THE The Zeland Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1875.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4289, 12 August 1875, Page 2

THE The Zeland Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1875.

Had Sir George Grey been present at tho meeting in Parnell Hall last ovening, ho would have been able to point to it as a practical illustration of what he is taunted with styling " tho political education of tho people." Tho generalship displayed was of a very unusual character for an ordinary public meeting, and pertained rather to that of a trained deliberative body. The amused patience with which tho tactics were watched, and tho intelligence with which they were thoroughly understood by the five or six hundred people present, were by no means the least instructive part of the proceedings.

The meeting was convened at the request of certain electors, by the Chairmen of two Highway Boards. The names of tho electors at whose request the meeting was held were not made known j but it was pretty well understood thot the Provincialist party were the original movers. The Centralists hod preriously taken the

iriitiatvVV at the Eden meeting on Monday evening, ancL - -'that had proved . a fiasco, but they mustered on. their fullest strength at Parnell. •In tile meantime the Provincialists had niade no secret of their intention to move resolutions expressive of their desirQ to take all tho money the province could get from the General Government —for they held that it was their own. But tho Abolition Bill they also held to bo an entirely separate affair, a constitutional and not a financial question, and to bo deferred for the deliberate sanction of the people. The Centralists, on the other hand, were in favour of the immediate passage of the bill. They went too far, for they treated it as a perfect measure, and it was certain that tho people could not and would not bo blind to the defects which have from time to time been pointed out, especially in its application to this province. Each party mustered in full strength, and the conteet promised to be interesting, but the offective speakers on either side were limited in number, and it becamo manifestly a point of some importance not to allow them to be exhausted at the outset. Had this been done tho debate must have been unsatisfactory, for there would have been no one to answer the objections, or to take up tho points of thoso who might bo forced prematurely into being the first speakers. The chairman's invitation to come forward after the meeting was opened, met only a dead silence. This was unbroken, except by the light irregular sparring of opposing parties on either side, the audienco appreciating tho position at onco, and entering into the fun. At the last, the chairman of one of tho Highway Boards interested, Mr. Hughes, filled tho gap, and came forward with a short speech to propose that the provinces should bo abolished. So taken aback and so disinclined to speak were the Centralists present, that this motion absolutely lapsed for want of a seconder after several minutes allowed by tho chairman had passed. Mr. Staincs then camo forward, and in a very effective speech reminded tho people that they had drawn Sir George Grey from his retirement, that they had full confidence in his ability and in his disinterestedness and should now stand by him to a man. Ho proposed, " That this meeting views with alarm the proposition to abolish tho provinces without appeal to tho country by means of a general election ; and protests against the proposed abolition of provinces by an Assembly whose term of oflico is just expiring, and which does not fairly represent tho people of tho colony." Thia motion was seconded pro forma by Mr. Brott, another of tho chairmen of tha Highway Boards that had convenod tho meeting. Tho debate was thus fairly started, and was taken up by several able speakers on both sides. Wo shall not attempt to analyse* the separato speeches which we publish in .another part of tho paper. The motion was soon followed by an amendment from Mr. Dargavillo :— " That tho Abolition Bill and tho Local Government Bill now beforo tho Parliament meet with tho approval of this meeting; that it is highly desirablo that these bills should be passed into law during the present session of tho General Assembly." Both Mr. Dargaville and Mr. Wrigley spoko fully to this amendment, but it was evident from tho first that the meeting was not with them. After considerable discussion, Mr. Lusk came forward, and had at first eomo difficulty in getting a hearing ; for the sting of the obnoxious education tax is prominently connected with Ins name. Mr. Lusk faced the meeting boldly and eventually carried it with him, making decidedly tho speech of tho evening. Tho points brought out by him and other speakers during the debate are easily told. Tho bill was not a bill for tho abolition of provinces. It retained provincial distinctions in their most obnoxious forms ; for it replaced tho elected head and the elected executives officers of the province by substituting for them nominees of the General Government who would rule tho new provincial districts. It did not establish the unity of the colony, for that unity was already a patent fact. It did not establish unity of interest or unity of administration, for it kept the affairs of each provincial district—financial and political—entirely distinct. It did not tho slightest good to this province, except by allowing the Colonial Treasurer to borrow precariously for itsuso a certain sum of money which could be as well borrowed for the old province aR for the new district. It kept the land revenue moro effectively a monopoly than over. It gave to tho provinces in tho South tangible and existing means of support. It only promised to Auckland doubtful pledges for tho future. Tho land revenue would be unaffected, for it was already collocted by General Government officers, and couldnotbeaffected in its appropriation by the new bill. As to any alleged ulterior designs of the Government in this respect, tho meeting absolutely refused to listen to them. No saving in tho charges of government were shown, and how thereforo could any financial gain bo expected ? The opposition of Mr. Macandrew and of Mr. Rolleston was held up by one sido as a sure proof that they considered the abolition a first step towards tho absorption of the land revenue by tho colony. Against this it was urged that there were equally able Southern members supporting the abolition, and that they evidently believed they could rely on their growing Parliamentary strength to fight successfully for themselves in the future as in the past. Besides this, thero wero three Southern members in the Ministry who would be tho last to sanction any course calculated to make the land revenue colonial, or to run tho slightest risk of its being so. Ono sido held that the very fact of the provinces allowing themselves to be shorn like sheep without resistance, proved them incapable, and too weak to exist. Tho other objected that even sheop, if they had a voice in their own fate, would object to being handed over to the butcher by whom they had been so mercilessly shorn.

