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King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 566, 10 May 1913, Page 4

The following figures show the new ratable capital valuations upon which hospital contributions will be based: —Ohura £397,272 East Taupo £296,418 West Taupo £231,790 Kaitieke County £606,717, Taumarunui Borough £124,048, Manunui £45,013.

A movement has been started in Auckland for a reunion of the few surviving members of the 18th Royal Irish. The regiment arrived in the Waitemata 50 years ago come July 4th, and on that day it is hoped to gather together the eighteen or twenty survivors. The veterans are scattered throughout the Dominion, but for the most part are resident in thi 3 province. In the matter of the acquisition of this world's goods they have for the most part not been over successful, and some outside contributions will be necessary if tha old comrades are to come together to renew friendships that started away back in last century.

Acting on the principle that retail coal depots must pay their way, the Government has increased the price of State coal to Wellington consumers. The decision, however, is not to extend to Christchurch, Dunedin and Wanganui, as these departments showed a profit last year, unlike the Wellingon depot, which, undoubtedly, has exceptional haulage difficulties to deal with.

Mr Alexander, of the Auckland Peace Mission, will preach to-morrow morning in the local Presbyterian Church. The evening service will be conducted by the Rev. A. Armstrong the subject being "The Garments of God."

The Wellington Fire Brigade's report shows that the losses by fire during the year totalled £83,803. Whitcombe and Tombs' fire accounted for £41,282. It is an indication of the improved financial position that Mr Massey informed a Wellington Post reporter on Wednesday that Cabinet had decided to raise the limit of advance under the workers dwelling scheme from £3OO to£ 400. The subject of advances to local bodies, he added, had not yet been dealt with. In January, 1914, General lan Hamilton, Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces, will leave the Mediterranean and visit New Zealand and Australia. He is going out at the invitation of thß Governments of those countries for the express purpose of inspecting their military forces. During the summer of the present year General Hamilton will go to Canada, at the invitation of the Dominion Government to inspect the Canadian military forces. Mr Massey informed a Post reporter in Wellington that some important banking legislation would be brought down this session. In the first place there would be the question of the renewal of the Government guarantee, and also a proposal to give the newly started commercial bank power to issue notes. Regarding the Bank of New Zealand, he said there was evidently a decided difference of opinion between the directors and shareholders, and, until that was settled, he could not suggest what course the Government proposed to follow. Dalgety and Co , Ltd., have received advice from their head office that they have declared an interim dividend of 4s per share being at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum payable on May 15th. The Waimarino Acclimatisation Society have unsuccessfully endeavoured to persuade the Minister of Internal Affairs to open the season for two months (Juno and July) for shooting native pigeons. The season was closed last year, but on receipt of a strong protest from the above society the then Minister practically promised an open season this year but the present Minister maintains that he cannot accede to the request and as the society has been stocking up with pheasants about Raurimu and other parts of the district the council ha 3 decided that it will be a close season for both native and imported game. We have on view at the Chronicle office some very fine specimens of Brown Spanish onions grown by Mr R. Webber, of Te Kuiti. It is Mr Webber's intention to enter five onions for the Waikatu Winter Show, and taking the onions now on view as samples Mr Webber's hopes of securing first prize should be realised. A town traveller for one of the big merchant firms in Christchurch told a reporter that he was convinced things were not good in Christchurch at present. During the past two years he had paid considerable attention to the way in which shopkeepers, whether great or small, Bpoke about their businesses, and taking what they said in conjunction with his sale-book, he was forced to the belief that things had not been brilliant during that period. Now he feared that instead of hearing merely that things were not good he would hear that they are bad. Already shopkeepers from whom he had never be fore heard a grumble were complaining of a falling-off in cash trade beyond what is always expected to be at the beginning of winter.