The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1109, 7 November 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1879.

It docs not surprise ua in the least to observe the retrogression of the present Ministry. As the tangled web becomes unravelled, we arc confronted with additional evidences of Ministerial contempt for liberal measures. Tho mask is gradually falling from their faces, and what we begin to behold i 3 rank Conservatism, gros3 injustice, and the most palpable hostility to the very semblance of true or genuine LiberalUui. The Electoral Act wa3 the first display of the cloven hoof. By what process could they reconcile their protestations in favor of the measures of Sir George Oroy with such a proposal as dual voting 1 la that Liberalism 1 13 this how the inequalities and injustice appertaining to the present svstem is to be remedied ? 13 this manhood suffrage pure and simple ? It is not the people, but an irresponsible oligarchy that the present Ministry wish io rule, j Plurality of votes—quarter-acres of land representing human being3—multiplying j them ad infinitum— dull senseless earth usurping tbs intelligence and manhood of the country. This is what the present Ministry, who so blatantly professed their allegiance to the Liberal policy cf their predecessors, propose, and a few more j such revelations of their real, as distinguished from their counterfeit, sentiments will prove eye-openers to the country. The last wo hear is plain and ostensible retrogTe3sion._ There would appear to be no effort to disguise. From any other set of men we should hesitate in giving credence to what appears almost incredible. It ix to restore the tea and sugar duties and repeal the land tax. These proposals are apparently very insignificant. The tea and sugar remissions it is alleged have not eased the burthen of taxation for the people. The latter have not felt the change to any appreciable extent, hence they arc to be restored. The land tax, too, it is alleged, has preyed hardly <>u the gi"«at land owners, r.nd mast be repealed. Strange anomaly. LIOO,OOO taken off the shoulders of the people and transferred to the shoutJera of the propertied classes i 3 110 relief to tho one, and. pari an intolerable burthen to the other. We do not e. te to dtaeussthechceje-pnringrtnd utterly incredible argument that the ruini^ifns on tea and sugar have failed to cheapcii those commodities. >"«->r can we contemplate that their re-imposition will take place without raising prices. To arg;:e after this fashion is to outrage common sense and the plainest principles of commerce. Alt taxation necessarily rai.-es the price of commodities taxed to trie con9timer, except such articles as we c;«u setvea substitute equally as good ami cheap. It is one of the evils of ail indirect taxation that the process i-t invisible ; the people who are imposed upon are unconscious of the trick ; it becomes a ready resource for the financier in each new extremity; and thus it follows that the peoj.u-are more and more burthened—tike shfep. they are shorn by such unscrupulous nuvUcrs , for, are thej not dumb'? ia a small contribution frern property to the expense of Government, so large a proportion of which i.-i incurred in the protection and for the escttisive benefit of property. It is so small as to be contemptible a3 a contribution. P.ut how the wealthy land-owners wriggle, and what tvi mmri>'f>nlinm appeals they make t*« get rid of it. The latter are not dumb driven cattle, whatever may be said of the people who do not complain, who have never been sufficiently thankful for the remissions, and who are now, it would appear, to be called upon to take over thi3 LIOO.OOO from the shoulders of the propertied classes. Land legislation and the incidence of taxation, we have maintained throughout, are the two tests of trite liberalism. Compared with these all besides is comparatively but leather and prunella. As the drama gets unfolded our position will become more transparent and more intelligible. The effort of last session we regarded as only a small contribution to the readjustment of our fiscal burthens. It recognised the true principle underlying all taxation—that it shall be fairly borne by the community. The two broad distinctions are persons and property —the working people who constitute 50 per cent, of the population, and the propertied classes, who constitute 10 per cent. It is manifestly unfair that the burthen, therefore, should fall exclusively upon the people. Property has its duties and responsibilities as well well as its right*. It should contribute its fair proportion to the revenue. hat is that proportion I We do not pretend to say, but this we do knew that the propertied classes possess a Chamber for their own exclusive benefit, that all expenditure upon public works fills their purses, that much of the expense—by far the larger proportion—of the public expenditure is incurred on their behalf, and yet that they contribute abaolately not a sixpence to the expense so j incurred in the protection by the State of [such vast propertied, except this paltry LIOO.OOO, over which they have made *uch wry faces, and which has been at the trot turn of much of the hysteric efforts to dbt.Wtgo the pirty with which this tax » riginated. Strange and most marvellous aiumaly, stKKlf, fhat the people should pay all the taxes, and that, too, in such a questionable shape that the process of extortion if known only to the initfatpd, *txjd that the propertied, enjoying such iin,nmaltic3,so amply protected, ao potential in government, wielding at present almost

