BUSH FIRE RELIEF FUND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8741, 29 March 1890, Page 2

BUSH FIRE RELIEF FUND.

Mb. Samuel, M.H.R., has received a copy of the following letter from the Government, in answer to representations from himself and Mr Marchant, M.H.R.: — The Government have decided to grant £300 towards the purchase of grass seed for persons whose pastures have suffered f -om the recent bush fires at Taranaki, and the money wi'l be placed at the disposal of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, whom Mr Hislop will be ob'iged by your instructing as follows :—(1.): — (1.) That the grass seed be of the proper kind, and of the best quality. (2.) That this help be confined to persons who will not accept charity, but are willing to repay the amount of the loan, without interest, in three years, or such broken period within three years as they may prefer, giving promissory notes payable to Percy Stevenson ' Smith. (3) That care be taken not to give aid to persons whose properties are so deeply encumbered that the grant will benefit the mortgagees only, by reason of there being little hope of such persons continuing to hold the properties. Information as to the mortgages can be obtained from the Kegistrar of Deeds, and each such case, with full particulars, should be referred here for the Minister's decision. (4). That though assistance to the extent of £300 will be given if neccessary, no more of the amount than is really required for bonaJidec&BGS of loss is to be expended. (5.) That the work be undei taken at once, so that the sowing may be made before winter. (6.) It will probably be advisable before making any distribution to get a complete return of losses, so as to ensure the relief being proportionate.

Mr Wise's farm at Urenui, and the lato Mr IlaDlan'B estate at Koru were put up at auction by Mr N. King this (Saturday) afternoon. The bidding was spiritless, and bolh properties were passed in. Mr Coghlan, tbe New South Wales Btatistician, under the heading of " cost of living," puts down the pinual expenditure in JNew Soatli Wales at £48,700,000, of which, roughly speaking, £15,000,000 are spent on food, four on l'quors, seven on clothing, six as rent, one on art and amusement, three-fifths of a mi^'on on books and newspapers, about four-ii"fchs on religion and education, nine-tenths on medical attendance, and the rest in the vaiious common-place expenses. The average general expenditure amounts to £45 158 Sd fer heaa of the population, or at the rate of 2a 6d per day. Uf alcohol 2~88 gallons per head were consumed last year, being *9 less than for 1887. The proportion of locally made beer shrank in the same time from 85.7 per cent of the total consumption to 79.4 per cent., the consumption decreasing from 13.79 to 11.01 gallons. The consumplion of spirits is equal to 1.10 gallons per head, being .01 less than in 1887. The returns for colonial w Ine show a trifling fractional in« crease for the year, tho consumption par head being something like tbree-fourrliH j of a ga'lon.