discovered gum fields, about five miles from Hamilton. The average wages made are 10s and 12s a day. The Bay of Islands Coal Com pah v ■hipped in the month of November 4,500 tons of coaL John Connor was committed for trial for stealing a quantity of tobacco. There were four other charges against him, on which he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, to run consecutively. The Auckland United Laborers’ Aid Society" have taken up the question of contractors excavating by levels, as en forced in England, owing to the death of Boyle, at Fortßritomaft. At the inquest on the body, a verdict of ‘ * Accidental death” was returned, with a rider that GoTernriierit should take Meps to see excavations properly and safely con ducted. Auckland, Dec. 5. Kean, Who has been training John Smith’s Maid of Honor for the 'Auckland Cup has been offered, and has-accepted the post of trainer for his Excellency. The press comments severely on the mode ih which the excavations were per formed at Fort Britomart. The inquest on Boyle disclosed that the Government overseer had warned the contractor of the risk he ran. ’ Gkahamstown, Dec. 4. Alburnia prospects are equally as good as before. ■ Scrip stood at the close of the day, ex dividend, sales, 575. 6d. ; buyers 575. 6d. ; sellers, 60s. . ~ A meeting of persons desirous of settling on land in the upper Thames district, was held last night. It was resolved to form an Association, which- will- probably even tually, affiliate with the Wellington Associa tion. Mr. M'Oullough, agent of the lat ter Association, was present , and explained the intended cop pf operations. The Literal’Association passed a resolu tion condemning the Property Assessment Bill. r X copy of the Resolution is to be forwqeded to the Thames representatives. . ,r Wellington, Dec, 4. A meeting-qfthplpccouhtantsin Bank ruptcy wag jheld yesterday, for the pur pose .of considering- conduct of .Mr. Berry, ah accountant, in connection with various estates.,, After, considerable dis cussion it was decided to address the com mittee of the Chamber of Commerce, with a view to having Mr. Berry struck off tire roll 7., V . . - . Hawera, Dec. 4. The result of the post mortem examina tion and inquest is that Mr. Moore, the chemist, died of heart disease. John Douglas has been committed for trial for attempting to kill his wife. He is supposed .to have been under the in fluence-of drink, which had a [maddening effect upon him. He also made a desperate attempt to cut his own throat, but the knife being blunt, .the cuts were slight Mrs. Douglas escaped before any injury was inflicted. Wellington, Dec. 4. At the Supre,mo,Court to-day, a case of considerable public importance, as well as to insurance companies, was heard. A man named White, of Nelson, had in sured*his house, which was burned down, in one policy, and one premium, but with different amounts proportioned to the Be'fltaf' items. The policy contained a dayßnaking it void should another policy be affected. Plaintiff sued to re cover damage he had sustained by the fire, but ’.the Company disputed the claim on the ground that the articles' mentioned in the policy were insured in another office The Supreme Court of Nelson held that the plaintiff could-not recover. He ap pealed against the decision, but the Court upheld the judgment. ’Wellington, Dec. 5. A man named Alexander Ogilvie, who was I 'arrested at Waihi, Taranaki, for forgery at Sydney, while manager of the Operative Building Society there, has been remanded back to Sydney. At the circus last night a man nan 3d Naan received a nasty scalp wound from a falling 1 pole. Which was broken by the strong wind blowing. ; ‘ Hokitika, Dec. 5. A considerable quantity of rain has fallen for two days past causing very heavy freshets in the rivers.’

r : BLENHEIM, Dec. 4.. Two ,men . were. lulled! yesterday. by a fall of earth mine, near Havelock/, Their names, are' Pike and Edwards. Their bodies have .been re covered,.

..... Oamaru, Dec. 4. Several of the large land owners in this district aire at»out.rto put-,up .their estates inte suitably sized farms, and, to lease them fqr l 4 and 21-years. . Mr. M'Masters has aheady.comnienced the practice on his Tokarahi property, with great success, many indnetrious, farmers pi e.fers to lease faxupg rather.than sink all their capital in freeholds.

