Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 2829, 13 March 1872, Page 2

Library of Eeference. —The SubCommittee of the Reference Library, at a conference with the authorities of the Otago University, agreed to forward orders to Great Britain for a number of books considered by the Professors to be necessary for immediate use. The order* will be forwarded by the out-going mail.

Flower Show.— The approaching exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society promises to be one of the most successful that have been held here for some years. The entries are both good and numerous. We believe that his Honor the Superintendent, the hon. Defence Minister, and the native chiefs, who acmmpany Mr M'Leau, wore asked to be present at the opening, and that they have promised to do so, if their other engagements on that day will permit of their doing so. At all events they will vidt the show d iring the day, and the hon. Mr vl ‘Lean will deliver the prizes to the sucees fill competitors for the best kept wardens. (t has been arranged to allow the released Maories t> visit the show, under the guardianship of Mr Caldwell. City Valuation. —Mr Watt, H.M., sat yesterday and to-day in the Resident Ma’istrate’s Court to hear appeals against the City assessment. Tw;nty-eight appeals were lodged, and in ten cases some slight reductions were made, while in three cases brought by E. Godso costs were allowed to the Corporation. In the remaining cases the rates were affirmed. The total loss resulting to the Corporation from yesterday’s appeals was LIO; the total amount of the assessments, LIO,OOO. The principal of to-day’s appeals were by Mr Millar and Mr Turnbull. Mr Millar appealed against the assessment on St. Andrew’s Church manse. His Worship said he had considered the question, and the remarks made by Mr Smith, and although he had no doubt whatever of the intention of the framers of the Ordinance to exempt the residences of clergymen from asses ment, they had not said so. The primary meaning of the word manse was merely a dwelling house, and it was only in Scotland where it was exclusively applied to indicate the residence of a parish clergyman. But there being no parishes or established Church in the Colony, the word did not apply in that sense. Therefore on two grounds the appeal must be dismissed Appeal dismisse I accordingly, n Mr Turnbull’s second case, a very important point was raised. In the first case he objected to the assessment, on the ground that is was chargeable on two properties belonging to different proprietors, while he maintained it should be charged separately. If the separate assessment were _ given, he consented to waive that objeclion. In the second case, that as the site of the assessment was seven acres of the Town Belt, no rates were chargeable, on the ground that when the lease was sold there were no conditions as to rates, while to rate property for the rating of which no provision was made at the time of purchase was unjust; besides, the Belt was not benefitted by the levying of rates, as no roads were made there.

The New Zealand Illustrated Herald for this month contains two capitally executed views of Otago scenery — Mount Hamilton and the Nuggets Lighthouse—which should secure it a ready sale. The reading matter is unusually interesting. The Acclimatisation Society meet to-morrow (Thursday) at 2 o’clock. The Committee appointed at the public meeting last evening of the Saturday HalfHoliday Association, are requested by advertisement to meet in the Lower Hall, Athemeum this evening at eight o’clock.