The Taranaki Herald PUBLISHED DAILY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8935, 18 November 1890, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald PUBLISHED DAILY.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1890.

Sir Geohge Grey delivered his last speech in Auckland under considerable difficulties. The weather was unfavourable, and his medical attendants advised him strongly not to speak. His chest was bad, and his friends were also anxious that the meeting, which had been called should be postponed. Sir George, however, wa9 not to be dissuaded from his purpose, so delivered his second addresss, in which he unfolded " a policy for the future." This policy would be found if put into force to be thoroughly unworkable. Sir George Grey's proposals were to relieve those in the colony from taxation by making the large landholders and bondholders of the New Zealand loans pay a greater proportion of the revenue required to carry on the business of tho colony. He considers that all those who hold our bonds should pay an income tax on the amount of interest they draw. If wnen the money was borrowed that was stated, then no one could complain, but after receiving a person s money to turn round and say you shall pay an income tax to the colony would ba a mout unjust, not to say a dishonest proceeding. The next proposal of Sir George Grey's is to abolish the Property Tax, and substitute in its place a land and an income tax. The Property Tax brings in £355,000, but Sir George Grey üßserts his Bystem of taxation would bring in a larger amount. The Land Tax, he says, might be made to produce £150,000, an income tax on bondholders £100,000 ; the same tax on colonial incomes £150,000, and on private incomes beyond tho colony £80,000. Making a total of £480,000. But such a system of taxation would bo most unjust to outsiders, and wo doubt if the authorities would permit it to be collected in Great Britain. Sir Harry Atkiniton says the land tax would not owed £140,000, whilst tlu income tax at

6d in the £ would only produce about £74,000. Then Sir George has not taken into consideration the fact that the change in tho mode of the taxation of the country will bo much greater than at present, besides an income tax from its inquisitorial nature would be more irritating than the property tax. But there is another, and greater reason against a land tax. The land is already made to contribute in addition to the property tax about £500.000 in the shape of rates for construction and maintenance of roads and other public works; therefore it is already heavily handicapped, and cannot stand any further burden. We are quite aware that the Property Tax tends to drive capital from the colony, but we are certain that the taxes proposed by Sir George Grey would have the effect of banishing it altogether.

The agent of the London Bellringers Company writes that owing to the success of the Company in Auckland, they have decided to extend their season in that city, and afterwards to tour the East Coast ; consequently their visit to New Plymouth is indefinitely postponed, and it will probably be early in tho new year that they will play here.

A special meeting of the N.P. Amateur Opera Club was held on Monday evening in St. Mary's Schoolroom, when there was a large attendance of the members. Mr MacDiarmid was voted to the chair, in the absence of Mr Paul. After some din cussion the meeting decided to obtain properties for "The Mikado," and take the opera into active rehearsal without delay. Two performances, at least, will be given in the Jubilee week."

Sir Walter Buller has met with a loss which cannot be replaced, for in the ship Assaye, which is missing, was shipped Sir Walter'B very valuable New Zealand library — the accumulation of: thirty years' carefv-.l selection. Besides this t ere was his most interesting collection of natural history and ethnological specimens.

Although it is eleven yoars since the Roy. Charles Clark was in Now Zealand, he cannot walk the street of any town without being recognised by a host of his old friends and admirers. Last Saturday he went to Wanganui for a day's rest, and had not arrived at his hotel before he was stopped by many old acquaintances, and very shortly afterwards, the news of his arrival having rapidly spread, tho Mayor of Wanganui and Mr Notman waited upon the great lecturer and invited him to be, with Mr J. L. Toole, the eminent comedian, their guest on a little excursion up the river. A very pleasant afternoon was spent, during which the healths of the two distinguished guests were proposed by tho Mayor, and humorously responded to by Mr Toole and Mr Clark. Mr Smythe, who arrived in town on Monday, has almost completed arrangements for the re appearance of Mr Clark next Friday evening, in the Alexandra Hall. The opening lectureentertainment has not yet been decided upon, but it will be one of Mr Clark's new ones, and will be delivered for the first time in New Plymouth.