uncontrolled power (for they appear to be doing what they like), should be paying nothing—no, not a single farthing—on such grounds. Surely this is a crying injustice. Our desire i 3 not to over-strain the argument. We should like our moderation to appear to .ill men, but are the facts not as we state them Can anyone dispute them ?Of <:• 'in ~<■ :ira aware that the stamp tax handy (■>ihl , s within the catagory of taxes pud by the working classes. But neither is it a tax on property, and may be regarded as a fair and most righteous contribution from tiic mercantile and trading community. Tiic last proposals of the present Ministry include also the re-imposition of the duties on timber and flour. At the time we were far from jubilant at these remissions, and consequently are perfectly reconciled at their being resumed. On other than financial grounds, such duties can easily be defended, notwithstanding all the musty theories of some literary hacks who cannot see beyond their noses. Timber and flour we produce in such quantities that we are perfectly independent of foreign supplies. Local competition, with such a surplus for exportation, must completely prevent anything like a monopoly. But speculative consignments from foreign ports must depress such local competition, paralyse such local enterprise, and inflict tremendous injury upon the country. A moderate duty will give stability and security to such industries, and the more industries are multiplied? the more local competition will be increased and prices kept at a low level. We are aware that the sawmills throughout the Colony and timber establishments have had hard times of it, and if the universal stagnation, so rapidly supervening upon a condition of such activity and progress, is traceable to the removal of the timber duties, then an onopnjous injury was inflicted upon the country. Jiufc wp frankly declare that ive do not think so ; and, in tracing effects to their causes, it is manifest that circumstances outside recent legislation have had exclusively to do with it. It behoves the people of this district to be on their guard, for we live in perilous times j and if the present Ministry can do so by any intrigues, they will suborne the House and country. Then the hopes of all Liberals -will be scattered to the winds, and the triumph of liberal principles deferred for another decade.

That wo are to have a public hall is no longer a matter that admits of doubt. Feelin'.: that these arc not the times in which appeals for the investment of capital in such things as public halls are treated somewhat coldly—as though the minds of people were disttactcd by other concerns—a number of influential gentlemen resolved to rely principally upon private enterprise for the capital necessary to embark in such a aeheme, arid the}' have been most encoiiragin<?ly aucce.-:;;ul. The id';a which they have nursed for some weeks, and which, after being subjected to the improvements which have suggested themselves as the result of mature deliberation, has developed into a settled plan of operations, is one, the carrying out of which will, we are sure, cause no regret to its proprietors as an investment. The project has been well considered in all its bearings. Numerous plans have been placed before the promoters, and the plan ivifioh has now been adopted comprises all the virluea of its predecessors. To commence with, it would be difficult, all things considered, to find a more advantageous site than that selected—the vacant space at the corner of AVansbeck and Tvnestreets, and opposite the Northern Hotel, known as the property of the J lon. llobert Campbell, and so convenient to the railway station. It is here that the building is to be erected. The public hall is to be of such dimensionH as to accommodate about ,s{o persons, and the balcony (dresscircle, as it v.ou.M be termed in an operahouse or the *t !'«•> Hi!', 'rijt'iij are to be four shops on the ground floor, immediately in front of the hall, wirii '.'iiices above, which can be used in connection with the shop 3 or for the purposes of a club. The front is to be a remarkably handsome one, and comprises a grand entrance to the hall. Tiic Honorable Robert Campbell has liberally assisted, and will be a large shareholder in the concern. Another favorable feature is that the directory is an influential one, and comprises the nanios of those who will substantially interest themselves in promoting the success of the property. It is satisfactory to know that we are to have a hall at last, and that without causing undue pressure on the iiimticinl resources of the public. AVc sttjip".::e that it will be necessary to appeal to the public to render sonic assistance sooner or later ; but should that appeal be made, the amount that will be required could not possibly be large, and the prospects of the scheme are so bright that it would meet with a ready response. There are other besides remtinerativeness. In a liaii wo should have something that would enhance the enjoyment derivable from recreative and instructive [lastimcs. Surely it is worth while to pay something to attain auch a desideratum.

