The Wairarapa Daily TUESDAY, DEC. 3, 1889. THE PROPERTY TAX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3376, 3 December 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily TUESDAY, DEC. 3, 1889. THE PROPERTY TAX.

Tub Wanganui Horald, tlie special organ of the leader of the Opposition and tho chief exponent of Radical views m New Zealand, looks with a favourable eye on. the Properly Tax provided certain alterations are made i in it. These are its viows :- With respjet to tho Property Tux, tho changes that aV» iminediatelj demanded arc the oxemption o'< all agricultural implements up to i!2U(Jo—bj. which the great body of improving farmery will bo relieved of tho tax on their industry—and tho ijmdinthn of tho tax so that ilVwill fall loss heavily on small freeholds, ana. mora hcarily on largo. For instance tho laxjmight b?gin at a }d on the first £2OOO and an additional farthing on the next £3OOO, and'ja }d extra on each additional £SOOO until'it reached a maximum of .lil, The largo rktates would thus pay their Just share ofUlw taxation, On those who resided out ofl tho colony, the tax ought to be doubled. "St will, of course be said that such a tax will deter people at Homo from investing their money in land, To which we reply that it will only detor those who invest money iu laird for speculative purposes, or who want to create largo ostates for 1 miily reasons. Tho colony will bo all the better without this ira.tcrnity.and it is ijuito cottain that tho land 'ivill not ily away, or lio idlo i( its produco is able to find a raarkot. In this sonso tho Property Tax would become really in principle a land tax, Tho monoply of land is tho curse, of tho colony, The evil, we are convinced, con only bo dealt with by means of taxational)!] we have here suggested a simplo method, which ovoryone cau understand and apply, (or dealing with tho subject, Now let us consider what would bo the practical effect of tho changes stiggostod, There aro apparent to us certain results which the editor of tho Herald' entirely overlooks, and t which would in t)je minds of moderate men bring down his project like a house of cards. Suppose we take i as an illustration the case of a local i capitalist with, eay, £20,000. Men nf. rneans of such a magnitude aro ; to be bund here and there all.over tho colony and supply to tho small, communities here the place of the \ millionaires who rule the. money market in big centres like London, Paris, or New York, Persons who are worth 420,000 now aro paying one penny m the pound Property Tax, or about £BO a year, Under the scale submitted by the editor of tho Herald their payments' would only u ,,lQU! rt' to ftbout £7O a year; reveuuo this sliding scale, .'.. of squeezing more money out of comparatively rich men, would probably have tho opposite effect of reducing their tax.. The editor of the Herald is. evidently a poor arithmetician, or he would never have struck his sliding scale so low, Of course he might meet this objection by altering his slide and bringing the man with £20,000 into focus so that he would have to pay a maximum of threepence in the pound. Indeed, to make up the revenue which is considered to be needed from this tux, he would certainly be obliged to make it twopence in the pound for capitalists of this magnitude. But taking this contingency, what would be the outcome of tho project ? A man possessing £20,000 may bo said now to p.ay about seven per cent of his income to the Property Tax Department,, and if ho were some day called upon to pay fourteen per cent he would simply sell out and take himself and his money to soma other colony or country where he would not be unduly taxed. The increase of tho tax would not only detor speculative capitalists from bringing money for investment into the colony, but it would inevitably drive away the men of means who are now nettled amongst us. The effect of this on the poorer members of the community would be most disastrous. Nino people out of ten find it necessary at times to borrow money in this colony. It may be a ten pound note to meet a bill, fifty pounds to build a cottage, or a hundred pounds to stock a farm, Tliey borrow in most instances from the men in the community who possess spare money, Such men are invaluable to them, they know their requirements and frequently act the part of friend and counseller, as well as money lender. So to drive men of this kind out of New Zealand by doubling or trebling their taxations would be as foolish a scheme as could possibly bo devised, But even assuming that capitalists wore content 7 to remain here and' be taxed, what v/otild b'» the result

Tin) borrowers. in the community now pity rates ranging from six. lo eight per cent, but 'if fresh litirdciia j were put on capital they would inevitably have to pay a higher rato of interest. Tho vorj people whom tho editor of the Herald seeks to benefit would perhaps have to pity nine per cent instead of night, or flight per cent instead of seven, There aeoms to be an utter absence of common sense about tho proposal of the Wanganui Herald, Jt ouy; it is toxicide the ear of thoughtless people, who know little and care less for llio laws of political economylaws which cannot bo violated with impunity. Our contemporary says his suggestion is" ut simple method" to attain a eertain end, but surely it is rather a snare to catch simpletons, for the practical effect of it would be to makotho poor man of New Zealand poorer. ltich men can take caro of themselves; they are out of tho power of tho editor of the Wanganui i Herald. They can afford, if necessary, to.leave tho colony. It is the poor who must suffer if schemes like this prevail.

