NEW ZEALAND MORTGAGES.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND MORTGAGES.

♦ An interesting and suggestive return has been laid on the table of Parliament showing the mortgages, in New Zealand, under the Land Transfer Act. Analysing thia return we find that Canterbury had no less than .£5,095,532 secured on mortgages at the beginning of the last financial year, of which £ 1,067,340 was paid off during the year, but new mortgages to the amount of .£1,606,770 wero contracted, thus making the whole amount, on 31st March last, ,£5,G3*,963. Otago comes next in indebtedness, but shows very different results. The Otago mortgages atthebeginingof the financial year amounted to .£2,339,015. Of this sum only .£449,277 was paid off during the year, and lresh mortgages to the amount of no less than i 61,987,310 — or as nearly as possible two millions— were contracted, making the present total, .£3,897,078. Wellington stood third at the commencement of the year with .£1,453,704, paying off only .£174,573, and borrowing .£453,010 additional, leaving the present total mortgages .£1,732,139. But Wellington, as a mortgagor, is now eclipsed by Southland, the latter beginning the year with .£544,684. paying off nearly the whole of that sum (.£514,792) during the year, but borrowing the enormous amount of .£1,778,851 in the same period, and having now total mortgages of .£1,808,743 Hawke's Bay begins the year with .£988,657, paid off only .£46,007, and raised .£158.886, the present total mortgages being .£1,101,536. The transactions of Nelson, Taranaki, Marlborough, and We3tland are comparatively insignificant. The total result for the whole colony is as follows : — At the beginning of the year the mortgages amounted to .£11,512,132, of which .£2,402,207 was paid off during the year, but J;6,727,598 more was borrowed, making the present total mortgages amount to the enormous sum of jE15,837,823, probably representing an annual interest of at least a million. It is further noteworthy that of this total mortgage indebtedness, Canterbnry, Otago, and southland— that is to say the provinces of Canterbury and Otago — are debited with more than three-fonrths, or .£11,3 10,784. It is also worthy of remark that fresh mortgages to the value of nearly seven millions were contracted during the year, thus certainly bearing out the Colonial Treasurer's assertion that the Property Tax had not proved deterrent to the investment of " foreign " or other capital in the colony. ■■ " ~ A letter on " Irßolvenoy Eeform " will be found on the fourth page. The Counties Act Amendment Bill, introduced in Parliament by Mr. J. B. Fisher, provides for the election of the county chairman by the connty electors in the same way as the mayor of a borough is elected by the ratepayers. A county councillor, if elected chairman, vacates the office of councillor, and the chairman, if elected councillor, vacates the office of chairman, but the chairman shall be e» officio a councillor. Mr. Turnbull is to ask the Government on Tuesday next, whether it is their intention to take any action on the following subjects and recommendations alluded to in the report of the Inspector of Prisons : — (1) To abolish schools in the different gaols ot the colony on the grounds stated in the report, viz., that endeavouring to educate prisoners is a mistake. (2) That each prisoner be periodically weighed, in order to test whether he is losuier or gaining flesh. (3) That the present dietary scale be altered, in order to check that undue propensity to increase in weight which prisoners at present undergoing sentence exhibit. (4) The appointing a Medical Board, as recommended, to inquire how little a man can possibly exist on, in order that a dietary scale may be adopted for that purpose. (5) That gaolers shall be permitted to punish prisoners at will, without the consent of the Visiting Justices P It is understood that Sir George Grey is having his recent speech on Local Government printed on slips to the number of many thousands for distribution thronghont the colony, and that ho intends to adopt that remarkable speech, and his still more remarkable Bill —on which we commented yesterday— aa his "platform" for the coming election. The Secretary for Stamps, Mr. R. C. Hamerton, has presented his annual report on the Land Transfer and Deeds Registry ! Department for the financial year 1880-81 The general results are as follows : — The revenue collected is in excess of the estimate by £6,G17 16s Id. The fees received under the Land 'lrausfer Acts for the twelve months ended the 3lst March last, exclusive of the Assurance Fund, amounting to .£20,686 0s 7d., whilst the receipts under the Deeds Registration Act were .£17,931 15s 6d, making a total of .£33,617 16s Id The fees received for Crown grants issued under the Land Transfer system amounted to .£1,762 Is, whilst tho receipts for the same under the Deeds Registration system were £90ii 3s lOd. This latter amount is for nine months only, since the custody of the grants we s transferred from the Commissioners of Crown Lands to the Registrars of Deeds. The balance to the credit of the Assurance Fnnd in the books of the Public Trustee on the 31st March last was .£28,348 0s sd. Fees amounting to Is 2d were received during the twelve months. The expenditure dnring the same period was lls lid, showing a saving upon the estimates of .£540 8s Id. The shareholders in the Wellington and Manawata Railway Company will see by our advertising columns that the adjourned meeting will be held on Monday next, at the Chamber of Commerce, at 3 o'clock, when the articles of association will be laid before the meeting to be agreed to, and the first Board of Directors appointed. General Waddy, whose death was recently announced, was well-known in the New Zealand war. He arrived in New Zealand in command of the 50th, on the 23rd Novembpr, 1863, in H.M. ship Himalaya, the Eame day that the battle of Bangariri was fought. It is a fact worth noting (says the Auckland Star) that the Himalaya arrived in Auckland abont noon on that memorable day, and Captain 1/& Lacey was present at Kangariri before hostilities ceased. General Waddy was appointed Brigadier-General by General Cameron, and held that appointment till his regiment was ordered Home. He had command of several stations during the Waikato campaign, but particularly the camp before Paterangi, in command of four companies of the 50th and six of the 10th, under Colonel Leslie, C.B. Here he acted on the defensive, with about 1000 of the enemy safely ensconsed in rifle pits, and Ms small force was completely harassed by day and night with stray shot here and there, and but only a small breastwork thrown up in front of them, with a 12-pounder ArmBtrong gun at each angle.

