Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1883. COLONIAL FINANCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5236, 14 December 1883, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1883. COLONIAL FINANCE.

The Colonial Treasurer is at the present moment anxious for a great question to attract attention away from his finance. The federation scheme has afforded, the colony an interesting topic, and the Treasurer with that astuteness for which he is remarkable has gone into the question with as much verve as he went into National Insurance and the Reform of the Legislative Council. He knew he could not make National Insurance a colonial issue for some time- — one of his colleagues thought within 100 years ; and he had no serious intention of altering the constitution of the Legislative Council. He angled for the support of the working classes, and ran very near splitting on the rock of jealousy excited in the patriciate. While he was keeping the representatives of the people engaged in logrolling and empty talk, he was gradually heaping on taxation without stint until the colony groans beneath its burdens. Since 1879 there has been no serious attempt made at retrenchment. Mr Swanson saw last session that unless the Government took back the estimates and reduced them by £50,000,nothingwouldbe done in committee. The Government found it easier to get the amount in an increase of the Property Tax, and rejected Mr Swanson's well-meant overtures with disdain, The revenue declines, but the Treasurer finds it convenient again to distract attention, and wants to get up enthusiasm about federation.' At a banquet in Melbourne the other day he said if he were to be turned out of office on federation, he would come back with an overwhelming majority. We doubt it very much. When federation is clearly understood to mean that the people of this colony aro to be governed from Sydney or Melbourne, there will be such a manifestation of feeling we believe as will make very short work of the federalists. When, moreover, it is understood that federation means the imposing of additional taxation, the colony will not be very ready to part with its privileges and its money at the same time, on the assurance of a politician whose promises from Abolition down to the Roads and Bridges scheme have turned out illusions. The Treasurer is beginning to find that he cannot

extract more honey from the hive than iL has got, and that in tho operation of squeezing ho may leave the bees to perish, As he increases the taxes tho revenue diminishes. The Peel school' of financiers found that as taxes were reduced the revenue increased. The Atkinsonian school, rejecting with scorn tho doctrine, holds that with each turn of the screw, so much more, measured by an arithmetical standard, flows into the Treasury. The facts however do not square with the theory. When the Treasurer increased the ad-valorem duties from 10 to 15 per cent, he did not get 25 per cent more revenue, though he should have obtained 50 per cent according to the rule of "Cocker." Wo are to borrow another million in February, requiring .£40,000 a year of an appropriation. The rovenue will show a deficiency of at least £120,000, and this added to the £40,000 increased interest on our indebtedness, gives an amount of £160,000 that must bo got somehow. In the last session of the Parliament there will hardly be an increase of the Property Tax, and tho Treasurer will have to rely on his ingenuity to restore equilibrium by manipulation of the loan. But if he can only get up an agitation about federation, and go to the country on that, he may avoid exposure in the finance and save himself for another three years. Continuity of government is his grand aim and object, to secure which every political principle m 'so bo vadc subsidiary. To transfer the seat of government to Sydney is not more captivating however than his proposed increase of the power of the Legislative Council by putting it on an elective basis ; and even if he did make federation the question for the general election, instead of his finance, we hardly think the Government would come back with an overwhelming majority,

Captain Edwin telegraphs at 1.40 p.m :—: — Bad weather approaching between N. E. and N. and W. Glass falling again after 10 hours, with much rain. Those members of the Wanganui Rifles who have not fired in any of the stages in class firing will have an opportunity of doing so in the first two stages to-morrow morning, In some cases 35s a week, with board and lodging, and wine and beer, in the harvest field, are reported to have been given during the present hay harvest in South Australia. There is a great deaVth of good agricultural laborers there. At the exhibition of needlework of the Girls' District High School, to be held in the Christ Church schoolroom to-morrow, a novelty will be displayed which has never before beeu seen iv Wanganui, nor we believe, in any part of Now Zealand, and will be woith seeing. A return cricket match ia to be played tomorrow between the Railway eleven and a Fordell team. The railway men will be driven to the scene of action by Mr Smiley in his brake, and will be accompanied by Mr T. Ferry, who acts as umpire. The Age, in a recent article, charges tho police of Victoria, not only with conniving at the recent sweep frauds, but boldly says they shared in the " plunder." Whenever letters were posted to the promoters containing cheques on which to found precautions, the sweep men invariably had timely warnings and declined to accept the tempting missives. We are requested to state for the information of the members of the Alexandra Cavalry who intend entering for the heads aud rings contest at the sports on Boxing Day, that the necessary implements for the deadly struggle will be fixed to-day, and may be used for practice to-morrow, and up to tho day of the sports. Cavalry men may therefore commence practice at once. It is again hardly necessary to again remind our readers of the Fancy Bazaar and sale of goods to be held in the Christ Church School-room to-morrow on behalf of the prize fund of