The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1889. SURPLUS REVENUE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1882, 23 April 1889, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1889. SURPLUS REVENUE.

The Colonial Treasurer will, we are told, have a surplus of £66,000 this year, and it is his intention to utilise this money in extinguishing a portion of the public debt, This sounds very well, but if the truth were known we believe that all the Treasurer has to spare is the primage duty, and, if so, it is not correct to set it down as a surplus. The primage duty is a customs tax of one per cent., which was put on specially to pay off the floating debt which previous deficits had created. The present surplus, therefore, is no part of the revenue proper, nor is the floating debt any part of the public debt, There is, therefore, no surplus, and what is represented as such is the primage duty, which has been specially put on to pay off past deficits. It is true that the revenue has turned out better than was atuicipated. Some months ago things looked so. gloomy that Sir Harry Atkinson said he was afraid he would have to seize the primage duty and utilise it as ordinary revenue, instead of paying off some of the floating debt. Fortunately the necessity for doing this is now obviated as enough revenue has been received to enable the colony to pay its way without resorting to any such means, and for this we ought to be thankful. For years we have not had a real surplus of revenue. We have had deficit after deficit accumulating on top of each other year after year, and increasing the public debt, That we have now reached a point at which we have enough to pay our way, and something to spare is really encouraging and satisfactory. We notice that the Christchurch Press, and other freotrade papers are very exultant over the fact that there is a surplus. They are belauding the Government to the skies, and congratulating Sir Harry Atkinson on having put the finances of the colony on a sound footing. Of course the Press, as usual, insists on making it appear that the muddled state of the finances was due to the Stout-Yogel Ministry. Now this is really impudent. The finances of the colony were never in such a; muddle as they were when Sir Julius Yogel took charge of them, and if he had been allowed to carry out his policy he would certainly have put them in order. Perhaps the, Press will remember that Sir Julius Yogel, in his Financial Statement of 1885, suggested an increase in the Customs duties, and also in 1887 he made similar proposals, hut on both occasions he was defeated. How has Sir Harry Atkinson been able to put the finances of the colony on a sound footing ? Simply by adopting exactly the policy on which Sir Julius Yogel was beaten in 1885 and 1887. He increased the Customs duties, as Sir Julius Yogel wanted to do, and now he has been able to balance accounts ; and if Sir Julias Yogel had been allowed to do this in 1885 we would never have had the slightest necessity for primage duty. But the most impudent part of the whole thing is that this policy was carried out in spite of the Press, and the party of which it is the champion liar. Sir Harry Atkinson carried out his policy with the assistance of the Liberal party, while the Conservatives voted against him, and now, when the policy, has proved successful, the Press wants to claim credit for it. A greater piece of impudence no one could be guilty of. The credit of it is due in reality to Sir Julius Yogelit was be who schemed and arranged it, and Sir Harry Atkinson copied it, making a few alterations which relieved the rich of some of the taxation, and threw it on the shoulders of the poor. If Sir Julius Yogel had been able to carry out his scheme is 1885 we should have been better off now, and the finances of the colony would have long ago been put straight. Let Honor be given to whom honor is due. The Press and the Conservative party have no right at all to any share in the credit of the present satisfactory state of the finances, it was the Liberals who assisted Sir Harry Atkinson in carrying out Sir Julius Vogel’s proposals, and it is to them the credit is du«.

LOCAL AND GENERAL. annum Meeting of Ratbpatebs.— The annual meeting of ratepayers in the Temuka Road District takes place at noon on the Ist May. Ahbital of thb Rimutaka. The R.M.S.B, Rirautaka arrived at at rn early hour yesterday morning from Plymouth, via Hobart. West Coast Exflobatioh. Surveyor Willmotl’s party has returned to Dunedin from an overland trip to the West Coast. They explored the country between Clinton mer and Lake Te Anau, but could find no practicable route. Election of School Committees.- The annual election of School Committees in every district in South Canterbury takes place this evening. In every case the meeting of householders will commence at seven o’clock. Sale of Hobbes.— Messrs J; Mundelland Co. hold a sale of draught and hackney bones at Qeraldine to-morrow, and request that entries may be made as early as possible. A buyer for the Indian market will be in attendance.

Found Dead. A man named A. MoMasters, inspector of the Awatere Road Board, was found dead in his hut at Awatere on Thursday. Ho is supposed to have died two days previously. At the inquest the verdict was “ Found Dead.” He was a single naan, over 50 years of age, and a|resident of the district 20 years. Ha had been drinking. Paper Bottles.—lt is announced that paper bottle are to be manufactured on a very extensive scale ; their weight is less than those of glass or stoneware, and they are less liable to breakage. Paper being also an. excellent non-conductor, fluids stored in air-tight paper bottles will withstand a more intense degree of heat or C 'H than when put in ordinary bottles.

