NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 February 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

LAND AGGREGATION.

TO AN ALARMING EXTENT

MASTERTON, Feb. 12

Considerable aggregation of laud is said to be going on in Wairarapa. At meetings of the Wairarapa Patriotic Asoeiation to-day reference was made to this aggregation. Mr Hughen, Mayor of Carterton, said ho knew from Ills own knowledge, that estates were being bought up privately pud amalgamated'. He thought the law should be. amended to compel owners to offer their estates to the Government. A voice: “The Government is afraid to interfere. ’ Mr A. McDonald said there was need for immediate inquiry in Wair.arapa. He mentioned the case of one large owner, who, he' said, had recntly bought a further valuable estate. He considered this a disgrace to the district and "to the Dominion.

Mr. A. O. Considine was quite 'satisfied that land aggregation was proceding to an alarming extent. It was going on all round them.

Mr. A. McDonald said settlers were offering land to Government at prices far beyond their value. (He Jknew this from his experience ;as a valuer..

It was ultimately 1 ' diecidedl 'jftha|t Mcsrs. Sykes- hnd Hornsby, M.P.’s be requested to make representations to the Government upon the subject. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE NBYv ZEALAND FINANCE STATEMENT BY MINISTER WELLINGTON, February .12 ,The Hon. Arthur Myers, ActingMinister for Finance, has furnished the folowing particulars relating to the revenue for the month of January. 1919, and 1918 respectively; also particulars of revenue and expenditure for the ton months ended 31st January this year, compared with the similar period for 1918.

Commenting on the figures, Mr. Myers remarked that it would be noticed ithe revenue for the month of January, 1919, shows a considerable reduction over the corresponding month last year, amounting to £383.100. The total revenue for the ten months ended 31st January. 1910, however, shows a net increase of £1,168,171 over the corresponding ten months of last year.

The expenditure for the ten months ended January, 1919, shows an increase of £2,657,693 in excess of the expenditure, for the ten months ended January, 191 S. The increases in expenditure apply to most departments but the chief increase of course comes under the heading of Interest and Sinking Fund Pensions, etc.

"The expenditure up to date,” continued the Minister, 5" for {the years 1918-1919 shows an excess over the revenue for the same period amounting to £1,091,075. This difference will be more than made good wh'en the income tax for the year is collected.

“The Public Works Fund shows a decrease in expenditure of £82,281 for this yeait, as compared with the similar period of last year.” DAMAGE BY FLOODS. DUNEDIN, February 13. Although the flood waters have receded it is estimated there are still 6090 acres between Stirling and Kaitangata more or less under water, and it is there the damage to crops has been greatest. Root and grain crops everywhere within The flooded area have been practically destroyed. Potatoes and turnips are positively rotting, and, although the oats bo

all right when standing in water, when the water has receded it is seen that the crop is killed. In this respect the flood of 1919 will long llveHs the most destructive in the history of the Molyneux floods, so far as the crops are concerned. CALLED HER A GERMAN. GOT HIS FACE SLAPPED. WANGANUI, ePbruary 12. A sensation was Created at Marton Junction dining-rooms on Monday, night, owing to a fight which took place between a man named Joseph Patrick O'Connor and a waitress named Hilda Ztmda. According to accounts, it appeared that O’Connor, who was allegedly under the influence of drink, called the girl a German, and used other offensive language. The girl smartly retaliated by slapping him across the face. O’Connor, objecting, as he said, to he struck by a German, returned the blows. Constable Anderson was rung up on the‘’phone, and he immediately put in an Appearance with the result that O’Cdnnor -was arrested. He was brought before

Court on three charges, and artel me hearing of evidence, accused was fined £2 for using obscene language, £1 for assault, and was convieteU and, discharged on a charge of being drunk. O’Connor is said to be a returned soldier, and, it is also said, that the girl’s brother fought on the side of the Allies DONALD REID’S BENEFACTIONS!, TO FOUND ’A CHAIR OF ECONOMICS. DUNEDIN, this day. The “Dunedin Star’ ’says the late Donald Reid has left a considerable sum for founding a Chair of Economics at the Otago University, and a thousand pounds as a, direct legacy to the Early Settlers’ Association.