Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 593, 16 June 1883, Page 9

At the mefeting of the shareholders of the Albion Gold Alining Company, Limited, which was held Alouday evening, at the Chamber of Commerce, at 8 p.m., the Directors half-yearly report for the six months ending Slat May last, was submitted. Amongst the matters to which the Directors called attention, allusion is made to the difficulty that has been experienced in carrying on work that should entail an expenditure of about £SOO a month with funds supplied by calls of only £3OO for the same period, and this, too, without any Bank or outside assistance. These calls of 6d per share per month have been most loyally responded to, and although heavy, it is satisfactory to know that in all probability they will lead to the permanent establishment of the gold mining industry at Terawhiti. The directors have entered into a contract, as has already been stated, with the Golden Crown Gold Mining Company (Limited) to crush from 50 to 200 tons of Golden Crown quartz, on condition of the latter company making an immediate payment of £2OO, an operation that caDuot but assist in the development of the Albion and other mines, and by which the Albion shareholders are conferring a benefit, not only upon themselves, but upon everyone who is interested in the success of our Wellington gold field. The report of the Battery Alanager and the balance sheet are highly satisfactory, the latter showing a balance of assets over liabilities of £4947. The annual meeting of the Te Aro Licensing Committee was held at the City Council Chambers at noon June Bth, Messrs C. J. Toxward (Chairman), A. Le G. Campbell, G. V. Shannon, T. McKenzie, aud K. Wilson. The following applications for new licenses for existing houses were granted:—A. Border, Stai and Garter Hotel; J. W. Chandler, horesters Arms ; J. Hamilton, Hamilton’s Hotel ; J. K. Hamilton, New Zealander Hotel; audJ. C. Eugen, Victoria Hotel. The following renewals were also granted :—O. A. Kuigge, Brunswick Hotel ; E. Lovell, Nag’s Head Hotel ; H. Gilmer, Duke of Edinburgh Hotel; 3. Gilmer, Royal Oak Hotel ; W. Jameson, Masonic Hotel ; J. Plimmer, Plimmer’s Hotel; and C. B. Press, Royal Tiger Hotel. An application for a transfer of the license of the Bank Hotel from A. Wakeford to T. White was adjourned for a week, and a similar application on account of the Panama Hotel from W. Bishop to J. Thomas was granted. The renewals for the White Swan Hotel and Te Aro Hotel were adjourned for a week, pending certain improvements indicated by the Committee. An application by Air S. Gilmer of the Royal Oak- Hotel for permission to extinguish his lamp at midnight was also postponed. The Committee thrn adjourned till Wednesday next at noon.