the GirV High School. Every preparation has been mado to make the affair an entire success, and the goods should go off without any difficulty, considering the object of tho exhibition. The school-room will be open at 12 o'clock, and will close at 7 in the evening. A parade of the Wanganui Rifles was held last evening, but only just a sufficient number to count for capitation were present, owing to some misundersting about the date. The men were put through various movements by Captain Watt and Lieutenant Jones, and afterwards had a march out round the town, headed by tho company's band. No council meeting was held, but this evening a meeting of the sports committee of the company will be held. There was very little business at the R.M. Court this morning, before Mr Ward. The case, C. H. Ashforth v. R. McAlister, claim of £100, was adjourned by consent till the 11th January. In the ca°o of Frodk. Hall v. A. Lough, claim £S 7s, the plaintiff stated that the amount had been overcharged by £2, and judgment was given for £6 7s, with costs 11s. In the case Luke O'Connor v. Peter Culkeen, claim of £3S, which was an application by the defendant to have evidence taken, notice having been given to the plaintiff, the parties did not; appear, and it was struck out. Tho Court then adjourned. For the first time since their inauguration, there was not a sufficient number to count for capitation at the muster of the Wanganui Rifles last evening, and the unpleasant alternative had to be accepted of adjourning the parade for a time, while the three men necessary to make up the requisite number were hunted up round tho town, which was not accomplished till three quarters of an hour had transpired. Wo learn, however, that it was not tho fault of the men, as the parade was not advertised, which is usual with Government parades, and some were not aware of the event. Who is to blame for the non-insertion of the advertisement, we are not aware, but it is to be hoped the omission will not occur again. One of the best conducted, aud patronised establishments in town ia the New Zealand Clothing Factory's branch situated at the corner of Rldgway street and the Avenue. The popularity of the company is rapidly extending and their branches are being planted all over the colony with great rapidity: Three weeks ago, a new store was opened at Greymouth in connection with the company ; another was opened at Reefton last week, and next week a fresh one will be opened at Ifokitika. By advertisement in another column it will be scon that every variety of small garmnuts can be obtained at the lowest rates, and of a superior style and finish, and we feel certain that Mr Ahlfeld (the popular manager) will give every courtesy and attention to those visiting the establishment. Some time ago (says the North Otago Times) photographs were taken of a splendid basket of trout caught in the Kakanui. One of theso photographs was sent to the editor of the Field (London), who writes of it in the following strain : — "Wo have received from Oamaui the photocraph (cabinet size) of a basket of trout, the result of an evening's fishing in one of the Otago streams. There are five fish, weighing 351 b lloz, and the picture is enough to make even a Hampshire angler's mouth water. They were taken with rod and line, and, vc presume, with the delicate little white fish which in that country admirably answers the purpose of our minnow. Of these baits there are indeed in many of the rivers a too plentiful supply, and the consequence is that the large trout are hard to take with the fly. The biggest fish of the group must have been a remarkably handsome fellow of 131 b 3oz, with side of surprising depth and elegant outline, and with shapely head. The second trout (S£lb) is also beautiful. "

The will of Mr Thomas B. Smithies, formerly editor and proprietor of the British Workman, has been proved at over £30,000. At the conclusion of Mr Sfcout's lecture on Democracy in Nap'ior, Mr John Begg hoped Mr Stout would re-enter the House, and extirpate Vogeliam, root and branch. The concert in aid of the prize fund of the Boys' lligbt School was proceeding at the timo we went to proas thid afternoon, and proved a great success. A detailed notice of the performance will be given in to-morrow's isaue. At a meeting hold last week of the adherents of tho National League in Auckland, a resolution was passed, regretting that Bishop Luck had not been able to allow the use of one of the schoolrooms to the League, A copy of tho resolution was transmitted to the Bishop. By advertisement in another column it will be seen that Mr Liffiton holds a sale to-mor-row at noon of the remainder of the stock in trade of Mr A. E. Lewis, which is to be disposed of for the benefit of his creditors. Such an opportunity to secure Christmas presents should not be lost. We have had the pleasure of inspecting a medal which is to be presented to Mr Samuel Austin, sen., by Lodge No. 25 of Orangemen, ab the mooting on the Ist January. Mr Austin has for some time acted as Secretary to the Lodge, and the modal is to be presented to him in recognition of hia services . It is a very handsome one, made by Mr Geo. Lorimer, and the design is very pretty, being a pair of cross pens on a five-pointed star. The American papers, in noticing the death of Lord Louth, refer to a wager by which he rendered himself rather notorious during his stay in New York. He betted that he would drink a greater number of j "cocktails" than Mr Tracey, of Buffalo, who was kuown as a "hard" man. The contest took place in the bar-room of the New York Hotel, and Lord Louth won with a score of 36, his antagonist giving up after 35, A recent Home paper explains how it is that this year's budget shows a diminishing revenue from intoxicating liquors. It states as a fact that the takings of a London pub-lic-house, whose ground rent is £700 a year, amounted up to 11 o'clock on Easter Monday to 2d, whilst on the same day, at the Here- , ford Coffee Tavern, annual rental £60, estab- '\ lished six months only, there were over 3000 customers, who required 168 gallons of tea and