Wo understand that Mr. Sheehan intends to press hia bill for rescinding the Abolition of Provinces to a division, in order that a distinct demarcation of party outlines on that question may be forced. He doea not of coarse entertain the remotest hope of carrying 1 his measure. Two curiously - worded native petitions were presented to Parliament yesterday by Major Te Wheoro, M.H.R., against the proposal to rate native lands. One was from Manawatu natives and the other from the Ngatitoa tribe. Both pleaded poverty and injaatice sustained on the score of land purchases and confiscations. One petition concluded :—": — " We therefore pray your hon. House toward off from us this evil which the Government are endeavouring to place on us and our land. Sufficient ! Long- may you live under the protection of our Lord !" The other concludes still more remarkably as follows :—": — " Long live the Queen and King Tawhiao ! May they continue to govern well their two races, English and Maori, under the protection, of our Lord Jesus Christ!" The Attorney-General in announcing in the Legislative Council yesterday the telegrams received from the Agent-Ueneral relative to the favorable report of the London actuaries on the New Zealand Government Insurance Department, remarked that probably those gentlemen who have been accustomed to cavil at the management of the Insurance Department, would learn with satisfaction the contents of that telegram. One or two caßes of scarlet fever have occurred in Wellington within the past few days, and a patient is now confined in the fever ward of the Hospital. Wo are informed, however, that the outbreak is not of a serious character, a patient in one instance having already recovered from the malady. At a sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, to be held on Tuesday next, an application will be made for an order granting the discharge of John Stacey, of Wellington, laborer. Shocks of earthquake still oontinue to be felt at Foxton. Though the plaintiff in the Blenheim libel action, Mr. Griffiths, yesterday, recovered a verdict against Mr. Johnson, late proprietor of the Marlborough express, for .£250, it seems somewhat doubtful whether the money will be forthcoming. In the first place Mr. Johnson is at present in England ; and in the second, prior to leaving the colony, indeed either just before or just after being served with the writ in this action, he transferred all his to his wife, and by this settlement has left himself without means. We understand that an attempt will be made ti upset this, with what success remains to be seen. The whole " little bill " in connection with the action, including the .£250 damages awarded, amounts in round numbers to about £600. We are requested to state that the new Hospital will be open to ordinary visitors on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 2 to 4 p.m., and on Sundays from 2 to 4.30 p.m., and to clergymen and religious instructors at all reasonable hours. Herr Bandmann, supported by Miss Louise Beaudet and the Australian Dramatic Company, will re-appear at the Theatre Royal this evening in " Hamlet," one of his best impersonations. This tragedy was performed on the occasion of the company's previous visit to Wellington, and is being reproduced in answer to the special request of many who were unable to witness its former representation. There ought to be a good attendance. Mr. White, the oarsman who competed with Mr. Hearn for the championship of New Zealand, leaves for Auckland by the Arawata this evening. At St. Paul' 3 Church, Napier, on Sunday morning the first lesson waa read from the revised edition of the New Testament, which was received by last mail. We learn from the Hawko's Bay Herald that the Eev. D. Sidey (of Tararua disaster notoriety) expressed himself greatly pleased with the revision as a whole. He had looked into it with groat care, and felt assnred that the more improved reading of many passages would materially tend to build up and enlighten the faith in the Gospel. Another meeting of the promoters of the Wellington-Petoni Pleasure Steamboat Company was held last evening at the Pier Hotel, Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert presiding. With a view of popularising the project, it was decided to increase the proposed capital to £6,00(1 in £1 shares. Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert was alpoint-d treasurer, and Mr. D. W. Bennett secretary pro iem ; and it was agreed that the share list should remain open till the 20th August, t-'o soon as a sufficient number of shares shall have been allotted a directory will be appointed. We have received a letter from Messrs. Stewart and Co. in reference to a case of Stewart and Co. v. Hill, heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court the other day, and the Resident Magistrate's remarks thereon. They urge that they were justified by the defendant's conduct by taking the conrse they did. They add that they can, with confidence, appeal to the thousands of customers they have had during their business career as to whether they ever acted harshly or unkindly to a single one of them who treated them properly. The first number of the new magazine, " The Aeronant," has just reached us. It is a creditable little publication of 43 pages, nicely "'got up," and containing a variety of entertaining contributions by colonial authors. These comprise the first instalments of two