DuNEDiN, Dec, 4- Sir William Fox was last night elected President of the Sew Zealand Temperance Ajliapce. . •Mr. J.. A. Walcott was elected a repre sentative of, ihe Chamber of Commerce on the;Harbor Bqardi-vic&Mr. -H. Tewsley, resigned. Great regret is expa.essed at Mr.Tewsley’s resignation. Mr. H. J. Walter, in conjunction with Messrs. James Finch and James James, this, morning Jodgqd a petition with the Resident, Magistrate,’ praying that - Mr. U. S* Fisb,,Jwmv, he: ousted from . the position of Mayor .of .Dunedin,, to which iiftivaaelected 0nNdy,,,25, <m the ground t%t.he. was'atthe time interested in a, contract under, the Corporation., John Tyrrell, -the actor who was arrested lately ' arrested for forgery in mistake, fqr axxotlier man, is . reported, to hfwrs brought an action for damages against Detective Bain. The, .Dproiiucan, Convert bazaar at the Gaboon Ts progressing very suc cessfully, the proppgds gp to last night amounting to £240. *' { The annual meeting of the Gtago ’ Rifle Association has been fixed to "take place at Anderson’s Bay, on .December 17,, 18, Is, and 20. Entries close on December 16. . The report that Alexander Grant, the absconding Land Office clerk, was arrested in the King country, was without founda tion. It was a case of mistaken identity. \ ■ Invekcaeoiee, Dec. 4. • Donald Mackay has been committed for trial for counselling and procuring Duncan Cameron to set Are to an occupied building, his property, at Mataura. Bail wasrefnsed. -i,; A most successful cattle sale was held at Wallacetowh some - ICO bead being disposed of at very satisfactory prides. U . The Mataura Agricultural and Pastoral Show to-day was a great success.

LATEST.

LATEST FROM EUROPE , (Special to the Association.) London Dec. 4. The “ Times ” says that unless the Porte do justice to the people of Turkey the (he country will fall into hands incapable of holding power. The “Pall Mall Gazette” says utter confusion exists at Stamboul with no chance of recovery, and action by the Western Powers is necessary. It also hints that eventually Germany will acquire Holland. The Queen is at Windsor. She has a severe cold with. sore throat, caught in Scotland, ' The journey increased the malady, ( Reuter's) London, Dec. 3. Arrived—Sepia, from Port. Pirie ; Riaho, from Lyttelton,’ Aug. 16. St. Petersburg, Dec. 3. An unsuccessful attempt has been made on the life of the Emperor of Russia, who arrived from Moscow yesterday. The train following with the baggage was blown up and seven carriages completely destroyed. Fortunately nobody was in jured. The perpetrators are unknown, but it is undoubtedly the work of Nilhists. The Emperor, in reply to a deputation presenting a congratulatory address, thanked God for his lucky escape and appealed for aid to his subjects, in exter minating sedition. The carriages which exploded were not railway cars, but ordinary baggage car riages following the Emperoi in the streets of Moscow. (Age Special.) London, Dec. 4. ’ An attempt to explode byelectricity, a mine under the palace of the Czar failed, and the Czar now states that he will not shrink from the most extreme measures to extinguish Nihilism. In France the Extreme Left are trying to force Radical measures on the Govern ment. M. Waddingtou threatens to resign unless the Chambers pass a vote of confidence. Sir Alex. Salt is appointed Canadian Minister in London. . The Queen has been advised that per fect quiet for some weeks is necessary A U STRAL I A N (* liter's Telegram.) Melbourne, Dec. 5. A lengthy discussion took place in the Assembly on the third reading on the Reform Bill. Mr. Monroe moved an amendment, extending the franchise to the Council. The amendment was lost by a majority of 4. The House divided on the third reading at 3 o’clock this morning— -43 in favor, 38 against. The Bill was lost in consequence of there not being ab solutely a majority of the House In consequence of the vacancy in the Legislative Assembly, caused by the bank ruptcy of Mr. Dywer, the Government consider the statutory majority obtain able. The question will be decided on Tuesday next. Mr. Berry failed to obtain the necessary statutory majority for the Reform Bill, which is therefore lost. Three Oppositionists were unable to vote. There was almost a free fight in the Assembly, Government having captured a member who, it was Said, promised to vote with the Opposi tion. Sydney, Dec. 5. The second reading of the Education Bill was carried in the Assembly by a majority of 4. 410 entiies have been received for the Wool show T at the International Exhibi tion, including 12 from New Zealand.

IN TERPROVI NOIAL

Per our Special Wire. Westport, Dec. 5. The steamer Kennedy, whilst entering port from Kelson, this morning, at 1 o’clock, kept too far to the north, and grounded on the spit. She is not in a dangerous position. Dunedin, Dec. 5. Shortly before midnight yesterday, a four-roomed wooden cottage at Caversham, owned and occupied by Mr. S. H. Pick ford, was destroyed by fire. The family were out at the time, .and the origin of the fire ia not known, the premises and con tents were completely destroyed. The insurances were Ll5O in the South British, and LI 00 in the Colonial office.

