POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

Evening Star, Issue 2871, 2 May 1872, Page 3

POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

{From our Special Correspondent) MB SHKPHERB AT CROMWELL. We continue our report of Mr Shepherd’s speech There is little doubt, gentlemen, that increased taxation will be inevitable. The interest and sinking fund on our present consolidated debt are greater than our Custom’s receipts, so that something must be done to provide for ordinary expenditure. Custom dues cannot be increased until our population is augmented, the attempt to do so would be suicidal, unless for the protection of native industries. There are only two modes of taxation calculated to seriously affect financial affairs yet open to us an income tax or land tax. Unless the populalation is considerably augmented one of these modes of raising revenue must be resorted to. I regret the imposition of the increased stamp duties, voted against them, and hope this session to see them repealed. You will doubtless remember the course I took on the question of Gold Duty Kepeal. I proposed Cd an ounce should be annually taken from this impost until abolished, as it is not only unfair to the miner, but oftentimes prejudicial to the interests of the country. Wheat and potatoes, when exported, are as justly entitled to pay export duty as gold. Mr Swanson, the member for Newton, stated in the House he knew a case on the Thames where the 2s 6d per ounce was found to be the margin of profit alone on one mining enterprise, which had to be abandoned in consequence of such an impost continuing. The present system of government is too cumbrous and costly. In past times, when L 360.000 par annum was voted for Provincial expenditure', they were aware from experience how little could be wrung from the Government for up-country districts. How much worse was their chance at the present time ? Then they got little—now they would get none. Local Shires must be established—and a radical change take place. The Government Bill introduced for this purpose will only reduce the system, not abolish it; but the course to adopt is to put it to sleep quietly and effectively. The Wakatip people want to bury Provincial Councils—in fact they may be called the Wakatip Provincial Government Undertakers. After speaking of the Justices Bill and its effect on the poorer classes of the community, the speaker ventilated his old grievance aneut the Cromwell A whicn is well known already throughout the Colony. The speaker reviewed the San Francisco service, Grand Jurors Bill, Otago Waste Land Bill, of which portion of it expressing a desire for deferred payment, ho claimed to be the author ; the Bank Unclaimed Deposit Bill ; New Goldfields Bill; Chinese Immigration, and various other topics. After animadverting strongly on the Duncan and Reid Covcrnment, as being the primary cause of the Moa Flat laud sale, as they had needlessly ran the Province into debt by expending money on tire Taieri and suburban interests instead of on the goldfields, where the increased returns would have provided for the excess, he continued, “I voted for the removal of the next .session from Wellington to Dunedin, as Wellington possesses too much local influence for legitimate leg station, and other reasons. I consider Christchurch, from its geographical position, as being the most suitable for the seat of government, and a commodious stone building should be erected for legislative business.” On the education question the speaker said—“ I am m favor of the aided school clause, as being only justice to the JRoman Catholic portion of the community, but would oppose it ere I certain that it would _ interfere with a national system of education.’’ . . . . “I can assure you, gentlemen, the life of a working member of the House is not an easy one. It is the hardest work I have ever done. I have myself two nights a week been’kept up till six ip t]m morning. Ido not say tiffs to vaunt my services, but to induce you to co-operate heartily with me iu what may be good for the district. Mr Shepherd spoke more temperately and coherently than usual, while he seems in some degree to be losing his objectionable manperism. , T , " After a few remarks from the Mayor, and pu enquiry by Mr Kidd cs to what had been done to help a man to obtain commonage for the district, and a refusal to give Mr M'Kellar a categorical answer on the aided schools clause, It was proposed by Mr CoLCLOtmn, and seconded by Mr Linds ,y—“That this meeting has every confidence in and approves of the conduct of Mr Shepherd, M.H.IL, and thanks him for his address this evening.” Carried unanimously.

Masonic Hall. There was an almost entire change of programme at this place of amusement last evening. Professor Haaelmayer introduced several new parlor tricks. In one of these he produced a block of wood, variously estimated by some of his auditors to weigh from five and a-half to seven lbs., and then in a most mysterious manner plucked an orange from off the head of a gentleman, which he placed on a table. He then brought out a beautiful specimen of cabinet work, in the shape of an oblong box, in which he enclosed the block ; and, after making a few passes, a complete transformation took place : the orange and the block changed places. The neat and clever manner in which this trick was performed elicited the warm applause of the audience. The Professor then played his own composition, “The Concert Waltz,” on the piano. We were both pleased and surprised at his brilliant execution ; but, in common with these who were present, wc were still more astonished at his performance of Verdi’s “Carnival of Venice,” with variations, executed with an ordinary clothes brush. In the second part the birds and mice created considerable amusement by their docility and cleverness. Instead of the magic drum, a glass bell was substituted, which was equally remarkable for the truthful manner in which it solved arithmetical questions and abstruse metaphysical propositions. The chef d’anivre was emptying the contents of a gentleman’s hat, from which a string of shavings apparently nearly a mile in length was drawn, bouquets were distributed, lighted Chinese lanterns extracted, and baby linen and unmentionable female clothing apparatus were pulled out and exhibited, in addition to an egg and gentleman’s wig. Lastly, after being cut to pieces and crammed into a most uuwarlike looking piece of ordinance, and fired off, the hat took a flight through the air up to the ceiling of the room, whence it dropped uninjured into the hands of the owner, amid the laughter and applause of the spectators.