WELLINGTON MEAT EXPORT COMPANY.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 10 August 1905, Page 6

WELLINGTON MEAT EXPORT COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Meat Export Company was held in the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon. The Chairman of Directors (Mr. W. C. Buchanan, M.H.R.), in- moving the adoption of the Teport and 'balancesheet, a summary of which we havo already published, said : — The Teport and balance-sheet for the year ending tha 30th June last has been in tho hands of shareholders lor some time now. Shareholders will, I venture to say, agree with the Directors that it shows a record of a satisfactory yea-r's work. Ths customary dividend of 8 per cent, has been provided for, after making allowance for we?" and tear and deprecia tion, and the- sum of £10,690 10s lOd remains to be carried forward into the current year. The new extensions and gas plant previously authorised are being steadily pushed forward, and there is every reason, to believe that they will bo completed in time for next season's work. Shareholders will be gratified to know that all -the latest experience goes to show that the production of powei by means of gas is proving a substantial success, and that the company will be able to make an important saving in the annual cost of fuel. The Board 'has spared no trouble or expense in obtaining the best? information available from the United Kingdom and America, and are satisfied that the steps taken were in the right direction, i The Directors have also pleasure in stating that the v»rious_ products from the company's works have well sustained their reputation for high quality, and that tney have, as heretofore, been readily saleable at the highest current rake. The .thanks of tho shareholders are due to the Secretary and 6taff for their unremitting devotion to the interests of the company. It is to be regretted that a further shrinkage in the export of mutton and lamb from the colony has taken place, the reduction for the year ending June 30th last amounting in round' numbers to half a million carcases, and that the volume of the company's business has also suffered to some extent, though not more so than in the case of kindred concerns. The South Island exported nearly double the quantity of lambs, but the North Island still maintains the front position in regard to the quantity of meat exported, the.excess expressed' in sheep of 601b being equal to 200,000 carcases. The 1 interim^ sheep return recently issued by the Government shows that the decrease in the flocks of the colony, which has been going on for some time past, has at last been arrested, the approximate number shown by the return on 30th April last being 19,121,924, or an increase for the year of 841,118. The stock of sheep in the North Island has been considerably reduced by large shipments to the South Island, principally of ewes, the number exported being estimated at 133,000. Despite that, however, the sheep stock of the North Island shows an increase of 190,000 over tho previous year. Cattle have also increased in numbers by 143,303, and the dairy industry has made very satisfactory progress during the year, the number of boxes of butter frozen by tho company showing a very satisfactory increase. Tho directors have, therefore, every reason to expect an increased volume of business for the current year, and eatisfactory progress in tho future. The motion was second by Mr. William Watson, and no comment being forthcoming from shareholders the motion was agreed to. Messrs J. W. Marshall (Marton), and W. H. Beetham (Masterton), tho retiring directors, were re-elected without opposition. The remuneration for the directorate was fixed at £800 (last year's figures), and tho same course was adopted in respect of the auditors' salaries* Messrs. D. T. Stuart and O. S. Watkins were re-elected auditors. On tho motion of Mr. J. P. Maxwell, votes of thanks were passed to the directors, the manager, and the staff of the company for their services during the past twelve months. Acknowledgments of the compliment was made by Mr. Buchanan, iu.H.R., and Mr. IMlnot Sladdcn. Tlie meeting was begun and ended in the space of a very few minutes.

Tho Native Land Trust Commissioners met this afternoon in the Supreme Court building, when counsel addressed the Commission. An interesting and instructivo lecture on "Old New Zealand" was given by Mr. A. Hamilton in the lecture hall of the NWtown Public Library lust evening. Messrs. East and Eu»t, palate agents, Lamblon-quay, aro advertising, besides thoir regular libt, a fow propeitiei at tho Hutt.