THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1890.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8966, 17 April 1890, Page 4

THE New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY).

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1890.

With which are incorporated the WclliugC; Independent, eitablixhed 18 is, and the Ne.u Zealander,

The Treasury accounts for the past financial year are now, complete, and only await their final passing by the Audit Department to be officially authoritative.' As, in accordance with our monthly custom, we issue to day a summary of news for the outgoing English mail, and the information available is of very great value and importance, we deem it better to publish the figures as they now stand, pointing out . that they may possibly be subject to some trivial alteration in respect of minor details. The figures are departmectally authentic and unquestionably are substanti ally accurate. We are glad to be able to add that they are ot a highly favourable and cheering charac’er.. First we will deal with the main items of die colonial revenue. It may be well to mention that the figures are those of the Treasury, which represent the sums actually brought to account in that department, and which do not necessarily correspond precisely with the collections : of the respective departments, because the systems of ascount in some instances differ, as in the case of the working railways, whose returns are made up on a fourweek! v instead of a monthly basis. The Treasury, however, is virtually the “ bank” of the other departments, and its returns represent the transactions as completed through the Colonial Treasury, They form consequently the data upon which the Budgets i are founded. Customs brought in I L 1,500,873, being some L 49.000 short of the estimate, but L 41,000 in excess of the previous year’s return. Further, the year’s Customs revenue is the largest ever yet raised in New Zealand, and was approached only in 1883, when the amount was L 1,496,943. In 1887-8 the sum yielded was only L 1,256,228. The railway revenue is the second largest item, and that also is unprecedented in its magnitude, having reached L 1,093.340,. This is L 63.340 in excess of the estimate, and some L 92,000 more than was realised in the previous year. Only twico before baa the railway revenue reached a million sterling, viz., in 1884-5 (L 1,045,712) and 1885-6 (L 1,047,419). It is as

THE colony's POSITION.

nearly as possible £IOO,OOO better now than it was two years ago. The net profit of the Government railways’ working, which was estimated at L 870,000, is L436.G42, or equal to about per cent, on the cost of construction (as against 2y for the previous year\ and is L 86.000 larger than in the year before. These are most pregnant and gratifying figures. Next we come to Stamps (including postal and telegraphic cash receipts), which have yielded L 629.755 as against L 600,370 in the previous year, or L 24.755 in excess of the esti mate. The Property tax is L 2460 to the good, and Beer Duty L6OIO on the right side of the estimate. Registration and other fees are L 1229 to the good, and Marine revenue is LIBOI to the bad. Territorial revenue is no less than L 21,560 on the wrong side of the estimate, and “ Miscellaneous” L 5005 short. Altogether the receipts have exceeded the estimate by L 21,447. The total revenue actually raised during the year was L 4,209,247, as compared with L 4,055,033 for the year Immediately preceding. This is a very marked improvement. Looking at the revenue as a whole, it may fairly be said to- be in an exceedingly healthy condition, and to promise well for the current financial year. Proceeding next to examine the returns of expenditure, we find that there is a small increase in that on account of “ Permanent appropriations,” this being due to the fact that the amount paid in subsidies to local bodies has more than doubled, being L 57,236 as against L 28,630. Among the annual