THE GEAR MEAT COMPANY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9125, 8 June 1895, Page 7

THE GEAR MEAT COMPANY.

The Press Association reports that the Gear Meat, Company declares a dividend for the half-year at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. The Wellington Post reports the purchase of the Mangapapa Block, twelve miles from the township of Waitotara, is about to be completed by the Government. The block contains 6000 acres of first-class land. HEAV- GOLD. The Wellington Post's Havelock correspondent telegraphed yesterday that King Solomon's, at Cullensville, is again on heavy gold. Over lOOoz have been picked up during the last two days, and the miners were still on the metal. COSTLY BUNGLING. Referring to the possibility of an error having been made by sending wrong plans for the Nelson police cottage, a gentleman resident in Nelson informs the Colonist that some time ago he was in Havelock, and in speaking to a well-known resident of that town, expressed astonishment that so fine a courthouse had been erected there. The reply was that it was due to a mistake— that the building had been intended for Havelock North, but the plans were sent to the Marlborough township, and were there carried out. AN EXCELLENT OFFER. With the view of assisting in the technical education of the school children of Wellington the works of the New Zealand Candle Company at Kaiwarra are to be thrown open for inspection on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. The manager is to escort the children through the works and explain the process of candle making to them. * To add interest to the visit the Company offer prizes for the beat essays on candle making, to be awarded as follows :— For competitors in Standards V., VI, VII., £3 ; for competitors in Standards 111. and IV., £2; for competitors in Standards I. and 11., £1. " TERRIBLE STATE OF AFFAIRS." On Tuesday last a young woman, who had four children, applied to the Trustees of the Wellington Benevolent Institution for assistance. Her husband, a total abstainer, was on the Government co-operative works in the Forty-Mile Bush, but was unable to send her any money because, after paying for " tucker " and tools, he had only 5s for a month's work. A letter from the man to his wife was read. In it the writer said his plight was better than that of others, as one man had received only 2s clear for a month after squaring up. Ninepance a week was charged to the roadmakers for the use of a crosscut saw. The applicant was ordered rations, and the Trustees expressed surprise that such a terrible state of affairs as was described in the letter should be permitted co exist. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Premier on the subject. A LONG-DESIRiD CONCESSION. Captain Yon Schoen has informed the Wellington Post that according to new regulations issued by the Board of Trade, which came into force in this colony on the Ist of March, service in a capacity not lower than only mate of a home-trade or coasting vessel, under certain conditions, will henceforth qualify a candidate to be examined for a certificate of competency as master of a foreign-going ship (ordinary, fore-and-aft rigged, or for foreign-going steamships, as tne case may be). This is a concession which since 1886 has been anxiously waited for by officers serving as mate in the coasting trade, who under previous regulations had, in addition to their three years' service as mate, to show nine months' service as master. THE UNEMPLOYED. A Press Association telegram from Dunedin states that as a result of the movement to provide work for the unemployed Messrs J. M. Ritchie and K. Ramsay waited on a few firms yesterday afternoon, when they were promised £563. The New Zealand Land Company head the list with £100, three firms give £50 each, ten firms and individuals £25 each. The Premier has been communicated with, and has promised that a subsidy, as provided by law, will be given to the subscriptions. It is hoped that a start will be made next week.