NEW ZEALAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7865, 21 May 1886, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND.

[Peb Phebs AbBOCIATIOS,} AUCKLAND, Mat 20, Enough is known of the census returns to make a tolerably accurate estimate of the total population of the city of Auckland and suburbs. This is now placed at over 60,000, the checking of the city returns being finished to-day. There are only three cities in the Southern Hemisphere that now beat Auckland in point of population—Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. It ia just within the bounds of possibility that the ’yenhuh returns of the present year may show Auckland holds third place instead of

fourth, and in the race for pre-eminence has beaten Adelaide, from which latter city there has been a considerable exodns of the population. At a meeting of the shareholders of the Auckland Tobacco Company, a resolution to wind up the Company was confirmed. At the annual meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Sugar Company the balance-sheet showed a loss of .£3742 9s. The sale of 11,100 tons of sugar was, the Chairman said, a result encouraging in face of the disorganised market. The Company expect to receive their first sugars from their Fiji estates in July. The reports respecting the crops were encouraging. The report and balancesheet were adopted. Sir P. Whitaker was re-elected Director. NAPIER, May 20. At a meeting of policy-holders in the Government Life Insurance Association, held to-night, 59 were present, representing £32,000 insured. The meeting was addressed by Mr Shannon, who spoke strongly of Sir J. Yogel’s action, especially with reference to the purchase of property and the appointment of Messrs Driver and Speight. The following resolutions were unanimously carried: —" That this meeting views with regret the resolution passed by the policy-holders at the Thames to memorialise Parliament, praying that the Government should resume the entire control of the Association, and it strongly protesta against Mr Dargaville’s action in the House before the wishes of the policyholders have been ascertained; that this meeting is of opinion that the interests of the Association can best be served by the amendment of those sections of the Act which led to the constitution of the Board, and that, in place of four Government officials, three Government nominees, and three elected members, the Board should consist of seven members —four to be elected by the policy-holders, and three non-official gentlemen to be nominated by the Government; that this meeting respectively requests Mr Fisher, M.H.R., to introduce a Bill giving effect to the foregoing resolutions ; that this meeting condemns the recent appointment of the highly-paid branch managers at Dunedin and Auckland, and would urge upon the Board the advisability of cancelling those appointments.” A fifth resolution expressed confidence in Messrs Shannon and Fisher. WELLINGTON, May 20. Upwards of 1500 signatures have been obtained to the address to be presented to the Hon J. Bryce. A nor’-west gale, with heavy rain, has been experienced here to-day. The officers of the Japanese war [ship, Taukuha, have been entertained at a dinner by the Wellington Club, and to-morrow an at home will be given on hoard the ship. In the Court of Appeal, a motion for the removal of a rule nisi , made in Christchurch, in the case of the National Bank v. Mee, was over ruled without calling upon counsel for respondent (National Bank) for argument, and the rule was made absolute. Argument is proceeding in the case of Thompson v. Priedlander (Christchurch), a motion for a new trial. QREYMOUTH, May 20, Very steady rain has been falling here since noon yesterday. The river is flooded, Mid still rising. The bar is rough, and the steamers Ohau and Pelham have been outside since yesterday, and the Wallahi, with cattle from Wanganui. It is still raining. DUNEDIN, May 20. The Dunedin Presbytery, at a special meeting held to considerthe Premier’s letter on the New Hebrides question, passed a resolution that they could not entertain the proposal submitted by him, which would jeopardise the interests of the Natives, and declared their opinion that the best means of preventing the importation of convicts to the South Seas.ia. Ly not affording raeilities to Prance to extend her territory in those regions, and expressed the hope that Government may be able to co-operate with the Victorian Government in the action which they have taken.