The PHONoaHAPH. —Edison’s phonograph is undoubtedly a remarkablo invention. It can produce a speech accurately, and even give the long deep breath and coughs if the orator is suffering from a cold. The applause of the audience is also distinctly and sharply repeated, and the cheers at the close of the meeting, the shuffling of feet,and the aonfused uproar of the departing crowd, are aho most faithfully reproduced. Temuka Hoad Board. —ln our advertising columns Mr J. Talbot, the chairman of the Tetnuka lioad Board, thanks the ratepayers in the Tenauka Road District for their many expressions of confidence in him as a member of the board, and announces that it is not his intention on the present occasion to offer hirastlf for re-election. Mr Talbot has been a member of the Temuka Road Board for many years, during which he has devoted a vast amount of time to the public service, and bis resignation will cause a blank not easily filled. Disputed Authority. A somewhat serious difference has arisen between the Auckland Beard of Education and the Ponsonby School Committee with reference to the notion of lbs former body in dispensing with the services of Mrs Rooney, head teacher of Richmond Road School. It appears that Mr* Rooney had applied for a month’s leave of absence for family reasons, and had obtained leave on a previous occasion. The board hava made a rule that teacher* under such circum»tanoes must give up their positions, although, as in Mrs Rooney’s case, they may be efficient teachers. The committee contend that the law was not complied with, and that they were not properly “ consulted.” The board contend that they have made it a rule to discharge teachers in such circumstances.

Waimatb Races. —The autumn masting ot the Waimato Racing Olub took place o» Thursday last, about 400 persons attending. The sum of £6OO was passed through the totalisator during the day. Results Hurdle Race, of 15 sovs.: Mr Jones’s Monteagle 1, Mr T. S. Msdhcot’s BI»ok Jack 2, St. Patrick’s Handicap, of 30 sots. : Mr M. Sherwin’s Miss Lucy 1, Mr B. T. Rhodes’s Murat 2. Selling Hack Race, of 10 sots. : Mr D. Nelson’s Prima Donna 1, Mr Lookhead’s Oymara 2. Hand cap Time Trot, of 12 sore.: Mr H. Jaekson’s Nelly 1, Mr J. Merry’s Casette 2. Pony Raee, of 5 eovs.: Mr J. Middleton’s Tommy Dodd 1, Mr Dooley’s Nelly 2. Selling Hack Race No. 2 : Prime Donna 1, Oymara 2. Ladies’ Bracelet, value £ls : Mies M. B. Sherwin Miss Luoy 1, Mrs May’s Monteagle 2, The Consolation was won by Belladonna. The dividends were all email with the exception of that paid on the Trot, viz., £ll. Poisoning by Bromide o? Potassivk.— (( Medious ” writes as follow# to the Otago Daily Times “ I was much surprised to observe that in his evidence In the case of the man Pinching:, who died in the Waiau lock-up, Dr Parsons stated that it was his opinion that deceased had poisoned himself with bromide of potassium. 1 am afraid I hat people who know anything about the matter will not agree with Dr Parsons. Bromide of potaesinm is a poison in the same way that common salt is a poison ; that is to say if a person ware to swallow ilb of it ho might die in a few days of gaetro-intestinal irritation, but to suppose that a person can destroy himself in ihree-qnarlers of an hour by swallowing a dose from 1 a small wide-necked bottle ’ is nonsense pure and simple.” Thh Tacant Seat.— The Government, it is reported, are to make a virtue ok a necessity in not filling up Mr Fisher’s placa in the Ministry. It is difficult; to imagine anyone anxious to join a moribund ministry of such peculiar ways and principles. The Ministerial organ iu Wellington would like to see Mr George Beethara join were it not for the virtuous resolution to leave Mr Fisher’s vacant I chair empty. Now, Mr Beetham holds tho Ministry in contempt, and would scorn the offer. Ho stood aside when the work of Cabinet-making was going on, though not acquiescing in the pettifogging reasons assigned by Sir Harry Atkinson for his exclusion—reasons in themselves disgraceful. In substance they were that as Mr Fisher was known to be a poor man retrenchment would come better from him than from one who was known to be in affluent circumstances ! In other words, the poor man would be paid a salary to convince the public that the Ministry was self-sacrificing and patriotic 1 Since then Mr Beetham, who is an honorable man, has loathed the wretched trimmers, and would not shrink I from any step to hasten their descent to Avernus. What other member would accept the vacant seat ? There may be someone out at elbows, but wo do not know him. The Ministerial organ must try again, and see whether it cannot find some more likely candidate for the doubtful honor. What does it say to Mr Hobbs I This is tho only one msao enough to oven look at them, but even he would probably be repelled. Sir Harry Atkinson deserves pity. JlTe is a strong man in himself, but he hue been sacrificed. The only Minister who could have saved him is gone. The learn appear to have realised Sir Harry’s dream of a “pauper colony.”—Wanganui Herald.