appropriations there are trifling excesses of Ll9O and L 1698 respectively in the Treasury and Native Departments, but in all the other departments savings have been made, their aggregate net amount being L 28,861. The actual expenditure during the year was L 4,121,841 11a Bd, which deducted from the revenue actually collected, L 4,209,247 8s 3d, leaves a balance to the good 'of L 87,405 16s 7d. To this has to be added the credit balance with which the year began (after paying off L 50.000 of the floating debt—the | unfunded balance of - the Stout-Vogel deficit of L 528,000), viz., L 27,768 3s sd. The sum of these two amounts obviously gives the net surplus for the year, L 115,174. This may be arrived at in another way. At the close of the vear there was cash in hand to the amount of L 497,388 Is 3d, and advances amounting to L 59,080 18s Id were in the hands of officers ; total, L 556,468 19s 4d. But against that there were deficiency bills outstanding to the extent of L 441,294 19s 4d. This deducted from the other sum leaves a balance of L 115,174 on the right side. If this surplus be used to payoff the unfunded balance of the Stout-Vogel deficit (L 75,605 0s 8d), L 36,568 19s 4d will remain to begin the new year with. This must be regarded as an extremely satisfactory outcome of the past year’s operations. For it should be remembered that the Colony, having raised L 115.174 more than it requires for its regular current expenditure, purposes to employ L 78,605 of that surplus in paying off an old debt which is bearing interest. The Colony thus gains practically as much as if the L 78.605 were placed in some sound investment yielding interest at a like rate. For if a person or a community be relieved of an annual charge for interest which cannot otherwise be escaped, just as much is gained as if an annual income to the same amount were purchased with the money. It may be ; worth while to point put again (what we fully explained on a former occasion) that the Colony effects a saving of over L 30,000 a year henceforward through the recent conversion of 5 per cents into 3| per cents; that another L 25.000 per annum will be saved from next year by the maturing of nearly half a million of old six per cents, and that the railways by paying fuU interest bn' over L 10,000,000 of the L14,000,00Q expended on . theiv construction, have virtually relieved the Colony of so much of its debt. All these are facts which assuredly will, and ought to be, duly noted in English monetary circles. • Our remarks would be altogether incomplete did we omit to touch on yet another specially cheering feature of the past year’s experience. We refer to the trade of the Colony as illustrated by the official returns of import? and exports, compiled by the Customs Department. These to) have not yet been filially checked, but we are indebted to the courtesy of the Secretary and Inspector for the rough figures, which are believed to be a very close approximation to absolute accuracy. ,"WEeu ifc was found that the New Zealand exports for the previous financial year, 18SS-9, had reached the large amount of L 8,201,409, there was loud and general and justifiable jubilation. But the exports for the financial year just expired greatly surpassed even that large total. Their amount was no less than L 9,714,513 ! This is an improvement of over a million and a Tialf va. a single year, a truly remark ableadvance. The exportsalsoexceeded the import? by just upon 3£ millions sterling; the latter being L 6,260,630. The imports on the other hand showed also some increase as compared with thepreviousyear’s figures ( L 5,905,224), a fact which will in its turn be approvingly noted by the Freetrade party. The facts which we have now placed before our readers cannot be too widely circulated, too carefully weighed, or their import too fully appreciated. If anything were needed to enhance the steadily and rapidly improving credit of this Colony, surely it is supplied by such figures as these ?