The Blue Ribbon movement grows apace. <i ~f blue ” are becoming less scarce in Wellington than when .Sir William Fox had to travel the whole length of our mam thoroughfare without finding one teetotaller valiant enough to hang out his little banner. The “army” is not yet a formidable fighting force in this community, though recruiting goes quietly on. This is one of the armies which, as opposition politicians are apt to say, exists only on paper. The names are being written c lowu —fifty one week, twenty another week, aud so on. About a score of new recruits put down their names, and pinned on the ribbon last week, at the Baptist Chapc-l in Vivianstreet, where a large meeting was held m the joint names of the Gospel Temperance Society and the Blue Ribbon Union. The Rev. Mr Redstone presided, and advocated the cause iu his usual hearty manner. Mr W. Price, Secretary, also stated progress which the temperance cause was making iu this colony and at Home. The meeting was opened and closed with singing and prayer. The usual monthly meeting of the Mutt County Council was held on Tuesday, there being present Messrs K. Smith (Chairman), T. Mason, Taylor, S. Lancaster, P. Alonaglian, Perkins, and Dick. The Chairman brought up the report of the agreement come to with the Wellington and Alanawatu Railway Company regarding deviations of the Porirua-road, which was adopted, with the proviso that the Company shall pay a penalty of £5 per diem for any infringement reported by the County Engineer. The Engineer wa3 also instructed to enforce the carrying out of the agreement on the part, of the same Company regarding the protection of the main road near Kaiwarra. The Committee above referred to also reported that about 12 chains of fencing should be erected for the safety of the public on the N°-ahauranga.road, and recommended that certain portions be widened. On the motion of Councillor Mason, this report was rejected on division by sto 3. A report ou tile petition of ratepayers at Wadestown, prayiug to be constituted a separate Highway District, brought up by Councillor Masou, recommending that the prayer ba not acceded to. The report was adopted. Leave was given to the Wellington Aleat Export Company to erect a slaughterhouse and yards at Ngahauranga, and to Air Fitcbett to erect similar premises at Ohiro. A committee, consisting of the Chairman and Councillors Lancaster, Alason, and Speedy, was appointed to make arrangements for lodging applications with the Government under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, 1882. It was also resolved that those owners of houses at Pailcakariki, which project on to the main roid. be requested to remove them forthwith, and the Engineer instructed to see that the resolution vvuß carried out/. .A.coounts liioounting' to £B3l 14s fid having been passed for payment, the Council adjourned. The Phoenix Gold Mining Company’s halfyearly meeting was held Tuesday evening at the office of the Manager, Air W. McLeau. Ten shareholders attended. Air F. Dowsett presiding. The report stated that prospecting had been vigorously carried on. A tunuel having been driven into the hill towards the Albion, a reef about 18ia thick was struck and driven on some distance, the quartz showing indications of being a continuation of the Albion lode. The stone throughout was highlyimpregnated with the metals usually found about gold-bearing reefs, the reef being well defined, but showing little or no gold. After driving 158 ft work was discontinued on that I aide of the hill, and a fresh contract was made for driving 150 ft on the opposite side, at ICD per foot. This tunnel was being now driven with a view to intercepting the lode from the Golden Crown side of the hill. The Chairman of Directors, Mr Chew, had been ill during three months, but was recovering. The balancesheet showed total nominal receipts £833 15 J . The expenditure appeared to have been £l6O, credit being taken for calls unpaid or due to the extent of £647. The report and balancesheet were adopted. Directors for the ensuing half-year were re-elected as follows : Messrs J. Chew, R. Miller, F. Dowsett, W. Freeman, and \V"« Evans ; Alessrs L. Grcig and S. Carroll were re-elected auditors. It was agreed, after conversation, to leave to the Directors the question of leasing about ten acres more ground, iu addition to the ten acres now held. Various opinions were expressed as to the prospects of the Company aud of Terawhiti goldfield generally. Thauks to the Chairman closed the meeting.. The ordinary weekly meeting of the Committee of the Benevolent Institution was held on Tuesday afternoon, there beiDg present Mr J. G. Holdsworth (Chairman) the Revs. P. Kerrigan, Rainsford Bavin, aud H. B. Redstone, Councillor Allen, Alessrs B. Smith, A. B. Maston, C. P. Powles (Treasurer), aud A. G. Johnson (Relieving Officer). The principal business consisted in authorising the J reasurer to make application to the Government for a further grant of £2OO. Te Aro Licensing Committee held an adjourned meeting Wednesday, in the Council Chamber, there being present—Messrs C. J. Toxward, G. V. Shannon, and A. Le Grand Campbell. The postponed application for transfer of the Bank Hotel license from A. Wakeford to T. White was granted, on condition of the closets being made satisfactory to the police. Renewals of licenses were granted for the White Swan and Te Aro Hotels. The Committee permitted night-lights to bo extinguished at midnight, ou the applications of Messrs S. Gilmer, J. K. Hamilton, J. Hamilton, and E. Levell. The first half-yearly meeting of the Caledonian Gold Mining Company was held at tho offices of Mr VY. McLean, the Legal Manager, Wednesday, three-fourths of the shareholders being present or represented by proxy, Air W. Alanro presided. The report and balance-sheet, which were unanimously adopted, showed that the total expenditure hail been £219 10s Id, aud that there was a cash balance at the Bank oi £5 3s lid. Ail tha calls made had beeu paid up. A tunnel had been driven in for a distance of 17Gft, but no gold having been met with, the Directors had’ abandoned this drive, and entered into a contract for driving 150 ft from the opposite side of the hill, at 10s per foot. The following were elected Directors etisuing six months: —Alessrs J. W. Mill ward, W. H. McDowell, J. Munro, W. A. Gardner, and W. Munro ; Messrs F. Sidey and Wilberfoss were aLo elected auditors for the same period. All the shareholders expressed the greatest confidence in their venture, feeling certain that the main lode crosses their ~round. A vote of thanks jto the Chairman terminated the proceedings.

The half-yearly meeting of the Empire Gold Mining Company, Terawhiti, convened for Tuesday night, lapsed through want of a quorum, and in accordance with the terms of the statute, was adjourned for one week—to Tuesday evening next —when it is to be hoped shareholders will attend to despatch buHiness. A meeting of the Committee of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Association was held Wednesday, at which the Secretary stated that letters had been received from the Private Secretary to the Governor, stating that His Excellency would become the Patron of the Society ; from Air Devin, AI.H.R., accepting the post of President, and enclosing a subscription ; and from. Air C. J. Johnston, accepting the post of Vice-Presi-dent, and also enclosing a subscription. A letter was also received from the Secretary of the Volunteer Drillshed, stating that the shed could be had from 21st to 25th August (inclusive) next for the sum of £2O. Several special prizes have been promised. Ihe consideration of these subjects was held. over until the adjourn#! meeting of the Committee to be held on Tuesday next. A meeting of the Freethought Association was held at the Freethought Hall in Cour-tenay-place Wednesday, at which an address from. Air Player, the Acting-President, was read, and well received by about forty persons who were present. The electiou of officers for the ensuing year fcheu took place ; Air Burtv being elected President, Mr Player VicePresident, AlrHaslam, Secretary and Treasurer, aud.seven other gentlemen forming a Committee. Meetings of the Society will be held on Sunday aud other days during the week, and are open to anyone who may chose to attend them.