NEWS OF THE MONTH.

AUCKLAND, N.Z.,

3rd November, 1883,

The new contract for the performance of the San Francisco mail service with three steamers instead of four commences with the outwai-d mail steamer. The City of New York, which only arrived here from San Francisco three weeks ago, instead of lying at Sydney for nearly six weeks, re turns to carry the outgoing mail. The City of New York is then withdrawn, the Zealandia, Australia, and City of Sydney (tho fastest of tho four steamers engaged on the service) being retained. The Australia will leave Sydney for San Francisco, via Auckland and Honolulu, on the 10th November, returning here with the inward mail, duo on the 12th of January, ISS4 —that is Saturday, not Mon day, as heretofore, the time of delivery being reduced two days.

The number of buildings which are at present in course of construction would appear to fully justify the statement that this branch of trade is decidedly brisk in Auckland at tho present time. Kesidence sites aro constantly springing up in the suburbs, Ponsonby, Newton, and Mount Eden showing the greatest signs of activity in this direction. That this business will continue rather than decrease may reasonably be inferred from the still strong demand for villa sites, and the quantity of suburban land which has been cut up and brought into the market for this purpose lately. Tenders, too, are being invited for various Jarge buildings which were enumerated last month. Other edifices of importance are now projected, and should they be undertaken and completed, will add greatly to the appearance of the city. One of these is a new building of Oamaru stone at the corner of Wellesloy and Albort streets tOjTeplace the present Shamrock Hotel, and to cost about £4,000. Tenders are out for a handsomo Foresters' Hall at the corner of Beresford-streob and Pitt street, and also for works for the New Zea land Iron Company, which was formed a short time ago to utilise the ironsand deposits on tho West Coast. The con tractor is busy in laying the foundations for the Victoria Arcade, which will be the most valuable and handsomo structure in Auck land ; whilo similar preparations are being made for a largo four-story block at the corner of Wellcsley-street East and Queen street for Messrs Stono. Tho new Evening Stab Office, Old House at Home Hotel, and a four-story block of buildings in Lower Queen-street for Hon. Thomas Russell, are all advancing; while in the thoroughfare at the rear of tho last-named property a row of brick shops and offices are going up for Mr Hutchinson.

Besides these and other buildings of lesser importance, improvements of a different class are likely to engago the attention of contractors for some time to come. The Governor has issued tho Order-in- Couno.il for the construction of a new Graving Dock on the opposite side of the harbour, and which, when com pleted, is expected to take in ocean-going steamships of the largest size. It was for the carrying out of this work that tho Auckland Harbour Board floated a loan of i' 150,000 some time ago, and of the amount then raised £140,000 is now on fixed deposit, drawing interest at a higher rato than is being paid. Tenders for tho construction of Uuj Dock aro now being invited in Aus tralia and in tho various cities of this colony, returnable at the end of the yoar. Nego tiations are still pending between the City Council, Harbour Board, and Frozen Meat Company for tho cutting down of Emily Place, directly behind the proposed Frozen Meat Company's works. When tho City Council has arrangod with tho vestry of St. Paul's Church for an exchango of sites, it is intended by the other bodies to proceed with the putting down of Emily Plnce, and. to utilise the earth for the filling in of the railway - station reclama tion on the eastern side of the Queon street Wharf, and also for the necessary harbour reclamation for the Frozen Meat Company's works. The cutting will give a new outlet for the city on the eastern side, And itsmediately on the completion of this work tensiters will be let for the new rail way station, which will adjoin the town ond of the principal wharf, and the work of erecting the Frozen Meat Works and making the necessary wharf extension will toe commenced. Tenders will also be), out immediately for a new wharf on the western aide of the present main pier and project ing from Hobson-street, and the space be tween this and Queen-street Wharf, where the present Graving Dock is, will be filled in at the same time.

Mentionhasbeenmadeofthelargequantity f>f suburban land out up for residence sites md brought into the market lately. The principal block, of course, is tho Surrey Sills estate, which was offered to the City (Council fwo years ago for £100,000. When the last mail left, plans of the estate, which ia situated less than a mile from the centre of the town, had been prepared; but as the plan of streets was pot considered ad- Tantageoua, the Company which was con ducting the disposal of the estate deferred the«*K in deference to the opinions of the press and public, and had the desired alter ation made: pn the day before the sale, an informal meeting of the City Council was held with the object of consider ing the position, asd in nil probability, the possibility of purchase. Ijfothing was, however, done, the Council concluding that as there was no offer for the sale of the estate before them, they oould- not take action. It was generally understood, at the name time, that £150,000 was the least price the Company would accept for the property. The sale eventuated last week, only sixty-seven allotments being put up for competition, and the remainder being re served for private competition. The two »«;n corner allotments realised £36 and £40 per foot respectively, and were bought in by •ihe Bask of New Zealand. Other allotments svith maim road frontage varied m price from £12 to £7, while residence sites in the interior streets ;«j> from £3 23 (id to £6. These are considered to bo exceptionally il«h prices for land, but spany of the allot anfnfc offered were the pick pf the.estate. The totai frontage sold was about 3 000 feet, xealMng £20,227. Some idea of the cites,* *f the property saq.y bo gathered from the &ct that it comprises 84 sections, 2,200 lots, 30 streets, frontages to boundary roads of 10,784 feet; interior frontages, 71,378 feet, making ft total frontage of 82 132 feet The terms of sale are one-fifth cash.and .o* balance within fiv» years, the Company also offering to make <?ash advances for the erection of buildings at f evf.n.per cent There is no immediate intaj&pn to offer any more of the estate ios sale Iby auction. Mr A. Boardman, tt» Secretary of the Company, has opened an officoin Shortland-street, where applications for private purchase will be received. The price of each allotment is being recorded on the plans, and the terms of purchase will fee the same as at the auction. Some applications, have already been sent in, and the gflfdual opening-up of the estate is likely to keep builders well employed; " Contracts Save been let for the laying of the recently.-arifred water mains through the new wards of Auckland city, and the work ia already wejl fo hand, so that it is ;•■ 'but natural to expect that Ifche advantages 1 of a water Bupply will be felt in %s suburbs before the conclusion of the dry season •whichisnowuponus. The suburban borough of Parnell, which i« very exclusive in worts of this kind, has received a waterworks plant of its own from Glasgow, did will draw its supply from another -, source. The city tramway, plant, too, oas reached its destination, and the work ot cutting down certain main roads to leyels is being carried on vigorously. TJ^e pre . .liminary preparations will doubtless be I <e«aipletedl)efore a start is made with the BwSm: of the raUs. Negotiations for the Kfrtemfon of the tramway system to ParoeU *j- *were carried on for some time, but tne f v "3orou"h authorities and the Company could |.«otarriveatp catisfactory basis of agree gmente, and henoe J?»rnell mU be onuttedi Ili^foia theßewice.

The Bank of New Zealand's half-yearly report and balance-sheet, introduced by the usual Presidential address, furnishes us with another clue to the condition of New Zealand trade and finance; and the most confirmed pessimist cannot say that the glimpse is unfavourable. Though the Bank's profits for tho term are slightly below those of the previous half-year fifteen per cent, and £25,000 to the reserve fund ought to satisfy shareholders that then- business interests havo been well looked after. This, however, is not so in teresting to the general public as the references contained in the address to those business conditions on which, not only bank dividends, but all other trading profits depend. The Customs returns had fore warned us that there was a contraction in imports ; and the President of the Bank records with satisfaction that the tendency in that direction is well pronounced. Con traction of trade in any direction can never be a wholly favourable condition—it signifies either over-importation in previous periods or business inactivity, and both these causes have been at work, we are told in New Zealand during the past year or so. These remarks apply more particularly to the Southern districtsof the colony,in Auck land business has been exceptionally active. Undersuch circumstances, the revival of cau tion, and the limitation of trading- operations without any .serious commercial disaster, is a circumstance upon which business men may congratulate themselves. It would not havo been possible, unless aided by liberal bank advance.', to havo reduced the inflated volume of trade suddenly without bringing about a general collapse ; hence the bank pressure which has been felt lias not passed beyond the stage of reducing the ratio of increase in bank advances, without les sening their aggregate volume That tho banks have assisted their customers so far manifests a judicious policy, and wo owe to it the comparative easiness with which colonial stocks have been met and absorbed by tho current consumption. That it may tako six months longer to com pletely restore the equilibrium, 'as antici pated by the President of the Bank, entail ing a continued stringency in the money market for that period, should not excite either surprise or uneasiness. If tho coming summer yield tho bounteous harvest in wool and agricultural products and gold which we have fair reason to hope from it, tho trading interests will once more feel firm ground, unless business men are tempted by the relaxing financial pressure to tie them selves up in the meantime with tho many tempting land speculations which are pressed upon their attention.

