NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6964, 18 January 1888, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[press association telegram.! AUCKLAND, January 17. A meeting of the collapsed Auckland and North Shore Ferry Company waa held today to consider the financial position of that body. The balance-sheet showed over 10,000 shares unallotted, and a Bank overdraft of .£8967 19s 4d_ whilst the loss of .£755 4s 3d had been sustained on actual working expenses during the time the Company had been in existence. The proceedings were somewhat animated, but eventually a Committee was appointed to consider a feasible scheme to lay before the shareholders at a meeting to be held on January 24th. Samuel Jackson, Jun., was adjudicated bankrupt at the Supreme Court to-day. H. Kohn and J. Fisher were the petitioning creditors. The defendant, a well known solicitor, left by the Mariposa on December Gtb, and has not since returned. His liabilities amount, it is said, to a large sum. Mr J. A. Smith, of Waitoha, has communicated with Inspected Shearman with reference to the recent salting business. Sir W. Fitzherbert left for Sydney by the Mararoa this evening. He visited the Free Public Library to-day, and was pleased with the excellence of the institution. WELLINGTON, January 17. The Exhibition Commissioners have over five thousand feet of space in the Melbourne Exhibition already applied for. In the slander case, Scott v Kirkcaldie, a verdict for .£3OO and costs was given. Notice of appeal was given. MASTEETON, January 17. Mr Mackay, Government Geologist, visited Fernridge, Masterton, yesterday. He is satisfied of the existence of a valuable limestone formation, also coal and other minerals in the neighborhood. GEEYMOUTH, January 17. The Harbor Board have resolved to charge steamers over 150 tons 6d per ton port dues on registered tonnage; sailing vessels ls per ton on registered tonnage. It is probable, however, that the whole question of port dues will be more fully gone into shortly. BLENHEIM, January 17. A case of sticking np is reported from Birch Hill station. 'The whare of a boundary rider is said to have been fired at by a black man. Sergeant Scanlan sent Mounted Constable Drew this morning to make enquiries. DTJNEDIN, January 17. At the annual meeting of the City and Suburban Tramway Company, the Chairman stated that the Directors were obtaining every information with regard to using electricity as motive power, and he believed next meeting it might be found necessary to submit proposals on the subject to the shareholders. At a meeting called to take steps to have the district properly represented at the Melbourne Exhibition only about a dozen attended, and it was adjourned. It was stated that number of firms have notified their' intention of exhibiting goods. The Land Board met to-day to fix the upset for about twenty-three runs, the leases of which fall in in March. A reduction of about J. 150 in rental upset on the whole of the runs, as compared with the upset price when previously sold, was made, As compared with rentals which the runs brought, however, the difference is about .£4300.

In the Supreme Court this morning, Thomson v Union Steamship Company was heard, in which the plaintiff, a gardener, claimed .£2OO for injuries sustained on board the Omapere in April last "year, owing to an explosion of gas in the hold, said to have been caused by the negligence of a seaman in taking a naked light into the hold. A verdict for .£125 was given.