MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 8 September 1880, Page 2

MISCELLANEOUS.

The following is the text of tlje resolution recently carried in the I|ouse of Commons by Sir Wilfrid Larson, jq

favour of ' local option ;' — ' That inasmuch as the ancient and avowed obj -ct ol licensing the sale of intoxicating liquo-a is to supply a supposed public want with out detriment to the public welfare, this House is of opinion ll.at a legal power o' restraining the issue or renewal of licensee ebould be piaced in the, hands of the persons most deeply interested and affected-namely, the inhabitants them* selves, who are entitled to protection from the injurious consequences of the present system by some efficient measure of local option,' This is bow they act at meetings of creditors in Wellington -.—While the voting was going on, Mr Huxley (a creditor and tailor) happened to advance towards Summerfield (the debtor, also a tailor) for gome reason or other. The act produced an effect on Mr Summerfield similar to that which is supposed to follow the holding up of a red rag in the face of a wild bull, Mr ■ Sumraerfield pleasintly ado dressed Mr Huxley as ' a grey-beaded old sinner, 1 wbo wanted nobody to ge t a living but himself. Mr Huxley ad» xn'tted he was grey-headed ; grey hairs were a sign of venerableness and honour. Mr Summerfield he con'inued, was bald ; that was a sign of dissipation. Mr Sum* werfield retorted by remarking that Mr Huxley was no tailor to begin with, and was advised by the latter not to talk folly. This provoked M r Summerfield to add, ' Go to your moleskin patterns, you unprincipled old wre'eh.' Mr Huxley— •Don't make a fool of yourself; you're bad enough already.' Mr Summerfield — ' I have served you for two years ; whnt did you keep me for P' Mr Huxley—' To keep you from starving.' At this stage two or three other creditors interfered, and the ' slanging duett ' ceased. Subsequently the judge suspended Mr SumBerfield's certificate till November. The area of New Zealand is 64,000,000 ncres, of which 20,000,000 are forest. The rural lands held by Europeans are 12.579,070. The number of holdings is 26,126. This includes freehold and private leasehold, but is exclusive of 13,109, 955 acres held under lease from the Crown for pastoral and mineral purposes. Of the remaining territory, large tracts ere atill ownpd by the Maoris, who holH iheir land under the Treaty of Waitangi, by which their right* were guaranteed when the Colony was ceded to the Crown. They shew an increasing desire to sell as their appreciation of European ways of life becomes more keen. Many of them are sheep farmers, and others carry on agriculture with considerable success. They also own town sections, from which, especially in Wellington, they r're ive considerable sums for g-ound rent.