THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3586, 24 June 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1880.

The Property Tax appears to have no friends, and meetings hare been held in all parts of the Colony during the last few weeks for the purpose of protesting against its becoming law. It is obnoxious in the extreme, and even where it has found slight favour it has been subject to severe criticism and modification. In one town resolutions were passed generally condemning the Property Tax as iniquitous and over-bearing. In another, resolutions in favour of exemption of machinery have been unanimously carried; while each community has objected to the impost on their own particular industries, or the machinery used in the manufacture of their staple articles. There is a general opposition to this iniquitousiimpostt t and great discontent will be felt if, after the expression of public opinion, the Government enforces it. Indeed, that action would exasperate the public, already groaning under heavy taxes, and we would not answer for the result if Parliament insist on carrying their intentions into effect. A Property Tax is unfair and unreasonable, but what

wo most want is an Income Tax, a tax that will bo felt on all alike—rich and poor. The Government, however anxious to pursue a policy of retrenchment, do not appear willing to go without their honorariums. This should be the first step to be ts ken. The House of Eepresentatives is mainly made up of men living on their incomes, and who should be quite satisfied with the honour their constituents have conferred on them, rather than ask the electors to return them, and then make them pay for their services. Were they to show their determination to prevent themselves " overrunning the constable," by foregoing their own money, the country would have more faith in them than it has. The saving claimed to be made by the Colonial Treasurer is in reality no saving at all, as the diminished amount of expenditure is really caused through the stoppage of subsidies to local bodies, and other votes authorised to be expended by Parliament. At a public meeting at Pahutanui it was resolved among other things, " That the honorarium paid to members of the Legislative Council should be done away with; the honorarium paid to members of the House of to be reduced onehalf; that the Civil Service of the colony be re-organised to meet the present financial position," and we think that everyone will agree with this motion. The general fraling of the colony is condemnatory of the Property Tax, and we sincerely hope this undesirable tax will not be insisted on by our Representatives.

Wb would remind our. readers of Mr Adams' lecture in the Congregational Church which is to take place this evening, under the auspices of the Thames Young Men's Christian Association. Yestbpdat a well-known boniface being Bubpceiised in a case being heard before Mr Kenvick was waiting for his turn to give his evidence. -Time fell heavily on his hand, and endeavoured t"> wile away the weary hours playing with an old pair of handcuffs. He presently wondered bow a fellow felt when getting run in, and clasped one of the "darbies" on his wrist.. As the constable who had the key wp.t en duty in Court our perturbed -friend walked about with something carefully . concealed in his left-hand coat sleave for about two hours when to his great reHef he was released.

Mb A. Gough, the Thames vintner, in consequence of the increased rates for malt liquors charged by the publicans, hn determined to compete v. ith them for a share of the drinking trade, and is prepared to give away a bottle of the pine juice of the grape as manufactured by him to every purchaser of a pound of biscuits provided such purchaser pays for the biscuits the sum of hp f-a-crown. Mb Jamei Bpown, of the Pollen street general furnishing store calls attention through our advertising columns to his 1 i'ge stock of furniture and other housekeeping ne."3savies. Mr Brown is one of our old at tradesmen, and we doubt not is well able to supply the various article! enumerated by him to the satisfaction of his customers. The proprietor of the Parnell Soap and Candle Factory directs attention through our columns to the superior quality of toilet and common sops manufactured by h?m. The first prize was awarded at the late Sydney Exhibition to exhibit from the factory, which in itself is a guarantee of the encellence of the article tui-ned oat by Mr Cardno. Intending customers are invited to apply for samples and price lists at the office, Fo..< street, Auckland.