AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING.

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 253, 8 May 1883, Page 2

AN EYE FOR EVERYTHING.

+ By Cyclop. There was a disturbance in Mainstreet, Gore, the other night. Three drunken fellows were fighting. One managed to get away from the other two. As he was rushing from the scene he mefc a pedestrian of whom he enquired the locality of the constable*! residence, stating that he wanted to get his late opponents locked up. The inebriate hung on to the gentleman of whom he was soliciting information and suffered himself to be led to the constable's house, where he would have been coolly handed over for safe keeping had Mr Pratt been at home. The absence of the constable quite spoilt the joke, of course,but the inebriate was shored inside the enclosure and the gate secured. History does not say whether or not he made his escape or awaited the arrival of assistance in the shape of the constable. The editor of the * Southland Times ' seems to know a good deal about tea and tea-drinking. He devoted a leading artiole to this stupendous question a day or two ago and disposed of the matter quite to his own satisfaction. Now I don't in the least object to this. Far be it from so humble an individual as 'Cyclop' to suggest a subject for the leading columns o£ the ' Southland Daily Times ' or to question the appropriateness of the subjects therein dealt with. But all who read this famous article will admit that a discovery has been made which will, probably, revolutionize our entire social system. In his opening remarks the editor says that a Melbourne physican has asserted that " rheumatism and tea -drinking are intimately connected." It may be so. but aaost people have for ages associated tea-drinking with old women, slander, scandal, and all uncharitableness, I notice in a recent issue of the c Birmingham Weekly Post,' an English journal with a very large circulation, the following answer to a correspondent: — '" From Cape Howe, in (South Australia, to Milford Sound, the nearest point in New Zealand, the distance is 375 miles." This reminds one of the warning given by one of the early Australian Commissioners to some adventurous spirits who desired to explore that Island Continent. They were gravely iaformed that the undertaking would probably result in their death, as the Island could not be less than 500 miles from east to west ! "Who would have looked for liberality of thought in Taranaki, the most conservative ; district in the colony ? And yet the Young ; Men's Christian Association of that place has decided in favor, of allowing Charles Bradlaugh, the iconoclast, to take his Heat in the British House of Commons ! Public lecturers have to put up with a good deal. Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, one of the proprietors of the ,* Lake County Press,' lectured at Arrow town recently on " Ireland," and the opposition paper at Queenstown says the lecture was an exhibition of blatant imbecility ! The Christchurch Society paper reports that Mr Milner Stephen is said to have forwarded a cablegram condoling with the Queen on her late accident. Her leg has been constantly rubbed with the cablegram and by latest advices you see she is better. More joy for Steve !

We hereby certify that we have examined the Accounts of the Bank of New Zealand | for the half-year ended 31st March, 1883, and that we have counted the ca9h balances and examined the bills and other securities held at the Head Office, and compared the returns of the branches with the statements in the foregoing balanoe-nheet, and have found the same tD be correct; (Signed) SE^^ATLQE,] Audit ° r3 ' [ The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said : Gentles men, — The report and balance-sheet just | read will, I am sure, commend fchsmselves to the shareholders. The figures in the balance-sheet, while affording evidence of the {extent of the Bank's business, do not materially differ from those in the previous ttitemerit, the most noticeable feature being a satisfactory increase in the deposits and other liabilities. The other items do not call for special remark. When I last had the privilegeof a-ldresiing you from this chair, I expressed the anticipation that the inflation of imports to the. colonies would increase the demands on the local resources of the banks; the experience of the last six months throughout the colonies fully justifies the forecast I then made. The demand for money to meet the increasing requirements of importers has been so great Iha.fr a six per cent rate for twelve months' deposits has hecome general throughout the colonies. Such excessive rates for money WJuld fully have warranted a corresponding advance in lending rates, but recognising the burden which most. importers are now oarryiDg, our policy ha 3. been rather. .to suffer a- temporary flfinmufci6n&f ; proflj?than to insist on rates which would) unduly press on commerce. Our profit and loss account, consequently, does not show as favorably as it otherwise would, as we have been obliged to allow current rates for deposits, with no compensating alteration in our lending rates. While offering this explanation you must not understand that I am in any way apologising for a report which gives you a dividend of fifteen per cent,, and carries forward the handsome sum of £24,451 83, a result which I feel assured will be generally regarded as most satisfactory. It may reasonably be expected that as the brake has long sico3 been put upon importations to the colony, an easier condition of the money marked will ere long result, bat 1 can not hope for much progrepa being made in I this direction during the current six months. Importers have not been singular in having their calculations upset. I regret very much that the agricultural interests have suffered in some degree from heavy rains damaging a portion of what otherwise would have been an exceptionally good har, vest, but notwithstanding this misfortune, 1 believe that in a great majority of casea the farming operations of the past season will show a profit. Our genial climate and fruitful character of our soil are attracting increasing attention and evidence is not want, ing of a growing desire on the part of agn» culturists in, the adjoining colonies to throw in their lot' with us. Apart from this encouraging feature, the rapid development of the export of frozen meats, and of dairy factories opens up a prospect for agriculture which I have every confidence will largely influence the value of all improved lands, and the rapid settlement of the waste lands of the colony. With these remarks I beg to move the adoption of the report and balancesheet as read. Mr Thomas Russell, O.M.G, : By your leave, Sir, I second the adoption of that report, and I take this opportunity of expressing the pleasure which I feel on being permitted again to address the shareholders of this institution in the place where for so many years I have, in concert with my col" leagues, so often represented this great institution, and at the same time of conveying to the directors and the shareholders the satisfaction which I feel in noting the progress of the bank on the safe lines upon which it continues to be conducted ; and of adding my testimony to what I have ascertained since I have coma to the colony o£ the great popularity and usefulness of this iustitution in promoting the material interests of the colony, I have been very much pleased in travelling about New Zsaland, to find how much the settlers recognise the material benefit conferred by the bank on those attached to the soil and commerce of the colony, and the advantage they have in dealing with a liberal and powerful institution, locally represented. And as I think you will not consider it any deviation from the ohjeafca of the meeting, 1 shall briefly refer to wbat I have observed of the progress of the country since my return to New Zealand. A period of six years has elapsed sinoe I last resided amongst you, and although in conBfciim; communication with the colony by every mail, and fully posted in its , progress, and moreover a careful reader of every scrap of news from the Gblony, I have been very much struftk wihh the rapid progress made during my absence, far exceeding all my expectations. Local industries have sprang up everywhere, and in the development of which I see the greatest energy and ability dis-, played. All around in every part of the colony are to be seen the most marked and solid signs of advancement and prosperity. I see everywhere satisfaction with tho pro>greßs of the past, and a oonfident expectation in the future. This condition of affiirs in the co an try is, I think, a source of satisfac* tion to us as shareholders in this institution, for if we have to deal with a prosperous condition of affairs, the results must be more satisfactory to us and to our customers. The on look I believe to be equally good. # Ido not think it needs a prophetic eye to discern that the immediate future of the country will be satitfactory. doming [events are, indeed, casting Itheir shadows before, and I believe that New Zealand by leaps and bounds will very shortly attain a degree of prosperity that many in the colony fail to realise. (Hear, hear.) Our great want in the past has b^eu an outlet 'orjour agricultural produce. You