So waged tho battle on either side with perfect propriety but good order throughout. Indignant declarations that interested parties alone supported Provincial Institutions were met by as indignant denials and assertions that the booty was light on their side, but infinitely greater and more attractive on tho other. Reviewing the whole discussion and tho tone of the meeting, wo have no hesitation in, saying that enthusiasm for Provincial Institutions, as they at present exist was totally absent. The necessity of some chango was admitted on all sides. The stumbling-block to the bill was this : if the General Government really have tho money they have no right to withhold it from tho provinces to make the abolition a matter of bargain and sale. If the bill was good it would stand tho test of a general election. If not, the ovil done by passing it would be too serious, and could not be for many years undone. Tho prospect of throwing all the power and all tho patronage of the colony into tho handa of the Assembly waa de-

nounced unless the Aesembly were itself first reformed. Triennial Parliaments, payment of members, and reform of the representation will assuredly be part of the programme of reform whenever that is brought forward. The Upper House will also require to be seen to before the Assembly can gain the public confidence a3 fully as it ought. The district of "Wallace is the great example quoted on all sides. This district has only 103 electors, and it is said that the largest owner of landed property is himself a councillor in the Upper House, while his power and influence can always sccuro the return of a member to tho Lower House. It thus becomes a pocket borough, and as there are several such districts in the colony, the worst evils of the old Imperial Parliament would be produced in New Zealand, unless the Assembly be reformed at tho same time that the Provincial Councils are abolished. The " out-lying districts " would bo bribed by this bill to coerco the towns, and eventually they would themselvo , fall victims to the few leading men by whom they in their turn are ruled. These were the chief matters talked of by speakers at the meeting List night, and by people in the body of the hall. Wo believe that they represent fairly and fully tho objections to the bill, and we urge upon the Government and tho Opposition to unite in removing them in committee. Tho bill may then with greater confidence be remitted to the constituencies. We believe that if these defects are remedied, it would meet with their unanimous approval, for the old enthusiasm for Provincial' Governments has evidently passed away/ With these defects the bill certainly will not pass and it will bo a great gain if the electors can have placed before them at tho elections something complete and tangible for their consideration.