Tho summary of Australasian statistics for 1882, compiled by Mr H. H. Hayter, Government Statist for tho colony of Vic toria, encourages tho reflection that no amount of misgovernmont could per manently ruin a country possessing the natural resources and productiveness of New Zealand. The average yields of agri cultural products in tho several colonies per aero ftre noteworthy :—

111 i I Bshls. Brills. Jishls. Tns. Int. Now Zealand .. 2628 32-95 20-19 510 1"24 Victoria .. ..91)3 2<H7 17-35 378 1-06 New South

"Waloß .. IG-3S 21-8S 20"55 3-00 1-35 Queonsland .. 13*89 lii'sß 1788 2DO W South Australia i'2l 11-13 HIM 305 "75

New Zealand stands second on the list of Australasian colonies as a sheep-breeding country, and its meat fetches an average of nearly 2d a pound moro in the English markets than tho loan, tough, and flavour less mutton of Australia.

However discouraging tho failuro of the Mataura's shipmont of frozen meat may have been, it must not be supposed that it will prevent future enterprise in this direc tion from Auckland, although there can bo but littlo doubt that it will intorfero materially with immediate shipments. Tho matter has been repeatedly before the directorate of the Company.and.the general feeling is that it is not judicious ov advis able to ship by sailing vessel. This, of course, practically means that no further shipments will be mado leave Auck land until tho Frozen Works aro com pleted, when steamers can load with despatch. Under the present arrange ments, the work of filling tho refrigerating chamber proceeds so slowly that the vessel is necessarily detained such a length of timo that if she wore a steamer tho whole of the profits would be absorbed in oxponso bo fore she received her despatch. The main essential for success in tho steam trade is quick despatch. Before tho nowa of the Matarua'a failuro camo to hand, it was understood that tho ship Opawa would bo here in December or January to take a cargo of frozen meat at 2id ; but that ar rangement has now been abandoned, whilo an intention of Bonding homo meat from Auckland in Shaw, Savill and Cos. Triumph, which is now on her way to tho colony, will not bo carried into oll'ect. Various reasons aro assigned for tho failure of tho Matuura's cargo, one being that the kidneys wore frozen with the sheep, and another that the carcases were not properly cooled before being placod in tho refrigera ting chamber. The latter theory is strengthened by tho fact that tho ship was loading in the months of January and Febuary,whontheexcoptional warmth would bo certain to require unusual caro in the cooling of tho carcases to tho proper tem peraturo and the subsequent freezing. Although no shipments of frozen mutton will. be made for some timo, yot it may bo mentioned that the Company are energetically developing their arrangements for a regular supply of sheop when the trade is properly commenced from Auckland. Surveys have been mado and stations fixed on a driving route from Napier to Lichfield, on tho Patatere estate, where the Thames Valley Railway terminates. These stations will be about twelve miles distant, and at each a certain area will be laid down in grass and fenced. Flocks en route from Hawko's Bay will thus be ,driven a comparatively short distance each day, and will remain at night in the wayside stations to rest and feed. Skilled drivers only will be placed in charge of them, and it is hoped that by this means the animals will reash their destin ation in first-class order and condition. Arrangements have also been made for branches from the main road to tap sheep districts en route, and it is calculated that the scheme will work a district containing 8,000,000 sheop with an annual surplus of 300,000. The Freezing Company, which will have its stores alongside the landing berth in Auckland, will not be purchaiers, but will act as agents, taking charge of the sheep from tbo squatting station to London. When the news of the Premier's intended visit to Auokjand was first authoratively announced the Chamber of Commerce conceived it to bo a favourable opportunity for bringing prominently before him certain mat ters which have been engaging public attention hwe for a considerable time past. Accordingly arrangements were made as soon as possible for an interview between thehon. gentleman on tho ono hand and the Chamber and Auckland members of tho House of Representatives on the other. Tho in terview took place .on Tuesday afternoon last, and'waa both very largely and influon tially attended. Severally introduced with a few explanatory remarks from the Chair man (Mr L. D. Nathan) and baokod up by forcible speeches from Messrs J. O. rirtli, Graves Aickin, J. M. Clark (Mayor) and Wotere te Rerenga (Chiof of Mokau) resolutiens were brought before the 1 re mser (1) urging the vigorous prosecution of the survey! of tho North Island Trunk Line of Railway which have been progressing very tardily; (2) communicating the decided wish of the people here that railway com munication should bs direct with New Plymouth by the West Coast route, instead of indirectly by tho central route, advocated at Wellington; (3) requesting that additional railway facilities should be provided at Ponrose.theprosentfacilities for traffic being utterly inadequate; and (4) stating the desirability of extending the telegraph line from Mangonui to Cape Maria Van Diemen. The Premier replied: (1) That the surveys were teing pushed forward with all possible expedition, 'and that the Government would have full plans to submit to tho House next session j 8 that when the dat» now being collated was laid before the House the Government would bo nrepared with arecomtnondationasi towmcli route was the more advantageous for adop tion i ,(3) that directions hadbeen given for a survey of aproposed alternative line ; and (4) that all, t£e ayaUab,V» funds at the dis posal of the Marine p^pari.msnt were re quired for the better lighting pf the wajft lino and harbours. liiQjdentaJ to thes? matters, the Premier promised to consult the Minister of Pubic Works, » the widening of the road leading to tho Bail way Whlrf; and he also said tkat the erec tion of the new railway station would be commenced as soon as the reclamation was finished. In acknowledging a vote ot thanks, he further mentioned that ho would tako an opportunity of addressing the people of Auckland during the summer. Th.c Mflkau chief. Wetere te Rerenga, who js spoken V In the B»«»JuW Pa™; graph as fearing supported the l&^F U Commerce's resolutions concerning the ITortb Island trunk lme, I#S cpuie to tmfc in company with Mr Joshua .Jones fpr the special purpose of inducing a n»mbj.r 0* capitalists to float a company to work the • extensive coal seams on the Mofcatt

Paver Their existence and the value ot the coal for economic purposes have been known for some time past, 1 1 act, lon has only become possible pt late, the natives having just conveyed a lease of the ground to Mr Jones, who is therefore the promoter of the project. The natives are anxious to have the district opened up, and as a steamer can get up the river to within a short distance of the proposed works, transport should be both cheap and expeditious. So far as can be ascertained at present, the railway lino is likely to pass to the westward of it. It is conjectured from Carrick's survey that the ultimate route of the lino will be either from Stratford or Inglewood to Tuhua on the western side of Mount llangitoto, thence to Te Kuiti, and so on to Te Awamutu. This would avoid the broken country near the mouth of tho Mokau, and carry tho line further away from the Coast, thus opening up a large area of arable land besides effecting at the same time.a direct junction with the trunk line.

A most important scheme for harbour dredging and the ultimate filling in of Freeman's Bay with silt has been sub mitted to the Harbour Board by the Eno-i ---noer. Ho points out that if 746.000 cubic yards of stuff wore taken out, tho' whole of the present wharfage accommodation could be made avilable for vessels of considerable draught of water, and mentions as an illus tration of his scheme that if the proposals were carried out the steamer Doric, whose deep level draught is 27 feet, could bo easily berthed close in to the shore. Mr McDonald recommends the purchase of a dredge that could remove all this silt in three and a-half years, and by its deposit in Freeman's Bay place the Board in posses sion of 21 acres of valuable city property. The report has been favourably considered by the Harbour Board, and they havo re solved to ascertain the cost of the plant requisite to carry out the proposed work.

