DUNEDIN. April 30.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7126, 1 May 1891, Page 2

DUNEDIN. April 30.

At the quarterly meeting of the Chani" ber of Commerce the following resolu^ tions were carried : " That in the opinion of this chamber it is desirable in the interests of commerce and the general good of the province that the harbor dues and charges should be as Ijghtas possible, and that as the present revenue of the Harbor B oavd isj insufficient to effect this reform a r.ite should be imposed, more general in its character, and to be extended over the boundaries for which the Dunedin harbor is the natural outlet ; and further, that prompt steps be taken to bring to Dunedin wharves the largest steamers coming to the port." The Chamber desires to urge very strongly en the Government the desirability of proceeding v/ith the continuation of the Otago Central Railway to a point beyoud Middlemarch, because to stop tjhe line there means an expenditure of about L 60,000 on the railway simply to carry it to a point which can yield no return ; whereas, if carried to Eweburn, there is a reasonable prospect of it yielding a fair return on the amount expended ; also, because large amounts in addition to those expended have from time to time been voted, but diverted to works in other parts of the colony, leaving Otago fairly entitled to claim that a sum equal to this amount should be ex-

pended on the extension of this important work. The question of calling a public meeting on the subject was remitted to the Council. At the Harbor Board meeting to-d ly, the inspector's report stated that careful comparison with the soundings of last year shows that the changes during the year have been satisfactory. There was aw improvement ot 6 inches on one bar, the least depth at low water being now 24ft 6in, and by diverging a little from the leading lights another foot is secured. The recently cut channel maintains its depth, and the advantages it offers to large steamers are greatly appreciated. Wright, Stephenson, and Co to-day sold Ben Ohau Station, Mackenzie Country, comprising 54,700 acres leasehold, and 17,000 sheep, etc , for L 7700, to James H. Preston, ELildcn Station. A meeting of the shareholders of the Equitable Insurance Association was held to-day to confirm the resolution to wind-up the company. The chairman said that at the last meeting a Committee of Investigation had been appointed, and the directors had agreed to throw the office open to them, but from that day to this nothing further had been heard of the com^ mittee. In reply to Mr Gore, he stated that the directors would hive been prepared to appoint a member of the com mittee when they had heard from the others. Iv reply to a question the chairman said he thought it would take 2s 3d per share to wind-up. The motion to confirm the resolution was carried by 01 to 3, the demand fora poll being rejected as informal, only Leing signed by four shareholders. Mr Robert Chapman, an old identity and father of Mr C, R. Chapman, who has contested one or two elections, has promised the Reserves Conservation Society LIOUO to erect a monument in the Octagon to the memory of the late Dr Burns, Presbyterian minister, who came out with the h'rst settleis. The agriculfcuial statistics for the Taieri County are : Under wheat, 4338 acres ; estimated yield, 130,894 bushels. Oats— For grain, 8422 ; yield, 331,107 bushels. Oats — For green food, 5946 acres. Birley—4o2 acres, yield 1270 bushels. Potatoes — 870 acres ; yield, 4795 tons. Turnips— 479s acres. The total area under crop is 100,488 acres.