The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1697, 27 July 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News

TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1875.

for the c»UBS that lucks assistance For the wrong that needs resi;itsa.:e, "or the fmture in the distance, A>d tha srcod that we can in

What we are paying for our public debt is a matter which should be kept clearly in view by the people of the colony. Free trade advocates especially are interested in the problem, for so long as an enormous revenue must be raised in the colony, free trade is impracticable, and the question under such circumstances is not free trade versus protection, in the strict sense of the term, but how shall we adjust the duties that must be imposed so as to be least oppressive to the people and most conducive to the development of the resources of the country. It is singular that a free trade paradise has never been attempted in any of the many young countries that have risen up under the colonising policy of Great Britain ; for, untramelled by the costly paraphernalia of kings and "a bloated aristocracy," with enormous valuable landed estates the property of the Government, and immense resourceg, all of which should contribute to the wealth of the land, no better field for the demonstration of the most Utopian view of free trade could be found than one of the rich and fertile lands of the South Faclh'o. So far, however, as New Zealand i 3 concerned, the day has passed when this was possible, but we need not, therefore, be debarred from presenting to free traders the picture that might have been in contrast with that which is, leaving them to determine whether our gingerbread has been bought at too high a price. The appropriation by the Assembly for 1874-75, to meet the interest and sinking fund on the public debt was £767,047. The raising of the four million loan at 4J per cent will necessitate the addition of £180,000 more to this huge sum

making within about £53,000 of a million sterling passing annually out of the pockets of the people to pay for the cake they have already eaten, or nearly so. The appropriation for the same year (IS7-1-75) for tlm Governor, Judges' establishment, the General Government and native purposes (which are permanent), charges on the civil list and for public departments, law and justice, postal and telegraphic, customs, native, militia and volunteers, public domains and buildings, and miscellaneous, in fact for all the charges that can be made against the consolidated revenue of the colony amount to £519,077. So much for what, without, any public debt, even with a Government on the extravagent scale of the present one we should have to pay annually out of revenue. The reproductive departmental expenditure from the classes named, such as postal, telegraphic, judicial fines and fees, &c, amounted to £229,700. If we added the stamp duties £100,000 we should only have £189,977 to provide from the Customs to meet the necessary expenses of Government on our present scale. But cutting down the stamp duties to £25,000, which would be realised from deeds and other legi'mate fees levied for the maintenance of the department necessary for giving security to titles, then there would remain £304,700 to provide by Customs taxation, and that has been more than realised during the past year by the duty on spirits alone. This calculation assumes that under a careful administration and the benefits of free ttade, the colony would have reached its present position, in point of population and wealth, without the stimulus of boirowed money. "Whether it would have done so, is a question that it is now impossible to decide, but the progress that the colony did actually make without the creation of any material public debt is illustrated by the revenue statistics fiom 1553 to 1859. The colonial revenue in 1853 was £14J,820; in 1859, £459,649, by no means an insignificant ratio of increase. Assuming that the whole increase of revenue since then has been effected by borrowed money we have the counterbalancing increase in public indebtedness and annual charge for interest, and we leave to political economists to say whether the gain is worth the cost.

Briefly summarising the conclusions of the foregoing article and in order more clearly to demonstrate what the people really pay for the public debt, we state, that with tbe present Government establishments of every kind supported on the satre liberal scale as now, but without a public debt, a working mm might get his tobacco at 2.s per lb,instta'l of 43 0 1 ; his tea at 2s instt-ad of 2s Cd : his kerosine Gel per gallon cheaper ; his coffee, 3d per lb. and his sugar Id per lb. lower ; on every pound that he spends in clothing, blankets, boot 3, buckets, sauces, pieklts, collars, combs, confectionery, pbysic, preserved fish, earthenware, jams, cornflour, matches, musical instiuments, nm.-itard, and the dozens of other things iv use in every house, he would save two shillings. It is well we should know what we are pnyiDg for the little game that is being played from yeir to year iv Wellington.