It is reported that if the attempt to oust Mr. H. S. Fish from the mayoralty is successful, and Mr. Walter take® the seat, a majority ,of the City Council will reduce the mayoralty salary for ensuing year to one -

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

FROM OUE eWN CORRESPONDENT. Mr. Ballance’s speech on the Property Assessment Bill was the best he has ever made in the House, and the only good speech that has been made by any member of the Opposition against the proposals of the present Government. It contained some great fallacies, but they were well rqixed with grevt trq hs, and delighted his party much. Messrs Montgomery, Mass, and Turnbull were even worse than Usual ; while amongst the speakers against the Bill in its present shape were Messrs Saunders, Dick,- and Swanson, though they were willing to support the Govern ment in an honest though unpopular effort to meet the liabilities of the colony. Major Atkinson easily defended the correctness of all his statements.

PARLIAMENT.

- • ----- ■ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, Dec. 4. Ip- the Council to-day, after usual work, the Canterbury Churclx Property Trust Bill, and the Mines Aot Amendment BUI, were read a third time and passed. The batch of small measures from the Lower House were read a first time. The Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill, Onewheoxo Giant Empowering Bill, Imbecile Passengers Act Extension Bill, and Land Act Amendment Bill, were read a second time. The remainder of the sit ting was occupied in Committee on several minor measures, a number of amendments being made on the Onehunga Waterworks lit serves Bill. The Council rose at 5.30 p. m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, Dec. 4. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at-2.30 p.m. THE ELECTION TELEGRAMS COMMITTEE’S REPORT. Mr. Macandrew brought up the report of the Election Telegrams Committee. He stated that the Committee were of opinion that seven telegrams sealed up, and accompanying the report, had been improperly laid on the table. The report itself set forth that five messages were originally paid for by the senders and for warded through the Department to the destination of Ministers, and two were sent by a mistake of the Telegraph Office. These had been scaled up and left un touched. Seventy-six telegrams in all had been sent and received by Government on election subjects. Mr. Montgomery asked that the evidence and proceedings of the Committee be read. The report was not an unanimous one, as there were three votes on one side and four on the other.

In reply to a question, The Speaker said that the telegrams would remain in his hands until the House decided what course they would adopt in the math ». Sir G. Grey proposed—“ That the resolution’ passed in Committee, to the effect that the report be not adopted by the Committee, be reaato the House.”

Mi - . Stewart .seconded the motion. The House divided. -Ayes, 52 ; Noes, 41. The amendment for reading the minutes and proceedings was accordingly lost.

Mr. Tole said that a distinct statement had been made that a draft report had been submitted to the Government before being submitted to the Committee. He moved —“That a Committee be elected to enquire into tire truth of the allega tion. ”

Mr. J. B. Fisher seconded the motion, and expressed surprise that Government had not denied the truth of the allegation if it was untrue. The whole conduct of Government in this matter justified him in assuming that the Government were well aware that they were producing private telegrams and laying them on the table in the first instance.

Mr. Wakefield said that the report of the Committee was never shown to' any one until it was submitted to the Commit tee. He drew it up himself, and it was shown to no one until it was submitted to the Committee for approval. Mr. Tole’s amendment was withdrawn with the consent of the House, and on the original motion being put, Mr. Macandrew said that, as a fact within his knowledge, the telegrams were never at any time out of the possession of members of the Committee.

Mr. Hamlin thought that it was right the House should have the names of the members who had made copies of the telegrams as alleged by a previous speaker. * Mr. Sutton said that these telegrams having been placed on the table of the House they became public property, and a member was justified in copying them, if he thought proper. The Hon. J. Hall suggested that the motion for printing the report and evi dence be allowed to pass, and an effort would be made to get them completed by Monday. Mr. Finn proposed as an amendmet that the Speaker be requested to examine the sealed packet, with a view of informing the House as to the names of the senders of those telegrams. The Hon. R. Oliver denied that the secrecy of the Department had been violated, and hoped that the amendment would not be agreed to. The debate was interrupted by the ,5.30 p.m. adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. property assessment bill.