coffee, besides eatables. Of all the bankruptcies in Wales announced in a recent issue of the Gazette, every liquidation but one was that of a publican or wine and spirit merchant. In the Midland Counties publicans arc on tho verge of ruin. The principal inn in a prominent position in the leading street in one of the largest Midland town.s, has been in the market for eight months without finding a purchaser,although the present proprietor is willing to sacrifice a large sum to get rid of it. At Wolverhampton one publican offers a glass of ale, a slice of bread, a piece of cheese, and some cress, for 2d ; and yet trade is dull. Beer in Birmingham can be obtained at Id a glass, or 2Jd a quart. Truly, iv the words of Sir M. A. Bass, M.P., at Malsall, " the times are out of joint for publicans." The news brought by the Suez mail throws a good deal of light upon the disaster to the Egyptian arms in the Soudan. It seems that the Arab tribes rose in the roar of the forces of Hicks Pasha as he marched from .Khartoum, and that that commander, decided not to stop to clear his communication with his bwse of supplies, but determined to push on, carrying what provisions he could with him, with a view of striking a decisive blow at the false prophet at El Obeid. As El Obeid is situated nearly 200 miles from the Nile, Hicks Pasha had to march overland away from water, and Mr Donovan, the special correspondent of the Daily News, in a telegram dated September 30th describes the march as equivalent to " burning the boats." The army plunged into the unknown and was cut off from all communication with the outer world. Hicks Pasha was apprehensive of surprise, and had accustomed his troops to form hollow square on the march, the field-pieces in front of the faces and the terrible Nordenfe^dt machine gun at the angles. We now know that there was a surprise, as Hicks Pasha expected, and that tho hollow square was formed, but without avail. The troops were without i water, and what they must have suffered before they broke on the third day may be judged by one of Mr Donovan's statements : — "The heat is intense; the camels are dying daily." The men had to endure this heat and the feverish excitement of the battle also, so that their sufferings must have been terrible. A Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Herald sends the following telegram to that journal : — " There is likely to be a more than warm discussion next session upon a scandal which is now being inquired into in the Government Life Insurance Department. It seems that Mr Black, the Actuary of the Mutual Provident Society ; who is now on a visit to this colony, complained to the Premier that some official had forged certain forms of the society, and had them printed secretly for the purpose of inducing insurers to leave that society and join the Government society. The Mutual Provident Society only receive applications for surrender upon particular forms printed under their direction and in a particular fashion, The secretary found other forms about, and report says they have eventually traced the printing of them to Lyttelton Gaol, whece a printing press is in use by the prisoners. The forms were an exact copy of tho Mutual Provident ones, and rumor asserts that a Government official gave the order for the printing. Whether the strong term applied by Mr Black to such conduct is legally correct I cannot say, but such a method of obtaining business by the Government of the colony will be generally condemned. Neither Major Atkinson nor the Commissioner knew of such methods being employed to get insurance business." The Patea Mail has the following, which we cordially endorse : — Mr G. F. Sherwood took his departure from Patea last evening by train en route to Auckland, where he will await the arrival of the mail steamer for San Francisco. In parting with Mr Sherwood, we lose one of out most energetic townsmen. Ever since he came into the district he has taken a likely interest in its welfare, and iti public matters he has borne his full share of work. Mr Sherwood sat at the Provincial Council from 1875, until abolition came, and subsequently, when County Councils were instituted, he was elected County chairman, an office that he filled with credit to himself. j He also served on the Town Boa d as chairman for a number of years, and trhough his instrumentality Patea was formed into a municipality. He had the honor of buiug the first Mayor of the newly-created Borough, and his valuable services were recognised by the Council, who voted him a handsome sum. But the principal monument by which we shall remember our departed friend is tho breakwater. Upon the question of harbor improvement Mr Sherwood was indefatigable, and during the five years he was in the Harbor Board, either as member or chairman, much good work was done, and it must be admitted that the lion's share of the credit is due to him. Other public offices Mr Sherwood has held, such as chairman of the Cemetery Board, chairman of the School Committee, etc., and in no case can it bo said that he has done other than his duty. Mistakes he may have made ; who has not ? Possibly ■ his greateat mistake has beeu that of being too honest. However, he has gone now, and all we can do is to say " Farewell " and express the hope on behalf of his many friends here that he will succeed, in the great country to which he is going. He has abilities of a high order both as a writer and a speaker, and he may yet give iis cause to be proud of his connection with Patea. That he will remember us kindly we feel sure, and if he can at any time do us a "good turn " we shall bo surprised if it is not done, aud that too with a will. We arc sorry to see our poetic friend of the Corner Boot Shop under a cloud ; those bills of sale aro sharp instruments, and like the Sword of Domocles, suspended over the devoted hearl only by a hair. We have missed our friend's poetic effusions for some time ; no wonder ; when tho wings are clipped the bird can soar no longer, We would recommend our readers to try a pair from the orner Shop. money and dispel the cloud.— Ad vs.