Some surprise ha.l been occasioned by tho receipt of the telegram reporting the sub stance of a communication made to tho Aborigines Protection Society by the Maori members of the New Zealand Parliament. No one disputes tho perfect right of tho Maoris to use every fair means to influence legislation affecting themselves ; but they could not have chosen a more futile and ill advised course than that which has been adopted. The Society appealed to will doubtless use its influence to move the Imperial Government, but all that the latter can do is to refer the question to the Colonial Government. The action, how ever, is calculated to convey a false impres sion to people unacquainted with tho relations existing between New Zealand colonists and natives. Tho inferenco from it is that the Maoris are suffering injustice, and after exhausting all means at their dis posal here, have been forced' to look to England for help. Such an inference is as erroneous as the statement that tho ColonialGovernmentaro opposing Tawhiao's proposod visit to England is absurd and untruo. Tawlriao has been kept well sup. pliod with funds, contributed by his fol lowers, and ho has only to take his nassago like any other person by any of tho out going steamers. If the subject of complaint is that the Government do not proposo to pay the expanses of his trip, the reply is simply that they hare never even been asked. As a matter of fact, nearly tho whole of Maori affairs are now controlled by elective Nativo Committees, and during last session of Parliament a measure wag passed extending the authority of these Committees to taking evidenco in cases of land disputes. There have been many evils associated with tho Nativo Land Court in tho past, but these aro minimised, if not entirely removed, by tho legislation of last session ; and if Maori land cannot now bo bought and sold as expeditiouely and cheaply ad any othor, it is solely because of tho difficulty of determining ownership, resulting from the communal holding of land which provails among tho natives. To give Native Committees the power of legis lating for tho Mauris would be to create a conflicting authority in the colony which would give rise to no end of trouble. Apart from tho merits of tho question, it was decidedly "bad form" for Maoris having seats in tho Colonial Parliament to rush with their grievances to an English Society, whose interference can only lead to un pleasant jarring, without tho remotest pros pect of doing any good. 'Wo thought we had hoard tho last of tho projected visit to England of Tawhiao, the Maori King, ; but a cable dospatch dated 30th October shows that tho matter has been brought under tlio notico of Lord Derby, Secretary of Stato for tho Colonies, who has writton to Sir William Jervois for information and advice. This seems to prove that Tawhiao still hugs tho'idea of " starring" London aftor tho manner of King Kalakaua, of the Sandwich Is lands, and tho Zulu monarch, Cetewayo. Wo cannot guess what reply our Go vernor will mako to Lord Derby's in quiries ; but wo may supplement it by snying that Tawhiao is n dusky poten tate, witW a most villainously-tattooed countenance, who drosses in European costume, and exercises jurisdiction over a very small section of the Maori tribes ; he Ims quite a sufficient number of wives to mako him interesting to tjjo monogamous Briton; and lias a great capacity for consum ing dried shark, kuniaros, rum, and whisky. Tho solids It may puialo tho gener ous British publio to supply, but they will bo pleased to see tho distinguished visitor tako naturally to the beverages of tho country. As to tho proposed visit, it is tho very thing that the Londoners want, as it will supply them with an excitement to which they have been strangers since Jumbo and Cetowayo left their hospitable city. If the Maori King couldonly raise sufficient cash to hire a ricketty omnibus and ride through London in state on the box seat, with Ms Priyy Councillors ranged along tho sido seats, as we have seen him in Auckland, tho spectacle would "fetch" the Cockneys completely. Tho " oppressed " monarch would bo the observed of all obsorvers ; ladies would drop tears over his "wrongs," and John Bull would unclasp his pocket book to subscribe towards their rodress j tho daily papers would have leading articles recounting his history and exploits, and tho poets of the oomjc journals would under go seyero mental strain in their endeavours to make his ni»iHe rhyme in English yprso. Then when the noble British publio had got their fill of the new sensation, Tawhiao would be privately hustled out by some back door, and sent back to the embraces of his disconsolate " subject*,1' and the tyran nical treatment of the Colonial Government. It has been represented to the Aborigines Protection Society that tho Government of New Zealand are hiudering the Maori King's departure for England ; and it would not surprise us to learn that such an absurd statement is believed at Home, and made the pretext for a display of popular sym pathy with the Very eommonplaoe, quite uninfluential, and rather debauolied indivi dual who is by courtesy called the Maori King. Claimants continue to arise to the estate of the late Mr E. Costley, which was left to be distributed among various benevolent institutions in this city. The latest is ft Miss Mary Neavc, of Salisbury, England, who is stated to be a grand-niece of de ceased, and who, through 'her solicitors, writes to'th]e oxoc'utors under Mr Costley's will, her claim.', It appears that this clainj,' ljko several others Which pro ccded it, is fou»de4 "P 0!? a misapprehen of the facts, Tho pontention" is 'that "the bequest is invalidated by the opovatjon of the Act of Mortmain (9, Gco; 11,, chap. 36) which declares that gifts for charitable or religious purposes shall only be lawful when made by a deed indented twelve months before tho death of the person making it. This statute does not at all ap ply to the case in question, in which deceased left his property to trustees with orders to realise and divide, the money among certain institutions. Tho sale of the freehold property left on these conditions took place recently, when it brought a total sum of £34,495. Tho wholo estate is estimated to yield more than double that amount, which would doubtless havo been a welcome windfall to Mr Costley's re lations ; but as these did notconcern them selves about the old man while he lived, it is doubtless just and right, as well as law ful, that his wealth should go to tho beautiful city which gavo him a home and In which his fortune was made.-

The difficulties whioh beset poor people in securing their rights by legal process have been exemplified in the case of Ann Davis and Mary Lewis v. George Staines, which was decided by by Mr Justice Gillies in the1' Supreme Court, Auckland, on the "i s±h ■of October. Fifteen years ago a pedlar na'pied John' Hay Ward, who' was familiarly known as ■" Ch.eap John," died in Auckland. AboiitaMnigi)tbsfo?e uf» death he was removed frpro t]ie Hospital and taken to the residence of a general djeale); named George Staines, and while there he made a will bequeathing legacies of £150 each to three sisters and a half-brother in England, bssidoa several local bequests and sums of £230 and £100 respectively to Mr and Mrs Staines; the two last-named pe(Bons being executors and residuary legatees. As soon as Hay ward was dead, the "friendship "of defendant was unequivocally shown by the chavgcj which he made upon the deceased s estate'for lioard, attendance, and every fmaginaftle ji'fcem; ft was further evidenced, ft? time went'oji.'b.y W^forsptenp refusal tp vocq^hise the ijtyims of HaywaVd's1 relatives for their legacies, and byhißattempt to mak«

out that there were only two sisters instead of three. The legatees wrote from London placing their claims in tho hands of local lawyers, but in the absence of funds no pro ceedings were instituted, and one of them, Eliza, died without receiving the benefits convoyed in her brother's will. Tho other two are now very old women, Mary being 72 and Ann 75 years of ago. Tho caso .was finally brought into Court through the kindness of two Auckland lawyers, who had looked into the papers and were satisfied of the identity of tho claimants. The proof of tho latter was attended with difficulty, the deceased having left England for Australia in 1829, and having ceased all correspondence with his friends in 1840, just prior to his depar ture for New Zealand. The evidence, how ever, traced the connection with remark ableclearness.and thedefendant contributed materially to the decision recorded against him by giving the date at which Hayward arrived in Now Zealand, and by producing a testament and hymn-book containing specimens of his handwriting. These were compared with a letter written by Hay ward from Sydney to his parents in London in 1840. Other proofs were also produced, which strengthened the belief that tho John Hayward who made the will was tho same John Hayward who was referred to in the evidence taken by commission in Lon don as having left England for Australia in 1829. His Honor reviewed the documents and statements, and was clearly of opinion that Ann Davis and Mary Lewis (formerly Ann Hayward and Mary Hayward) were the persons entitled, under the will of John Hay ward, to legacies amounting to £ 150 each. The order of the Court would bo that the Registrar should take an account of the estate in the hands of the executor (G. Staines); that the executor should pay these legacies according to tho assets in hand; and that the questions of costs and liability to interest should be reserved.

IMMIGRATION MATTERS.

Government immigrants continue to arrive in largo numbers, and aro for tho most part absorbed imperceptibly in the community, without proudcing any appreciable effect on the labour market. The " nomination" of friends by residents of tho colony is on the increase. In this district there are many settlers who came from Nova Scotia, and in reiponso to repre sentations made on their behalf, Govern ment have agreed to extend the privileges of the nomination system to Nora Scotians —placing them on an oquality with immi grants from Britain. The principlo is a questionable ono, since it is simply enticing peoplo from one British colony to another ; but the concession must bo looked on as exceptional and in no way supplying a pre cedent. Emigrant* from Home who do not mean to attach thomsolves to friends or relatives should carefully consider what part of this colony they como to. At pro sont most clauses of labour (witli the excep tion of clerks) aro in demand in Auok land district. Agricultural labourers and domestic servants especially can bo taken in almost any number. On the other hand, the labour market in Wellington, Otogo, and Canterbury is rather glutted, thoro being hundreds of "unemployed" work men engaged on Govonnent railways and othor public works by way of relief. Working mon in tho South complain bitterly of Govornmont landing hundreds of immigrants whilo trade is so depressed, und when many are leaving for Auckland. Since wo last wrote,tho business of th« local Immigration Office has beon brisk. On the 2nd of Octobor, Mr Brophy, tho Immigra tion Oflicer, despatched to Wellington tn route for tho Agont-Cieneral's Office in London nominations for 151! immigrants ; and on tho 24th October nominations for 77 souls wore also sent. Thev.s. Triumph, from Plymouth, with some 301) passengers on board, should arrive hero about tho 14th.

