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New Zealand Mail, Issue 843, 27 April 1888, Page 29

Although some modifications in detail may possibly prove advisable, the Mayor’s financial scheme, which was laid before the City Council at its last meeting, and published in our columns elsewhere, is in its general plan an excellent one. The proposed operation with reference to the reclaimed land leases is perfectly legitimate as an alternative to increased rating, and we trust that no difficulty will be experienced in making the needful arrangements with the lessees, who, while paying slightly higher ground rent, would have the great advantage of a right to compensation for their buildings on the termination of the leases. This would also tend to encourage the erection of good substantial and handsome buildings, and so the city would gain in many ways, to say nothing of the increased revenue that would accrue through the enhanced value of the rateable property.

The Premier arrived in Wellington last Saturday, and the Government entered actively upon the work of immediate preparation for the session. Fair progress has been made by individual Ministers in respect of their separate departmental responsibilities, and the Colonial Secretary has been busily engaged since his return to town in drafting the Ministerial Bills, but a great deal still remains to be done. Every effort is being made to get the separate detailed features of the measures completed by the end of this month, when all members of the Ministry are expected to assemble. Sir F. Whitaker and Mr Stevens will probably reach Wellington either on the 30th inst. or Ist proximo, and then the Cabinet will sit daily to consider .as a whole the Bills which it is intended to introduce.

The new Rules of Procedure will, it is understood, be the first business that the House will be asked to deal with . when it meet 3, and the discussion of these rules is expected to occupy the best part of a fortnight, unless the proposals should, contrary to all anticipation, be either readily accepted or summarily rejected. Furious resistance on the part of the habitual obstructionists is of course looked for, as the new Rules would effectually abate their nuisance ; but it is hoped that the good sense of the majority of the House will be in favour “of endeavouring to secure the more efficient progress of the public business.

The Customs revenue for the financial year just expired is the smallest for seven years. It is noteworthy that during the last three years the receipts at Wellington have steadily decreased, while those at Lyttelton have as steadily gone up. In 1886 the respective returns were—Wellington, L 264,228 \ Lyttelton, L 200,579Last year the figures were —Wellington, L 230,366 ; Lyttelton, L 209,616. But this year they are Lyttelton, L 220,115 ; Wellington, L 218,174. In other words, whereas in 1886 Wellington was nearly L 64,000 ahead of Lyttelton, the latter is now L2OOO ahead of Wellington. This alteration is attributed by , the New Zealand Trade Review chiefly to changes in the soft goods import trade, which has lately experienced considerable vicissitude.

The lighting- (or rather non-lighting) of this city is simply disgraceful. Last Friday evening between 11 and 12 not a single street lamp was lighted, and as the night was moonless and exceptionally dark, while many people and vehicles were about, the public inconvenience and even danger were extreme. We wonder how long our weakly patient citizens will sub-

mit to this barbarous way of doing things. Anybody last Friday might have fancied himself in some remote up-country village or new “diggings” township rather than in the chief city of the Colony. The present state of affairs is simply rank Savagery, and is discreditable to us as a community as well as most injurious to the Welfare of the City. It is wonderful that the Wellington public, long-suffering as they are, do iiot rise in vigorous protest against this order of things.

The Savings Rank returns for the past quarter exhibit a iriost exceptional and, we believe, unprecedented feature. In eveiy district of the Colony the deposits exceeded the withdrawals, the total excess for the quarter being L 45.252 ; whereas last year the withdrawals exceeded the deposits by L 1970. The total amount of the quarter’s deposits was L 401,017 as against L 325,591 last year, a very large inorease. The withdrawals amounted to L 352,764 against L327,_568, but the great increase in deposits covers this, " and still leaves, as above stated, nearly L 50,000 to the good. The largest deposits were in Christchurch (L7P,779), Wellington coming next (L 72,471), Dunedin (L 67,869) third, and Auckland (L 50,790) fourth, but the largest excess of deposits over withdrawals (Lll,101) was in Christchurch, Timaru (L 4906) coming next. There is always a diversity of opinion as to the deduction to be drawn from these returns. The large excess of deposits may mean either that the people are saving their money more carefully and are acquiring improved habits of providence, or it may mean that a difficulty has been experienced in providing safe and satisfactory investments. Possibly both explanations may be sound.

