SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1830, 3 June 1874, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(Per Anglo-Australian Telegraph Press Agency.) «- : THK EDUCATION TAX. On the Provincial Council going into committee on the Education Bill to-day, the Provincial Treasurer said members were aware that the Government had con* suited Mr Whitaker as to the proposed rating clauses of the Education Act. Although that gentleman was of opinion that the clauses were legally valid tbe Government had reason to believe that insuperable difficulties would be presented in the collection of the tat iu the j manner proposed. 'It had therefore, been I decided largely to alter these clauses. The amended clauses would be ready to be laid before the Council this evening. He would give an outline of the intended alterations, and then move that the Chairman report progress, and the Committee obtain leave to sit again that hour. In the first place the present uniform rating system of £1 per household would be adhered to. This would bo supplemented by a modification of the proposed bachelor tax ; viz., 10s per head instead of 20s, while the capitation tax would be increased from 5s to 10s. This would only be a temporary arrangement, and it was probable that anew system, on a property basis would be elaborated next session. They estimated that the £1 tax would produce £10,000, supplementary taxes £3,000, then £9,000 advanced to the Educatton Board would make up the estimated cost for year, viz,' £22,000. THE BTEWABT SPECIAL SETTLEMENT. * The report of the Select Committee on Mr Stewart's special settlement scheme was read. It was favourable to Mr Stewart, and stated that the committee believed that the proposals were bona fide, and that Mr Stewart was able to carry them out.

It is reported that Mr J. S. Macfarlane has entered an action for malicious prosecution against Mr Harris. -Share* market:-Sales:.Crown Prince, 19i61j Sons of Freedom, £5; Queen of the May, 15s 6J; Caledonian, £10; Care, 15.4 6d; Bed Queen, 2s 6i; Queen of the Thames, 6< 6d. Buyers: Alburnia (paid-up), Hi i Moanataiari, 22s ; City of London, 23s 6d; Union Beach, 17s 6d; Thames, 67s 6d.A lire at Newmarket destroyed four buildings. McNiell, baker; building owed by Wrigley; insured in the South British for £250, Norwich Union, £50. Ike stock was insured for £400 in the Norwich Union. Witherford, ironmonger ; stock insured for £200 in the New Zealand, building for £200 in the South British. Jenkins, draper; stock in the New Zealand for £250. Morgan ; building for £200 in the Neir Zealand, and the stock for £260 in the Norwich Union. A quantity of good were Baved, but the estimated, insurances will not nearly cover the loss." The fire is believed to have originated in Witherford's workshop.—Mr J. 8. Macfarlane is a candidate for Waite'uata. Muetu, Tuesday. The Te Puke meeting is over. About thirty thousand acres are passing into the hands of fie Government. It is firstclass land, with water communication through the whole block.