The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 301, 28 October 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1879.

The Hon, G, M, Waterhouse, speaking on the financial condition of the colony, is reported by Hansard to have saidlt is very important, sir, that we should not have an exaggerated idea in regard to the difference which may exist between our year's revenue and our year's expenditure. At the same time, it seems to me equally important that we should not run away with an erroneous idea of a contrary nature upon the subject—an idea calculated to deceive ourselves and the public as to the true state of the case. I think that one of the worst features in colonial politics for some years past has been the evident determination of politicians in New Zealand not to realise the true financial position of the colony—a determination, apparently, to shut their eyes to the inevitable consequences of the policy that was adopted; and, if we are to have that healthy system of finance that we should have, the first step towards its accomplishment will be thoroughly to realise our true position, and not allow ourselves any longer to be deceived in any respect, My honorable friend (Sir F. Dillon Bell) has told us that in his opinion there will be no deficit such as has been referred to, and that there cannot occur a deficit of £912,000, Well, there is at the present time undoubtedly a deficiency in existence, What the Colonial Treasurer has said is simply this: that between our ways and means as existing at the present time, and the expenditure, based upon the system which lias hitherto prevailed, at the end of the year there must be -in the absence of retrenchment, and in the absence of fresh taxa-tion-a deficit of £912,000, I have been carefully through those figures, and I am forced, to the conclusion that thac is not depreciatory of the future circumstances of the colony, We know better now than the late Government did what is likely to be the Customs revenue of the colony for the present year, The experience of the first quarter of the year throws a light upon our circumstances which did not exist at the commencement of the year, when the late Government prepared their estimates, We know likewise that the Customs revenue in the first quarter of the year was swollen through causes which are not likely to operate in succeeding quarters of the year. Large quantities of goods were poured into the country consequent upon orders which were sent to England when the colony was enjoying prosperity; and the result has been this, as every'person at all acquainted with mercantile matters must be aware: that there is in the colony now an accumulation of goods which renders it most probable that the revenue during the succeeding quarters of the year will be less than in the first quarter, so that the Treasurer's estimate of the Customs revenue for the present year is more likely to be slightly in excess of what we shall actually receive than it is to be less. And the same may be said as regards land revenue. The Treasurer has reckoned the land revenue for the year as considerably less thau the late Government did. We have here likewise the experience of the last three months to guide ns, and that experience makes it pretty certain, in the absence of very great improvement, which none of us can anticipate for the next few months, that the receipts from that source of revenue will be much less than the late Government anticipated. He must be a very sanguine man indeed—he must be a man ostrich-like, who hides his head in the sand—who fails, after carefully going through the figures, to arrive at the same conclusion as that of the Treasurer, that at the end of the year there will be a deficit of £912,000 unless we meet that deficit by increasing our taxation and by retrenchment. The Treasurer himself referred to both these matters as being those which must engage the attention of the Government. lie hinted, however, that' at the present time he could not be expected to settle how far in that direction the Government was prepared to go, I cannot for one moment bring myself to believe that we shall, as a matter of fact, have a large deficit; but, of this I am certain: We shall find all our efforts to increase our revenue by increased taxation, and all our efforts to endeavor to diminish our revenue .by reductions, will fail to absorb this de-

ficit, mul that, at the end of the year, we ahull by in the position of having to pay a large portion of the deficit out of borrowed money. I wish that for one moment I could bring myself to believe that iu succeeding years we are not likely to incur deficits; but I am forced to believe that such will not be the case. '•

The Carterton Volunteers parade this evening.

The Borough Council meets in the Council Chambers this evening. Seven more shearers are wanted at the Waitarangi station, The funeral of the late Mr R. Greathead takes place this morning at 10 a.m.

fhe _ trustees in the estate of J. A. Petherick request all accounts against the estate to be sent in by the Ist inst, Tenders close to-day for leasing the property of Mr 6. Woodroofe on the Upper Plain,

Tenders are invited by Mr G. Fannin for alterations and additions to a house at Carterton.

The Rev Mr Hint-oil preaches at the old Town Hall, Carterton, 011 Thursday evening next,

Mr J, Wilton, in another column, announces that lie is opening up grocery and general goods, at his premises, late Bentloy's, Queen -street.

Mr W. bellar, in another column, gives notice that he has been appointed trustee in the bankrupt estates of G. S. W. Dalrymple, F. W. Green, and T. W. Tankersly, Mr H. C. Cato, the well-known fruit importer of Willis-strett, Wellington, announces in another column, the he has removed to new premises,

A meeting of members of the Opaki and Upper Plain Cricket Club is convened for Thursday next, at the Institute, Masterton,

Mr Robert Freeman has commenced business as a baker in Greytoivn, and as lie is well known ns being a master of his business, we have no doubt he will do well.

lhe late well known host of the Royal Hotel, Featherston, Mr G. Lancaster, announces in our advertising columns, that he has taken the Melbourne Hotel in Willis-street.

Our report of the Featherston Highway Board is unavoidably held over for our next issue.

We call attention to a sale by the mortgagee of a number of freehold and leasehold properties well known in this neighborhood, which Mr George Thomas will sell by public auction on the 11th of November.

We are glad to learn that at last the perpetrators of the M. J. Busch outrage are apparently being traced. Detective Warren having arrested four men, two at Woodside, and two at the Taratahi, on suspicion of having participated in the above olFence, they were yesterday brought before Messrs Booth and Boys, and remanded till this morning, at 11 o'clock, pending the attendance of necessary witnesses. All those afflicted with corns, warts, or bunions will be glad to learn that Mr C. Basstian, chiropodist, intends shortly to make a tour through this district. At present he announces he may be consulted at the Post Office Hotel, Wellington. 0

Davis and Go., photographers, who are well known in the Wairarapa, in another column call attention to the fact that they have received the latest photographic novelty, called an "Enlarger," whereby any photo can be enlarged from carte de visite to life size. The lens of the " Enlarger," measures one foot in diameter.

We notice that Mr J. Clayson has once more commenced in business in the town this time as baker, confectioner, &c. Mr Clayson has taken those premises opposite the Empire Hotel, well known aa" Blyth's old store," and has made extensive alterations to it, building a large oven, and everything required to carry on his business. Mr Clayson is so well known as a baker that comment by us is needless, as no doubt his goods will speak for themselves,

The sparrows appear to be giving great trouble to the farmers in Canterbury. At a largely attended meeting at South bridge tile chairman stated the farmers were paying a .tax equal to Is 9d per acre for feeding those pests, through being obliged to sow an additional half-bushel of seed per acre to cover the amount of seed eaten by the birds, He then proposed thatan association should be formed, to be called the " Ellesmere Sparrow .Association, It was then proposed that a reward of l|d per dozen be given for eggs, and 3d per dozen for the heads of the birds, young and old, Both resolutions were carried unanimously.