Ministerial Movements.— Captain Russell and Mr Fergus returned to Wellington by the Manawatu train last night. Football. The grounds at Newtown Park have been allotted as follows for Saturday next:—No. 1, 2.15 till 3.30, Naval Artillery; after 3.30, Athletics. No. 2, 2.15 till 3.30, Orientals; after 3.30, St. Patrick’s College. R.M.S. Tongariro. —The New Zealand Shipping Company’s R.M.S. Tongariro, from London, arrived at Hobart at S a.m. yesterday, and as she was to have left again for Wellington at 6 last night, she should arrive here on Sunday evening. Alleged Forgery. —A man named Richard Hicks was arrested by Detective Campbell last night on a charge of forging and uttering a promissory note for £lO with intent to defraud. He will appear at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Orchestral Concert. —The fifth grand concert of the Orchestral Society will take place on Monday next at the Theatre Royal. The programme, which appears in another column, coutains some very attractive items. Mr T, T. Tritnnell will be conductor. Protection and Wages. —A shirt maker, while giving evidence before the Sweating Commission yesterday, said that three years ago she could get 6s per dozen for making shirts, while now she only got ss, with more work. Mr Blair remarked that that was before the present Customs duties were imposed. “ Protection raises wages they say,” he added significantly. Early Closing. —The Sweating Commissioners have decided to take advantage of an offer made by the Secretary of the Victorian Early Closing Association to forward copies of Acts of Parliament, pamphlets, etc., bearing on the early closing movement in that Colony. The canvas now going on in Wellington has been very successful so far, and a largonumber of shopkeepers have agreed to fall in with the views of the local Association. The Sweating : Commission. —The Commissioners, whose sittings are held at the Parliamentary Buildings, will take evidence during this and next week. Witnesses who appear before them have the option of giving evidence privately, or in the presence of the press reporters, or they may require that their names shall be kept out of print. There are, we believe, a good-number of witnesses to be examined. Napier Cathedral. —The Hawkes Bay Herald says:—“The magnificent stained glass window which has been so generously presented to the cathedral by Mrs Stokes i a now in Napier, having just arrived from England by the Doric. The window is of exceedingly rich design, the subject being ‘ Our Lord in Glory.’ It will be placed in position at the east end of the cathedral In about a fortnight’s time, and when erected will greatly add to the beauty of the interior,” The Athenaeum. —The monthly meeting of the Athenaeum Committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs C. Rous Marten (President), A. Campbell and F. W. Flanagan (Vice-Presidents), D. S. Giay (Treasurer), G. Macvlorran (Secretary), W. C. Smythe and A. A. Duncan. A large amount of routine business was transacted. Mr Robert Triggs was elected a member of the Committee. The question of warming the reading room in the coming winter was referred to the Library Sub-Committee, as also were several other matters of administrative detail. A proposed circular was considered at some length, and was ultimately adopted with amendments and ordered to be issued. The meeting lasted until nearly 11 p.m. “ Little Lord Fauntleroy.” —An Auckland correspondent telegraphed last night : “ Messrs Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove gave a matinee performance this afternoon of the charming play, ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy.’ The crush was so great that the box office was rushed, even the Governor’s box not being spared. However, before the arrival of the Vice-regal party the management succeeded iu restoring order. The police stopped the sale of tickets fully one hour before the representation commenced. Altogether the present season Is the most successful ever given here, rivalling that of the same firm’s big opera company. The whole of the dress : circle has been taken for to-night. The company leave by the Manapouri tomorrow for the South.” Mr Joe Brown, the advance agent of the company, arrived in Wellington last night to make the necessary preparations for the company’s opening season; Sale of Books and Pictures, —Lovers of literature are reminded of Messrs J. H. Bethune and Co.’s auction sale at their rooms to day, at 2 o’clock, when they will submit to the hammer a choice library of 300 volumes of ancient and modern works, the property of Mr C. R. Carter, comprising voyages, travels, biography, history, astronomy, geology, architecture, standard works of fiction, and many old and rare books unobtainable iu the colonies,.including “ Boccaccio's De Cameron,” Kelly’s “ Heptameron,” “Calvin on the Psalms” (1571), “Livesof the C»sars” (1543), “History of the Buoaniers ” (1741), “ Ruins of Palmyra ” (1752), “Anson’s Voyage” (1748), “ Park’s Travels ”.(1799), &0., as per catalogue. The auctioneers will afterward sell a number of oil paintings by celebrated English artists (exhibitors at the, Royal Academy Exhibitions), including such well known names as Clarkson, Stanfield,G. Cooper, Putney, Koek-Koak and; A- Petber, Housebreaking.— Some time between Saturday night, and : Sunday morning the drapery establishment of Messrs Murray and Casey, at the corner of Cuba and. Ghuznee streets, was broken into and I2s 6d in copper coins taken out of a desk drawer, which presented the appearance -of -having been wrenched open. The shop was locked up at 11 o’clock on Saturday night, and on Mr Murray reopening it on, Monday morning he found that a large window which lights the showroom had been opened, and that the back door also appeared to have been tampered with. Spots of candle grease were also discovered along one of the shelves. It appears that a young man who w. s passing along Cuba: street, at about, 1 a.m. on Sunday observed a light in the shop, which was probably that used by the robber. The matter has been reported to the police, who, doubtless for reasons satisfactory to themselves, refuse to give any information about it. Bankruptcy.— The meeting, of creditors in the estate of Mary Ann Clapham, tailoress, convened for yesterday morning, lapsed for want of a quorum, and was accordingly adjourned until this morning. The debtor presented a statement to the effect that she began business in Wanganui, in 1887, with a capital of £37, and she built a shop and workroom which cost £l2O. She paid £36 down, and the remainder by monthly instalments. The land on which she built was mortgaged to Messrs Ashforth and Liffitou for £l4O, and to get credit for stock she gave a second mortgage of £l7O to McArthur, of Auckland. Mr Flyger took over the stock in 1889, giving McArthur and Co.. £9O, which left her owing them, about £3B. As she was not able to keep the interest on the first mortgage paid up; Messrs Ashforth and Liffiton seized the property. In May, 18S9, she came to Wellington to work for Mr Flyger, and, until last Christmas, was kept constantly employed, and was endeavouring to pay off her debts, but since the beginning of the year there had been very little work doing. A judgment summons was taken out against her, and, as she was ordered to pay so much a week or go to gaol, she had to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court.

