LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1040, 14 June 1880, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

. .» It is stated in Napier that no special private intimation was received relative to the beer duty ; but merchants aud brewers who got rid of tbeir stocks did so because of Mr. Whitaker's statement during the debate on the Address-iu- reply in the Legislative Council. He is reported iv Hansard to have said: "I am afraid my honourable friend's (Colonel Whitmore) beer will also have to bear taxation as weli as his property. The matter is under consideration." This, however, does not explain how it was known more than twelve hours before the Financial Statement was delivered. Both papers support the beer •tax, though the Herald regards it as excessive, /fhe petition against it is not being largely signed by tbe public. The Controller-General, in a paper laid before the House about the paid to Mr. Rees, says that Parliament must vote the mouey, or it must be recovered under the Public Revenue Act from one or all of the late Ministers. Messrs. Fleet & Co.. announce that they have assigned the debts due to them to Mr. L. Mcintosh, and Mr. Mcintosh, in his turn, announces that these debts must be paid within oue week, and there is to be no further delay in the matter. On reference to our advertising columns, it will be seen that the Secretary has convened a special general meeting of the members of the Caledonian Club to take place at the club room, Masonic Hotel, on Monday next for the purpose of considering the present financial position of the Club, and to take such steps as may be suggested regarding the same. Faom what we have gleaned, it appears that the interest taken by members of the Club has of late fallen far short of the standard necessary to its existence, and it behoves those who wish the Club well to become alive to its requirements ; therefore, we trust that there will be a large attendance of the members present at the meeting of the Club in question.