Mr. C. H. Watkins is an artist who ay. : vpd among us at a comparatively recent duie, and has become a member of the Auckland Society of Artiste. Me came to New Zealand from India about 12 months ago, ami since his arrival has resided at Russell, until lately, when he came to Auckland. He has studied in France and in Switzerland where he was a pupil of M. Calame, a celebrated landscape painter in his time, who resided at Lausanne. His works, which are now on view at Messrs W. Phillips and Son's, Queenstreet, will be a treat to all who love the fine arts. They consist of water colour paintings of scenery in the province of Auckland with a single exception, which is a painting executed in oil. The whole constitute the prizes of an Art Union, which seems to be the only way of selling pictures, however meritorious they may be. The peculiar merits of these works consists not in an elaboration of the parts, but in a bold and facile handling of the whole, and they are exceptional examples of truthful drawings, an honest and genuine attempt to pourtray nature as she appears in her happiest moods ; thus who can look on the river scene "Kauaeranga Creek" without being pleased with the soft mellow light which the Bun is pouring through the leafy shades on its banks whilst the cool reflection of the trees and rocks in the water beneath bespeak the quiet of the glen ; nor is this the only feature to command attention, for, as if to tell another

tale, the creek in rough and rapid course rushes along whilst a huge kauri log left on its distant bank reminds us of the toil of labour's sons and of the days of darkening clouds and foaming torrents. "The Shag Tree," a well-known object on the Kauaerpnga C;eek forms the subject of another painting. We could wish this had been more finished in its treatment, but there it is, a slight sketch indeed, fall of suggestions of natural truth, the water being drawn in a masterly manner, whilst the shags on the tree, quite undisturbed, but evidently on the gui vive show the accuracy of the artist's conception of his subject. The oil painting is of small size and represents a puriri tree, and is worked up with much care and attention to detail, the cldaro oscura particularly attracts one's attention, the golcL n hazy sunlight bathing the landscape in the middle distance is most happily delineated. Upon the whole we may say that the works under consideration are of a'highorder. Where Mr. Watkinsexcels is in the regular unbroken graduation from foreground to extreme distance, the absence of which has been a very grave defect in by far too many of our locally produced works, and his pictures contain a warmth of effect, a harmonious blendiug of light and shade which _no opposition of orange foreground to azure middle distance can ever hope to achieve.

An interesting race between two of our most active police constables for £5 a side has been arranged and will, it is expected, come off on Saturday morning at seven o'clock. The distance is stated at two hundred yards.

An exchange says that a certain, moneylender was sitting in his office when an old dried-up man about 75 years of age came in and said he had just got £500 left him, and, being a childless orphan, he said he didn't expect he could ]ast mnch longer, and had lost interest in things generally. The lender of money said he thought he might give him a hundred a year for his £500, and they closed the bargain. Now moat people would have played fair, and died after a couple of years' comfort, but this dear old cripple did otherwise. It is now fifteen years since he bought his annuity, and he still lives. Year after year does this meek, childless old man walk into the office of the moneylender and draw his cheque, and then that moneylender prances round the room, blesses the man who invented annuities, and throws ledgers about, and makes it lively for his clerk, and the meek old lonely orphan goes away down street, and feels every year more and more that he has not lived in vain.

We have received a letter from Dr. F. T. Bayntun stating that his patient, Mr Jackson, was much grieved at the action of a friend "who, no doubt wishing to do him a kindness, brought the hard struggle ho has had against sickness before the public. Although serioutly iil aud in bad circumstances he hoped to struggle through without any aid from public charity. Mr Jackson is one of those sterling industrious men who would die rather than appear in the public eye as a pauper. Tho feeling is most creditable to Mr Jackson, bi;fc is altogether a mistake derived from a state of things which we are happy to say dees not exist here. We. are sure Mr Stovin, from whom we have to-day much pleasure in acknowledging receipt of £1 ; His Worship the Mayor, IGs ; O , TOs ; and J. 8., 5s ; do not consider their offerings in the light of chaiity, or Mr Jackson as a pauper. In a country like this where people lanci str.nnf.eis and for the most part without a superfluity of cash, they are subject to great hardships and vicissitudes, and if sickness strikes them down before they are able to gain a firm footing, they are not regarded either as pauper 3or subjects for charity in the common sense of the term. Nearly every old colonist who has made bis mark here has suffered great hardships, and the recollection of this renders him ever ready to lend a helping hand to others, and, in doing so, but repays what has often bsen done for himself before. We hope Mr. Jackson will be restored to health andable to do this. Colonists usually are not kindly disposed towards paupers, and would much rather kick than help them. There is no danger of that class flourishing, nor yet of genuine misfortune being mistaken for it;.

