Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1875. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 436, 20 February 1875, Page 2

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1875. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Recently we called attention to a proposal broached at the meeting of the Chairmen of Eoad Boards for the Province of Canterbury, held in Christchurch some weeks since. The proposal was to shift the assessment on lands and their improvements, to lands without their improvements. In thi« way, absentee and non-improvers would be taxed more equally with their neighbors. As it is, the industrious improver is taxed for the benefit of the speculator ; for by means of his own improvements, and the public improvements, for which he is unequally taxed, the lands of the speculator are, by the improvements, enhanced in value, and the speculator reaps a rich reward, for which he pays nothing. No y, it has occurred to us that there is a class within the varied Municipalities who are even worse than these speculators. The class we refer to buy up town sections, and remove out of the neighborhood|^nd leave their sections, satisfied that whenever they choose, they may sell and get the benefit of improvements for which others in the meantime have had to pay. For years, no rates have been paid on their sections, and they usually cleverly manage to sell, and leave the incumbrance of a long bill of lapsed rates to their assigns, who find, to their annoyance, a large bill unexpectedly handed in to them. They naturally refuse to pay, and it does not seem just that they should pay. They are willing enough to pay the current public burdens, but feel it an iniquity to have to pay those incurred by other persons. Now, could ouf legislators do nothing to amend this state of things ? In the case of a resident refusing to pay, the law would grant instant execution on the effects of the recusant. But here is a defaulter to whom the law is not only exceedingly lenient, but actually visits his sins on the innocent and inculpable, and makes <such suffer for them. It is time that some steps were taken to bring this class to terms, and' teach them to deft-ay their obligations as they arise. What we would propose is something like the following : — That after rates have lapsed two successive years, the sections and their charges be published in the Government •' Gazette," whh the warning that if not paid by the expiry of the current yeai\ — i.e., at the end of three years — their Crown gi-ants be cancelled, and the sections sold to defray expenses. Those who enjoy the protection of a Government for themselves and their property, ou«ht to pay for their privileges. Failing their doing so, they have broken the contract with " the powers that be," and it is only just they should pay the penalty. Further, if these sections be abandoned altogether, itisonlyrightthat thecommunity as a wholeshonld reap the benefit. The property ought not to be open to any one to squat upon it. The community as a whole have given it, what John Stuart Mill calls, its " unearned increment," and, therefore, in a case like this, the public as a whole should reap the benefit.

More Ohinemuri ! Is there a man, woman, or child in this country who is not prepaied to cry " enough ! " at the bare mention of this name? For years past, this El Dorado — this land flowing with milll and honey — has been in a perpetual state of " going to be opened up shortly." Diggers, selectors, and rushabouts generally, have from time to time had their minds exercised at the prospects of "fresh fields and pastures new/ in which they would have an opportunity of plying their various vocations. D uring the past fe wm on ths, our Northern telegraphists have been expending their energies in a constant laudation of the wondrous things that are to happen when this promised land is open to a British public. Rumor, with her many tongues, has also been

bnsy. Report after report, as to marvellous richness of the soil, both from a mining and agricultural point of view, has been set afloat. Time, the greatest of all tests, will show whether these hopes are ever to be realised. Up to the present, however, there has -bptsn nothing to justify these reports. For years-past, men have been prospecting that country, and if anything substantial — anything to warrant the present state of excitement — had been found, surely we would have heard of it ere this. The facts of the case are simply that nothing in the shape of a payable goldfield has been, or is likely to be, opened up. There may be a few payable reefs there ; but as to a " poor man's " diggings ever being discovered, the previous history of alluvial digging in the North Island decidedly contraindicates the probability of any such thing. At the Thames, miningmatters at present are at a standstill^ and it is onl v

natural that the diggers there should endeavor to turn lip something new; but there is nothing in the meagre and unsatisfactory reports that have reached us up to the present, to justify a rush to Ohinemuri. We hope that Sir Donald M'Lean and his party will this time be successful in their "opening up " operations, and thus put an end to the sensational telegrams that are perpetually being sent us from the North.

In the best-regulated communities, the " servant-gal " question is always one of serious importance to the heads of families, particularl) to the female portion thereof.

Great complaints are continually reaching us from up-country residents respecting the class of domestic servants, who, coming from Dunedin as thoroughly competent persons, almost invariably turn out "duffers." As a rule, these girls are engaged through a registry office, for a definite period. Their passages and travelling expenses are allowed them (a by no means inconsiderable item), and on their ar-rival-at their situation, they are found to be morally and physically incapacitated for the duties they have undertaken'/ Many of them have had no previous training whatever in housework,.aud, what is worse, do not show any inclination to learn. In more than one instance, the recent arrival has exhibited a tendency to imbibe strong liquor, which has altogether failed to meet the approbation of those eccentric individuals, the " missuses ; " and when the employers find that ignorance and incompetence have been foisted upon them, tljey have but one course left — to comprise the matter. The result is that the servant is generally paid a considerable sum to cancel her agreement.

That such a state of things exist is to be regretted 'Tis true, 'tis pity, And pity 'tis, 'tis true.

There are, however, we are happy to say, exceptions, but, unfortunately, they are few and far between. Generally speaking, the female " help " has been tried and found wanting.

That the matter might be remedied, there is no doubt. The Immigration Agents are wholly to blanfe. We are of course aware that in introducing single women to a country, it is impossible that they should all be perfection. In a cargo of, say, 300 people there are bound to be some loose characters ; — yet it strikes us rather forcibly that the up-country districts have had more than their share of useless *' new chums," in the shape of domestic servants.