Mn. Shkehan has given notice in the House to ask leave to introduce a bill to enable the Mayor of Auckland to be elected by the ratepayers. Whether it is proper for the Mayor of a municipality to be elected by the ratepayers or by Councillors from one among themselves, has long been a moot question. In some of the municipalities notably that o£ Dunedin—the Mayor is elected by the burgesses. In Marlborongh, again, the Mayor is elected by tho Councillors ; but they concede this much: they allow the burgesses to nominate candidates for tho office, and then elect tho one who has received the largest number of votes. When a candidate oßers himself as Councillor, and is elected, hia ambition then extends to becoming Mayor in his turn. Nor, unless there are strong reasons why he should not bo permitted to undertake such a responsibility, is he disappointed. In Victoria and other of the Australian colonies, where there are what is termed "full-fledged" Corporations, a councillor, according to seniority, is elected Alderman of his ward, and in his turn ia chosen Mayor by his brother conncillors. In Auckland we have councillors well able, from their social position and local knowledge, to fulfil the duties pertaining to the Mayoralty, and any one of these would be likely to deem it a slight were he passed over for somo other outside the Council. There is much that a municipal representative has to acquaint himself with before ho can become ellicient in his duties, and as he generally serves an apprenticeship of some three or four years before he seeks the honor of being elected Mayor, it is opposed to his notion of right that he should be dispossessed of his longed-for honors by an outsider, who may be a very good man indeed but .it the same time ignorant of the requirements of the ratepayers. We have had no reason to complain of tho Mayors who have from time to time been elected by our councillors ; but we dare say that for the citizens to be allowed to make their choice, will be looked upon as a right which belongs to them. And this we presume is why Mr. Shcehan has given uotice of his intention to introduce a bill for the ratepayers to make their choice, instead of leaving it to councillors, as has been tho case in the past.

Why was it deemed necessary by the present Government to send all the way to England for a steamer to be employed for a lighthouse tender, as we are told by the Ilou. Mr. Keynolds has been done ? Have we not shipbuilding linns in the colony who could execute such a work at within a tritlo of what it will be done for in England? It has to be borne in mind that when the steamer is built there will be the cost of manning, iusuring, and provisioning it, together with much other expenditure, such as commission, exchange, and interest of money, beforo it can take its departure for our shores. It is a miserable compliment paid to our enterprising shipbuilders that they should be so passed over, and we hope to hear that Ministers will explain the necessity of adopting such a course. Wo do not pretend to say that there is any "job" in connection with the affair, although there will be those strongly inclined to suspect that such is the case. It is, we think, only in N T ew Zealatid where it is sought to raise a revenue from lighthouses. That these should pay the interest upon their cost in the shape of dues none will bo inclined to dispute. But the Commissioner of Customs has told the House that a profit for the last year has been received from lighthouses, amounting to £4474, and from the Ist July, ISOG, to June last tho revenue derivable from light dues has exceeded tho workingexpenditure by close upou£l9,ooo. How many and howstormy have been the protests raised from time to time by shipowners at the excessive charge imposed for light dues, it would be hard for us to say. It is asserted by inauy captains of vessels that light dues are charged upou lighthouses they never use and never go near. The ruling of the Commissioner of Customs sets all protests on one side. It does appear strange, in an enlightened era, that a profit, and a very large one, should be sought to be derived from the circumstance that there happens to be a reef of rocks running out seaward or a sandbank in a vessel's track; bat so it is with us. We seek to secure an income for giving seamen notice of somo unseen danger, just as members propose to make a man pay for his misfortune or impecuniosity when he finds himself compelled to mortgage his house or his farm.

Iμ the face of an increased and still increasing revenue, and in the face of a declared surplus, Ministers are still exercising their inventive faculties for the devising of new modes of taxation. This time it is a tax upon mortgages, although the word " tax" is substituted by the word "stamp," which in this instance, as in several others, is a distinction without a difference. When, speaking generally, men want to raise money by way of mortgage upon a piece of property, whether it be in land or buildings, or upon some other tangible security, it is because they are in urgent want of money, either to meet a liability or effect some necessary improvements, or to escape from some pressing ditliculty. Xo man will have any desiro to borrow money on his estate, whether it be in land, houses, goods, or chatties merely for the satisfaction of paying interest on it. He does so because he is in need of funds. It would bo about aa just to impose a tax upon a man who pledges his watch with a pawnbroker to enable him to raise money to pay a debt for which he has been threatened with process and imprisonment. It is true that Ministers have exercised all that very fertile imaginations could suggest for raising new imposts, but they have allowed themselves a large amount of latitude when they have come to tax the hardup and needy. Mr. Swanson, in speaking to the subject, said the practice of imposing taxes by etampa wns simply raising money out of the necessities of "th<s people and allowing luxuries to go free, Mr. Hunter, who has been known on occasions to gin utterance to sensible words, said no oauae

had been made out to justify increased taxation ; while Mr. Murray, who really never speaks nnless he has given attention to the subject he takes upon himself to deal with, argued that Ministers should be very careful how they imposed fresh taxation while their necessities did not require it. Mr. John Sheehan looked upon it as the weakness of most Governments to seek out fresh sources of revenue, but he was unable to see why, when we had such a large revenue, the Government should desire to increase it. It is tolerably certain that Ministers will yield to the pressure brought to bear on them, and will refrain from committing an act an a Government that many a man does in his individual capacity. This ia that when a man is "down," to do his utmost to keep him from rising. It is well known that it is the borrower, and not the lender of money, who is called upon to pay all costs and charges upon the negotiation of a loan upon mortgage.