■ i ».»T»ir Direct Mail. —A mail for the United;Kingdom, per R.M.S. Kaikonra, closes to--day at 1 p.m. Distribution of Prizes. —The distribution of prizes in connection with the recent sports of the Amateur Athletic Club will be made this evening in St. Peter’s Schoolroom.-.-at 8.30. A ball takes place afterward. Sale of Furniture —We have been re- - quested to call attention to Mr A. W. Brown’s sale of household furniture on the premises, . Sussex square, this afternoon at 1.30. As the owner is giving up housekeeping, and': every article is to be sold without reserve, doubtless some bargains will be had. High class Furniture. —Messrs J. H.. Bethune and Co. will offer by auction on Monday next at 11 a.m., at the residence off Mr C. R. Carter, corner of Pirie and Austin •> streets, the whole of his household furniture s and effects. The furniture was made expressly to order by the eminent cabinetmakers, Messrs Bartholomew, of London. . The goods will be on view on Saturday be- - tween the hours of 2 and 5 o’clock. Me David Christie Murray. —Mr D. Christie Murray having returned from his - tour of the inland country lying between Marton and the Upper Wanganui districts, , iu company with the Ministerial party, has, in response to special desire, arranged to re- - deliver his famous lecture, “ How I came to * be a Novelist,” at the Tueatre Royal on Saturday next. The box office is now open at Holliday s. Dress circle family tickets, to admit four, may be purchased for 10s. Mr Murray thoroughly delighted his audienoo on the night when he gave the above lecture, and no doubt many who beard him then willi want to hear him again. Cakes of Gold.—We had the pleasure a day or two since (says the Wakatipu Mail), when in the Colouial Bank of New • Zealiad, of seeing an unusual array of < cakes of retorted gold which the manager, Mr Gudgeon, kindly showed us, hut we > regret to state that he did' not place any of them at our disposal. Four of the said cakes, weighing some 450 ounces, were the proceeds of eight weeks’ work at the Sew Hoy Dredge Company’s claim, and , 3 the other—a very pure aud beautifully-bright specimen, weighing 213 J ounces—was from the quartz mine of the gallant Tip Company, Upper Shotover, who, however, had been considerably retarded In their operations owing to the deficiency of water power to drive a full battery of stampers. Me Lyght’s Mission. —The Christchurch-* Telegraph says:—‘‘The organiser from America” has taken his departure from our city. In consequence of the few inconvenient questions we put to him, and > which he left unanswered, he did not score a .success hero. We hear, however, that - he induced a few followers, including lamp-post orators et hoc, to form what they have been pleased to call a secret society of some kind. The objects . of this terrible organisation include the total suppression of newspapers, bursting up large estates, and distributing the unearned increment in a manner that would delight Henry George or Sir George Grey. . Certain reformations iu respect to religious matters are also to be effected. Strict.; secrecy is to be the order of the day. No energetic reporter is to be allowed to extract - any information from tha members of thiswonderful society. Rank and fils it numbers, we are told, about, 20. Tns Statistical Conference.— Mr Von-. Dadelzen, the Deputy Registrar-General, hail ■ returned from Hobart, where he represented New Zealand at the Statistical Conference. The sittings were spread over two weeks,., and sme important work was done. A uniform census schedule was drawn up, leaving each Colony at liberty to add special-; columns for its own needs. The recommendations of the English RegistrarGeneral were attended to. and the system of classiScatiou altered. Formerly there was • no distinction between employer and employed, both having been returned under their trade heading; now the commercial class' pure and simple will be separated from the industrial, the figures of which have hithertobeen unduly swelled at the expense of theformer. Labourers were formerly under the heading “ indefinite,” and will now take-; their proper rank. Some other changes have been made which the conference hope will. simplify the system. In the occupation column of the schedule, employers will have to mark themselves “ E,” and wage-earners “ W,” The conference also discussed the best methods of arranging the census returns,.. with the result that what is known as the “card system” will probably come into force. The next census is expected to betaken about April 3,1891. The Flooded Town of Bourke.-- Thetownship of Bourke is situated on the southern bank of the Darling River, 503miles N.W. of Sydney. The population is a little under 2009, and of the district about 4500. Being the ceutre of an entensive and wealthy pasture and copper mining district,, Bourke is becoming a place of importance. The principal hotels are the Royal and Tattersall’s. The Commercial, New South Wales, London Chartered and Australian Joint Stock Banks have branches-; there. There is a fine mechanics’ institute containing about two thousand volumes,The Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Church of England, and Roman Catholics have erected : handsome edifices. When the Darling Riverisnavigable steamers’ ply from Adelaide and from Bourke as far as Walgatt. The Bonrkedistrict is mainly occupied by sheep and cattle stations, the former predominating. West Bourke is a small township three miles distant from Bonrke. The flooding of the Darling River to the extent reported is a phenomenal occurrence, and an old resident of that place informs ns that he has many and many a time seen the same river only a string of water 1 holes, and the inhab’tants would have given a pound for a drink of pure water. A wool steamer has been known to remain stuck fast in the Darling for as long as two years, unable to get into the Murray. TheBourke line of railway was constructed to- ■ enable the wool to be got down to Sydney. The Electric Light. —One result of cur paragraph anent the electric light yesterday morning has resulted in an extra half boar’s indulgence. The light ran this morning until 1 o’clock. We are aware that it is a big strain on the machinery at the Panama station to run the whole of the lights of thecity from dusk to dawn, but with the plentiful supply of Wainui water now available there is no reason why the two stations should not have been at work last night and have kept the light going until daybreak this morning. If hot at full speed, sufficient light could have been obtained to make our streets decent. One probable result of dark streets was the reported robbery of a draper’s shop in Cuba street during the early hours of Sunday morning. The weather at 2 o’clock this morning was thick and damp and the streets were in a state of pitch darkness. Now it is quite time the ratepayers insisted that the City Council should carry out their duty with regard to the lighting of the city. There is no valid reason why the should have been left in darkness this mqrning. It is true full power might not be available, but three-quarter or even half-power light would bo better than none. It strikes ns, after making Inquiries, that there is more bungling going on than there is any need for, and that the ratepayers are being dlshonestly dealt with by those who have the control of the city lights. The ratepayers willingly pay for the electric light, and they demand to have it in accordance with the contract made with the Gtilcher Company. The paltry excuse that we shall have our full allowance in a few days is too thin a story. Both stations could have been at work this morning providing a decent light. Have the Council no control over their officers who direct these matters ?