The Hon. Major Atkikson moved the second reading of the Property Assess ment Bill. They had already gone as far as they could in the way of indirect tax ation, and direct taxation was now rendered necessary. A difference of opinion existed as to the propriety of tax ing incomes or capital, and Government had come to the conclusion that it would be better to tax property than incomes arising from property. An income tax was a tax upon a man’s energies and abilities, and on that account it was ob jectionable. The income tax was a great deal more inquisitorial than a property tax. In a colony like this the majority of settlers had fixed incomes, and there was no difficulty in rendering an account of what each possessed. In America the farmer had to give a return not only of crops, but likewise of any real property acquired during the year. Then, again, he was not allowed to deduct anything fox labor he employed in improving his pro perty. If he did not please the assessor, then he had to exhibit all his books and disclose all his transactions to prove his income was what he returned it as. Under the tax they proposed, no inquisitorial pro ceedings were required, and all he was required to do was to give an account of his visible property. It lay with him as far as he might deem advisable to show any transactions that did not appear on the face of his possessions. The objec tion that by taxing property and not in comes, a certain class escaped was to some extent true. The Property Tax was levied for the purpose of adjusting taxation. An indirect tax bears on all clases of the com munity, and they could not possibly tell upon whom. That the Bill would not tax unearned increment was a fallacy. If speculation in land was going on to the detriment of the settlement, by all means let them to special legisla tion ; but it was wrong to impose j, land tax simply to get hold of a lax-ger class of land owners. They could not deter specu lators by that tax, and, on the other hand, it was a gross injustice to a particu lar class of the commuixity, The Bill be fore the House was prepared rather hastily, so that while it contains the prin ciple of taxation proposed, there were de tails which he would amend in Com mittee. With regard to personal property it was px-oposed that man should be his own valuator, and as the owner sent in a return to the deputy commissioner, de ducting as he thought fit any debt lie might owe, it was open to the Commis sioner to object or not. It was then for the owner to substantiate the return he had made before the officers had called re viewers. In that case there would be no prying into the man’s affairs, and it would be the object of Government to secure

men of high standard. It might ho so far altered as to make the tax receiveable from the mortgagor instead of the mort gagee. He made that proposal with a view of preventing property being twice taxed. The question of how much was to be levied on property was imt touched upon by the Bill, as it was purely a machinery Bill, and it was to be hoped that in discussing it they would not mix up the general i|uestion of taxation. They had to make up £1,500,000 per year to meet the demands of the public creditor, and without some such tax as this, they would always be in the position of being compelled to adopt some temporary ex pedient for making good liabilities. The proposal was simply to provide the ma chinery, and then as occasion required fix the amount.. This year they proposed to malm it one penny in the pound, and in arriving at ’ that determination he was led by the feeling that they had to face very uncertain times, and it was unnecessary they should not overrate their revenue. Then again their expenditure was more than it should be, and though they would use every effort towards economy, still he could not at present take that into account. He had therefore estimated the expenditure as that of hist year, and in that case he had shown that a deficit of £BOO,OOO or £OOO,OOO would exist. They proposed to meet the House in May, and if they found the revenue .was rising on the expendi ture then the amount of one penny in the pound could be reduced to what was deemed necessary. Before next March they would have to borrow some £BOO,OOO, and it was just possible that their loans would not be negotiated by that time. With this tax they would be in a position to go into the money market with a much better grace, having ordinary expenditure amply covered by taxation. If looked at impartially be thought members would agree that an Income Tax would be inex pedient at present.

