner of which was inosb extensively sought after in these colonies by advertisements and otherwise only a few months back. For family reasons, ib appears, he hud concealed his identity, and on arriving in Australia some nine years ago had adopted his mother's maiden name. On being informed by the manager of the society of the inquiries that had been made, he naturally losb no time in establishing his identity, and it now transpires that he is the lawful heir to an unencumbered estate in one of the ploaeantest counties in Ireland, valued j at over £30,000. _

By the s.s. Taviuni, from Fiji, arrived a fine specimen of the turtle, which has been sent up by His Excellency Sir John Thurston, Governor of Fiji, to His Worship the Mayor (Mr. W. Crosvther), as a slight recognition of the courtesy shown to him by the Mayor during his stay in this city. His Worship yesterday forwarded the turtle to the Costley Home, for the use of the inmates.

The monthly meeting of the Mount Eden Road Board was held at the Board's office on Monday. Present; The Chairman (Mr. W. H. Cooper), Messrs. ■ H." Hirst, T. Hanson, R. Udy, and J. Douglas. Th« clerk reported that ' the Government Auditor had completed the ; audit of the Board's account* during the previous week, and had drawn his attention to expenditure on some undedicated roads in" the district. The chairman placed before the Board a financial statement showing the general account to be overdrawn over £200, and that accounts for over £210 required passing for payment- that evening, also to the fact that the Government had paid over the Board's subsidy to the Charitable Aid Board in consequence of the Mount Eden Board being in arrears of their payments. He also pointed out that the maintenance expenses would continue heavy for another month or two yet, in consequence of the exceptionally wet winter, and that no new work could be undertaken in the present state of the Board's finances. The cattle ranger (Mr. Stanton) was instructed to impound all straying cattle on the Board':! roads without exception, and also to summon all owners of unregistered dogs in the district. The turncock was also instructed to enforce the waterworks bylaw, and compel the owners of cattle to take water by meter. Mr. A. Keys waited upon the Board and ottered to contribute £15 towards tilling in Victoria Avenue • opposite his allotment. It was resolved to call for tenders to do the work during the ensuing summer. It was decided to keep the stotiebre'dvers on for the present, and to carry out some absolutely required repairs to roads and footpaths.

The usual fortnightly meeting of Court Nil Desperanduin, No. 6495, A.0.F., took place last evening in the Foresters Hall, the C.R. Brother E. Wilson presiding. Brother R. Piggott, P.D.C.R.* occupied a seat on the dais. After the Court business had been transacted, Brother E. Nordon read a paper on " Superannuation.' The essayist dealt at length with a scheme for national assurance, by which all members of the community, should by payment of the sum of £10 to the State, be entitled at the age of Go, to a pension of 10s weekly, Ho also reviewed the schemes propounded by Mr. Chamberlain, Canon Blakely, and others, and contended that all were impracticable, inasmuch as none of them were compulsory. An interesting discussion followed in which Brother Wigg, P.C.R., Brother I'isrgott, P.D.C.R., Brother Smith, P.D.G., and Brother Garratt, D.S., took part. At the conclusion Brother Norden was tendered a hearty vote of thanks for his paper, and a hope was expressed that papers on other subjects of interest to Friendly Society members would be read more frequently.

Recently Mr. C. Hemus, photographer, executed life-size enlargements of Lady Thurston and her eldest daughter, which were forwarded to Government House, Fiji, by last outward steamer. By tho Taviutii he received a highly-complimentary letter from Sir .John Thurston, expressing his gratification at the manner in which the commission had been executed. Mr. Hemus has just personally completed a life-size enlargement of Sir John Thurston, worked up in sepia, which is on view at his studio, and will be forwarded to Fiji by outgoing steamer. It is without doubt the best portrait of Sir John that has yet been exhibited in Auckland. ' A committee, consisting of Mr. Bollard . (chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board), Mr. Atkiu, and Dr. Girdler, has been appointed to make the necessary arrangements for obtaining a new and suitable ambulance waggon.