The question of altering the plan for the leasing of the old Supreme Court-house site is of far greater importance than it may appear at first sight to be. An effort is being made by the Mayor and Corporation to prevent the land from being leased as is at present proposed, leaving only narrow passages of ten feet in width. The reasons for this action on the part of the Council are of a weighty character, and deserve careful consideration. An appeal for the re-considera-tion of this matter was forwarded to. the Provincial Secretary, but to this no reply has been obtained other than a formal acknowledgment of its receipt. Since then other letters have been addressed to the Provincial Government upon the same matter. A report has been received by the Council from the Medical Officer of the Board of Health, Dr. StockwelL In the report the Medical Officer submitted to the consideration of the Mayor and Council that for the interests of health the proposed passages would be far too narrow, with buildings two or three stories in height. Light and air would be greatly interfered with in these passages, and the health of the inhabitants would certainly become bad. Again, if contagious disorders occurred in these localities, their progress would be rapid and severe. He, therefore, took the liberty of suggesting that twice ten feet would not be at all too much. Inspector Broham fully endorsed the opinion that it would be extremely injudicious for such narrow alleys to be made in the city. These opinions have led the Council to take more definite and determined steps in order to move for an alteration such as they considered desirable. The legal adviser of the Council was consulted, and he gave it as his opinion '' that no alley or court could be formed in the city less than thirty feet in width. Upon receipt of this advice, the attention of the Provincial Government was called to the 292ud section of the Municipal Corporations Act, ISG7, and they tvere informed that the provisions of the Act would be enforced. In addition to this a letter has been addressed to Messrs. B. Tonka and Co., enclosing a' copy of the last-mentioned letter to the Provincial Secretary in relation to the proposed court on the land shortly to be offered for leasing by that firm, and their attention was directed to the penalties attached thereto in clause 295 of the Corporations Act. All that can be done for the interests of the city and on behalf of the health of the citizens has, so far, been done. It is to be hoped that further action will not be required in order to compel other than merely monetary interests to be considered, and that, unless some valid reason to the contrary can be given, the views of the Council and its officers will be adopted.

Tiir question of legislating for the Friendly Societies of the colony has been brought before the House, anil has elicited a reply from the Government to the effect that they intend to consider the propriety of taking action in the direction indicated, but they did not think it advisable to introduce any measure, as there was a bill now before the Imperial Parliament dealing with the whole question, of which the Government thought it would lie wise to take advantage, although they were prepared to bring down a short bill sufficient to meet the emergencies of the present position of the colonial law. It will be far better for the Government to take the course indicated. Precipitancy in such legislation would be as fatal as delay. A Koyal Commission was, a year or two ago, appointed by the Imperial Parliament to enquire into the whole matter ; and any Act trained thereupon would be much nearer perfection than anything our Parliament could hope to produce.

An accident happened in Mount Eden Stockade yesterday, which resulted in one of the prisoners losing his leg. The prisoner, whose name is William Perry, was engaged in one of the hard-labour gangs in quarrying stone, when a large boulder became loosened from above, and fell down on to the platform on which he was working, before he had time to avoid it. The stone in its descent struck hiu» on the leg, almost severing it above the knee. The sufferer was at once conveyed into the infirmary, and Dr. Philson shortly after attended, and succeeded in the leg above the fracture. He came out to this colony in the ehip Rooparell, and was sentenced about two sessions ago to eighteen months' imprisonment for stealing a watch.

Dr. Silvester, the "Fakirof Oolu," was again honoured by a full house at the Prince of Wales Theatre last evening. There was neither change in the programme nor in tho satisfaction of the audience. The applause was so frequent as to become almost monotonous to those who have attended night after night. However, as it is only an act of justice—being the reward of merit—there is no reason to complain of it. Another manifestation of wonders will take place this evening.