Prizo money amounting to £27 10a was passed-for payment yesterday by the committeeof the Mastorton Horticultural and Industrial Society, Tendersaro invited for th» privileges in connection with tho Mauriccvillo Athletic Sports to ho held on 27th Doc. Particulars will bo found in another column.

Tho programme of tho Mauricovillo Athletic Club is published elsewhere. Thero aio twenty-five events and somo capital prizcß are offered for competition. Judgim'by tho composition of tho commitoo nothing will bo spared to uiako the gathering a success, Thcro is no place like Now Zealand to rub on" old antagonisms and substitute love vid harmony in natures, no matter how nppoßite, An Ens', Coast resident dus[ out a rabbit burrow the othor day and discovered a nest of youim fcrrots and a nest of rabbitsalmoat tide by sido. The does of each appeared to be on quite friendly visiting terms. T. A. W. Thomas, furmorly teller in the Bank of Hew Zealand, has I'een charged at tho Sydney Water l'olico Court with obtaining by lalao protencos, from Robert J. M'Keiune, a cheque fur f 7,000,. and with embezzling £13,782 from the bank,

Tho contractors for tho Freeman's liny reclamation aro making tho most ot tho fino weather which has now set in. Achorton Poiut has been cut through at the inland sido, and day by day is being demolished under the steady assaults of tho navvies and the pick and blwvol in on.

Dunkirk and its neighbourhood eoom to have fallen victims to anepidomic of suicide. In less than a fortnight no fe'er than six oases havo been reported. In rapid succession four bodies wore discovered in thecannls, and recently two suicides by hanging were registered. In every instance but one tho cause remaius unexplained.

Whilo tho Charitublo Aid Board is continually receiving applications from alilo-bodied mon for omployiueut about the town, it is a curious fact that in the up-country districts the Bottlers aro complaium? of the di'licnlty of getting suitable fanii labour, and the 6amo complaint is made nt some of the • flax mills of a lack of suitable labour. The death is announced of Mr Edmonston, senior partner of the firm of Messrs T. Edmonston & Son, ono of tho largest linns in tho steel and iron tiado in the east of Scotland, having largo business promises in Edinburgh and Leith. Mr Edmonston, who was in his 80t-.li year, tock little or no part in public affaire, but was well-known all over tho south of Scotland. The following amusine auecdoto is told by" Atticus" in tho Leader;— '•What on earth do you want to leave for?" asked tho mistress. Bridget hesitated and said she would rathor not answer, Hut tho mistress insisted, and Bridget at last faltered out: " Woll, if

you must know, um'nm, it's bocause you anil 1 both lovo the Bame man and you havo him. It's more than 1 can bear," Bho was an excellent cook, and tho mistress was a sensible woman. " Don't bo si!ly,ifrts!Sc," she said, " if you love him it's all tho moro roason you should stay. I won't mind ifc if jou don't." • On this understanding, Bridget consented to remain and her cooking was moro brilliant than over, sn that the mistress was wickedly glad that tho poor girl's affections wore thus misplaced, but after a lull of a few weeks Bridget ajain caino to give notice " J can't stand ic any longer, ma'am,,' she declared. " I boro with his loving you tor it wail his duty to. But to see him singing and philandering over tho piano with your sister, while ho never so much as throws a look at me, cuts mo to the heart, If you won't, send your sister out of tho house I must go," And in spito of -->JJ that could be said to prevent it sho went j Tho ordinary meeting pf the Mauriceville Road Board was held on tho 80th November, 1889. Present;— Messrs W Jtßaeii (Chairman), J Bannister, C Forsborg, and G Gunderson. Iho minutos pftlio previous, meeting wero read and confirmed. Correspondence inwards ; From Registrur : Oienoral ro returns, from John Devonshire ro resignation of position as ranker, from, Jens Syverseu applying for position as ranger, from Caunty Council ro alteration of boundaries, from same re appointment of pnnnilkoepefjf rnm-Alf redton Road Board ro doferred payment tljirda from Mr Barrauds section, fiom Ilecoivpr Lands Rpyenun re atateniont of deferred payment thirds to 81st Octobor 188!), from Kketahins Road Board ro alteration of boundaries, from Soreii liulgard apply- '•"» for position as ranger. The following resolutio!.-' « OT , Ff John Devonshire's «J; nilwß "' lan^ f b ? aecepted,thatJonsSyv U rse.; llM PP° l| l,lte « ranker, that the Ekctaliuna Rom ..: ,ar " bo informed that this Board wishes to got tho alteration of boundiui's • settled at unco and therefore cannot agree to delay, that the County Council be requeatod to pass tho special order confirming tlio alterations of tho Maurlcoville and Eketalvutia Road District Boundaries at the next Council meeting in December, With regard to tho annexation of a portion of the Kangitumau Road District this Board is willing to wait until the May eloction, The collector reported having collected rates amounting to £3 7s b\l since last meeting. Tho Treasurer reported a credit balance of £l2o°. Accounts amounting to £'lo lis 3d ,wero passed for payment. Messrs Bannister and lAirsbersr wore appointed to sign cheques. It was resolved that notice bo given to all persons to remove all gorao on Euatl in front of their sectsons on or beloro tho 20th Decombcr, 1889, or tho gorso will he removed by tho Board at their expense. This concluded the business.