KOBBBBT FBOK A BOAEDING-HOITSE.— Yesterday afternoon the police received information that a robbery had been committed at Tombs’ Restaurant, Terauka. Five one-pound notes were found by Mrs Tombs to have been abstracted from her cash box, evidently by someone conversaat with the ruo of the premises. The police have no clue to the offender, and there appears to be little prospect of the thief being brought to justice. A Startling Experience. During a thunderstorm in Christchurch on Saturday (says (he Lyttelton Times) Mrs Fred Mills, of Noith street, met with a startling experience. She had gone to the fireplace in the kitchen, and was in the act of lifting a saucepan from it, when a flash of lightning gave her a shock, which partly stupefied her. Her eldest daughter came to her aid and applied restoratives. It was necessary subsequently to seek medical aid.

The New Train Arrangements.— From the Ashburton Guardian we learn that the Mayor (if Ashburton has received the following telegram in reply to the resolutions passed at a public meeting in that town “Your resolutions n time-table. Commissioners will be able to alter the tri-weekly service days as you request. Will also be able to shorten the lime of slow trains, Christchurch to Timaiu, by somewhat more than half an hour. The times are fixed so that Ashburton residents can either reach Christchurch at 7 (p.m.) which is earlier than present express, or at 8.50, which will give the opportunity of less travelling in the dark if desired. Commissioners are still discussing matter, and are open to receive any suggestions or repiesaotations, E. G. Pilcher, Acting Secretary."—The Mount Peel Road Board at a meeting on Thursday passed n resolution dealing with the same subject. Anti-Slang Society,— A large number of Chicago girls met one evening for the purpose of forming a “ Ladies Anti-Slang Society.” Tim meeting was called to order, and Miss Sadie da Pork elected President. Before taking her seat she said in a clour, cairn, well-modulated voice ; “Really, girls Pm too badly rattled by the honor conferred upon me to give you much of my gaff. It’s the first time I ever tumbled into anything of this sort, and I hardly know just how to catch on. However, ITI try te be sufficiently up to muff not to let any flies light on me while I’m doing the President-of-tbis-society act. Pm with you in this move, and don't any of you forget it. All over our land slang words are multiplying like flies in sorghum time, and it is our duty to help knock this crying evil as silly as possible. Let our motto be 1 Shoot the Slangist.’ ’’ Salvation Army Picnic— The Salvation Array held a picnic in the Victoria Park, Tetnuka, yesterday. There was a large attendance, the loctl corps being joined by a contingent of 40 from Timaru, who came out in expresses. Captain and Mrs Bites, with many willing assistants, cid all in their power to tu»ke the picnic a success, which it undoubtedly was. Refreshments of excellent quality were provided by numerous friends, and the tea proper was found by the Army. The Primitive Methodist community also took advantage of the day and united their forces to the Army, to their mutual enjoyment. Games of all sorts were indulged in. In the intervals advantage was taken by the offitirs to give a word of exhortation or to ask those present to join in singing, an invitation which was heartily agreed to. The gathering dispersed at about 5.30. Iu the evening there was a good attendance at the Barracks, where inspiriting services were held. SYNOPSIS OF ADYB R'LTSEMBNT3. John Talbot—Notice to ratepayers of the Tetnuka Road District. Robert Irvine, Returning Officer—Notice re election of Mount Peel Road Board. Tetnuka Road Board—Annual meeting of ratepayers at Bead Board Offioe on Ist May, at noon.

Bazaar at Temuka—Will ba opened to-day at 3 p.m.; gift auction of produce and unsold goods to-night; admission free. J. Mundell and Co., and Webster and Macdonald Are n®w booking entries for fortnightly stock sale at Geraldine on Ist May. Miles, Archer and 00,, Titnaru—Tenders for less* of Clarendon Farm (now occupied by Mr Thos. Crompton) close on Thursday next.

B. Pilbrow, Agent for Nimmo and Blair, Temuka—Has three 13-row English drills for sale ; all latest improysments and fitied with shafts and patent staaraga ; fitted for all seeds.

Temuka Town Board—lnvite tenders for performing for six months the ordinary work for the board hitherto done by day labor ; important notice to householders ra closets and puns. W. Sweet, Nurseryman, Temuka—lnvites the public to inspect his stock of trees, etc., of which he has a fine stock ; gives quotations for apples, pears, quinces, poaches, plums, cherries, gooseberries, currants, macrooarpus, etc.