It has frequently struck us, in view of the large number of undesirablo immigrants that aro monthly landed on our shores, that there must bo something radically wrong in tho mode of selecting immigrants. With tho admirable parish system that obtains in Great Britain, one would suppose that tho Agent-General's department could, with but little trouble, satisfy themselves as to the character of would-bo colonists. We are, howover, told that in most cases cer tificates of character aro obtained by tho Agent-General from tho polish officers or from clergymen personally acquainted with the applicants. With whom rests tho fault ''. Is there laxity on the part of the Agent-General, or do the parish officers and clergymen collude with the view of foisting on the colony persons of an undesirable class ? A respectable man, who was a pas senger by a steamer which arrived hero some months ago, states that tho vessel was no better than a floating brothel, and one of tho principal officers of tho ship was a leader in tho immorality. This statement is probably very greatly exaggerated, but the conduct oi some of tho single women after arrival proves that it had a sub stratum of truth. It is high time that netivo steps wore taken by tho colonial authorities to save our young country from further contamination by receiving as HettlerH the offscourings of Whitechapel and Seven Dials. Tho Labour Market. Gonornlly speaking, there is little or no change to report in connection with the state oi tho labour market sinco tho date of our lost Summary. Chiefly through tho exertions of tho Auckland Trade and Labour Council wo are enabled to largely supple mont tho report on tho stato of tho several trades. Bootmakers: Thoro are about 236 men employed in the trade; but this does notgive any idea of the output,as there aro as many boys as mon engaged. Rate of wages, 7s Cd per day; day's work, eight hours. Bricklayers: Kate of wages, 12s per day of eight hours. As there will bo a largo amount of building during tho present Bummer and autumn, tho demand for this class of labour may shortly be expected to increase. Bricklayors' labourors: wages 10s por day; hours same as bricklayers. Carpenters: This trade is more than full. Kate of wages, 10s per diem of eight hours. Cabinetmakers : Wages, 8s 4d per day of 8 hours. Engjnepfs: This trade is same as stated lost niqnfh. Wngos, lO.i to 12s per day. BlaQksmitbn ore in good demand at from 10s to 12s per day. Boilermakers and iron shipbuilders (both these trades being incorporated in this colony) have beon in considerable demand during tho month, but this stato of affairs is not expected to con tinue. Wages, 10a to 12s. Moulders: There is a demand for good men at 10s to 12s per day. Printers: There aro about 150 men employed, and, despite the fact that this time of the year is generally dull with tho trade, there are only ono or twop,uj; of work. " Stab." wages range from £2 10b to ±'3 per week, working nine hours a day. Piece hands get Is per thousand. Shipwrights : There is a fair amount of work doing. Wages, 10s per day of eigfit hours. Tailors, for whom there is little demand, at present rocoive lOd per hour. There are a great numbor of young women employod in this business. The Kailway Workshops are fairly busy, but thoro is no further demand for workmen. Wages range from 7s Cd to 12s per day of eight hours. Bakers :No demand for labour. Hours, unlimited; wagos, from 7s Cd to 8s lOd per day. Labourors: Thero is an un satisfied demand for agricultural labourors, and as a quantity of railway and ether work requiring pick and sfioyel njon will shortly be commenced, the demand for ordinary labourers and nayvigs may soon bp px pectod to increase. The sawmills in the city are employing about 600 hands, and aro busy. Wages range from 7b Od to 10s per day of eight hours, and no lost time. Plasterers have boen very busy, but the demand is not so great now, as the principal jobs on which they havo been employed are now completed. Wages, 10s and 12s per day of eight hours. Painters : This is a trade which has always beon well supplied, and thero appears no further demand. Wagos, Ss 4d per day of eight hours.

SHIPBUILDING.

Shipbuilding in Auckland has shown very little change since last month. The various firms aro steadily employed both on new and old work, and there does not appear to be any idle workmen about. The uniform wage given for shipwrights, both for new and old work, is 10s per day, which Is recognised as fair by both employers and employed ; the working hours being from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The wages agitation, stimulated by the operations of the local Ship wrjgw Protection S,opjety, appears to be a thing of tho past, The Society, although not quite dead, now carries but little weight in the regulation of affairs between master and man, and, as a consequence, things work much more harmoniously than in the past. Amongst the large vessels now in course of construction is a fine schooner of 110 tons, which McQuarrie, of Mechanics' Bay, has during the present week disposed, of to Captain Johnson, of Tarannki. Lane and Brown, of Whangaroa, have on j;j»e stocks a large three - masted schoqper intended for the enterprising Auckland titin of Mpiirthur $nd Co., while

various smaller craft are also underway at the North Shore Yards. In a few wcek.s Bailey will have a large number of work men employed in building a steam launch and a large barge for use in connection with the Sugar Company's works, and there are various other jobs in prospect. Several firms havo confined their opera tions for some timo past to repairing, and the large amount of shipping now in port keeps their hands full. Boat building has not been so brisk hero for a long timo as it has been during the past few months, and some builders have suffi cient work on hand to last until Christ mas. Still there seems to bo plenty of labour available, and no cause for com plaint in any respect.

THE INTERCOLONIAL CON. FERENCE.

As the time approaches for the meeting of the Intercolonial Conference at Sydney, interest in it deepens, and the occasion is increasingly recognised as one of the highest importance to the present and future welfare of these colonies. It is under stood that the New Zealand representatives go with instructions to make strenuous efforts to resist any spread of the villainous system of flooding tho isles of the Pacific with the scum of French prisons, and on this point it will bo found that the most perfect unanimity prevails among all the Governments of Australasia. The latest development of Imperial policy with regard to the annexation of New Guinea is viewed here with mixed feelings, in which satisfac tion predominates. After Federation, the question of joint action to secure the setting up of British rule in New Guinea and other Pacific islands will engage the attention of the Conference; and it ie hopeful to find from the tone of Lord Derby's recent reply to Mr Murray Smith, Agent-General for Victoria, that the idea of annexation is still encouraged, provided tho requisite conditions can be complied with. While the projected expedition of General Mclvor is in itself viewed with marked disfavour here, colonists aro rejoicing at its having so far forced the hand of the Government as to lead to the declaration of their deter mination to protect the interest of the Papuans. This unequivocal expression of Imperial intentions is most reassuring to colonists, who feel confident that when Her Majesty's Government are so ready to pro tect the natives of New Guinea from the operations of British subjects, they will be much moro ready to proteot them from any alien Power. Before tho Mclvor ex pedition can leave England, we hope to soo tho annexation question solved by the action of tho ponding Conference, which meets on the 29th inst., while General Mclvor's expedition is not expected to start before Christmas, \V« do not diu guiso the fact that tho tariff question may render vain all attempts to found an Aus tralasian Confederation, and thus defeat the wishes of the colonists with regard to annexation; but Lord Derby's attitude towards tho New Guinea question assures us that, if annexation should fail, a British protectorate will take its place, which is the next best thing ia the interest* of all con cerned.

The importance attached to the ensuing Conference by tho Colonial Governments is proved by tho kind of men whe are being choson to take part in its deliberations. Now Zealand sends Major Atkinson, Pro mior, and Mr Whitaker, ex-Premier; while Victoria send* her three leading men in the present Ministry—Mr Service, Premier; Mr Berry, Chief Seorotory; and Mr Ker ferd, Attorney-General. Tho other Govern ments havo not yet chosen their representa tives, but it ia anticipated the best mon will in each caso be selected. The absence of Sir Henry Parkes from Now South Wales is deplored at this juncture, when his ex perience and ability would havo beon of great service to the Conference. Fiji was invited to send a delegate, but the Governor of that Colony, whilo favour ing the objects of the Conferonco, does not deem it advisable that the invitation should be accepted. The settlers, however, think differently, and have resolved to send the Hon. J. C. Smith, formerly a member of the Legislative Council, and two other delegates. Whilo the Pacific Affairs Com mittee is declaring tho annexation of Fiji to Now Zealand or Now South Wales "an impossibility," tho European residents of Fiji are contemplating Bomo such stop as a means of escape from tho woes per taining to a Crown colony of a "severe type." By the arrival of tho Penguin on the Bth October, wo learn that tho colonists, at a public meeting held in Levuka, unani mously resolved to momorialisoHer Majesty tho Queen, and also tho approaching Federal Convention, in favour of the incorporation of the colony with an Australasian Confedera tion ; and the memorial which embodies this wish sets forth as the reasons for it :— " That the system of Govornmont adopted in a Crown colony is altogether opposed to the spirit of the ago ; that, to a great extent, it impedes tho investment and employment of capital in developing tho industrial resources of tho country; that it checks the producing interests by unnecessary restrictions, and exorcises such an unwholesome influonce on every branch of industry that it has retarded rather than advanced tho natural progress of tho colony. That tho colony is self-sup porting is ovidenced by tho fact that our revenuo now amounts to £98,000 sterling, and the expenditure to £87,000 sterling. Yot in its appropriation tho pooplo aro denied any voice, and this, notwithstanding that tho Legislative Council contains cer tain non-official members, nominated and appointed by tho Govornor, yet —such is tho dominating influence of tho executive and the official mombors of the Council— they aro powerless for good, and can neither control the expenditure in any way, nor are they permitted to interfere with any ap pointment to office within tho colony." It is the old story. Englishmen born and bred amid the free and bracing influences of representative institutions cannot knuckle down contentedly under an autocratical government, and they find that grievances which many of tho colo nist* attributed to Sir Arthur Gordon per sonally verb roally inseparable from tiio sys tern which! tho ox-Governor administered. The Fiji "Argus" pUintiVely'says ;'— "Tho Crown colony system of Government has been felt by us so severely that it has at last become? monstrous and intolerable when regarded from an impartial point of view, and although we hoped that things would better themsolves under our present Governor, thoy have mostly retained their old stamina, which our first Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon, so indelibly stamped on them."