' Our millinery showroom has been the ' scone of much activity sinco (he season commenced, and has been thronged from day to day by ladies who knew that the moat elegant, becoming and graceful fashions wore to be had at the Wholcsole Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, Wellington. Wu havo an excellent choice of (rimmed hats, in white, cream, black, and all colours; wc havo every fashionable variety of shape, and ovory lady who but gives a glance at our millinery window will sue that for genuine taste and moderate prices wc are without compeers, 1 at To Aro. House, Wellington. Wchavc also an abundance of flower trails from Is to 7s (id; of flower sprays .from 3d to Is Cd i of unmounted flowers of all kinds indeed as regard flowers generally, we have the largest and most fashionable stock in the city, at'Te Aro House, Wellington,

Wo have a lot of untrimm'ed picnic hats, specially imported for this purpose aud for garden wear, from2Jdto2s each, and a nioo lot of the same description, trimmed, at 2s ildapd Is }\i each, at Te Are House, Wellington. Altogether, our millinery department, just now, is very attractive, and youljj amply repay a visit of iiispcotion. Wo can esecuto all orders promptly and most artistically, and guarantee what is'obtained novrjioro cl»o in the city, comploto satisfaction, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Wellington.AW'J.

Messrs Lowos and lorns unnounio' an ■ oxtenaivo general sale for Saturday next, 1 : t The Frasor prize of JSIOO, offered in < Sydney for an ossay on "Socialism in relation to Chriatanity,''is to bo diyided i botwoon tho Rov James M'Gregor, of I Oamaru, Now Zealand, and tho'Bnv" Mr i Uutson, oiWhangerei, flow Zealand, Thero wore sixteen competitors, includ- | ing sevoral from Victoria. , Wo are requested to romind our read- | era of Messrs Lowes' and loriii' stock i Bale to-morrow, their lint *ill rmbraco: ' —2O 3 year old steers, 40 2 year old do, 20l£ year old do, 40 head mixed cattle, , 200 fat slieop, 5 dairy cows, 3 storopigs, horses, etc. Letters from Bomo state that the Popo's kealth is wrelohed. He can only walk aided by several assistant, His voice it tiraes leaves him ontirely, and tho wont feato.ro is that it is all gonoral debility, as His Holinesß has roally no disease, flia incessant hard work is rapidly telling upon him, and his eighty years cannot stand the constant strain. Moasrs Lowes and lorns inform us that, their name his been usod recontly without authority by an ostonsiblo cattlo buyer. As tho individual who has traded upon them in tin's manner is about to answor to a suriouß charge in another ijuarter thny do not proposo to tako turther action at present beyond explaining to tho settlors who havo been misled that the person roforrod to has never received any commission director indirect from them. Exclusive of tho Fudoral and Confederate veterans thero are 200,000 persons in tho United States who woar artificial arms or legs. Tho greatest number of these maimed people aro found in cities, i It is a siwmlar illustration of the perils of niodorn machinery, since must of the absont limbs are lost in machinery. In tho courso of his reference at Wellington to tho prayer-meeting hold on tho evening of his arrival there, ■Mr Dillon said he wished with 1 all his heart 1 that Mr Balfour would change the methods ho used against them in Ireland ; and betake himself to prayer. \ It is woll known in iinancial circles that so much money is now being invested at low interest in real property ' in Sydney, that thoie will bo a considerable fall in rents, without injury to | owners, An English property owner and j financial man says that rents in Sydney ( can bo made 25 por cont cheaper th'nu they aro. : A young man named August Wells ! was charged at the New South Wales Central Criminal Court last week with i having marderod his mother in Soptemt ber, 188 V, and was found not euilty on . tho ground of insanity. The prisons, i who lived on a farm near Liverpool, was s of weak intellect, and appears to have y dragged his mother from the houso a*xd I tkrown her down a well, where ■ the body .was subsequently found by the ii police under his guidance