Mr. Ballance contended that the ro maiks which had been made al oat the proposed tax of one penny in the pound were chiefly made for the purpose of raising the credit of the colony in London. The Treasurer told them that the Income Tax was more inquisitorial than the Pro perty Tax, but he had given no proof in support of the statement. Under the Income Tax it was only in cases of doubt that it was rendered inquisitorial, and he now asked would it not be the same in regard to the Property Tax. There were a great number of concerns in the colony in which large amounts were invested, Mining Companies for example, which paid no income at all. Now this Bill would fall as heavily on these as it would on concerns paying large incomes. They had evidence that the land tax, which was condemned by the Treasurer, was being reverted to by other colonies. If they eliminated all the ob jections from the land tax incidental to its immigrants, then he would say they had adopted a tax acceptable to the whole country. There was a great danger of chopping about from one tax to another, and that was precisely what the Treasurer proposed to do. If a scramble was to be permitted in Committee, as the Treasurer had partly prepared them for, then it would merge from Committee in a shape altogether different from what it now pro fessed to be. The credit of the colony depended not as the Treasurer would lead them to suppose on one tax, but upon the whole system of taxation. One of the most prosperous classes in the colony was the professional man, and he was to escape altogether. The question that arose was was all this crushing taxation necessary 1 They had been told that it was to be a shifting tax, small in prosperous times and heavier in others. He -would contend that taxation was not called for; the sum of £200,000 had been miscalculated in the Estimates. A large amount of repre sented deficiency was due to the manner in which the Treasurer had brought down his statement, and he saw no reason to reduce the revenue £250,000 as the Trea surer had done. The late Government had been blamed for not calling the House together earlier than they did ; he, how ever contended thas there was no financial reason for doing so. One charge made against the late Government was that it lived on the land fund. It was the Trea surer who had first established the prin ciple of bringing the land fund into the public account in 1875, and he (Mr. Bal lance) went on to show that the late Go vernment had lived on that fund far less than the Government of which the Trea surer had previously been a member, and even yet Major Atkinson had not ceased to live on that fund. He contended that the liabilities had been overstated, and that large items had been put down which wouli not come down for payment this financial year. The Treasurer had attacked his Estimates of last year ; the fact was that they had estimated £IOO,OOO from the land tax, and they would reach that amount within £IO,OOO. In the Financial Statement for the present year, a mis statement of £50,000 for taxation alone had been made, the expenditure was over estimated by £70,000, and other items were quoted and criticised to show that the computation was altogether wrong. Mr. Shrimski spoke in opposition to the Bill.

Mr. Macandrew said that all the minority could do was to record their pro test against the . measure. The feeling produced was that after spending so many years of his life in New Zealand he would have to leave the country. Before im posing a tax of this kind, other means should have been exhausted. Tho Es timates ought to have been out down, for the expenditure was altogether out of proportion to their revenue. Mr. Hutchison did not think that any amendment likely to be made would make the Bill tolerable. Its principal effect would be to create another army of officials, who, once created, the colony would have great difficulty in getting quit of. The system of taxation proposed was viejons in principle, and inquisitorial in effect. It made no distinction between the man of small and the man of large property. Mr. Turnbull characterised the state ment that it was necessary for the credit of the colony that increased taxation should bo imposed, tus ft most extra ordinary one. The reduction in the Estimates when passing through the House should enable them to dispense with the proposed taxation. No good reason had been shown why a measure of this kind should be passed. On the con trary, it had been proved that the pro posal was quite uncalled for. Mr. Dick had an idea that the difficul ties of the colony had been overstated,

and ho was glad to find that the Treasurer now took a more hopeful view of matters. He believed the measure was an improve ment on the Land Bill ; at the same time he thought it defective. The proposal to tax shareholders was unfair Persons deriving large incomes from these very companies escaped. Education should not be absolutely free. Fees could be easily levied to the extent of £IOO,OOO, and at least one-half of the property tax might therefore be dispensed with. Trade was better outside, and no doubt would soon be improved here. An increased revenue from railways might also be anticipated. The property tax would discourage in brought capital. At present they should tread on the resources of the people as lightly as they could, and rather aim at reducing their expenditure.

The 1 louse divided on the second read ing of the Bill at 2.45 a.in. Ayes, 24: Atkinson, Bain, Bowen, Dick, Gibbs, Hall, Hirst, Hursthouse, Kelly, Kenny, M'Lean, Murray (teller), Pitt, .Richardson, Rolleston, Saunders, Seymour, Shanks, Stevens, Studholme, (teller), Sutton, Swanson, Trimble, Wright. Noes, 14 : Andrews, Bari'on, Delatour, Fisher, J. T. (Heathcote), George (teller), Gisborne, Harris, Hislop (teller), Moss, Seddon, Slviphard, Speight, Stewart, Tole. —___