The entries for the approaching Show of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association are, of course, all in, and a nice little lot they arc in every respect. This year the entries for the Society's prizes are nearly 'MO, as against St'! last year. These, with the entries for the private prizes, make a total of upwards of 1000. The entries arenot only more numerous this year, butthcy are of a better fjuality. Starting with draught horses, thero were ot tljcse 101, and fine animals they arc in the main. The thoroughbreds and hacks al3o show up well. The shorthorns are an inprovement both in number and quality, whilst the Ayrshires (94 in ntiml>cr) will surprise beholders, for the show of these (some of which arc from Scotland, Invcrcargill, &c.,) will be nnatirpussably good, ar.d far superior to anything that has been shown in the Colony. The Merino oi.ui.p (of which there will be SO), from the Bocks of the HOll. R. Campbell and Messrs. John M'Lcan, Borton, and Teschcmaker will, of course, defy competition, whilst the Border Lcicesters (though unfortunately fow in number) will not be beaten, Lincolns will show up fairly from Canterbury and elsewhere. In dairy produce, as a matter of course, there is a very large number of entries, and we arc glad to note that the exhibition of agricultural implements will be numerous and varied, and will bear the name of the firm of Messrs. Keid and Gray and other good makers. The show of grain and seeds promises to be magnificent. In dogs, there are ten sheepdogs and seven greyhounds; but no one has had the courage to enter a Scotch terrier. Amongst the extras there frill be exhibited

several novelties in the various departments. We shall only be a hundred or so behind the metropolitan show in the number of entriea, and it should be remembered that its total is swollen by numerous small and unimportant items. Our show, therefore, bids fair to surpass that of " the show of the Colony." Mr. Hislop, M.H.R., will-arrive in Oamaru by to-morrow's express train, and return to Wellington on Tuesday.. ' , We are glad to observe that Mr. McKerrow, who has for many years acted in.the capacity of Assistant Colonial Surveyor, has received the appointment of SurveyorGeneral, rice Mr. Thompson (resigned). The monthly meeting of the Oamaru Branch of the Educational Institute, of Otago will be held to-morrow, at one o'clock, in the High School, Oamaru. As the business will be of more than ordinary interest, members are requested to attend.

"A Shareholder in the Oamaru Baths Company" writes as follows : —Can you tell me how it is that the Oamaru Baths Company keeps its affairs so dark from those who have a right to know its exact position ? There has been no presentation of a balancesheet.—[We confess that we cannot supply our correspondent with the reason desired.— ED. O.M.]

The following are the names of the players chosen to represent the Excelsior Cricket Club in the match against the Oamaru Club on the Sth and 10th inst.:—Cooke, Fenwick, Finch, A. Hartley, T. Hewat, Little, Marshall, D. Moore, Snow, Terawhiti, and Thompson. Emergencies : J. Hartley, Ham, Davis, and Ferens. It is rumoured in Wellington that the attempt by the Government to re-impose the duties on tea and sugar will develop latent party feeling. The service of song to be given under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association of Oamaru this Friday evening is entitled " The Woman of Samaria," and is, we are informed, very interesting in its character.