serial stories, " Dark and Fair," and " The Chancellor's Room," the latter having a decidedly ghostly flavour ; two complete tale 3, "Polly Plumndge's Courtship and Marriage," and " Our Unknown Defender;" an article on "The Rising Generation," and a poem on " The Wellington Cemetery." The whole production is a very fair effort of " local industry," as the editor puts it in the preface, and its object is described as both to afford "amusement and instruction" on the one hand, and, on the other, to be "a vehicle for the circulation of a considerable amount of local talent which has hitherto lain dormant from the dearth of opportunity for its dissemination." Contributions are invited. We heartily wish all success to this new enterprise, and hope that it will have a long and prosperous career. "The Aeronant" is published by Mr. David Clark, Athenaeum Hall, and sold by all booksellers. At the Dunedin Supreme Court on Tuesday the case, Benjamin Straohan v. George Hyatt, an action to recover £500 and special damages for an alleged malicious prosecution, was heard. The defendant put in a plea of justification. Plaintiff, who is a colored man, formerly well known in Wellington^ as a barber and phrenologist, was given into custody by the defendant on the charge of obtaining money by false pretences, the alleged fraud consisting in stating that he had £10 12s on its way to him from Wellington. The case was taken before the justices and dismissed, whereupon plaintiff brought the present action. '] he jury were locked up for three hours without being able to agree. The verdict of three-fourths waa then taken, and found to be in favor of the defendant on all issues. The Wangantii Chronicle announces with deep regret the death of the wife of the Rev. G. Stannard, which took place on Saturday morning. The deceased lady was a very old colonist, having arrived with her husband in New Zealand in 1841 with a party of Wesleyaii friends, who had purchased a large block of land in the Kaipara district for settlement. The vessel they chartered was lost while entering the Kaipara river, and with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Stannard and a child of one of the party named Wilkinson, all on board perished, some nineteen in number. After residing for some years at Hokiacga and Auckland, Mr. and Mrs. Stannard were, in 1848, sent to Wanganui to establish a mission station at Waitotara. They embarked in the schooner Harriet Leichardt, and, after a tempestuous passage from Auckland of 11 days, during which time they were nearly starved, the vessel was wrecked at the Wanganui Heads, and, in company with the Revs. — Hobb3, of Auckland, and W. Kirk, of Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. Stannard narrowly escaped a watery grave. At the time of her death the deceased lady had reached the advanced age of 71 years. A shocking case of wholesale poisoning has occurred at Binbrook, a village on the Lincolnshire Wolds. Mrs. Gibson, the wifa of a shepherd, made a number of cheese cakes. After eating one of them she suddenly became unwell, and the neighbors who visited her, and who had eaten some of the cakes, were also taken ill. Upon testing some of the cakes, it was discovered that the woman had mistaken a tin of arsenic for ground rice, and had mixed the poison in her pastry. The arsenic, which was used by her husband in dressing the Bheep, was kept in a cupboard in a tin canister precisely similar to that which contained the ground rice. The woman died a few hours after Bhe had eaten the cake, before medical aid could be obtained, and eight or nine of the neighbors remain seriously ill from the effects of the poison. The South Australian Register publishes the following extraordinary paragraph : — " We are informed that one of the last acts of the Koyal Princes, Albert Victor and George of Wale 3, before leaving Adelaide, was to inspect the cane — gold-mounted, and inscribed by some Melbourne gentlemen — with which Mr. D. C. F. Moodie struck Mr. A. T. Clark, M.P. and J.P., the present Victorian Commissioner of Customs, for insulting her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, their grandmother. The inspection took place at Government H"U3e on the 18th inst., exactly one year after the event alluded to occurred." Surely the reporter must have been hoaxed.

It appears that the plaintiff in th* breach of promise case recently heard in Dunedin was a girl named Sarah Simonsen, not " M. Simonsen," as previously Btated. The defendant, a gardener, did not plead, but appeared in Court. It we,s stated that the plaintiff had been seduced by the defendant under the promise alleged. The jury returned a verdict for .£125 and costs. Messrs. Lyon, and Blair, to-day opened their first shipment of the revised New Testament. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns. In our advertising columns appears the programme for next Monday's popular concert in aid of the funds of the Choral Society. The programme is an attractive one. Mr. R Holliday has received a second snpply of the music of the " Pirates of Penzance." There has been a great demand for the work. Croskery, Hasell&Co. will sell on Monday, at 2 o'clock, by order of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, house and land at Kilbirnie. This little property is worthy the atttention of any person wanting a freehold of his own, and from its close proximity to town, should command fair competition.