Tho Duncdin Star's London correspondent says:—Thoro must still be conaiderable prejudice against Now Zealaiic

cheese in the London markot, as 1 hear

that one of tho largest buyers rechristens and soils it as American, lam going to iuquh'o into the why and whereforo of this presently. An impression seems seoms growing in the city that things aro about" to " boom" in Now Zealand, and all outgonig vessols aro crowded. Tho second saloons of tho Tongariro and Arawa havo beon full for somo tinio. Tempted by the good news from your colony younp Orombio (Captain W, Ashby's stopson) has resolved to relinquish the army and settle in Now Zealand.

Crops throughout tho district are now showing heads fairly, and in most of tho paddocks haulm is about level with tho bottom of tho top rail, Thoro aro a few instances in which the crops look poor, and wo have seen one field of oats which is not more than nine inches high, though the land is of Rood quality, hut it was iounrj on enquirhg that tho owner was induced to put tho seed in very late on acoount of the vory gonial weather which prevailed in spring. All the other indifferent lots may probably be accounted for in tho sarao way, The best looking crop is undoubtedly a field of barley facing Kibblowhito Road, and containing botwoen 15 and 20 acros, the property of Mr T, E. Chamberlain. Tho growth-is something remarkable being oven now about 4ft Gin high, Tho crop is very closo and heads have set splendidly, so that, tho result is likely to prove extraordinary hoavy, The present warm rain should help coreals and potatoes on wondo-fully,

The Indian Government nre about to bo called upon to pay a sum of £IOO,OOO which they lmvo had in tlioir possession for several years, the proceeds of a logacy left by tbe wifo of one of tho natiyo princes who died upwards of 30 years ago. Tho deooased lady, says the Freeman's Journal, was an Irish woman who wont to India some 60 years since as tho travelling companion of two wealthy English ladies. During her stay in India she attracted the notice of one of tho native princes and ho married her. Tho pair lived happily for upwards of SO years, tho wifo having a separate estato settled upon her by the Maharajah. ShodiciJ childless and left no will. Her property was taken over by the Indian Government, and it has remained in their hands ovor Biuce. It waa at tho time (if hor death worth £30,000, but its valuo has risen to close on £IOO,OOO. The relatives uftbodeceased lady in Ireland were in ontiro ignorance- of her fato up till quite recently, when they learnt it from a returned Indian soldier. The Inquiries which have flince been instituted havo fully established hor marriago with the Indian Princo. Tho friends have also assured thcnisolyes of tho existonco and value of the property, A two horse toam with on empty dray belonging to Sir 6, Watson of Carterton, bolted from in front of Cowio's Corn Stora last evening ,»boufc V o'clock. The runaways made their way along Chapel slroet and in rounding tho cornor offing

Street thoyworo going at such a paco that the o«t all but capsized and by a miracle misiu. tuo corner post. Thoy turned into Qucon Street ° n( l keeping tho middlo of tho road passed over the" two Waipoua bridges and wore pluckily stepped by two conn of Mr J. Swindon. Tho owner ot the dray camo up shortly after, and remarked) " Well, I call it real moan of those horses, j went into Cowie's to get thorn some fucker, and they skodaddlod." He was glad to (jnd IIS) damage whatever had resulted

