The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1891.

Thames Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 7002, 2 October 1891, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1891.

It is somewhat amusing to observe the tactics adopted by a fortnnately small section of the Press of the colony to cast odium upon the taxation proposals of the present Government, which were recently passed by both Houses —the publication of extracts from supposed pri?ato letters from " gentlemen at a distance," setting forth how ruinous is the policy of tho Government, and that consequently they had felt compelled to refrain From investing any more money in the colony. But now it would seem as though the purveyor of cable news for the delectation of tho public has also been pressed into the service, as the other day the exceedingly interesting item was cabled on the authority of the London Economist, that "contracts which have been entered into for tho purchase of lands in New Zealand have been cancelled owipg to the most inequitable Land and Income.Tax Assessment Bill adopted in the late session." As the Wellington Post points out in an^ article on the subject, this statement may be interpreted in more ways than one. la the first place, it appears, prima facie, somewhat doubtful, as if the contracts had been entered into they could not have been cancelled for*a reason which would, if true, render the vendor as anxious to enforce the sale as the purchaser could be to escape from the bargain. We should rather be inclined to think that the word " negotiations" should be substituted for " contracts" if, as we have said, there is any foundation beyond the Economist's imagination for the statement at all. But even accepting the cable message as literally correct, it may be taken as affording satisfactory evidonce of the success of the Ministerial financial policy, just as well as in the sense of being a condemnation of that policy. We may be quite sure that neither contracts nor negotiations had been entered into in England for the promotion of bona fide settlement in this colony—that is, for the subdivision of large holdings and the settlement of small cultivators and improvers on the sub-divisions. Neither were the negotiations or contracts for the purchase of lands from the Crown for settlement purposes. It is only large land-owning companies, individuals, or firms who are to be found at Home concerned in New Zealand lands. If the contracts referred to were for the transfer of big estates en bloc fwtn one set of owners to another, as seems probable, the colony will hare lost nothing by their cancellation. The individual ownership is a matter of no importance. In fact, as one of Ihe avowed objects of the new financial policy is, if possible, to break up large estates, the fact that present holders experience a difficulty in transferring their interests wholesale may be taken as a proof that the policy is already proving successfal. If ths existing large landholders wish to part with their property, and cannot find others to purchase their interests as they stand, they may be forced to cut up their land and provide in some way for jts occupation by those who will cultiveto and improve it. Clearly the intention of Parliament was to discourage the retention of large areas of unimproved land in single ownership as as an investment, and tho Economist would aeein to suggest that this intention ia already being practically realised. "We really see nothing to be alarmed at in the announcement, cabled, apparently, as a warning* At any rate the colony can wait a litti© ionger to find out the facts on which the Economies; fas.g based its assertion, and we do not think tboi'e is any im» mediate necessity for Ministers £c|jliDg Parliament together again to at once re*pea! the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act, even though the Economist and some large absentee landowners may consider the measure an in equitable &n&,

The statement we published in our issue of Taeflday last, to the effect that from information received from an authentic source, we balieved that tenders were shortly to be eaJJed for the construction of the railway line between Te Aroha and Paeroa, would appear to Jiave been perfectly correct. By a telegram repeived to-day from oar Te Aroha correspondent, \7e learn that a parly of surveyors arrived at t!u?*t place yesterday for the purpose of executing' the requisite survey, and a start was made this morning to erect their eaiap on the line three miles from Te Aroha. Ifc is estimated that the survey will occupy si«; weeks, and as soon as possible thereafter' we beijiesre tenders are to be called for the work. The govern. ment are to be coqjplimentod ppon the e^qodttioQ being used ia paying the work comm'?nce3.

Thb decision arrived at by the Borough Council last pight regarding the proposal for the erefifcitiu of public baths at the /Thames cannot bttfc'fre regarded as other than most unsatisfactory hj those desirona of seeing batha erected in our wist. The General Purposee Committee, to whom the matter had been jeeforsred at a previous meeting, reported that ia tfeeir opinion ■" the expense of constructing baths should be partly borne fef the public," and they accordingly reeomauju.cted "that upon £200 being subscribed for tfeat purpose, the Council shoaW erect baths $k a cost not less than £400/' T ftp recommendation of the Committee evoked so gaimportant discussion, and eventually the $osnpil, Frith ixiost surprising magnanimity, unaziimot£sly adopted the report. It is quite evident that the jafcention of the Couacil was to obdre the q^estjon for •• a more convenient Reason," but we thfofe it would have been much Qjore commendable end honest had Connciliors simply stated that in conseqaence of w*afc of funds they could not entertain the proposal at present. The opinion ventured by the Committee that tba expense of constructing baths should be "fsseUy borne by the public" is only partially eoereet, because it does not require much penetration to discern that the tvliole of the cost 'not only should, but mast, be borne by,.■■the..:,public. The idea, however, _ of asking the public to voluntarily subscribe £SOO, and generously hasd that amoont over to tfee OoaneUioi' tha eteefcioa of