This movement in Fiji removes the de liberations of tho Convention from the re gion of theory into one of practical states manship. Here is an influential and self supporting British community, inhabiting one of the most fertile groups of the South Pacific, appealing to the colonies to take its affairs into their consideration and reform its Govornmont. The request appeals to the colonies in a matter which, from historical association, cannot but excite their warmest sympathy. Most of them havo gone through the experience of Fiji and have fought the same battle. But how can they combine to extend tho help which Fiji ask 3 f This question involves not only the possibility of Federation, but its shape and method. Would the Fiji colonists be moro contented with a government from Wellington, or from Sydney or Mel bourne, than they are at present? —yjto doubt it ; and before an Aus tralasian Confederation could aid them in any way it must decide whether the colony is ripe for complete self-govern ment and admission on equal terms with the sister colonies of the South Pacific; and if not, how the peculiar local circumstances of this and othor isolated communities could be provided for under a 6chome of Australasian Confederation.

QUARTERLY REVENUE RETURNS.

The revenue returns for the September quarter have appeared, and show a marked deolina. The Customs returns for tho quarter total £358,870, as against £410,428 for tho corresponding quarter of 1882. Tho moat sorious deficiencies are shown in the receipts at, the ports of Lyttel ton,' Dunodin, and Wellington. The re ceipts at Auckland wero £82,688; Welling ton, £56,996 ; ULyttelton, £49,274; Dunedin, £101,608. The telegraph revenue shows a trilling increase, viz., £23,448, against £23,088 for the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Auckland heads the receipts with £4,133, Dunedin £3,852, CliristdjurQh £3,012, and Welling ton £2,866. The postal revenue for the quarter was £37,905, as against £41,190. Auckland again heads the list in this class of revenue, the receipts taken at the Northern capital having been £4,110. The railway returns for the month of September show the receipts to have been £62,921. This makes the gross railway receipts for the half-year £470,000, which is £40,000 less than half of the Hon. Colonial Treasurer's estimate for the whole year, viz., £1,002,000. The total receipts of all claßses of revenue »t the Treasury for tho half-ywr

(exclusive of land fund) amount to £1,564,145: including Customs, ±"685,558; stamps (including postal cash receipts), £227,039 ; arrears of property tax, £7,813; beer duty, £25,251 ; railways, £457,040; telegraphic, i.'45,225; registration and other fees, £16,C0G; marine. £7,045; mis cellaneous, £12,502 ; pastoral licenses, ronts, &c, £79,584. To this must be added £85,549 cash in hand or in possession of officers on March 31st, and £350,000 raised by deficiency bills. The total expenditure was £1,780,890, which includes the follow ing items : —Permanent appropriations (in cluding Civil List, interest, and sinking fund), £815,335; legislative expenses, £10,041 ; Colonial Secretary's Department, £109,104; Treasury, £34,077; Justice, £57,374; Postal and Telegraphic, £124,406; Customs, £38,942; Education, £151,918; Stamps, £12,C59 ; Native, £8,880 ; Mines, £9,815 ; Public Works, £338,504 ; Defence, £66,177. Land sales realised £116,181. It is satisfactory to notice, that the de cline in the revenue of the this colony is due to other than purely looal causes. From Australian papers to hand we observe that the three leading colonies of the neighbouring continent have suffered in an equal degree. The Victorian revenue returns for the quarter ending September 30 exhibit a net deficiency of £12,875 as compared with the corresponding quarter of ISB2. In South Australia the approximate revenue returns for the quarter ending Sep tember 30 give a total of £494,890, being nearly £50,000 less than a fourth of the estimate for the year. In Now South Wales there was a decrease of £360,071 on the corresponding quarter of ISS2. The President of the Bank of New Zea land, at the last half-yearly meet ing of that institution, alluding to the state of the money market, said: — " In my remarks at the previous half yearly meoting, I drew your attention to causes which in great measure had brought about the then exceptional condition of the colo nial money market. These causes arc gra dually being removed, but the process is a very slow one, and without some special relief, which at proscnt is not apparent, I fear we must look to the continuance of a tight money market for at least six months. The tendency, however, is in the right di rection—imports are lessening, and so affording rolief to the heavy stocks now in colonial warehouses. The season promises favourably for both pastoral and agricul tural pursuits, and there appears to be a reasonable probability of a fair market for our products." Matters have been somewhat quiet on our goldfields during the month, though en couraging news continues to come from To Aroha, several trial crushings recently having resulted in payable avoragee. The gold returns from the Thames district during the month total 2,3640z5. fidwts. The principal yields have been from the Deep Level Cross, 2570z5.; Bright Smile, 163J0Z8, j Martha (Waihi), 3200z5.; Moanatairi, 298J0z9. ; Waiotahi, 1970z5; Dart, Slozg. Several large returns from the Pripco Imperial, Moanatairi, and Waiotahi mines were expected to be lodged to-day.

The quarterly returns show Auckland, as usual, to bo in advance of the other prin cipal cities in respect to business done in the poßt office, telegraphic, money order, and savings bank departments. The postal revenue drawn from Auckland during the threo months ending September lout was £5,371 10s 3d. Christchurch came next with £5,347 4s Bd, followed by Dunedin with £5,290 8g 2d, and Wellington with £3,30614s 4d. Telegraphic revenue shows even better from our city,- Auckland's contribution being £4,133 8s 4d, the other cities following thus :— Dunedin £3,852 10i . lid; Christ church £3,012 78 6d, and Wellington £2,5C6 128 3d. Industrial prosperity, as guaged by the savings of the people, would appear also to be very marked here, in com parison with other centres of population. During the quarter.there were deposited in the Auckland Post Office Savings Bank £44,740 12s 4d, while thero was a imm of £43,363 15s lOd withdrawn. (These figures, when compared with those of other cities, should be doubled, as Auck land has a flourishing Savings Bank outside of the Government office, doing at least as much business, which none of the other cities possesses.) The deposits at Christchurch were £59,898 17a 9d, but the withdrawals exceeded that sum by nearly i.9,000. At Dunedin there were £50,970 Is Cd deposited, and £54,888 lla 2d withdrawn, being about £4,000 on the wrong side. Wellington bliows pretty well, though the business done was small —the deposits being £43,449,11s 10, and exceeding the withdrawals by £1,200. Coming to money order transactions, which, moro than any of the other brandies named, show the com mercial activity which prevails, we find Auck land still moro conspicuously to the front. During the past quarter, the monoy_orders issued in this city amounted to £24,772 17s 7d, while tho orders paid totalled up to £22,078 Us 3d. At Dunedin, which camo noxt in order, there wore orders issued for £18,854 3s Od, and orders paid for £23,387 7s lOd; Wellington comes next with £16,25312s 9d issued, and X'14,6G2 15s 4d paid; while Christchurch is at the bottom of tho list with £15,702 5a 4d and £12,335 lGs 2d respectively. These figures require no com ment, and can only bo taken to shew that Auckland is worthily maintaining the posi tion she has assumed of tho leading com mercial city, as sho is tho most beautiful and salubrious in tho colony. Tho totals for tho whole colony prove that the community to a great oxtent are still battling with tho wave of depression which has hitherto touched on'our district but lightly. As compared with tho Soptembor quarter of 1882, the deposits at the Pout office Savings Banks of the colony show a falling off to the extent of £44,000 while the withdrawals are only £2,000 less. Money order business has fallen off by £10,000 as compared with tho Soptembor quarter of 18S2, and the postal revenue has suffered a diminution of over £3,000, which is not compensated for by a slight increase in the revenue from telegrams.

KAURI AND POHUTUKAWA AS SHIPBUILDING TIMBERS.

Ik our summary last month we gavo an outline of tho controversy that waa raging on tho above subject.

The following additional testimony to the value of those timbers has been received from Captain H. Duneford, Marine Surveyor to the Canterbury Marino Underwriters' Association :—

" CuiusTCHURCH, October 17th, 18S3. G. T. Pierce, Esq., Chairman N.Z. Marine Underwriters' Association— Dear sir,—Your favour of the 4th inst. duly camo to hand on the 11th (together with 'Evening Star nowspnper), drawing my attention to a report on kauri timber from the Surveyor to the Dunedin Underwriters Association, and asking for my opinion, which, I may state, takes a very adverse direction to that of Mr Russell's.

I consider kauri ranks high amongst tho shipbuilding timbers of the world. At the present time the C. & U. Cameron is under repairs at this port, having a now keel and keelson. Her original namo was Ellen, built at Auckland in ISG-t of pohutukawa, planked with kauri, which is now perfectly sound.

. Herald, schooner, 53 tons, built in 1567, opened out and metalled in October last year, built of pohutukawa, was found, perfectly sound,

Onward, schooner, 69 tons, built at Auckland in 1807 : The kauri planking is as souud as tho day it was wrought.

Cleopatra, schooner, 92 tons, built at Mahurangi in 1867 r Tho kauri planking is perfectly sound, as also the pohutukawa frame, oxceptinga few top timbers, decayed through neglect.

The Canterbury, schooner, built in the province in 1855, was planked with kauri; was sound as a rock when wrecked in 1878.