Excursion tours through New Zealand should become veiy popular under the new system which has been initiated by the New Zealand Shipping Company. Passengers may now travel at their leisure on a through ticket, remaining at any inter mediate when so disposed, and proceeding on by the next steamer. This will be a great advantage to business men. as well as to yoisuns making a colonial trip will, no doubt, be often taken advantage of. The Company also book through to Melbourne.

Mr McLellau informs na with reference to the mystetious barque at Wbangape that he certainly did not see the vessel nor gave anyone to suppose that he had done bo. Pie says the niraour was set afoot by the Maoris, and thinks there is about as much foundation for it as for the Rangiriri murder.

A correspondent sends the following resolutions to be passed and agreed to by the Hew Zealand House of Representatives after the throwing out of the infamous Volgelian propositions : —l. Whereas a great many laws have from time to time been enacted by this House. 2. That said laws have been found to a great extent useless being totally unknown to the people and altogether unworkable. 3. That the making of said laws, and the hiding them away in vaults, is a very expensive and useless folly which the people are determined no longer to allow. 4. That for the aforesaid reasons this House do cordially agree to pass a email, short Act, merely rescinding all their foimer Acts, and to start anew on another and better system. ~>. That a vast amount of waste paper ir.u t have accumulated within the recesses of this House, a committee be at once appointed to dispose of the same to the beet advantage Memo for ooaimittee: As it might be deemed derogatory to the dignity of the "House" that; these old laws (which had been got up " regardless of expense ") should get into the hands of cheese - mongers, butchers, or sausage-makers, and by this means get into the hands of the people who might be inclined to laugh at these ponderous productions of our united wisdom. This would never do - no, no, —the better plan will be if possible to get rid of this law lumber in a lump. .What an opportunity for any community about to start on their own hook ! Such a chance is rarely to be met with. Somewhere about two tnousand bran new laws at least ; they are but little the worse for wear, ninety-nine percent, of them never having been used. Here is a chance for the Iriji,uis or the Papuans of >>ew Guinea. These new coloaie." will all require a set of laws, and if tres; people -would only thikk for a moment on t_:e enormous tiouble and expense which the manufacturing of these laws had cost the colonists of New Zealand they would at once gee tinadvantages of such a purchase. The alterations required ,iic a mere bagatelle .; in fact, strictly speaking, no alteration is needed. They may be safely stowed away at once—time need not be wasted in reading them —they have served the good people of .New Zealand for many years without being read, then why not the new purchasers, whoever they may be ? If they have faith in them that is .quite sufficient, they know to a certainty that they have them safe and that ought to satisfy any psace-lovirig people. However, we leave the whole affair in hands of the committee, well knowing tbey will make the best bargain they can for the benefit of the colony. We can't expect anything like cost price, therefore no " reasoi able" offer should be refused.

A Delaware man married a woman because she was deaf, and he thought she'd keep her tongue still. So she did, but when he fell into the well and yelled himself hoarse trying to make her hear, he wished she had ears a foot long and could hear a whisper a mile away.

The regnant thought with, most men is: How to make money; and the regnant thought with most women : How to spend it. In their better moments some of these women have been heard to admit that man is a useful animal.— Brooklyn Argus. Of the personnel of the present House of Representatives the Post says :—" At least a score of names might be picked out of the seventy-eight whose absence would cause no general regret, and, indeed, whose presence could very advantageously be dispensed with. We do not think that the New Zealand House of Representatives was ever at a lower ebb than at the present moment, and we trust that the elections which will follow the session will result in a very marked improvement in the character and calibre of its constituent elements. The Fifth Parliament will not occupy a position of honor in the history of the Colony."

Mr. Robert Brewin, proprietor of the Queen-street seed stores, has an eye for the beautiful and useful in the way of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It is impossible for a stranger to enter his seed and botanical store without observing something of vital interest. We were particularly struck this morning with a splendid lemon-branch, from a lemon-tree in the nursery grounds of the Brothers Mason, of Ponsonby, containing no less than thirty-seven fine lemons ; also, a quantity of fine kidney potatoes, grown at Kyber Pass, some of them weighing 240z3. each.