baths which would afterwards be tho sole property of the Council, is an absurd •proposition, and one which conclusively demonstrates thatCouoeillors ars insincere in the matter of the erection of baths. We presume that the proposal has thus been shelved for the present, though we have no doubt the movers in the matter will otioe more revive it at tha most convenient opportunity.

We would remind thosQ who intend going to Coromandel to-morrow with the Nelson aud Rover Football Clubs, that the s.s. Coromandel will leave the Goods Wharf at 8 o'clock, and wait outside till 8.30 for those" who may be a little late. The return fare has been fixed at the reasonable figure of 4s, children halfprice, which should induce a large number of excursionists. A brass band will be in attendance to enliven the proceedings. The boat will return on Sunday afternoon.

Nearly the whole of the civil cases set down for hearing at the Eesiderit Magistrate's Court to-day, were settled out of Court. The following cases were dealt with :—Blisia Scott v. Lily Bond, claim £8 Ss, adjourned till next Court day; Jas. Darrow v. Thos. Morton, claim £3 §3 2d, judgment for plaintiff, with costs 16s 6d • John Connolly v. D. J. McQuoiil, claim £3 12s 9d, judgment for plaintiff, with coats £1 Is fid.

According to the statement presented at the meeting last night, the following was the state of the finances of the Borough Council on tho 30th September at the Bank : — Borough Fund account—Or. : £893 17s Id; Hospital and Charitable Aid account—Cr.: £102 16s 4d ; and Water Eate account—Cr.:

£143 9s 3d—making a total of £246 5s 7d to credit on the two accounts. This leaves the net debit balance £647 11s 6d, which including accounts amounting: to £367 2s lOd passed for payment last night, will make the overdraft £1014 14s 4d.;- '

The annual meeting'of the New Alburnia Gold Mining Co. was held in Auckland on Wednesday. Mr J. .Friar Clarke presided. In the course of their report the directors remarked : "As the object for which the company's capital was increased by the issue of new shares, namely, the thorough prospecting and opening up of the mine, and to enable work to be carried out in an efficient and economical manner, have now been all but accomplished, and as the prospects met with while carrying out the said work have been very encouraging, we may fairly conclude that the operations from now will be attended with that success which the mine manager in his report leads us to anticipate. The balancesheet shows the gratifying fact that the assets, which are almost wholly composed of cash to the company's credit, are £621 14s Id in excess of liabilities. In pursuance of the company's Articles of Association, the whole of the directors retire from office, as also the auditor, Mr Menzies, but being eligible for re-election they offer themselves for same." The following gentlemen were elected directors for the ensuing year :—Messrs J. Friar Clarke, Charles Alexander, J. Dickey, Thomas Dunlop, and S. T. George. Mr T. A. Menzies was reelected auditor.

A sai/e of furniture, &c, will be held at Mr E. E. McGregor's auction mart at 11 a.m. to-morrow. Further particulars may be gleaned from the advertisement in another column.

Mr H. D. Pike, the enterprising manager of the CD. & ,C.C, at the corner of Pollen and Willoughby streets, has achieved many successes in the matter of gas-light displays, but that which took place last night certainly eclipsed all his previous efforts, and conclusively demonstrated that in the art of window-dressing he stands unequalled. The whole available space of the commodious establishment was devoted to a display of the company's spring and summer goods, and the artistic manner in which everything was arranged, with a due regard to the effective blending of the various shades and colors, could not, we venture to assert, have been surpassed in any town in the colony. The principal view was from the Pollen street windows, where the pleasing sight that met the eager eyes of the crowds of ladies and gentlemen who' beheld it must have reminded them of the delightful pictures of fairyland. In addition to the artistic arrangement of the most chaste and newest novelties in dress materials, millinery, flowers, and the numerous other variety of goods incidental to an extensive drapery establishment, the effect was materially heightened by several large mirrors, and an abundance of ' gaslight. Then, again, a number of miniature forest scenes were realistically represented by means of pretty foliage, while here and there wei'e clumps of moss and sparkling fountains of water. The water spraying from one of these fountains formed a miniature pool, with green mossy banks ; while a duck in the aefc pf entering the water, with several pukaki and other birds close by, most appropriately completed the pretty sylvan scene. The view from the side windows in \yjllonghby street was equally enchanting, and what must have struck the many observers (,f fhp pretty sight afforded them was the enormous assortment that Mr Pike must have in every department to put such a show before the public without leaving empty fixtures, as thess were in view and were well stocked. The display was witnessed last night by great crowds, rendering it impossible for many to get near the windows daring the earlier part of the evening. In deference to a generally expressed wish made to him to-day, Mr Pike announces that the gaslight display will be repeated this evening from 6.30 till J) o'clock.