And my experience leads me to believe that well-fastened Auckland-built _ vessels will stand a largo amount of punishment when overtaken by misfortune, e.g., tho Agnes, now Island Lily, and recently the Forest Queen.—l am, sir, yours faithfully, Henry Dunsfokd."

The resolutions carried at the meeting of shipbuilders have been printed in circular form with certificates from Captain D. H. McKenzie; Captain M. T. Clayton, Lloyds Surveyor; Captain H. B. Worsp, Surveyor to the Auckland Marino Underwriters' Association ; Mr Geo. P. Pierce, General Manager Thames Insurance Company; Captain Bendall, Surveyor ; and Messrs J. B. Graham and Thwaites. Mr Pierces letter contains the following remarkable testimony :—" In 1772 Marion dv Fresne Visited the Bay of Islands wttfo two French ships of war. Croijet, Ins second in command, and sixty men were felling' a kauri troo two miles inland, when Led years back ™s j£en^o me » few VATiJ t™ ££& * ™n, decayed Xmton^etc., it was perfectly sound," S of these circulars nave been % warded to Lloyds.

MERCANTILE

Royal Flouring Mills Company, capital £40,000, floated at Timaru.

Kaitangata Coal Company, Otago, has declared a dividend and bonus equal to 20 per cent., with £3,200 carried forward. The mail steamer City of Sydney, which resumed her voyage to San Francisco on Wednesday, October 10, hnd on board 19 boxe3 of gold, valued at £80,888, shipped at this port, and 15 boxes gold, valued at £75,000, shipped at Sydney, making a total value of £155,858.

The Bay of Islands Steam Navigation Company have declared a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent., and carried a large amount to the reserve, the Company being in a most prosperous condition. The sixth annual meeting of Kaiapoi Woollen Factory Company was held on Oct. 24, when a dividend of 10 per cent, was declared, £5,000 carried to reserve fund, and £4,700 carried forward to new account. New plant worth £3,000 had also been added.

Customs revenue for the colony during the quarter ending 30th September last was £358,876, against £416,42S in the corresponding quarter of last year. Otago Meat Freezing Company was formed at Dunedin on October 13. Over 4,000 shares have, so far, been applied for by 356 applicants. It has been started be cause of the success of the former local company, the New Zealand, which sends Home only shareholders' mutton, thus shut ting out a largo number of producers.

The Steamer Mahinapua shipped at Grey mouth, on October 17, 2,5710z3. gold for the Union Bank of Australia and 128ozs. for the Chinese Bank.

South British Insurance Company.

At the meeting of the shareholders of the South British Insurance Co. on October 10, it was decided on the recommendation of the directors to pay a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum, less interim div idend of 5 per cent, paid last April. The report showed that the income, including balance from last half-year, was £232,911 16s Id ; the general expenditure, £200,835 4s 6d; and the balance to credit of profit and loss at the close of the books, C 32.076 11s 7d. Messss Howard and Buck land were re-elected directors, and Messrs Batger and T. L. White auditors.

Bank of New Zealand Half-yearly Meeting.

Tiie 44th half-yearly meeting of the pro prietors of the above institution took place on October 25, in the banking house, Queen street, the Hon. James Williamson (Presi dent) in the chair. About 35 other members of the proprietary were present. The meeting having been opened with the usual formalities, Mr D. L. Murdoch (general manager), submitted the following report and balance-sheet: — "The result of the past half-year's ojierations, as exhibited in the following statement, will no doubt be received with satisfaction by shareholders:—The net profit for the half-year ended 30th Septem ber, after full appropriation for all known bad and doubtful debts, and in reduction of Bank premises and furniture accounts, amounts to £84,449 2s 4d j to which has to be added—balance from half-year ended 31st March, £24,451 8s; giving a total available for division of £108,900 10s 4d ; which is proposed be now appropriated as follows: —To payment of dividend, at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, £50,000; bonus of 5s per share, equal to 5 per cent, per annum, £25,000; addition to reserve fund, £25,000; balance carried to profit and loss new account, £8,900 10s 4d. Total, £105,900, 10s 4d. The dividend and bonus wiil be payable at the head office, Auck land, to-morrow (Friday), the 2Gth instant, and at branches on receipt of advice. For the Board of Directors, James Williamson, President. Aggregate Balance-Sheet of the Bank of Neto Zealand at 30th September, 1883, including London Office at Slst July, 1533, LIABIUTIEf. Dr. £ b. d. Capital paid up 1,000,000 0 0 Reserve Fund 600,000 0 0 Notes in circulation 643,890 0 0 Mills Payable in circulation .. 1,659,768 3 7 Deposits and other liabilities ..8,619,878 6 9 Balance of Proflt and Loss.. .. 108,900 10 4 £12,332,435 0 8 ASSETS. Cr. £ s. d. Coin and Cash Balances at Bank- . ors 1,171,713 16 0 Money on Short Call in London.. 774,380 0 0 Bullion on hand and in transit .. 351.181 311 Government seem Hies .. .. 307,302 10 0 Bills Receivable and Securities in London 1,171,931 4 5 Bills discounted, and other debts due to the Bank 8,183,030 4 11 Landed Proporty, Bank Promises, &c 263,987 1 5 £12,532,435 0 8 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT. £ s. d. To dividend on 100,000 shares, of £10 each, at rate of 10 per cent. perannum 50,000 0 0 To bonus at tho rate of 5s per share, equal to 5 per cent, per annum 25,000 0 0 To proposed addition to reservo fund 25,000 0 0 To balance carried to Profit and Loss New Account 8,900 10 4 £108,900 10 4 ,« s. d. By balanco from half-year ended 31st March, iBB3 .. .. .. 24,451 8 0 By net profit for half-yew endod 30th September, 1883 .. .. 84,449 2 4 £108,900 10 i RESERVE FUND. c. s, d. To Balanco (including Proposed Addition) .. 625,008 0 0 £625,000 0 0 £ 8. a. By Balance, as at Slst March and at 30th September, 1883 .. .. 600,000 0 0 By proposed Addition .. .. 25,010 0 0 £625,000 0 0 Wo hereby certify that we have examined tho Accounts of the Bank of Now Zealand for tho hulf-year ended 30th Soptember, 18!<3, and that wo havo countod tho Cash Balancos and examined tho Bills and other Securities hold at the Head Office, and compared the Returns of tho Branches with the Statements in tho fore going Bamnco-sheet, and havo found tho same to bo correct—(Signed) B. Tonks and Wm. Inncs Taylor, Auditors. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said: Not withstanding the inactive state of business throughout the colonies, the abnormal rates which continue to rule for deposits, &nd the continued narrow margin between borrow ing and lending rates, we are able to place before you a very satisfactory result. The figures in the balance-sheet, while affording evidence of the satisfactory condition of the Bank's business, and the strong financial position we occupyj offer little room for comment in comparing them with those of the previous half-year. The deposits exhi bit a substantial increase, and the advances aro also slightly greater than in last balance sheet. The cash and immediately available resources in tho colony and in London, as will be seen by the statement, afford most ample cover for all our requirements. The balance of profit and loss account is greater than the circumstances to which I have already alluded might have led us to ex pect, nnd, with the balance brought for ward from last half-year, enables us to maintain our dividend and Hbnus, to make tho handsome addition of £25,000 to reserve fund, and to open the new half-year with a balance of £8,900 10s 4d. In my remarks at the two previous hilf-yearly meetings, I drow your attention to causes which in great measure had brought about, tho thon exceptional condition of the colonial money market. These causes are gradually being removed, but the process is a very slow one, and with out some special relief, which atpresent is not apparent, I fear we must look to the continuance of a tight money market for at least another six months. The tendenoy, hoiftjjver, is in the right direction—imports aroTessening, and so affording relief to the heavy stocks now in colonial warehouses. The season promises favourably, both for pastoral and * agricultural pursuits, and there appears to be a reason able probability of a fair market for cur products. The influence of recent large shipments of frozen meat, particularly from the South, is being felt in the stock markets, and enhanced prices are being obtained by producers, while the numerous cheese and butter factories already at work or being established throughout the colony are not only encouraging the further spread of this industry, but afford to graziers a fair prospect of profit from their labours. I have pleasure ia expressing a confident hope that the coming season will show a general revival in business, fostered by the success of our numerous industries; and with the share we have in the banking busi ness of tho colony, it may reasonably be anticipated that any revival will materially swell tho profits of the Bank. The report and balanSf- sh.^. t^ e adopted, and the Hon. F. Whitaker, M.L.C., was elected a director,

