MESSRS ROBERT CAMPBELL AND SONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 11

MESSRS ROBERT CAMPBELL AND SONS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON. January 27. At Winchester House, Old Broad street, yesterday, the annual meeting of shareholders in Messrs Robert Campbell and Sons was held, Mr \V. H. Campbell being in the chair. I have already sent you the report issued by the directors. In moving its adoption, together with the accounts, the Chairman alluded to the heavy loss of shesp which the company sustained in July and August of 1803, which occurred chiefly at one of the company's leasehold stations, known as Benmore, leased pai-tly from the University of Otago and partly from the New Zealand Government. The- district in which this run was situated comprised some of the highest pastoral land in "the colony. In good seasons the stations were adapted to sheep-farming, especially merino sheep, and they had several g_ood crops of lambs and wool therefrom. Of late years, however, the New Zealand climate had, he thought, undergone a change, the winters having become longer and the weather more variable. This, of course, told upon stock runs in high altitudes, and these stations had become subject to very sudden falls in temperature and heavy falls of snow afc critical seasons of the year. One of these occurred in the late winter of 1903. There, wero hopes, however, that the loss would be largely made up by the excellent lambing of the present year j but representations had been made to the Government by themselves and others who had suffered in the same way from the storms, with a view to obtaining some compensation for their losses. The matter was having the consideration of the Government, but so far a reply had not yet been received. It was hoped, however, that the justice of their claims wonid be recognised.

It was estimated, added the Chairman, that the lambing in the season just concluded amounted to about 50,000 head. For some time they had been of opinion that tho capital account should be reduced by sales of freehold land whenever the sale could be effected on fairly advantageous terms. In November last they auctioned about 15,600 averaging slightly over £2 per acre. The report was adopted without discussion.

Mr W. H. Campbell and Colonel Wyllie having been reappointed directors, the latter gentleman said he was quite sure the shareholders understood how the companyhad been handicapped last year in consequence of the elements. Had it not been for the snowstorms, the board woxild haw had a very different story to tell. He asked the shareholders to believe that eveivtlvne: possible had b^pii done by the local staff to minimise the los«. — (''Hear, hear")

The auditors were reappointed, and Mr G-'ldcr proposed a hearty vote of thank* to the chairman, the board, and the staff ia

New Zealand. He said the report was not disappo nhng. because they had been led to exp-ect it, and all ve-ro p 'cased to hear the beticr accounts that had been received tiom Now Zealand The board, he. thought, v,as quite right in distributing the usual dm-d-end, for the reserve had been cieatcd for "rhe very purpose- of equalising the dividends.

The motion was scoiided by Mr Hrather, and on its being carried the Chairman sa:d the efforts to minimise the company's loss were shown by the los=cs their neighbours had sustained. Somo of the flocks had been completely wiped out. The proceedings then terminated.

While Mr Seddon was passing through Hamilton to Waihi on the express train last week he engaged in such earnest conversation with a party of friends on the station | platform (according to a local paper) that , the train departed without him. After ( going some distance the fact was discovered, and tho express was stopped, while the Premier made up the lost ground and climbed a-board. The heaviest rainfall in tho colony for February was at Takaka, where 6.45 in fell ( in five days, 4.605 in falling on February 6. j At Hanmer Springs 4.60 in fell in seven ; days, including 2.16jn on February 28. The , fall at the Port Hills was 2.29 in, and at Oxford 4.61 in. At Rotorua the rainfall was so light that it was impossible to find sufficient water for many of the trees in the plantation to keep tliem alive. [