SOUTHERN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10036, 24 January 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

SOUTHERN ITEMS.

The total export of coal from Westport tor 1895 from all companies was 221,423 tons.

Although the sale of alcoholic liquor is prohibited on the Cheviot estate, it is stated that ,£2OO worth of beer wont on to tho property last month. Tho Wellington Industrial Association have determined to hold an exhibition similar to that held in Christchurch, next year, opening on October 28th, and closing on December 3lst. The annual balance-sheet of the Equitable Building Society shows a credit balance of £4969. A further dividend 'of three per cent, for the year iB declared. The reserve fund stands at £17,000.

At the annual meeting of the Gear Meat Company on Jan. 7, a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum was agreed to. Dr. Newman and Messrs. H. Beauchamp and N. Keid were re-elected directors.

The WollingtonGasCompanyhas declared an interim dividend or five per cent., making ten per cent, for the year. The sum of £2500 has been written off the plant for depreciation, and £1940 carried forward.

The Groymouth Toint Elizabeth Coal and Railway Company has secured the contract for supplying most of the coal required by the New Zealand Railway Department during the next twelve months, about 29,000 tons out of a total of 36,000. An idea of the loss of stock occasioned in the South through the severity of the winter may be gained[from the fact that a lambing on the Omarama station, in the Kurow .district, had been' expected of 11,000, but the actual lambing was only 1500. - -:;}/. kt ■';•;•..•.•;',• ..'.■.■:;.£•:..

Gore was plunged iin darkness the other night by three wild ducks. i The birds were flying : low and struck the electric ■ lighb wires, bring the positive and negative poles in contact with each other. 1 A "shorbcircuit" 'was the result, and all lights in the town went out. c ' <;"S .'■''!'"'..'■'■•

..."' A serious .; accidonb to , the I machinery occurred ab Messrs. Richter, Nannestad and Co.'s ,rollor. flour mill, Palmerston North, lasbweek, The large flywheel of the engine broke loose, and smashed things generally) almost complotcly demolishing the engine. The' damago is estimated at £400.

The report of the directors of the Dunedin City and Suburban Tramway Co. gives the total receipts at £18,142 and expenses &t £15,907, leaving a balance of £2234. Ag the year's interest was £2240 there has been a loss of £5 15s on the year. Tho number of passengers carried was 2,751,432 against 2,904,480 in the previous year. The final steps in tho winding-up of the Union Insurance Co., Dunedin, which some time ago disposed of its business to the Alliance Company was taken ab a meeting on Jan. 9 when the balance-sheets, which showed that £187,500 had been returned to the shareholders, md that £312 10s was available for distribution, was adopted. lb is stated that the Mormon missionaries' are proving very successful in thoir labours among the Maoris, and that many of them are taking' kindly to the Mormon tonets, which fit in with their old time usages and customs, in some respects. The Mormon teachers endeavour to improve tho physical condition of the Maoris with whom they come in contact, and it is said that the natives under their influence are more industrious, and enjoy more social comfort than in any other settlements. The Wellington Harbour Board returns show that last year 2233 vessels of 1,044,046 tons arrived, as against 2254 of 1,026,000 tons for 1894, a decreaso of 51 vessols, but an increase of 18,038 tons. The revenue for pilotage, port charges, and harbourmasters' fees was £GS3G 3s B<l for last year, us against £6029 5s (id in 1894, an increase of £506 18* 2d. The total of goods bandied over the wharf inwards and transhipments, foreign, colonial, and coastal, for 1895 was 180,409 tons, as against 173,026 tons for 1894, an increase of 7383 tons. The total of goods handled at tho wharf outward, foreign, colonial, and coastal, for 1895 was 49,454 tons, and for 1594 47,797 tons, an increase of 1657 tons.

The most disastrous hailstorm over experienced at Oamaru took placo on the sth of January. It was preceded by a number of thunder peal;, and then great blocks of ice fell, smashing everything down before them. Greenhouses were stripped of their glass, windows were broken, and trees partially denuded of their leaves. The fruit crop was ruined, and it was a fortunate thing that the storm did not extend over the whole district, otherwise the crops would have suffered sorious injury. The area affected seems to have been limited to throe or four miles outside the town. Somo of tha pieces of ico measured Ah inches round. Bulleid and Co., drapers, estimate their loss at £1000, their extensive skylights being all broken and their stock damaged greatly by water. Many other* suffer heavy loss. Many hailstones foil from five to eight inches in circumference-, in some cases piercing corrugated iron roofs. The sea was churned to foam by the falling stones, and the splash of individual stones in the sea, could be digcorned by onlookers halfa-milo away. The cattle and stock exposed were driven frantic, and are bruised and swollen. Some slight stock fatalities are reported. The trees, both orchard and ornamental, look as if subjected to a blight of caterpillars. The fall is unexampled in the momory of any of the residents.