The Committee of the Meohanics' Institute held their monthly meeting last evening, when there were present—Messrs. Forrester (Chairman), Sumpter, Kidd, Loring, Peattie, Headland and Davies. The Secretary was requested to write to the Oainaru Dramatic Club thanking them for their offer of giving an entertainment in aid of the funds of the Institute, and suggesting that on the nights of the Agricultural Showwould be a good time to hold it. It was resolved that the insurance be increased to LOOO. The following notice of motion was given by Mr. Sumpter : —" That the question of dealing with the Wyndham Reserve be brought before the next irieeting." Two accounts were passed for payment, airl after the usual vote of thanks to the chair the meeting terminated. At the Resident Ragistrate's Court to-day, James Kelly was brought up on remand from yesterday charged witli being drunk and disorderly, and was fined L 5, or fourteen day.*' imprisonment. A charge of habitual drunkenness against the sav.ii person was withdrawn. Robert Moore was charged with wife desertion. The case was remanded till this day week, taking defendant's own recognisance in L2O to appear on that day. After the piaetioe of the Oamaru Rifles' Band, last evening, a full meeting was held, when soveral resolutions, forming the heads of an agreement, were submitted and agreed to. Captain Sumpter then administered the oath of allegiance to some twenty members, who then proceeded to elect their noncommissioned officers, as follows :—Bandmaster, Mr. H. Pheloting ; Sergeant, Mr. J. D. Kett; Corporal, Mr. J. Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was chosen Secretary, and Mr. Kett, Treasurer. Messrs. Pheloung, Kett, Smith, Frame, and Mitchell wore appointed a Committee to draw up bye-laws and make a selection of members, there being more than the required number of candidates. There will be another practice this evening, and members will be measured for their uniforms.

The [Wellington correspondent of the Press sends the following to that paper : Tile Committee appointed to inquire into the bank arrangements of the Government sat to-day, They reported that it was inexpedient, in view of floating the five million loan, to make any alterations in the banking arrangements of the Government at present, and the proposal that the Government banking should be thrown open to public competition was negatived by 7 to 6. In its comments upon the late show at Timaru, the Timaru Herald impugns the decisions of the judge i of draught horses. Considering that the judges were Messrs. Holly, WaUs, and Samuel Youncr, who have acted in the capacity of judges for many years, and are, in fact, competent to act as judges at the Highland Society's Show of Scotland, the Herald's remarks were uncalled for. It is exceedingly injudicious for newspapers untutored in such subjects to back their opinions against tliose of such men. Such insults are likely to have effect of deterring r r ble judges frqpi entering the ring and performing the gratuitous services for which they should receive thanks rather than condemnation.

With tlje view of diminishing the number of deaths which annually occur :it this season of the yeqr from incautious bathing, the following notice has, by order of the Royal Humane Society, been issued by the Secretary, and distributed throughout the United Kingdom : —" Important to bathers. -- Avoid bathing within two hours after a meal. Avoid bathing when exhausted by fatigue, or from any other cause. Avoid bathing when tl;e body is cooling after perspiration. Avoid bathing altogether in the open air if, after having been a short time in the water, there is a sense of chilliness, with nuxnbnessr'of the hands and feet: but bathe when the body is warm, provided no time is lost in getting into the water. Avoid chilling the body by sitting or standing undressed oil the banks, or in boats, after having been in the wator. Avoid remaining too long in the water, but leave the water immediately there is the slightest feeling of chilliness. The vigorous and strong may bathe early in the morning on an empty stomach. The young, and those who are weak, had better bathe two or three hours after a meal; the best time for such is from two to three? hours after breakfast. Those who are subject to attacks of giddiness or faintness, and those who suffer from palpitation and other sense of discomfort at tho heart, should not bathe without first consulting their medioal advisers," A resident in Timaru, who is considerably interested in agricultural matters, writes to us suggesting that the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association should endeavour to make such arrangements as would enable them to retain the whole of the prize animals on the ground until the conclusion of their shows, He states that his object in making this suggestion ia that there \yill this year, and probably at future shows of the Society, be a large number of exhibits, especially in draught horses, from Timaru, and,

as a large number cf visitors from that and other distant places will not be able to be present till the second day, he contends that exhibits in that filass, as well as in others which are now removed, should be allowed to remain until the last that comparisons might be fairly instituted. The suggestions of our Timaru correspondent are'indisputably-good. But they are, it would appear, impracticable until the Society succeeds in securing a more commodious show-ground. It should be remembered that tlie entries at our shows are more numerous than those at the Timaru shows, aud that what might be possible with the Timaru Society is impossible with us. We think, however, that the suggestion is a good one, that the North Otago Society should not rest satisfied until it has placed itself in a position to carry it out.