SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9340, 3 February 1892, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) Auckland, Febuary 2,

EXPORT OF APPLES.

A part cargo of general produce of considerable value was shipped hence to London last evening by the direct steamer Ruapehu, which lelt this port for southern ports and England Her outward cargo comprised 2000 carcases of frozen beef and mutton, 500 bales of wool some pelts, about 75 tons of dairy produce and 1000 cases of apples. These two lastnamed shipments are about the largest in their lines that have yet left Auckland for England

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. Mr Thomas Russell has been giving his attention to the proposal to work the deep levels ol the Thames goldfields, with the result that he proposes the following scheme .—That an area should be taken extending from the Kuranui to the Karaka or the Hape creeks, and a company formed to drain the whole of that country. For this purpose probably two shafts would be sunk to a depth of 1500 ft. The company would have to become possessed of the whole area, and this would be done by buying the mines, the payment being partly in cash and partly in shares. AVhile the two shafts were being sunk the ground would be marked off in areas by mining experts and sold to subsidiary companies by the drainage company, who will receive payment for the mining area sold probably partly in cash and partly by paid-up shares, and thus recoup the outlay and make their profit. These subsidiary companies could then proceed to work their ground in any way they considered best, but the whole business of keeping the mines free of water would rest on the drainage company. In forming the drainage company and the subsidiary company, care would have to be taken that, while English capital and skill should be sought, the colonial public should have an opportunity of taking up shares" in the several undertakings.

AVellington, February 2. The new telegraphic tariff gives much dissatisfaction. It is condemned as the reverse of a concession, because to ensure safe delivery an address containing more than the allotted number of words will often be essential, and so the two extra words thrown into the message allowance will be neutralised by an additional charge on the address. Besides the total number of words (including message and

address) is actually reduced by two. It is suggested as a preferable course that 20 words in all should be allowed, leaving the sender to allocate them to address or message, as he may choose. Efforts will be i made to obtain the adoption of some such amendment. The present change is as unpopular as the wretched paper and awkward shape of the new telegraph forms. Both these experiments have gone in a wholly retrograde direction, and in opposition to the public convenience. THE REVENUE. The fiscal results of the past 10 months, so far as yet known, are regarded by financial experts as extremely favourable, and a large surplus is deemed as certain as ever.