in\y build up fine towns and trade aud o <m«. meroe, but they will ba ephemeral, and sue cess will not bo permanent and lasting, unless the greub agricultural interests are assured — unles3 the cultivation of the soil of this colony is made profitable, and its products are payable. You have soil that cannot be surpassed for vita fertility ; a climate unrivalled in the world, and scenery the most beautiful ; you have everything to attract population ; but we jaat lack one thing —a payable result for the capital and labor of the farmer. That great want— the want of a market for the over production of the'sbil ~ —I bebieve i 3 shortly about to be roaiiaad. By the refrigerating process we shall be 'able to export the splendid surplus produce with-, out limit ; and which will afford yoiTa pay- * iag price for the labor of the agriculturist ; and thm will be ensured a' prosperity which will be permanent and lasting will aid coramerc, give greater use for your fine harbors, and the works connected with tbem ; they will all be required to aid and develop the agricultural interests of this great country. I congratulate the shareholders and directors on tbe success we have attained and I believe in the futuro>w,e , have a yet finer field before us than we have' had even in the past. t (Applause). . „ The'motion wjivthen put and carried,! after? j which the meeting was brought to a cloa»' (- with the usual vote of thanks to the directors the general manager, and the officers of the bank.

Dr. Liabilities. £ « d Capital p-id op 1,000,000 0 0 Befervß Fund 600,000 0 0 Notes in circulation ... 562,664 0 0 Bills Payable in Circulation. 1,889,600 17 10 Dapoßitßandot,herLiabilitiesß,3Bo,9BO 13 1C Balance of Profit and Loss 99,451 8 0 iH2~532,546 19 8 Cr. Assets. & s d Coia and Cash Bilaiicos at .Bankera ...• ... 1,157,175 3 4 Money on Short Call in London 225,720 .0 0 Bullion on hand and m - transit 159,232 14 11 Q-overnment S ciirities ... 316,777 5 0 Bills receivable and securi** t : esinl..mi]<m 2,042,229 17, 7 Bills Disc'" t il, ami fiber Debt* rln., fcnih«Bink 8,339,802 9 10 LandedP' - »i e7t,,l>.»lk.L >^l.mues, &-." 211.609 9 0 £12,532,540 19 8 Profit and Losi Accouwt. Dr £ a d To Dividend on 100,000 shares of £lOeacb, at rate of 10 "■"• percent, per an n 50,003 0 0 To Bonus at rate of 5.4 ptr share equal to 5 per ceut per annum ... ... ... 25,000 0 0 To Balance carried to Profit and Liss New Account ... 21,451 8 0 £99,451 8 0 Or ■ £ a & By Balance from hilf-year ended 30th September, 1882 ... 9 925 911 By Net Profit for half. year ended 31sfc March, 1883 ... 89.525 18 1 £99,451 8 0 Reserve Fund. Dp £ » d To Balance ... .... ... 600,000 ,0 0 600,000 0 0 Cr £ a A By balance from last statement 600,000. O 0 ■PRnn.ooft o' o