SOUTHERN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10084, 20 March 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOUTHERN ITEMS.

It has been decided to open tho Wellington Exhibition on or about the 25th Nov. next.

The incroaso in the Wellington city valuation moans an additional revenue ol £2200.

A young man who lias boon working in tlio bush near Muster ton has come into a legacy of £15,001). The Wellington Metropolitan Building and Investment Society pays a dividend of 8 per cent, for the year. The £.500 guarantee in connection with the Wellington Industrial Exhibition hus been more than filled up.

The Dunedin valuation for the ensuing year of ratable property in the city is £232,814, as against £'235,009 for last year. A deposit of natural gas was tapped on the boundary of tho Ilawera borough while a well was being sunk. Tho gas burned freely. A London syndicate has secured the right to bore for petroleum over a large area of country, about fifteen miles northeast ol Stratford.

The Wellington wharves are over seven acres in extent, and the voltimo of trade done over them last year was greater by 18.0.1S tons than in any previous year. The South Dunedin Borough Council offered £2000 loan to the public at 4J per cent. Six thousand has been subscribed from 4J to 5 per cent. Tho loan was takon up off-hand. The Shaw Savill steamer Maori has loaded 9000 carcases mutton from tho new (J isborne Freezing Works, the whole of which was run off in lighters in under '24 hours, a record performance. A jet of natural gas Ims been discovered by the Maoris, burning strongly, near the mouth of tho Waiapu River, Tho American experts pointed out. this locality some years ago as a likely spot to obtain oil. It i» intended to freeze from 200,000 to 300,000 rabbits for the London market at tho Southland Frozen Meat Company's works during the winter on account of Messrs. Taylor and Sullivan, Dunedin. Brownston township cost tho Ilutt Small Farm Association about £050, and after reserving over a third of it for members and public purposes, the sections sold on March 3 realised £1379, 101 being disposed of at from £20 to £150 per aero. The voting for membors of the Wellington Conciliation Board rosultod as follows : —D. P. Fisher, 10; W. C. Jones, 9; H. Walner, 8; A. Ward, 7. The first two were elected. The above wero nominated by the workers. The employers did not send in any names. It is the intention of tho Government to stock the vicinity of Milford Sound, on tho west coast of tho South Island, with deer, and with this object in view thoy have given a large ordor to Messrs. Roid Bros., of Motutapu, for a number of rod and fallow deer, which aro to bo shipped to tho West Coast Sounds, and liberated there. It is expocted that thoy will thrive well in their new home.

In the action, Bing, Harris and Co. v, th'o M ana watu Farmers' Co., Ltd., at Wellington, the plaintiffs claimed £1663, as damages for breach of contract, in not purchasing from the plaintiffs all colonially purchased drapery requirements us agreed on in 1893, when plaintiffs bought the drapery stock of Joseph Nathan and Co., connected with the defendant association. Tho arbitrators, Mr. Martin (Stipendiary Magistrate), Mr. T. Gale and Mr. J. Duthie, awarded the plain* tiffs £850 and costs of proceedings in the Supreme Court and Arbitration,

In presenting the annual accounts to tho Dunedin Harbour Board, the chairman said 1896 starts with all debit balances paid off, ami a credit balance of £4574. The bonds that will be released by drawings on June 30th are to be pub on tho local market by public tender early in July. Of £36,000 per annum interest about £1000 is now paid locally. Ho emphasised the policy of endeavouring to localise local bodies' loans until foreign capital can be supplied through the Government or other means at something considerably less than 5 per cent. At the Christchurch Progressive Liberal Association, it was determined to communicate by circular letter with tho various political and labour bodies throughout the colony inviting all to take part in tho formation of & political platform that should be recognised throughout the colony. A resolution was also passed; "That this association heartily congratulates Dr. Emily Siedeberg on obtaining her diploma, and wishes her every success in her future career. 11 lb was also resolved: "That this association accords tn the Hon, W. P. Reeves a hearty vote of thanks for his past services in aiding to pass Liberal and Labour measures."

The valuation for the ensuing year of tlio rateable city properties in Dunedin is £232,814 us against £235,60!) last year. The directors of tlio Wellington and Manawatu Railway recommend the payment of a dividend of 0 per cent, par annum.

Tho revenue of the Wellington City Council will be increased by about £2200 as the result oi the increased valuation for this year. A potilion, asking the Government to release Dr. Do Benzie, was signed by 5,500 people, and was presented to Mr. Hall-Jones (tho now Minister of Justice) at the railway station," Christchurch, on tho evening of tlio 22nd of Feb-, when lie passed through on his way to Wellington. Mr. Hall Jones promised to bring the matter before tho Cabinet.

The Biennial Demonstration of tho United Fire Brigades' Association began at Lancaster Perk, Christchurch, on March 12. The prize tnonoy won by each brigade was as follows Christchurch, £38 ; Ashburton, £'27 10s; Napier, £21 10s; Invorcargill, £20; Now Plymouth, £18; Hastings, £16 10"; Spit, £10 3s; Rangiora, £10; Caverfham, £10 ; Uisborne, £7 10s; Kumara, £5; Waipuw.i, £5; Groymouth. £5 5s ; Wanpaniii, £2 10.-i; Timaru, £1 hi; South Dunedin, £1 ss.