Per our Special Wire.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, Dec. 5. AFTERNOON SITTING. In the Council to-day, after the custom ary routine business, Mr Whitaker pro posed to introduce a general Harbor Amendment Bill, and Captain Fraser gave notice to move that no more local Bills be taken up this session. Mr. Whitaker’s motion to meet on Monday was agreed to. Mr. Mantel’s motion—“ That Sir Julius Vogel was justified in believing he had the approval of Government to join the Land Company,” was shelved by the previous question, on the motion of Mr. Whitaker, after a short debate, in which there was a heated political argument between Sir F. Bell and Colonel Whitmore. THE BANKRUPTCY LAW. Mr. Wilson moved that in the opinion of the Conncil the Bankruptcy Law re quired amendment. There was an important debate on this, many valuable suggestions being made by different members. Mr. Whitaker said the law was bad, because it was founded on the basis that the creditors should have the dealing with the estates ; whereas they should be in the hands of independent parties. He would not promise to bring in a Bill next session, though strongly urged ; but would bo glad to do so if he saw any chance to carry a measure in accordance with his views. Mr. Wilson notified his intention of moving for a committee next session to enquire into the whole subject. ADULTERATION OF FOOD. Mr. Waterhouse carried a motion that the police should be instructed strongly to enforce the Adulteration Act. REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS BILL. The Council then went into Committee a second time on the Registration Bill, and had not finished on adjourning at 5 o’clock. EVENING SITTING. The Registration Bill was finished in Committee. The Auckland Loans Consolidated Bill was also passed through Committee. After several Bills had been advanced the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Friday, Dec. 5. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PRESS TELEGRAMS.

The Select Committee appointed to en quire into the question of what facilities can he given by the Government for the use of the telegraph by the public press reported as follows—lst. That arrange ments having been made for the amalgama tion of the two companies by whom special vires had been leased from Government, the Committee recommended that every facility should bo offered by Government for carrying out such amalgamation with out delay; that until the expiration or other determination of contracts now in force, it is unnecessary to make any re commendation on the subject of the facilities afforded to the morning papers. 2nd. That evening papers should be allowed 1000 words during the day at the present rate, and 100-word mes sages to take precedence of all others, except urgent messages, between 1.30 and 2.30 o’clock. 3rd. That, as it has been suggested in evidence, it would be de sirable to provide a wire especially for the use of the press night and day, the re prt sentatives of various morning and evening newspapers in the colony be in vited to unite in making a proposal which would warrant the department in providing such a wire. THE “ KR OWSLEY HALL.”

Mr. Hall announced that information had been received from England that the steamer Gomua was about to leave for China, and that she would call an route at the Crozots. It was desired to know if Government would erect a refuge steamer on these islands. Mr Hall added that Government did not feel called on to contribute towards the erection of such a steamer THE LYTTELTON 11. M. Mr. Allright asked when the Govern ment intend to appoint an E, M, in Lyttelton. Mr. Eolleston said the present E.M. had been located elsewhere in conse quence «f the neighbouring KM. having been called away to do duty at Poverty Bay. The R. M., however, would shortly be ordered to return to take up his resi dence at Lyttelton. NEW ZEALAND TIMBER AND FORESTS. Mr. Wakefield asked Government (1) whether they will, during the recess, cause inquiries to be made as to the possibility of introducing New Zealand timber into European markets : (2) whether they will bring in a measure next session for the conservation of forests, and the systematic disposal of timber as a sp.urc-c of public revenue.

Mr. Haft replied that Government would cause enquiries to be made on the subject. They would consider the ques tion of protecting forests, but judging from past experience they were not by any means smguine of the result.