Tho usual weekly meeting of the Pheonis Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held last ovening in the Toinpotanpe Hall. Thero was a very good attendance of inenibcrj. The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed. Three candidates. Messes E. Barley, J. Boult, and Annie Petersen, were elected members, and duly inititiatcd, Uro Q. Scott, W.C.T,, of tho Star of the East Lodge, and honorary associate of tho Dawn of Peace Lodge, Aahburton, conveyod fraternal greetings to tho Phoenix Lodgo. Conaidorablo discussion took place on tho question of reading a portion of tho Bible at the oponing of the Lodge. Tho question was negatived as it was considered that such a proceeding would have tho effect of considerably narrowing the sphere of. usefulness of tho Order, Inasmuch as it would tend to debar some portioiw of tho Christian community from membarchip, Interesting readings woro given by Bros, BJinkliorno aud Mutrie, aud songs by Sister JfclJay and iiro. Gilbort,

Good news trora Wellingtoii,and quite true, youcan get a splendid harmonium from Ija, pjano or organ from Lls, organ with divfqed octavo couplars all in spjid black walnut cast!! frajn LI?. This beats all the cheapest houses in town. Pianos tijncd for 7s, or by the ypar four visits LI, travelling expenses added,' All kinds of musical instrjiippts tuned, cleaned, and repaired, new reedsj put in accordeans, Concertinas, harv moniums, and organs; also liberal ex* changes made. Any instrument may be purchased on the time payment system from 2« 0d per week. Call and exobang'o your old piano for a new one at F. J Pinny's Musical Instrument Depot, Manners-street, Wellington.'' (Solo agont of the celebrated Worcester o'rganßi)-JUWr

■ Tho aura of £35,073, was put through tho totalisator during tho paßt three days races at Duucdin. At the Criminal Sittings of tho Supremo Court Wellington true bills woro found acainst Joseph Ward, attempted rape, and Walter Tricker false protencos. Throvgli tlio eucrgutio action of tho local agent of tho Standard Firo Insurance Company Mr,l. Riordon secured to day full payment iu reaped to his ihsuranco. claim oil tho fire at Kuripuni on 22 November.

Messrs Lowes and lorns add to their stock sulo.for Eketahuna. 20 pigs, Mr Hickson, who has beon permanently appointed assistant clerk at tho Masterton lt.M. Court commonced his duties yestorday, Mr J. King, jewellerr and watchmaker, Cubastseet, Wellington,informs Wairarapa settlors and the travelling public that he has just received a laqjo and varied consignment of articles suitablo for Christinas and N?w .Year presents. Ho particularly invites an inspection and claims to havo tho cheapest and beat goods on view in tho trade,

Thoso who wish to know tho virtues of Sapolin can realizo what can bo done with that wonderful composition, sup. plomented with a littlo" elbow urease," by paying a visit to tho Masterton Instituto, Uudor the direction of Mrs Ueilly. the whole of tho interior of the building has boon thoroughly cleansed, ■and the paint-work looks as fresh as tho day it was put on. Sundry boys who havo been in the habit of takinr a short cut across the stock yards in lienall-atreet havo boon getting into mischiof, Tho tables loft on tho ground by tho Agricultural Society havo been broken, and suudry pieces of mnchi lory havo beon run down the hill and deposited, in tho creek, As tho. names of thoihoys who took -part in tho mischovious proceedings are-known, they will probably be called upon to appear before thoK.M.

Tbo Now Zealand Shipping Company's R.M.S. Tongariro arrivod in Wellington from London, via Plymouth, Teneriffo, Capetown, and Hobatk, yesterday afternoon. Variable woather was oxparienced throughout, and the passairo from My. mouth occupied 44d 7h 55min. The actual steaming time from the same port wis 43d 91i 30miii. Hor mail was a largo one, consisting of 227 bags mails ana 27 boxos parcel post. Tho Tongariro brought 1276 tons of cargo for Now Zealand, 593 tons of which is for Wellington. She brought 159 passcngors for New Zealand of which number 48 aro for Wellington. Various amusements were hold on the passage and passed off very successfully, A child nino months of age, named Strachan, died on Slab October from acute pneumonia, which waß the only event that marred the pleasure of tho trip,—Times,

Thitroon Wairarapa Volunteers attended the Wellington 1 Ilifle Association meeting held on Saturday laßt at Evans Bay.' Tlie raiigo being an open ons, gave the Wairarapa shots a good chance of holding their own against tho local men,- The competitors from, the Wairarapa brought homo thirty-oiio prizes; and out of nine compotjtors from Mastertnn, seven won twenty-one prizes, amounting to £2015s in cash. Corporal G, Bontloy lost tho aggrcpato by one point. ' Had he taken the trouble to challengo ouo of the shots of his that was.markod a miss,it is pretty certain that ho would havo won tho championship, as several competitors saw tho bullet hit. .