THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2619, 31 May 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1877.

Some time ago we were said to have been too precipitate in coming to the conclusion that the subsidy due to the Borough had been stopped for the support of the sick and destitute, and other charitable purposes. On the one hand there was the remittance through the bank of a small sum of money, said to be the balance of the subsidy after necessary deductions; and against this was a telegram from the Under Secretary stating that the remittance was no balance, but a sum forwarded to Wellington in error. No definite reply has yet been received as to what has become of the subsidy, and the money remains unpaid. The latter fact, taken in conjunction with the semi-official explanation which appears in our telegraphic columns to-day, is significant. It is there stated that two boroughs in the Auckland Provincial District hare received their subsidies; the only boroughs in such district entitled to subsidies were Auckland and Thames ; ao that it is evident the Government consider the subsidies paid; and whatever explanation may ultimately be furnished as to the disposal of the money; whether it has been stopped for our contribution to Hospitals, &c., or for any other reason, we fear the sum will not be forthcoming. As it was inserted amongst the assets of the Borough in the estimate of revenue and expenditure for the current year, it would be well for the Council to satisfy themselves on the point at once. If the money is not to be forthcoming, the expenditure will have lobe reduced. The amount—£96o—is a substantial one, and must sensibly affect the expenditure of the Borough if it be

found—as we fear it will—that the Government have " attached " the money to satisfy claims on the Borough.

We would invite the attention of the Borough , and County Councils to a comparison of the " Gold Returns " published to-day by our contemporary and ourselves. As tho former is taken as an authority in allotting the proportions of gold duty accruing to the two local bodies, there should be some attempt to approach correctness, but there is not. The Advertiser's returns and the total are grossly inaccurate, and we chal« lenge them to prove its correctness. The local bodies must adopt some other authority for their guidance.