THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3405, 20 November 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1879.

Kxtbeme pressure on our time and space has prevented us up to the present from referring to the financial proposals of the Ministry as enunciated in the Financial Statement of the Colonial Treasurer delivered in the House on Monday evening last. In a perusal of the Stutenienl the feature that will forcibly strike the most casual observer is the large proposed increased taxation. During the ensuing financial year, the taxpayers of New Zealand will have contributed £766,000 more than they had in the previous years ; while, in addition, the? Government propose to abolish the subsidies paid to local bodies, giving a suving to the Colonial exchequer of _^U&g_£tQQ _#.« in »<\iim<l imml>Pl*S. clflßUlUg

another JiI.OUU.OOO, on i.o Ihe already

heavy tax 1m of tho colony. The gros^ amount raised by taxation test, yenr was £1,514,624, or something like £3 15.< per annum for every poison in the colony. Under the proposals now unrior notice, the total amount to be raisiul- darin;,' tiie ensuing financial year will be £2,280,001), or something over £5 per bead. This i.* the burden every man, woman, and child in tho colony will have to bear, and we are sure Ibe figures will < xcile astonishment wherever read. Neio Zealand will be taxed 50 per cent, more than n/l the rest of the Australian Colonial! Having thus taken v cursory glance ut she matter in the bulk, let us iook al the sources from which the Government propose to raise all this additional taxation. In the first place tbore will be the abolition of the subsidies already referred to; the imposition of a property tnx, which it is estimated alone will realise close on half a million ; the increase of spirit duty by 2s per gallon, and of tobacco duty by Is per pound, which will realise between them about £100,000. Other articles of use and consumption will bare to bear an increased impost of £191,000, while £16,000 will be realised from the increased succession duties. The question mil doubtless be asked—What is all this money required for? It is easily answered, as on turning to ihe Statement we find the following figures : —The total liability for the year is £4,105,858, and the estimated revenue £3,193,900, showing a difference of £911,958 to be made up somehow. Tho means adopted by the legislature to meet the. deficiency is this increased taxation. Ou this occasiou we have uot space to go into tho causes which have led to the financial crisis; columns could be written on the subject, but we must confine ourselves now to a few concluding remarks on the main question at issue. We are not altogether clear about the property tax; it has a slightly fishy odour, and miiy turn out to be a covert attempt to lessen taxation' ou the of the larjje landed proprietors, while tbo rank and file will have to bear she brunt of the consequences of the deficiency in the colony's exchequer. In another issue we will take occasion to again refer to these financial proposals and their effect on local bodies. Suffice to say at present that greatly increased local taxation will probably result from the abolition of subsidies, indeed it will be the inevitable consequence if Government does not provide some means for meeting the deficiency.

Another of those popular organ recitals will we believe be given in St. George's Church on the ereuing of the 2nd proximo. We have not yefc seen a programme, but we understand that several pieces, novelties so far as the Thames is concerned, will be produced.

Major Mubkay desires the officers of our local volunteer corp<i to meet at the Pacific Hotel at seven o'clock to nig"t for the consideration of some important business.

Foe some time past our local scientist, Mr George Hnrcourt, has been experimenting with hematite ore with a view to discovering the feasibility of manufacturing ink and artists' colors from the mineral. After some little trouble he has been successful in producing a splendid writing fluid. It is blue black, in color, flows freely from the pen, and its chemical properties "render it indelible. We have no doubt but that Mr Harcourt possesses knowledge that may lead to the foundation of another importaut indttstrry in our midst. Mr Harcourt is pursuing his experiments in the manufacture of colors, and he has promised to iuform us with what amount of success his investigations are attended.

We hare received from the local agents, Messrs D. K. Gellion and Co., the Sixth Quinquennial lteport of the Australian Mutual Provident Society.

We hear that the Ohincmuri volunteers have not been paid by tho Government for the services rendered to the colony in the recent threatened outbreak, and the hotel proprietors of Paeroa still lie out of their remuneration for feeding and billeting the men. Comment is needless.