In the three months which ended on the 31st ult. 397,875 paid telegrams were transmitted in New Zealand, the resulting revenue being L 26,554. In the March quarter of 1887 the number was 428,241, and the revenue L 28,604. The Government telegrams transmitted were 60,344, representing a value of L 6539, as against 64,581 and L 6891 in the first quarter of last year. This is a substantial reduction.

The details of the Customs revenue returns for the past quarter are just issued. They show that, compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year there has been a decrease in the respective amounts of duty collected on spirits, wines (of all classes), ale and beer, tea, coffee, cocoa, sugar, molasses, goods charged by weight, and goods ad valorem ; also in miscellaneous duties. On the other hand there have been small increases on tobacco, cigars, snuff and opium. The Excise duties for the quarter showed an increase on tobacco and cigars, but a falling off on beer.

During the past quarter 33,428 postalnotes were issued, representing an aggregate sum of L 13,108 17s 10id, as against 25,699 for L 10,420 13s lid in the corresponding quarter of last year. The postalnotes paid numbered 32,942 for L 12,724 19s, as against 25,036 for L 9971 7s. During the quarter, 39,250 money-orders (for L 135,454) were issued, as against 38,721 for L 136,969 ; and 34,345 for L 122,111, were paid, against 33,121 for L 121,346 for last year. The postal revenue for the quarter amounted to L 54,612, as against L 56,408.

We are pleased to see that Dr Johnston, the District Coroner, and the jury, at the inquest upon the body of the late Richard Hogarth, called attention to the necessity for a guard for the wheels of the tram cars. We have several times during the past few years urged the same thing, but for some reason or another the Tramway Company have neglected the matter. We trust that the lamentable occurrence will be the means of showing them the importance of such a step. It is very probable that if such a guard were provided the risk of similar accidents would be reduced to a minimum.

Nothing is decided as yet respecting the Chief Commissionership of Railways, but it is rumoured that in addition to the applications received in the regular course by the Agent-General which are deemed generally ineligible—-there have been one or two others put in in a more private mauner from persons who do not choose to run the risk of appearing publicly as applicants, but who would be willing to accept tbe appointment if offered to them. It is suspected that the real object of the advertisement was to elicit something of this kind. Of course the offer of a billet at L 2500 was sure to bring out numerous candidates, of whom the majority would inevitably be unsuitable, as in this instance, when a host of clerks and other subordinate officers have eagerly jumped at the chance. But the more useful effect that the advertisement would have was to let it be publicly known in Fingland and America that such a position was vacant, thus giving an opportunity for persons who, being already in a good position, did not choose to become open applicants, nevertheless to intimate indirectly or privately that they were prepared to negotiate. Hopes are understood to be entertained that in this way a man in all respects suitable will yet be secured ; but no definite information is at present in the possession of the Government.

Ever since the initiation, in 1884, of the Direct Mail Service, the subsidies received from the Colony by the New Zealand