THU WAKA MAORI.” Replying to Te When, Mr ijryce . aid it was not intended *■ take steps to re-establish the “Waka Maun ’ for the purpose of information tor natives! A NP'.W ZEALAND EXHIBITION". Mr. Levin asked Government whether they will place a sum of L 50,000 on tl e supplementary estimates as a preliminary grant towards an exhibition of 1884, and on condition that a similar sura is raised by the people of New Zealand. Mr. Hall replied that whatever the opinions of Government as to the advisa bility of the proposal, in the present financial state of the colony they would not be justified in incurring the respon sibility proposed. THE PROPERTY TAX. On the motion for going into Committee on the Property Assessment Bill. Mr. Macandrew said that the measure was one which he looked on as being utterly undesirable, and if those on his side of the House would follow his advice they would have nothing to do with it They would act on the principle “ Touch not, taste not, handle not.” It was a measure on which no material improve ment could be wrought. Mr. He Latour said he hoped they would see their way to strike out the tax on personal property. He blamed Go vernment for not having replied to the speech delivered by the hon. member for Wanganui. Mr. Reeves said the Bill was simply a blind so as to get the Land Tax Act re moved from the statute book. Had Go vernment been honestly desirous of raising the revenue by taxation, the Land Tax ought to have been increased. A beer tax might also be imposed. On beer alone a revenue of LIOO,OOO could have been raised. That would have been a volun tary tax, as no man need put himself out side a pint of beer unless he liked. Mr. Speight said it was quite obvious it was never intended to bring the measure into force. They were told that all round the lobbies. Members bad been virtually coerced into voting for the second reading by the aspect of affairs presented by the Treasurer. The speech delivered by the Treasurer on the second reading proved conclusively that the measure could not possibly be brought into operation before Parliament met again. It would be the small men in business and the small men in farming upon whom the Bill, if brought into operation, would hear heavily. Alto gether ho thought there was no real inten tion of bringing it into operation. Under these circumstances he did not see that it was necessary to give the measure any active opposition. Mr. Swanson did not think Govern ment had hit on a wise proposal for get ting money, but still money had to be got, while he did not like the Bill he did not see his way clear to oppose it. His object was to reserve his opinion. That measure was not a sham, on the contrary it was to his mind a most disagreeable reality, and it was their bounden duty to treat it as such. Mr. Reader Wood said the deficit was £600,000 and the Treasurer had told them there was no other way of meeting that deficit than by placing a loan. If they went away without making some arrange ment to meet that deficit this year, the difficulty next year would be still more serious. One aide of the House might differ from another as to the method to be employed, but still there could be no diversity of opinion that money would have to be raised. Everyone felt that the imposition of this tax was a serious matter, but it was a thing they were bound to face. Tliere wasnotax but pressed unfairly on the community as a whole. In this case the tax would unhappily cause many com plaints. The Mosgiel Woollen Factory, for example, paid no dividends on a large amount of capital invested. There were many other concerns in exactly the same position, and it was their duty to lay their heads together and see if some plan could be devised for relieving the affairs of these concerns from the operation of the tax. They had been told that the estimates should be reduced, but he remarked that the efforts already made in that direction had failed. If the imposition of this tax had no other effect, he believed that it would have this effect—it would rouse public attention to the fact, and members would be actually compelled to consent to the reduction of expenditure. By making the tax £d instead of Id, as proposed, they would get L 237,000. The Estimates could vary well be reduced L 134,000, and by reimposing the tea and sugar duties, or imposing a duty on beer, the balance of the deficit would be made up. Mr. Macandrew designated the imposi tion of the tax as most iniquitous and ex pressed an opinion that the difficulties could be provided for some oth«r way. Ho had never looked on the laud Tax with too much favor ; still, be was not blind to the fact that all their efforts towards pro gress and improvement had tended to in crease the value of land. Ho promised that he would give all assistance in his power to p’ace the tax on as fair and equitable a basis as he could. Mr. Seddon protested against the tax as being unfair to community h© repre sented. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The Hens© resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the motion to go into Committee on the Property Assessment Bill was resumed. Mr. Seddon argued that at the late period of the session it was necessary that the Etill should be taken back, and an Income Tax Bill ii.tro lueed.

Mr. Moss said with the machinery in his hands under the land tax, the Treasurer was in a position to raise L 400,000. Sir G. Grey said he felt so averse to the measure that he would offer it resistance at every start. Asa piece of taxation it aimed at every thing that produced wealth. First of all, it a ; med at man, the highest of Nature's machines. TTnder that system that machine would be ground dw.wn. The man not doing well would be ground down still lover. In New Zealand they had landholders whose land yielded nothing at all to them, and yet their cattle and pro duce would he taxed. Industries expected after a time to yield profit would be crushed in everyway. It appeared to him the property of the poorer classes would fall into hands of others move fortunate in worldly circumstances. There were gentlemen who drew large pensions from this colony. They went to England, and were taxed in England; why was it that they should not contribute

to tha funds of the place from whence they derived their pensions. The same with persona who derived large incomes from the colony and resided at Home. .Healing with such gross in justice, as this he felt as if he were in a nightmare Surely, tVs state of things was not retd. He vas told the measure was not to be put in force. There was not a day he did not get letters informing himthatoheinhabitantsweredeterminednot to remain under such a system of taxation, he would simply enter his protest against a measure he conceived to be quite un fitted for the country, and which would entail ruin on the colony. While it was in power of the colony to retrace this step and substitute an income tax he conjured them to do it. A measure of that kind would be sufficient to meet the exigencies of the case and sustain the credit of the colony in the money market. Mr. Wallis had come to the conclusion that it was an unjust and one sided measure.