The annual meeting 6f the shareholders of the Helensvillo Timber Company was held on Oct. 29, Mr Arthur Bull presiding. There wore about a dozen shareholders, present. REPORT. The Secretary (Mr J. Milne) reafl ths directors' report, which was as loyoiffS^-r. Your directors have pleasure iy presenting, their rep'prt aiul balanee-Bheet t9r..3feat.ew in|' September. Th^'^#-pn| machinery have been coaiatainsid in efficient

working order. The cost of all repairs, besides the sum of £327 4s Cd for deprecia tion, has boon charged to revenue account. The-balanco of year's trading shows a net profit of £1,693 13s sd, which, added to tho amount brought forward from last year, makes a total of i 2,010 14s Id to be dealt witb. Your directors purpose to write off £113 3s 9d, the balance of preliminary expenses, and £182 14s for directors' fees, and to pay a dividend of 10 per cent., amounting to £669 9s, leaving a balance of £1,045 7s 4d to be carried forward to profit and loss new account. During the year Mr H. Brown resigned his seat at the Board of Directors, and your directors, in accordance with the powers conferred upon them by the Articles of Association, elected Mr A. Porter to fill the vacancy. The directors retiring by rotation are Messrs A. Porter and R. A. McLeod, who are eligible for re election. BALANCE-SHEET. DR.-Capital, 4,000 shares at £5, £20,000: Is sued 1.500 shares at £5, £7,800 : 29 shares at £5, 20a paid, £29 ; loss unpaid calls, f3O ; bills pay able, £2,42913s ; National Bank of New Zealand (Limited) £2,451 )4s sd; National Bank outstand ing cheques, £247 '3s; sundry creditors, £737,28 105; balance of profit and loss account, £2,010 Us Id. Total, £ 5,078 i7s Id. Cr. — Freehold property, £402 ?a 6d: pre liminary oxpenses, file 3 3s 9d; mill buildings, machinery, and railway siding, £6 544 11s 9d; less depreciation, £327 4s 6d; sundry debtors, £2,71112s Id; timber at mill and yards, £6,222 Is 8d ; cash in hand, £12 10s Id: total, £15,078 17s id. PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT. To general expenses, discounts, and commis sion, £2,534 0s 4d; wages and salaries, £3.535 7s 3d; depreciation, £327 4s 6d; balance, £2,010 14s Id: total, £8,407 12 2d. By balance from 30th September, 1882, £317 0s 8d; rents of houses, *70 2s Cd; gross profits, £3,020 9s Od: total, £8,407 12s 2d. .

National Insurance Company's Annual Meeting.

Tiie directors of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company recommend the payment of 10 per cent, dividend for the half-year, which, with the interim dividend in March, will bo 20 per cent, per annum on the old capital. The directors' report for the tenth year of the company's operations states : —" Pro vision has been made in the accounts for £20,748 unadjusted losses, and all ascer tained liabilities at the date of the closing of the books. In order to provide for the customary reinsurance of outstanding risks, the directors recommend that the amount necessary for this year—viz., £14,364—be taken from the reserve fund. The re insurance fund will then stand at £53,715, being the exact sum required for the pur pose. Notwithstanding the trying times that all underwriters have experienced during the last two years, your directors have confidence in the future substantial progress of the company."

AGRICULTURAL.

Mountain lilies from Otago are to be sent Home in a refrigerating chamber.

A dozen tenders for sections of land under the perpetual leasing system were accepted by Otago Land Board on October 17. Wanganui Pastoral and Agricultural Society s Show on 18th October was fairly successful; the weather was very wet. The Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show at Napier, which has been very suc cessful, concluded on 12th October.

The Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Show opened on October 30, but was not so successful as in former years. Since January, 1882, £1,250,000 ef machinery has been supplied for the Queensland sugar industry. Mr John Kerr, an extensive stock-breeder at Nelson, N.Z., lately visited California and made a number of purchases of good animals.

Canterbury Farmers' Association, Timaru, shows a net profit of 26J per cent, on the average paid-up capital for the past year. Assets, exceed liabilities by £14,904.

Timaru Farmers' Co-operative Associa tion held its third annual meeting on 13th Oct., when a dividend of 7s per cent, was declared. The gross turn-over for'the year was £81,366, and the profit was £1,430. A banking branch has been introduced, and £1,140 were deposited during the year. - The Te Awamutu Cheese Factory began work on the 26th October with a supply of 527 gallons for the first day, and for the next two 603 and 616 respectively. It is expected the supply will reach 1,100 gallons daily in the course of a week or two. The machinery is working well, the circular vat being a great improvement on those formerly in use. The directors have bought 50 pigs, but want as-many more, as there will T>e sufficient whey to feed fully one hundred. The Waiuku Cheese and Bacon Factory was opened on Tuesday, October 16th. There were present several of the leading settlers of the district, and the directorate of tho Pukekoho Cheese Factory Company was well represented. The visitors ex pressed their satisfaction in every way as to the machinery and the general workingof the concern. The piggeries too are replete with every convenience. There are already some forty pigs. An adjournment was made later in the day to Sedgwick's Hotel, where a spread was provided by Captain McGill, the proprietor of the factory. The usual toasts were given, everyone wishing success to the new undertaking, which will undoubtedly prove a boon to the district. A contributor to the Sydney " Town and Country Journal," in an article upon tho breeding of animals in New South Wales, says:—"ln one year our breeders have been forced to pay the colony of New Zealand £50,000 for heavy draught mares, and £10,000 for heavy or working horeon. From the same place nearly all our horse peas, beans, linseed, carrots, and potatoes come. We have been compelled to pay the other colonies almost £100,000 for stud sheep, and £30,000 for stud cattle, and while all this is going on we talk about our superi ority and advancement, yet few believe .it, for few only come here for our stud cattle, or horses, or even for sheep, so that our boast is a mere delusion. Let us look at the thing straight, and say what we mean to do." .

Mr Rollin P. Saxe, of California, who left by the mail steamer City of Sydney on October 10, took with him 44 head of Here ford cattle and 20 sheep purchased from the New Zealand Stud and Pedigree Stock Company of Auckland. The total price paid for these was £910. Mr Saxo comes ■of a family of stock-breeders, whose special faculty for judging stock is the result of generations of culture; nnd the fact that he should have b.een so, highly pleased with our Auckland flocks and herds speaks volumes for the successful brewing and raising of the local company, Mr Saxe is of opinion that guv flerefards are fully equal to those to be got in England, and superior to those bred in the Australian Colonies; and this being so, we may ex pect that the excellent lot now taken to San Francisco will establish our reputa tion as stock-raisers, and open the American market to future and larger consignments.

JUDICIAL.

His Honor Chief Justice Pbenderoast has obtained 12 months' leave of absence, and intends visiting England after the sitting of the Appeal Court next-month.

At the Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on October 15, .lames Forwood and Win, Hodderill were fined £2 each for assaulting Capt. Edwards, of the Salvation Army, by throwing rotten eggs at them during an open air meeting in Manchester-street. At the Supreme Court, Wellington, on Oct. 18, the Chief Justice said that in future medical certificates of illness of those sum moned as jurors would have to be verified by oath. He found that a party thus ex cused from attendance was actually present at another meeting. In the case Dawson v. the Queen In the Supreme Court at Dunedin on' October 24, in which the plaintiff claimed £2,000 for the destruction of his sawmill by fire caused by sparks from a passing engine, the jury re turned a verdict for. the plaintiff, far £160. The case will probably go. tq the Court of Appeal. It is understood that the man Antonio Gschnell, against whom a verdict of wilful murder was returned at the recent inquest at the Asylum, is to. be placed on his trial for the murder of James' John Mills at the, neott Criminal Sessions of the Supreme. Court The various attendants at the Asylum who gavo evidence at tHe Asylum have been ordered to appear at the Supreme Court m conneo. tion withthecase, Itisexpected tha.tasapre liminary E. Gschnell will be brought before a magistrate and duly committed for trial. , , ... ~ Dunodln Is rejoicing in the discus sion of a will case with a coloured "claimant." The circumstances were stated, before Judge Williams on 17th October. Some time ago a negro hotelkjjppstf named Shumate died on the Tuapeka diggings, leaving £1,400 to. one Robert Carter, also a negro, of Colorado, in America, The trustees wrote and advertised for Carter, but he never turned up until quite recently, when a person claiming to be. Carter pre sented himself in Tuapeka. Ifa st4d he had, been living in Santa FtS, Mexico, and the letter Had been fQrw«wd.ed, ip him from Colorado, whereupon h^ftteirted right away. The case came before fte Judge to decade wb.eth.qr thU particular Carter was the Ca,rtw mentioned in the will, but the Judge eald the question was one for a jury.

RELIGIOUS.

The Anglican Synod at Dunedin was opened by Bishop Neville on October 3O. q Unanimously resolved to convert at. Matthew's Church, Dunedin, into a catne-

dral. • . It is rumoured that the Rev. Mr Jervoa, gon of the Governor, has been.appointed to one of the principal churches in Dunedin. First Presbyterian Church, DunediPj sends Home for a minister to succeed the late Lindsay Mackie. The Rev. Mr Hodgson, formerly pastor of the United Methodist Free Church in Pitt-

street and subsequent to his secession from that body head of the Unsectariancongregat- 1 ion which worshipped in the Lome-street Hall.is to be appointed to an Anglican parish in Christchurch. He is to be ordained at Christmas-time, and in the meantime he goes to Rangiora in order to assist Arch deacon Dudley. The anniversary services of the Newton Congregational School were held on October 3 28, and the weather being favourable, the 5 several services were largely attended. The Eev, T. Adams preached in the morning on the " Childhood of Moses ;" text, c. 2., v. 9, Book of Exodus. The afternoon's address ! to parents and children was delivered by the j Key. W. S. Potter, from St. Matthew's I Gospel, c. 6, v. 33. The evening discourse, *« by the Rev. J. Robertson, M.A., was from. Exodus, c. 12, v. 42. The sermons were of a very practical character, and the selected hymns suitable to the day. The I collections amounted to £50.