Shipping Company in payment for that service have been shared in certain proportions with the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company by Virtue of a mutual agreement between the two Companies. Theexfcrasuvns earned by way of bonus through the invariably early delivery of the mails have of course been the exclusive property of the New Zealand Shipping Company. The respective steamers have been despatched fortnightly from London alternately by the two Companies, but from New Zealand the steamers leave within five days of one another, an interval of 25 or 26 flay'S Succeeding. Thus, as the New Zealand Shipping Company's boats are driven somewhat faster than the others, the two steamers usually arrive hi Lohdon together, and a double cargo of meat is thrown on the market at one time. Again, each of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamers litis to stop five or six weeks in the Colony, paying wages and other expenses all the time, because there is not a sufficiently long period between the arrival of one Direct mail and the departure of tlio next to allow the same steamer to carry both. The Directors have long been anxious to obviate these two drawbacks, and we mentioned some rrioilths ago that negotiations had been undertaken with the object of effecting this. The result at last arrived at is a new arrangement which appears a very satisfactory one. The New Zealand Shipping Company will, with the consent of the Government, sublet half their mail contract to the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. The latter line will, therefore, on and after 30th June next, convey the Homeward mails, leaving every fourth Saturday, and thus making an exactly fortnightly service in alternation with the San Francisco mail. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s boats will bring the outward mails, but will only remain about three weeks in the Colony instead of five or six, and will start on the Home ward trip on tho same Saturday as the San Francisco mail leaves. They will thus reach London at fortnightly intervals alternately with the Shaw-Savill boats, and thus the expenses of both will be reduced, and the arrivals of meat in London will be more evenly distributed. The Government should go a step further and abandon the San Francisco mail on the expiration of the present contract, giving the proceeds of the postage to the two Direct lines, thus assisting services which are of real and substantial benefit to the whole Colony, instead .of subsiding an American line which is only beneficial to a remote northern part, and that in an infinitesimal degree.

We are very glad to see that the city votes have gone decisively against the increase of liquor licenses in the city. The various wards were unanimous on the subject. Wellington has an abundance of licensed houses for the next ten years to come, be her progress ever so rapid.

Among our “cables” this week is one relative to German holders of Russian Stock, and if it be really authentic—and not of the same class _as the bulletins respecting the condition of the German Emperor—it cannot but be regarded as deeply significant. It may not be necessarily an absolute indication of coming war, but the proceeding which it records is undoubtedly of a markedly hostile character toward Russia. It is another step in the direction of weakening Russia’s financial position, and argues the reverse of friendly relations between that Power and Germany. It. is quite possible, however, that another light may be thrown on the affair when we receive the Home papers of the date in question, as lias happened more than once before, and it would be rash to jump at any positive conclusion in the absence of fuller information. The news also cabled that Russia has officially announced her intention of maintaining a permanent force of 300,000 men on the Austrian and German frontiers. is also serious as indicating, at least, the intention of continuing an attitude of menace and compelling the threatened Powers to keep up a corresponding force on their side of the frontier. The European spring has come without bringing war as yet; but it has not passed, and there are several months to come in which active operations in tlio field could be carried on. It is true there is no adequate cause of war at present, but, unluckily, when nations are eager to be at one another’s throats a very trivial pretext will often suffice, as in the case of the Franco-German war of 1870.

The New South Wales loan has met with phenomenal success in London considering the circumstances of the case. Although the rate of interest is only 31 per cent, it was subscribed nearly twice over at an average price of LlO3 13s. That New South 'Wales felt strong confidence in the'result is shown by the fact that the minimum was fixed at LlO2, notwithstanding the low rate of interest offered. That confidence has been abundantly justified by the event. In view of LlO3 13s being obtained so readily for New South .Wales 31 per cents it is a little disheartening to see New Zealand Fours still under par. It is to be hoped that our credit will, improve before tbe impending loan has to be offered in London.

As we were the first (in our issue last week) to “break tbe ice” with respect to the recent findings of the Courts of Nautical Inquiry on the

wrecks of the Pleione and WeatiYtl??fipld, we are gratified to find others “ pluck'Lfg up courage ” to follow in our course, and we sincerely hope that the result of the present adverse criticism on these farcical Courts of Inquiry will be either to “reform them altogether,” or to abolish them entirely. At present they are not merely worthless, but positively mischievous in their results. Indeed, we cordially agree with the view expressed that they are “a public danger and a public evil.” The ’Government ought to deal with the subject without fail during the coming session.

We are very glad to see that no time has been lost by the Council of the new Borough of Melrose in initiating a movement for the active prosecution of the work in connection with the QueeirS Drive'. That very desirable improvement to this city arid suburbs has been too long allowed ro . languish, and it is gratifying to find that it is to have the immediate attention of the new Borough Council, It is to be hoped that Councillor Turner’s motion for a report as to the ways and means from the Queen’s Drive Committee, and for tenders to be called at once for the commencement of the work, will tie' carried unanimously, so that tho Queen’s Drive may ere long bo an accomplished fact.