An old man having a strange eventful history was brought before the Queanbeyan Bench of magistrates recently on a charge of vagrancy. His name is William Johnson Millar : he is S3 years of age, and has been in the colony 55 years, having been sent out as a convict from Edinburgh when ho was 30 years old. Twice has sentence of death been recorded against him—the eecond time (many years ago) for the murder of an aboriginal at Bathurst. But in each instance the Executive saw extenuating circumstances in the prisoner's favour, and his sentence was commuted to imprisonment. His latter years seem to have been spent in a mode of living calculated to retrieve his reputation, and he has striven hard to lead a i>eaceable, honest, and industrious life, and now that he is past doing good or harm he hopes after all to end his days in peace in the charitable institutions of his adopted land, rather than (as in his younger days he came within an ace of doing) paying the penalty of his crimes with the forfeiture of his lffe.

State of Her Majesty's gaol, Auckland, for the week ending August 7, IS/s:—On remand, 1 male; awaiting trial, 5 males, 1 female; sentenced to penal servitude, 35 males; sentenced to hard labour, 91 males, 30 females; sentenced to imprisonment, 3 males ; default of bail, 9 males ; debtors, 3 males; received during the week, 19 males, 3 females ; discharged during the week, 10 males, 3 females: total in gaol, 147 males, 31 females.

At a meeting held yesterday, a poultry and dog show association was formed, at which it was arranged that memberb'subscriptions should be 103 Gd per annum, and that the first show should be held on the first Friday and Saturday in September.

Messrs. G. S. Graham and J. Chad wick were the presiding magistrates at tho Police Court yesterday. There was a full charge sheet. Particulars of the cases appear elsewhere.

The Treasurer of the Ladies' Benevolent gociety begs to acknowledge, through our columns, receipt of £5 from His Worship the Mayor, F. L. Prime, Esq:, on behalf of that institution.

The Hauraki last night brought up one box of gold, containing 800 0Z3.. for the Bank of New South W«le»,

An extraordinary case, and one ef considerable interest to the watermen of the port, was brought on for adjudication before the presiding Magistrate at the Police Court yesterday. Two watermen were charged with plying for hire without a licence. But they maintained conclusively that they held a licence, which was in force until the 31st December next. The Harbour Board, however, through their solicitor, Mr. J. B. Russell, shewed, or rather endeavoured to shew, that this licence was illegal, worthless, and in fact not worth the paper it was written on. The facts of the case are these; The fees charged to the watermen for their licence have hitherto been £2 per annum. In January last the watermen petitioned the Harbour Board to either reduce this fee or raise their fares. The matter was laid before the Board, who referred T?T*to the Wharf Committee with power to act. This committee decided, for the benefit of the public, to make no alteration in the existing fares, but to reduce the licence fee to £1 per annum, payable on the Ist January in each year. This fact was communicated by letter to the watermen on the 21st January last, who thereupon next day paid their respective amounts and received their licences in due course, giving them authority to ply a3 watermen until the 31st December next. At the next meeting of the Board it was shewn that by the watermen paying less than £2 per annum to the Harbour Board, they would be disfranchised from voting for the election of members on the Board. The watermen's vote being considered important, 1 it was therefore decided to refer the report back to the Wharf Committee, who in due course raised the fee back to its original amount; and it is stated, as an equivalent, also raised some of the fares. For instance, two or more passengers, formerly charged Gd each, were made to pay 9d. A ninepenny fare was raised to one shilling, and so on, but the night, or double fare, hitherto commencing at sundown, was made to commence at S p.m. all the year round. Another notice was thereupon sent to the watermen, apprising them of the further change, and asking them to return their licences granted under the first decision of the Wharf Committee. This notice the watermen neglected to pay any attention to, considering that having possessien of a document issued by and duly signed by the Chairman and the Secretary of the Harbour Board, authorising them to ply for hire until the 31st December, and for which they had paid the amount that had been demanded of them, it was unfair not to abide by the contract. On the other hand, the Board insisted on the fulfilment of their second order, and fall back upon Clause No. 71 of the Harbour Regulations, which clearly states that " Such licences, when granted, shall be in force from the date of issue till the Ist of July then next ensuing." The argument urged before the Court yesterday by the prosecution was that the licence, being granted illegally, was therefore void. Evidence was given to this effect, but upon the fact of the granting of the licence for twelve months being proved by the secretary of the Harbour Board, Mr. Joy, who appeared for the defendant, simply referred to the secretary's evidence as the basis of his defence. His client held a licence, extending until the 31st December, as proved by the prosecution, and it was unfair to punish the defendant for any mistake that might hare b,een made by the Board. The Court evidently coincided with this view, and dismissed the case with, costs. The second case of a similar nature was thereupon withdrawn. There is a matter in connection with these cases which may not appear at first sight, but, with the dedecision above referred to, will shew into what glorious chaos the affairs of the Harbour Board are plunged. It is evident that the watermen will not pay the remaining £1 demanded unless compelled by law. They are therefore disfranchised, and the election of any member to the Board that has taken place during the current year in which they have voted is therefore illegal.

