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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 130, 1 June 1878, Page 2

Tho Press has received from the author, E. J. Wakefieid, a pamphlet entitled " The taxes in New Zealand : Who pays ? Who doesn't pay ? Who ought to pay ?" The publication is described as " a handbook to - taxation reform," and a summary of the proposed reforms is given on page 40. They consist in brief of the abolition of the duties on all articles of food and other necessaries detailed, by which it is estimated that the revenue would lose £531,254. This is to be made up by a tax on all incomes over £200 a year; |a tax of £1 per annum as a voter's right fee on every adult male not receiving £200 a year; 2s 6d per acre on all land sales, to be carried to ordinary revenue j and 2s 6d an acre on all land acquired by Europeans from natives, and a proportionate rate for leases. These changes Mr Wakefieid calculates will leave a net profit on the whole to the revenue of £148,745.

The Inspector of Nuisances in Wellington met with a comical rebuff the other night when endeavoring to enforce the rule against driving after dark without lights. A cart drove by without lights. The Inspector hailed the driver — " Ahoy ! Where are your lights ?" The driver, unable to see in the dark who was the querist, evidently supposed he was being derided, and placidlyreplied—" My lights ? Well, I generally wears 'em next my liver, sir ! " The following regarding the heir apparent of Maoridom is from the Auckland Star: — Tv Tawhiao has returned to Alexandra, after having been feted by the Europeans at Te Awamutu. Hamilton, and elsewhere. We learn that he has made a most favorable impression in all quarters. He has a most prepossessing appearauce, is tall, graceful, with well formed features, and that . light complexion which is often met with amongst blue blooded Maori rangitiras. He wears a slight moustache and beard, Vulgarly termed a " goatee," aud he has large black expressive eyes. Te Tawhiao, it should be meutioned, is tiot tatooed. He generally dresses well, and in European attire, looking every inch a gentleman. At the ball at Hamilton he dressed in orthodox black, and In all other respects was appropriately got up for the occasion. He evinced some shyness at first, . and appeared to have considerable misgivings as to hia Terpsichorean accomplishments, but this was overcome, and he took his place in a "set" with a young pakeha lady as his vis-a-vis,' It i 3 reported— but we do not vouch for the truth of the report— that both at Te Awamutu aud Hamilton the young ladies vied with each other in their anxiety to dance with " the prince." We hope none oi! our fair readers will be smitten from a perusal of the foregoing description of this young gentleman. A few weeks in a Maori whare,. with such fare as dried shark and potatoes, would soon rub offl the romance evßn of being a princess ; and moreover we would warn all and sundry that polygamy is one of the royal institutions of Tawhiab's Court. The King himself is very much married— in fact he has three wivei, while several other Maori ladies are, in the language of Utah, " sealed unto him."