Somewhat of an innovation in church music was introduced on October 21, at tlio special. services in the Congregational Cliurch, Beresford-street. In addition to the harmonium, six other instruments wore employed in order to swell the volume of praise, viz., four fiddles, a cornopean, and a . flute. So far as the music produced was | concerned, the result was most satisfactory'; —the blending of the different instruments making to the auditor not a bad imitation of the organ ; but the sight of the fiddlers' elbows jerking vigorously in unison was rather an incongruous element, and might readily suggest other and more festive scenes where to foot-and-too accompani- [ ment, "the man of sin rubbeth the hair of the horse on the bowels of the cat." The congregation, as a body, seemed highly pleased with the fresh auxiliaries to the sacred harmony; but 'several Pres byterians, lately from Scotland, who were at the services, sustained a severe shock to their ideas of propriety. The Salvation Army movement provides [ its own vindication. In the last issue of - the "War Cry" the following is to be found:—"Mr Philpott, a gentleman living near Christchurch, received lately a toma- g hawk, with a letter attached to the handle, of which the following is a copy: '28th September, 1883. Sir,—l herewith beg to return gyou a small chopper (tomahawk) ; which I.stole off your premises one day when a sale was on. I beg you to forgivo ] me, as I know God [has, and has sinco I became a Salvationist shown me to make all reparation in my power for sins, committed. This one I could not delay I longer acknowledging.—l am, A Salva tion Soldiee.' MrDorney, who has a grocer's shop off the North Belt, lately re ceived 23s from a man who had owed it for two years, the debtor remarking that it had 9 been saved during nine weeks, that being the time since he was saved. in the Salva-

tion Army, and now he was paying all his old debts. This shows a most commend-,. able work is being done—better than that accomplished by policemen, detectives, and .: magistrates, and free of charge to the com- j munity. If the Army could only get at | those folks who forget to pay the printer, what rejoicings there would be ! But we fear the class referred to are past. re-

demption. j TheserviceinSt.Paurs,Auckland,prepara- j tory to the opening of the Diocesan Synod, was held on Monday, October Bth, com mencing at 10.80 a.m. The following , clergy were present:—His Lordship Bishop ' Cowie, Archdeacons Clark, Mauusell, Willis, Dudley, Revs. Bates, Nelson, I Tebbs, Haselden, Smallfield, Davis, Evans, I Firth, Gould, Dr. Purchas, Dr. Kidd, Walpole, Hewson, Hewlett, Baker, and Cubitt. The first lesson was read by- Mr Firth, and the second by Mr Gould. The ante-communion. service was taken by Archdeacon Clarke, while His Lordship celebrated. The Synod was ■ opened at 3 p.m.,/when there were present:' —His Lordship Bishop Cowie (presid-' J ing), Archdeacons Clarke, Dudley, Maun seU, Pritt, Willis, Revs. Baker, Bates, L j Biggs, Brown, Calder, Corbett, Cokayne, I Frith, Davis, Edwards, Evans, Farley,Gould, J Gulliver, Haselden, Hewlett, Hewson, <?:* Keating, Kidd, Kinder, Matthews, Mul-jyiJ gan, Nelson, Phillips. Purchas, Small-*«J field, Tebbs, Walpole; Messrs Arm- J strong, Batger, Boardman, Clayton, I Cochrane, Crispe, Doonin, Evans, Clark, 1 George, Goldsbro', Gosset, Green, Hamil- I ton, Haultain, Heath, Hesketh, Hill, Hughes, Ireland, Jackson, Kensing- | ton, Eirkbride, Kissling, Larkins, Luke, .; Lusk, McMillan, Nolan, Pierce, Rawlings, Price, Smith, Speight, Taylor, Upton, • j Vickers, Wells, White, Williams, Woollams. I

The Bishop of Auckland then delivered * his inaugural address, after which a vote of thanks was returned by the Synod, and the following officers were elected :—Secro-.';j| tarios, Rev. P. Smallfield and Mr Jackson, ' of; Onehunga ; Treasurer,- Dr. Goldsbro'; fi Chairman of Committees, Colonel |j| Haultain. The Standing Committee was re-elected. Mr Samuel Vickcrs, | auditor, and Messrs Cameron and Heather, ■

auditors under the Standing Committee, ' j were re-appointed. His Lordship thanked :! the members of the Synod for the improve* 1 ■ ments effected on the buildings in Bishop's - | Court during the year, special thanka , being given to Archdeacon Maunsell, Dr.: ' Goldsbro', Messrs McMillan, Masefield, and (• Upton, . . * i p The annual session of the Baptist Con-, ; ference commenced at Nelson on Monday,. - October 15th. Seventeen' ministers and. 1 delegates assembled, and the Presi dent, Rev. C. Owter, of Ponsonby, was- I iv the chair, Revs! C. ' Bright, of Caver pliam, J. D. Gilmore, of Sydenham, and A. '< Fairbrother, of the Maori Mission, and To • Wairoa, Ohinemutu, were elected members, I of the Union. The annual report was read. I Its'salient features were that 19 churches,'S had sent annual collections to the Union.* | The net * increase In membership was 207, the total membership being 2,230. New churches had been formed at Oamxra ■■'•■» and Mosgiel. The Sunday schools contain ' ; 2,800 scholars, and 322 officers and teachers. Property and buildings ■ costing £2,680 had been acquired during the year. The ' Maori Mission had been well sustained by the churches, helped by Mr Snow, tho » generous originator. The treasurer's report '•;] hewedreceiptßtoaniour,tto£lo2lss2d,and ]| expenditure £17 7:i, leaving a balance in j hand of £89 8s 7d. A sum of £10 had been voted for supplies fco the church at Oamaru. :;]! A request from Canterbury Baptist. Asso- ! ciation inviting the Union to take charge of j the "New Zealand Baptist" and make it j the journal for the whole denomination, ! was agreed to. A motion by Rev. A. b|i forth, Dunedin, that churches, receiving-. J. grants from the funds of the Union be re- jj quired to confer with the Committee in the ■ J' event of change in either the pastorate or the constitution of the Church, was, jj after discussion, agreed to unanimously.," I The conference was brought to a II close on October 17. The Eev. A. North, of Dunedin, has been appointed President; Rev. W. C. Spencer, ofLiricoln, I Secretary; and Mr H. Seering Matthews, v of Auckland, Treasurer. Committee: Revs. C. Dallaston, of Christcburch; and C. I Bright, of Caversham, In accordance with the wish of the Baptist Association of Can; J terbury, the $evs. A, North and C. Bright were appointed joint Editors,. and Mr J. I Arundet of Dunedin, Secretary of the "Baptist Journal*" It was resolved to " hold the next session of the conference at Auckland. During the sitting an address was presented- on behalf of tha Grand j Lodge of Good Templars, and suitably I acknowledged. At the meeting, which jj followed the tea, addresses weW delivers! jl by Messrs G. Carson,. Revs. Dallaston, TV m Bray, D. T. Sinton, a,nd T. Spui^oon. At the anniversary soiree of Hio Bereaford-atreet Sunday-acHool nearly 300: vieitora sat down to tea in the hall, which had beep very pretlly decorated | for the occflaion. The tables were presided over by Misses Daldy, Milne, Archibald, Peaco, Hosking, Keep, and ; ■ Macdonw, arid Mesdamos Daldy, Endy, 1 Chftmptaloup, Watt, and Cousins. Sub sequently to tho tea, the usual public ,: meeting was held in the church, Rev. - J. Robortson, M.A., presiding. From- I the report submitted by ttie secretary it appeared that the school was in a flourishing condition, while the offerings at the; c services last Sunday amounted to £41 fie 3d. The Chairman made aomo excellent remarks on the Sunday-school as an auxiliary to the 'j Church, and said that efforts had been V made to increase the interest of the young 11 people in the church, servicee by having a | children's hymn and occasional children's services. Interesting addresses were sub- \ sequently delivered by Revs. Griffith Jonea (from Wales), Maefarlane, Hainer, J. S. j Hill, and Millar, the last-named being a j recent arrival from ' Glasgow. Anthems I ■were rendered at intervals by the chofc- I under the leadership of Mr Hooten. AttW; conclueion, votes of thanks wero passed to.- J those who had assisted, and Bpeoiafmention. | was made of the services of AiraEadfiHl connection uith the ohoir. ttoM^M^iJtm

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1883.

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