The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-08 00:00:00

MB. TRAIN

An evening contemporary has the foitowrng
men have always entertained a lofty and very proper con-
tempt for the dull wit and mechanical humour of the
wooden-headed Saxon. They do not, therefore, encourage
publications like Punch, for instance. They require a
much more subtle sort of refreshment, such as is to be
found in the columns of the Irishman. As for example :
" Under date of Dublin, 12th ult., Train telegraphs as
follows to the New York World :---` Gladstone quails. I
am released, with an autograph request from the Queen,
brought to me by Earl Spencer, in full Lord-Lieutenant's
uniform, to secure America's forgiveness for the Alabama
outrages. Prince Alfred offers to accept the crown of
Independent Ireland, with Train for Prime Minister.
Remember the answer of indignant France to the pro-
posed Regency of the Duchess of Orleans : It is too
late Fiat Justitia. Delenda est Britannia. E Pluri-
bus Erin Train Go Bragh I return by the Australasian.
Have ordered the hotels in Omaha to be set on fire. That
blaze will beacon Ireland to Liberty, England to her doom,
America to the Empire of the World. • Mens sana in
corpore sano."forkish Baths. Tell the Troth. No To-
bacco. Nu Whisky. Never say die. I still live.' The
same playful humourist announces the murder of Mr.
Baker in these terms : " The agrarian war in Tipperary—
Another landlord shot."

LOCAL XA TION RETUIL UELA•,~:

The local taxation returns for the year ending dune
1567 (England and Wales) have been arranged and
abstracted for the use of Parliament. The total amount
of church rates collected was £232,476, shewing an increase
of £3,492 on the preceding year. The total amount of
sewers rates levied exclusive of the City of London was
£42,871, the amount for the City being £40,074. The
total expenditure, including £31,319 contributed by the
City of London to the Board of Works was £89,096 ;
the total receipts amounted to £87,291. Under the
head of drainage and embankment the total
amount of rates and rents received is stated at
£176,138. It is noticeable that the amount for 1866 was
only £142,358, being less than for many preceding years.
In 20 parishes the lighting and watching has been trans-
ferred under the Local Government Act, to the local
boards. The total amount of rates, taxes, and dues, levied
by Improvement Commissioners during the year was
£679,683, or nearly double the amount for 1866,
the excess being mainly due to the amounts
levied at Leeds and Liverpool, of which no
accounts were given in 1866. The total amount borrowed
by improvement commissioners during the year was
£529,712, of which £223,013 was at Liverpool, £137,610
at Leeds, and £46,376 at Salford. In the total amount
of rates levied under the Metropolis Local Management
Acts theref is an increase of £217,113, or more than 19
per cent. on the previous year, and the increase extends to
each of the four heads, general lighting, sewers,
main drainage, and special rates. The exemption
of the Islington Cattle Market from the return of markets
and fairs has reduced the sum total of the year. Under
the head of bridges and ferries accounts are given for 60
bridges and 20 ferries. Sums of bonded debt, of arrears of
interest, and of other debts, amounting altogether to
£4,223,289, are chargeable upon Waterloo Bridge across
the Thames. The debt of the Mersey Docks and Harbour
Board has increased by 2416,706, while on the port of
Sunderland and on the River Tyne there are
debts amounting to £1,061,924 and £1,136,288
respectively. To ascertain the amount of social taxation
borne by the country it is necessary to add other items
which are laid before'Parliament under different Acts.
Thus the poor rate, including the county and police rate
for 1867, amounts to £10,303,665 ; the City of London
rates to £497,722, and the borough rates to £996,907.
Altogether these additional rates and taxes make up the
sum of £14,028,402 in addition to the £4,738,040 specified
in the Local Taxation Returns.