The members of the Auckland Fire Brigade met last evening for practice, under the direction of Superintendent Hughes, and performed with the new hose very satisfactorily.

A very interesting lecture was delivered a few evenings ago at Papakura in aid of the school fuads by Mr 0. Wallis, on the " Use and abuse of phrenology." The ratepayers of Epsom held their first annual meeting yesterday at the Junction Hotel, Mr. Albert Beetham in the chair. The Chairman having introduced the business by some remarks of an encouraging nature, said the first business before them was the striking of a rate. Mr. W. Aitken then moved and Mr. Alexander seconded, "That the rate be Id in the £1 on the value to sell." Amendments of id and lid In the £1, were-negatived and Mr. Aitken's motion carried. The following officers were then elected :—Messrs Alexander, Udy, Cosgrave, Lavera, and Beetham, trustees'; Messrs Tothill and Heather, auditors; and Messrs. Aitken and Robert Hall, fence viewers.

Information having "been given to the police that six seamen had absconded from the ship Forfarshire, Detective Jeffrey and Constable Bullenlwerejdispatchedin quest of them, when after a vigorous search in the direction they were represented to have gone, the constable detected them in a cluster on Kumco FJat in the act of cogitating on their future prospects. They were brought back to the station, and will make their aj>pearance at the Police Court in the morning.

Some trouble has been caused in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, by the transfer of the Catholic church at Meyrin to a parochial council of Old Catholics. Tho Municipal Council, Ultramontane, refused to agree te the tracsfei*, but the Cantonal authorities authorised the Old Catholics to take possession of the church, which they did. The Mayor of the village has been suspended for retusing to yield the church keys. Mgr. Mermiilod has written a letter congratulating the Mayor upon his constancy, and warning the people that all the religious fnnctions of the Old Catholic priests are without force.

A strange custom observed at the hotels in Ceylon is the signing of chits when an order is £iven at the bar for wines or liquors. These chits are small pieces of paper, signed either with the initials or full name of the party who gives the order. If a stranger enters a hotel in Colcmbo, he is presented with one ,of these clrds, which he signs, or pays for his liquor in preference. It is not necessary that the visitor should be known to the bartender or she uld be living in the house. He may, perhaps be a passenger by a steamer leaving that day ; it is no business of the employee. If the stranger chooses to sign a false name, or a name so illigebly written that it cannot be deciphered, still it is no business of the man at the bar. All he has to do is to retain the paper as a proof that the liquor was supplied st.d not paid for. These 1. O. U.s are collected about once a month, and except in cases of fraud—which unfortunately for the hotel keepers are not uncommon—there is no difficulty in finding the person who #aye them. There are not over a thousand European inhabitants in Ceylon, and the whereabouts of each of them is easily ascertained.

On the eve of starting from Berlin, for the campaign of 1870, Moltke was interviewed by the correspondents, and replied as follows : " You ask me how matters are getting along. Not badly ;my wheat has suffered from raiD, but my crop of potatoes was nerer finer." The correspondents forthwith took up their watch on the Rhine.

A correspondent of the London Times who wilnessed at Damascus the return of the Mchammedarj pilgrims this year fiom Mecca, was struck by the lack of religious enthusiasm in the huge crowd which turned out to meet them. In Damascus a mosque has not been baitt for twenty years, and scores are iti ruins. It is no longer the custom, as it was formerly, for rich men to give large gifti to the churches. The pilgrimage, he thought, is becoming more and more a trading expedition. Coffee, carpets, and slaves are the principal artichs of merchandise brought back by the pilgrims. The slave trade, which is in direct violation of the law at Damascus, is carried on openly. The average number of persons who join the annual pilgrimage is about 4,000.

A Pennsylvania lad who went fishing on a Sunday, and was thereby the means of s.iving a wealthy gentleman from drowning, has had §10,000 deposited for him by the latter in a savings bank. Such occurrences can only be interpreted as a conspiracy to overthrow religion. Better abandon our Sunday-schools and dissolve onr tract societies if this boy doesn't come to somj bad end bsfora the season is out.— Exchange.