Dyspepsia arises from a great variety of causes, and different persons are relieved by different remedies, according to the nature of the disease, the constitution of the patient, and condition of the stomach. We know of a lady who has derived great benefit from drinking a tuinbler of sweet millr—the richer and fresher the better—whenever a burning sensation is experienced in the stomach. An elderly gentleman of our acquaintance, who was afflicted for many years with great distress after eating,- effected a cure by mixing a tablespoonful of wheat bran in half a tumbler -of water, and drinking it half an hour after meals. It is necessary to stir quickly and drink immediately, or the bran will adhere to the glass and become pasty. Coffee and tobacco are often very detrimental to persons troubled with dyspepsia. As a general thing they should be avoided by persons afflicted with dyspepsia ; Jilthough they may not be especially injurious to some constitutions when used moderately. Eegular eating of nourishing plain food, and the use of some simple remedies like the above, will effect in most cases quicker curss than medicines obtained from the druggis;.

The Gedong Advertiser states that recently a brutal scene was witnessed in Corio-street by a crowd of men; women, and children. It appears that a well-known resident in that street though, fit to chastise his son, a lad about fourteen years of age, for playing truant from school, but the manner in which he went about it was, to say the least of it, inhuman and brutal. He shut himself up in a room with the boy, and then threw him down and commenced knocking his head on the iloor till the blood flowed freely. This was done as heavily that the noise of the boy's head resounding on the boards could be plainly heard nfty yards off. When the unrelenting father came out of the room he was a pitiable object, his hands besmeared and his clothes covered with blood. On the floor of the room where the punishment was inflicted there were two large pools of blood. As might be expected, the boy, when his father had finished with him, was very near dead.

Baker's Hibernicon Company will give a farewell entertainment in the City Hall this evening. The performance of the members of this company is well known and popular. On this occasion they will be assisted by Messrs. Collier, Searle, Kingsley, and others, who will give dramatic selections. The programme is an attractive one. A portion of the library of the late J. Williamson, Esq., will be sold by Mr. E. Arthur, at his Mart, at 11 a.m. to-day. The same gentleman will also hold a sale of furniture, &c, at the residence of Mr. Wrigg, Nelsonstreet, at 2 p.m. The fifth lecture of the winter course, at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, will be delivered by the Kev. P. H. Cornford to-morrow evening ; subject— " Home, sweet Home."

A lecture in connection with the 1.0. G.T. will be delivered in the Temperance Hotel, Albert-street, to-morrow evening, by Mr. W. J. Speight, G.W.C., on the object of Good Templary and the means of its attainment.

Payments of all City Endowment rents now due are requested by the Town Clerk, who also notifies that amounts remaining unpaid within fourteen days of due date will be liable to legal expenses for recovery. Messrs. H. S. Meyers and (Jo. will hold an extensive sale of fruits, jams, hops, &c., ex Freetrader, from Hobart Town, at 11 a.m. to-morrow.

It is notified elsewhere that the City general rate for 1575-G is now due ; also the current special rates, and payment is requested.

A number of shares in the Pride of Tokatea Gold Alining Company are advertised for forfeiture.

A dividend of 2s per share in the Long Drive Gold Mining Company will be payable on the 14th inst.

The assessment list for the current year of the Lake Highway District is posted in the Lake school-room.

The regular monthly meeting of the Prince of Wales Xodge, 1335, E.C., will beheld this evening. A dividend of 6d per share has been declared in the Red, White, and Bine Gold