Mr. M‘Lean said he agreed wi*h the Opposition that the measure was a bitter pill to swallow. But it was forced on them by the maladministration of the late Government. He draw a close comparison bitween this and the land tax, and pro nounced in favor of the former. The member for Hokitika had told them that only three men on the West Coast con tributed under the land tax. That of it self went to prove it Was unfair in its operation. The present financial difficul ties he attributed to the Government, and reminded the member for Wanganui that 12 months ago, when delivering his statement as Colonial Treasurer, he pointed out the progress made, and described the state of affairs in glowing terms, and actually went tlio length of attempting to reduce the tax. Mr. Hall agreed that what could be done in the way of retrenchment should be done. It was out of question, how ever, to think of striking out one sum after another indiscriminately. It was a thing requiring to be handled very caie fully, and by men who knew something about it. He could assure ’ them that what could be done in that way Government was anxious to da Had they brought in a beer tax, the cry would have been whispered about robbing the poor man of his beer. Had they-pro posed an income tax, they would have been ta Anted with robbing the poor pro fessional man and hard worked civil ser vant. In Committee Government would be quite prepared to consider any reason able proposal made in a friendly spirit. He believed that whatever they put on under this tax, and which was shown to be necessary, would be cheer fully paid. If they found that the pro posed amount could be reduced they would be very glad to do so, but the public credit would have to be main tained.

Mr. Montgomery reviewed the measure and peinted out its objectionable features. Mr. Trimble spoke in favor of the principle of the bill

Mr. J. T. Fisher spoke in opposition to the Bill. He had listened to the aivu ments for and against it, and to his mind the latter were overwhelming. Major Atkinson said he could not con ceive how it should be stated that they did not require the taxation proposed. No authority on the subject of finance haci seriously impugned the correctness of his estimates. After weighing all the circum stances of the colony he contended that a property tax was preferable to an income tax. The Bill before the House was no shani, and Government intended to bring it into operation. Go vernment would accept reasonable pro posals, but they would not, as the late Government had done, submit to un reasonable and mere factious amendments. The proposition made by the member for Thames about levying income tax on Now Zealand land owners at Home was most absurd, and one which would effec tually defect colonial loans in the Home country. He could hardly believe that the proposition was made in earnest. The proposal about imposing such a tax on ab sentees was equally untenable. By apply ing themselves seriously to the Bill he believed that they would succeed in pro ducing a by no means unpopular measure. On the question forgoing into-com mittee the House divided—-Ayes, 36 ; Noes, 25.

The House then went into committee, and was left sitting at 12.30 a. m.

Newspaper Enterprise in Paris.

The ingenuity of civilised thieves is ex traordinary.. A capital story is told by a correspondent of the doings of one of these rascals in Paris. He started a paper called ‘ ‘ Le Scandale. *’ The name of course tickled the Persians, and it was placarded everywhere. “Robert Morel’s paper was the talk of a certain quartier. Sub-editors, readers, managers, and printers were wanted, and “ printers’ devils ” were not despised. “ A number of workmen and people from the country, servants -who had put by a little money, and did not wish to remain idle, forwarded their claims for places, and Robert obliged them all. They were all engaged right off, without a question being asked. Now oi>rnes the swindle. Just to show their bona tides the applicants were requested to hand in 300 or 500 francs as a deposit. The piquant newspaper appeared for two days, but on the third a scandal of a very different nature appeared. Robert had levanted, and had taken with him all the deposit accounts. The office was of course closed, and there was a general rush’ of the printers and the enormous staff engaged to the nearest police-station. Robert wa* ultimately caught, after a fierce struggle, in which he nearly murdered his captors. In the dock he was bland -and mild-man nered. He knew the Code Criminal by heart, and corrected the judge when he erred. When asked to state his means of subsistence, he replied that ho had many friends, that he had gambled on the Riwurae. that he negotiated with the Turkish Khan, and that he was a sculptor. When asked to account for the wounds which he inflicted on a policeman, lie said that the man was hurt bv thrusting him self against him (Robert), and he added, “ I am very strong, sir : I have that repu tation. The man wished to do « brilliant stroke of business when he laid hands <na me; but if I had really attacked him ho would be a dead man now.” “ But," ob served the judge, “ Dr. Bergeron haw stated ” Robert ; •* Dr. Bergeron ban not studied legal medicine as I have." It seems almost i pity that so smelt in genuity should lie idle in a prison for twelve months, the period to> which Robert was sentenced.

THE ASHBUkTON GUARDIAN.

SjtftTfeDAY,' nrfe.Mß' Ti 6. 1879 1

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