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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9131, 13 August 1888, Page 11

The imports for the June quarter were, £1,132,503, and the exports £1,420,290. Both show a large increase over the corresponding quarter of last year. The wreck of the Suva, at Westport, has been purchased on behalf of the Union S.S. Company, and the vessel is being dismantled. It is expected that the machinery will be saved.

A discovery of marble has been made on Otera Range, Makaia, about eight miles from Wellington, by Mr. McKay, of the Geological Department. It has not been ascertained if the stone exists in any quantity. Legal proceedings have been instituted by the Union S.S. Co. against the New Plymouth Harbour Board for damages, owing to the loss of the s.s. Hawea through the alleged negligence of the Board's officers. The damages are laid at £3000. On July 30 Mr. John Grey, aerated water manufacturer, was elected a member of the Auckland City Council in place of Mr. Alfred Kidd resigned. Mr. Grey had a majority of 531 votes over Mr. Phillips, who also contested the election.

The Mount Magdala Asylum for fallen women, Christ church, was consecrated on July 22 by Bishop Grimes, when there were over 2000 people present. The collection realised about £200 in cash besides promises. There are now 40 penitents in the asylum. The directors of the Roslyn Tram Com'; pany report that the year's operations show a credit balance of £845, out of which they recommend a dividend to be paid of 5 per cent, the reduction of the accident account; by £100, and £200 to be devoted to depreciation. The number of passengers carried was 314,534

There was an unusually large attendance on July 16 at the Auckland Institute to hear Professor Brown's promised lecture on " Electrolysis." Professor Thomas presided. At the conclusion of his address, Professor Brown was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. Professor Thomas announced that the next meeting of the Institute would be held on the 30th instant.

At the Young Men's Christian Association Lecture Hall on July 20, before a large audience. Dr. Giles, R.M., delivered a lecture on " Brain and Mind." The lecture was the second of this winter's course of lectures under the auspices of the Association. The chair was taken by Mr. C. E. Button, who led in prayer, ami introduced the lecturer to the audience in a few pertinent remarks. The lecture was listened to with deep attention and unmistakable interest.

In connection with the winter course of lectures at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, Professor F. B. Brown on August 3 delivered a very interesting lecture on the subject of " Boiling," before a large audience. Mr. J. H. Upton presided. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Professor Brown at the close of his lecture.

The report of the directors of the Mornington Tram Company states that there has been a falling off in the revenue. The balance to profit and loss is £S4o, of which £200 is be written off for depreciation and £500 carried forward, no dividend being declared. The loan account lias been reduced by calls, etc., from £2000 to £740. The Wellington City Council have completed arrangements for lighting the city with electricity, and the contract will be signed shortly. It is expected that the greater portion of the city will be lighted by 30th November. As a means of commemorating the installation it is proposed that a 500 candle power lamp should be erected in a central part of the city. An export of a somewhat unusual character was made on July 24 by the s.s. Wairarapa for Sydney, for transhipment to India, in the shape of 400 boxes (20 tons) of potatoes, which were shipped by Messrs. L. 1). Nathan and Co. to an order from Calcutta. It is to be hoped that this consignment will be the forerunner of many similar ventures, and that a new market for our local product will thus be opened. The total Customs revenue collected for the quarter ending the 30th dune, as published in the Gazette of the 2nd inst., shows a considerable increase over the corresponding quarter in 1887. In the June quarter, 188S, the total amount for the colon}- was £324,439, as against £297,705 in the June quarter, 1887, an increase of £26,734. The figures for Auckland were £69,916 in June last, as against £68,739 in the June quarter in 1887. The quarterly installation of officers of the " Star of Newton " lodge of Good Templars (of the World) was held on August 2 in the Protestant Hall, Karangahape Road, Brother McLoughlin, Lodge Deputy, being assisted by Brothers Truman and Molloy as Marshals. The following are the officers for the ensuing quarter :—W.C.T., Brother A. Mclntyre; W.V.T., Sister L. C. Gardiner; W.S., Brother G. Havord (reelected) W.A.S., Sister E. Edmonds; W.F.S., Brother E. Lightfoot (re-elected); W.C., Brother J. Parker; W.M., Brother H. Ferguson (re-elected); D.M., Sister E. Lightfoot; W.G., Brother Woods; W.S., Brother Proude (re-elected). The pioneer missionary, the Rev. George Brown, on July 17 delivered an address upon " Pioneer Work in the South Seas," in St. John's Wesley an Church, Fonsonby Road, to a good audience. The lecture was a most able exposition of the troubles, trials, difficulties, and triumphs of a missionary's life, with its multitudinous incidents both grave and humorous, especially with relation to New Britain. The lecture was loudly applauded at its conclusion, and a vote of thanks was granted to Mr. Brown, on the motion of Mi. Prime, seconded by the Rev. C. H. Garland ; and a vote of thanks having also been accorded to the chairman (Mr. W. Thome), the meeting closed with the Doxology and Benediction. There are 93 goldmining companies in New Zealand, with a paid-up capital of £313,000, and they have paid in dividends £624,000. Auckland has 19 companies, the shareholders in which have paid up less than £30,000 hard cash, and have received in return over £325,000. The Reefton district has 41 companies ; amount of cash paid up, £184,671 ; paid in dividends, £243,867. Mohikinui district, five companies ; paid cash capital, £10,822 ; paid in dividends, £2400. Westland district, six companies ; cash capital, £30,222 ; dividends paid, £16,360. Otago, twenty-two companies; cash paid, £52,035; dividends paid, £34,156. Auckland, it will be seen, has had nearly all the good luck among the districts.

A Southland paper reports that while gathering shells for ornamental purposes at the Bluff the other day, a resident at Invercargill, Mr. T. Robb, jun., picked up, among a number of others, a limpet shell. It was afterwards being cleaned, when it was accidentally discovered that on the inside was a wonderfully well-defined representation of a man's face. It was as perfect as a photograph, every feature being brought into relief. Mr. Robb is quite delighted with his "find," but is naturally curious as to how it obtained its —as some may regard it—"uncanny" adjunct. Perhaps some reader versed in conchologic lore will throw some light on the subject. The shell was found near the spot where the Ocean Chief was wrecked. A pleasing incident in the life of the late Renata Kawepo, whose will was lately being contested in the Supreme Court at Wellington, was related the other day by Mr. Hamlin, native interpreter. Mr. Hamlin, in the course of his evidence, stated that the late chief was a very honourable, straightforward man, and as an instance the witness related something which had come under his own notice. He said that some years ago Renata had undertaken to sell to a Mr. Beamish a block of land containing 4390 acres for £4SO. The land was put through the court, and the purchase was in course of completion when Mr. Russell, brother of Captain Russell, offered Renata £1 per acre, equivalent to £4390 for the block. Renata, Mr. Hamlin explained, was very angry at this, and said, " What do they take me for ? My word is as good as my bond," and Mr. Beamish got the land for £3540 less than Mr. Russell offered.