TftE annual meeting of shareholders of the fjfauraki G.M. Co. was held in Auckland on Wednesday afternoon. Mr E. 0. Qarr presided. In their report the directors stated that they could not congratulate the shareholders on any marked success. Tho upper workings, from-which excellent stone was at one time obtained, did not ultimately pay to work, iiiid it s?ap depided to concentrate all eil'ortq on the pushing fory?iu'il o£ tn'o main tji'ivo^ the reef having yielded rich stone in the upper levels. Two contracts had been let, fcttfc pg \h.e ground was extremely hard, the progress wa§ ye~y slow. The mine manager had hopes £hat gold would be obtained in payable quantities. The total rcpeipts for the year amounted to £t>73 10s Bd, and the expenditure to MU 10s, leaving a balance in hand of £29 0s Bd. The assets of the company amounted to £271 13s, and tho liabilities? were £66 $s Id. The Chairman moved the adoption of'the report aud baiaiivQsheet. He pointed out' that a considerable amount of time and money had been lost, .owißg £o the fact that a drive had been made in the wrong direptici:. $<o money had been unnecessarily expended, 'l'fie deviation was not altogether wasted. Another gentleman poiafed put that as the ground, for the working o£; which i&.e epmpahy whs formed, ■had not yet been touched, they_ were in as gopd a position as they were originally. The rjepoi-c balance-sheet were adopted. The following gentlemen, were elected directors for the ensuing year s-wMess'fS Cap, Buckland, Taylor, Basley, and Crawford. Mr Ebenezer Waymouth was appointed auditor.

3^B Warden Northcroffc gave his decision this moving in the matter of the_ plaint lodged by the Mining Inspector against the Gladstone mine atWaihi for non-working;. It fcaying been shown that a contract for driving had been prpceeding in the mine for the past seven weeks, the Warden took a lenient view of the matter, and imposed a line of 20s and jCOCtfJ.

, It has tyaaspired that the house of Mr Goo. Chalton, at Netherton, was brokefl. into at a receatdate, and some small property stolen. Constable Mitchell is making a diligent enquiry into the matter, which ist likely to lead to further developments.

What should prove an interesting football match is to take place at Kiri Kiri tomorrow afternoon in Hors Matene's paddock, viz, : married v. single men of that district. The ball will be lucked off at 3 o'clock. The following will represent both teams: — Mahried : Murray, Tukumana, Ourrie, Anderson, Murphy, Dnfty, Crane, Keane, Teddy, Bedford, Moka, Totara, Tasman, Manukau, and Watene. Single : Rota, Wilson, Watene, Coofce, Cooper, Heira, Sullivan, Topi, Bedford, Moore (2), Douglas (2), Smith, Birch, and Fulham.

There was a good attendance at the reception meeting held last' night in the Primitive Methodist Church,to welcome tho Revs. Messrs Boyes, ,Carr, and Grindley, considering the counter attractions. The Rev: J: Dawson •«- cupied the Chair, and in the course of an excellent address heartily welcomed the rev. gentlemen to the colony as fellow workers in the Christian Church. Addresses were also delivered by the Revs. Boyes, Carr, and Grind'ey, after which the Rev. D. JMaSTicoU also spoke a few well-chosen words of welcome. In the course of the evening several anthems were rendered by the choir.

The annual general meeting of the Thames Cricket Club will be held at the rooms of Mr L. Moore, Pollen street, to-morrow (Saturday) evening, when all members and intending members are requested to attend. Consequent on the great interest taken in athletic sports just now on the Thames, the Thames Cricket Club should have a prosperous season.