A very pleasing entertainment in connection with the Otahuhu Band of Hope took place on Thursday evening in the Masonic Hall, Otahuhu. The principal object of the entertainment was to endeavour to clear off the balance of debt incurred recently in tho purchasing of a piano for the use of the Society. This object was attained with a slight margin to credit. The proceedings were opened by the singing of Movie's hymn No. 111, by the Band of Hope children; then followed prayer by the chaplain, after which caine the opening address by Mr. 0. Bailey, who was chairman. The following programme was then gone through to the appreciation of a large audience: — Pianoforte duet, Misses Bond and Chapman; recitation, Miss Lawrence: vocal solo, Mr. H. Mills; vocal duet, Miss Scoigic and Mr. J. Andrews; recitation, Miss E. Stringer; instrumental solo, Misses Cartmill and Bond; piano solo, Miss Chapman ; dialogue by the company ; vocal solo, .Mr. J. Andrew; reading, Mr. A. White; piano solo, Miss Bond ; vocal solo, Mr. Lawrence ; address, Mr. West ; vocal solo, Mr. Macdonald ; vocal duet, Misses Chapman and Wilkins; recitation. Miss G. Stringer; pianoforte duet, Misses Bond and Chapman. At the conclusion of the programme Mr. E. Allan, the superintendent of the Band of Hope, on behalf of the members, thanked those subscribers who had contributed towards the purchase of the piano, and in particular thanked Misses Bond and Scorgie, the two young ladies to whose exertions were mainly owing the fact that they had been able to purchase a piano. A vote of thanks to the chairman and to those who had contributed to the programme brought a very enjoyable evening to a close.

The attendance at the Opera House last night was again a triumph for the Cogill Minstrel Company,, there being a large audience present to greet the company in the third production of their programme. The second programme was on the whole an improvement on the first, and to-night there will be a further change in which many novelties are announced. The full programme will be found in our advertisement columns, and it will be noticed that

Miss Amy Johns will make her first appearance.

The anniversary celebration in connection with the Archhill YVesleyan Sunday School, which was commenced with decidedly successful services, on Sunday last, was continued last night, when the annual tea and public meeting was held. A large gathering sat down to a most enjoyable tea, the tables being presided over by the ladies of the congregation. After tea the public meeting was held, the building being crowded. Mr. Joseph Burton presided, The secretary's report of tho year's work was is. satisfactory one, and gave evidence of commendable zeal in. connection with the various branches of the school'# operations. Addresses of an appropriate character were delivered by the Rev. C. H. Laws and Mr. H. Wilding. In addition to a numberof pleasingly-rendered anniversary hymns by the children, the audience was treated to a solo by Mr. Musker, which was sung with fine elfoct. The children's tea will take place this evening. There has recently arrived in Auckland Miss Ada Wardrop, who has been lecturing on cookery successfully in Dunedin, Christchurch and Timaru, and who has received her training in the newest schools of cookery in London, and is a diplorueo of Marshall's School of Cookery in that city. As will be seen elsewhere it is her intention to give two demonstration cookery lectures, when a dinner will bo cooked before the audience, on Thursday and Friday afternoons ab three o'clock, in Sc. Andrew's i College, Symonds-street, with a view of | forming classes.

This afternoon the Misses Alba, accompanied by Miss Harding, Herr V. Unmack, and Messrs. Jackson, have kindly arranged to visit the Hospital and give a concert there for the entertainment of the patients.

The over-popular service of gonp, "John Tregenowetn : His Mark," illustrated with limelight views, was given last evening in the Foresters' Hall, Newton. There was a large and appreciative gathering. . The entertainment was under the auspices of the Auckland Band of Hope Union. The soloists of the evening were Misses E. and S. Marson, S. Watkins, Ada Catchpolo, and Master Silas. Marson. The views, which were shown by Mr. Charles Cooper, gave the utmost pleasure to the audience. To-nighb Miss Kimmer will make her appearance at the eighteenth People's Popula' Concert to be given at the City Hall. Mr. John Fuller, the English tenor, also appears and takes part in two duets. The pro; gramme is an exceedingly fine one, anc should draw a large house. •