Lunacy, —A man named Frederick Manson was commuted to the Lunatic xVeylum yesterday afternoon, on the certificates of t)ra Fell and Tripe, who have certified to his insanity. Death of the Biggest Man in AustbaXiiA. —Mr T. Jennings, a noted Tasmanian, died at Hobart recently. He was pro. prietor of the Harvest Home Hotel, and his great weight—for he was the biggest _ man in Australasia —led to his house being a resort for visitors of all classes. His weight was 32st, bis height sft 10in, chest measuremeat 68in, waist 82in, and calf 20Jin. He was bom at Stream Head, Allerton, near Bradford, Yorkshire, October 0, 1824, and was therefore in his 66th year. Jennings was one of the oldest Freemasons in Tas* mania. Te Kooti’s Appeal. —The appeal against the decision of Mr Justice Connolly in the claim made by Te Kooti against the Government comes on for bearing at the Appeal Court on the 25th instant (says the Auckland Star). Mr W. J. Napier, who appears on behalf of l’e Kooti, leaves for Wellington next Thursday. The Crown Prosecutor of Wellngton Mr Bell, will represent the Government. It is p obable that if Mr Justice Conolly’s decision is upheld the Government will not proceed further, but it is the intention of Te Kooti's counsel, in the event of the decision being adverse to his claim, to take tbe case to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Our preparations for the Autumn Season are now Complete, and we have in our Dress Department such a superlative choice of the Newest and Latest Fashions in Autumn and Winter Fabrics as it has seldom been in onr power to show at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House. We invite the special attention of ladies to oar .Enumeration on the 7th page of this paper, of some very handsome unmade Robes. These are admirably assorted in Braided, Silk, and Chenille Embroidered and Combination Robes. Without exception, they are some of the choicest Dress Materials that have ever come within the preoioots of the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, We have also a variety of other materials, 25 inches, 42 inches, 44 inches, and 50 inches wide, such as Colored French Meltons, Foule Serges, Homespuns, Amazons, Fancy Tweed, Plaids, Bonnetts, Knickers, Splashes, Flecks, Broken Checks, and Jacquard Borders, moat beautiful goods in every variety of fashionable and useful colors, and varying in price from 6Jd to 3s 9d per yard, at the-Wh'desale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House. It is almost superfluous to say that onr two large, Commodious Dressmaking Departments which have been for so many years in successful operation, are still presided over by most talented and accomplished dressmakers, and that the strict essentials of a good dress, ‘fit, finish, elegance,’ can be had as of yore, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House,