BRUCE POULTRY SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 28

BRUCE POULTRY SHOW.

The amiuil show of the Bruce Poultry Society wos held on the 3rd in the skating rink. The bad weather of the psi-t few diya no doubt accounted in a great measure for the limited number of entries in some cLipsc*. The exhibits, although disappointing in numbers as regai ds the poulliy classes, were nevertheless of excellent quality all round. In the classes of home delicacies— bread, scones, cake, jams, fruit, etc.— the judges expressed tlieL* opinion that the entries could hardly be excelled anywhere. The judging of poultry, which was done under Wright's standard ,_ was in some cases provocative of adverse criticism ; but doubtless this was owing in a groat measure to exhibitors being more or less unaccustomed to the system . With a litllo moie energy on the part of prominent fanciers,_ tho Bruce Show should be surpassed by none hold outride the large centres. The Imlk of the work in connection with the show fell upon tho president, (Mr D. Tweedio), Messrs G. T. Martin, D. Paton, .7. Taylor, D. Allison, — Forsylh, and D. M'Gill.

The suit against Fitzgerald, a chemist, for mistreatment in vaccinating a child, which has been before the Supxeme Court for six days, ended in a verdict for defendant. Dr'Ewart, of the hospital, was under examination for nearly three days. The claim was for £6UO. The Timaru Harbour Board on Saturday resolved to send for Mr Napier Bell to report on the harbour. The beach is showing for a short way along the outer arm, but the usual poundings are good, and the board deny that there is ony cause for alarm. The usual harbour rate for the interest account of £6000 was struck.

In the beginning of July a Maori woman was confined in the settlement at Mongomii, Auckland. Her husband got a Maori doctor or tohunga to dip her. This was done on different days. The woman became veiv ill, and subsequently died. The affair has come to the ears of the authorities, who have ordered the body to be exhumed. An inquest was commenced on Saturday. Detective Maddern goes to Mongormi on Monday; in connection, with the affjwi*

railway and postal, naturally caused dissatisfaction from those in the unclassified branches of the public service, and it seems clear to me that to be just and equitable to all something should be done under a comprehensive and well-considered scheme, and without nndnly increasing the departmental estimates to place each and every branch of the public service on a proper footing. If an analysis were made of the increases allowed in departments which do not enjoy the benefits of classification, I am confident the amount in relation to the whole of the departments so situated would not exceed £3000 or £4000. In the Lands and Valuation departments there are reductions. The first-named department anticipates recovering a large amount for survey expenses from the proceeds of the disposal of lands aloug the route of the North Island Main Trunk railway, and in the case of the latter department the initial expenses of valuation were nearly all in last year's expenditure, and consequently a much smaller vote is now submitted.

The estimated ordinary expenditure for 1897-98 was £4,669,074 as against £4,743,870 for the current year.

ESTIMATED REVENUE, 1893 99.

Very careful consideration has been given lo the figures finally adopted as estimates of the accruing revenue of the current year. The figures I have set down for this year amount to £5,023,300, which is £230,300 more than I estimated for last year, and £33,930 less than our actual receipts. Contrasting the present estimates with the actual receipts of last year, tiie increases amounted to £30,871 and the decreases to £64,801. I have adopted as an estimate for this year the figures representing last year's actual receipts from customs duties in accordance with the remarks I have previously made. ; The general prosperity of the community enables me to estimate that a small additional sum will be derived from the combined collections of land and income tax. From registration and other fees an additional sum of £22.711 is estimated to be derived, principally from the fees chargeable for the figures supplied by the Valuation department. Amongst the decreases I have had to include the receipts from the sale of stamps. Heavy succession duties were unexpectedly received last year, and, of course, cannot be again estimated. My colleague the Minister 'for Lands anticipates a dis'inct ! falling off in the revenue derived from the disposition of our lands. The receipts from cash sales and deferred payment selections are rapidly growing less, and in some cass3 pastoral runs are falling into our hands, and will require to be relot at less rentals. These causes will probably result in^a decreased revenue to the amount of £36,293. The amount representing the proceeds of debentures issued in respect oi the accretions of sinking funds during the year is £15,300 less than the sum issued last year. SUMMARY. Bringing the estimates of expenditure and revenue, together, the position at the close of the cm-rent financial year on the 3Jst March, 1 599, may be set down as follows :—: — Balance brouah.l, forward lo begin ihe year with ... £ 521,144 Leas to ba transferred to the public works fuurt 350,000 Balar.ce £371.144 EsUmatedexpenditure,lB9S-9 £4,743,876 Estimated revenue, 1&8-9 ... 5,U23,:j00 Ifxcysa of revenue ovei expenditure 279,«24 Total X450,5?8 From the above amount I purpose io pet asi<le £300,000 for oW age pensions, and to transfer to the public works fund £25,000 in aid of harbour defence works and defence services ; £25,000 in aid of the additional j requirements of lunatic asylums (new I methods, &c), and inclusive of the amount alteady expended and liabilities incurred ; £20,0G0 to defray the cost of the erection of our Parliament library and the central part of the Legislative Buildings. Reference has already been made in his Excellency's Speech to the important question of preferential duties on goods manufactured in the mother country. I think the time has now come when we might with advantage make a substantial concession in the shape of grautiug, say, a remission of 5 per cent, of the duties now imposed on this class of goods. This remission, if made, will probably amount to £50,000. The appropriation of the sums I have above indicated will reduce the above total to £225,5'J8. from which amount further reductions will also require to be made to provide for the usual Supplementary Estimates, and for the proposed additional grants to local bodies, and to ensure the amount required next year for the payment of old age pensions.