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Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 11

The Tuape u a County Council has received communications from the, Borough Councils of Raslyn and St. Kilda, and from the Pqrtc>bello Road Board; expressing sj inpathy with its resolution of protest against the ever-increasing levies that are made on local bodies by Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards. The Hon. J. A. Millar has informed the County Council that he has noted the representations it has made and they will have his careful consideration. The , Commonwealth Treasury considers that the extent of the issue of the new silver coinage justifies the resumption of the process of withdrawing old silver coins from circulation. Arrangements are being mad© with the banks for the holding back of £25,000 of the old coinage. It is hoped that thenceforward £25,000 worth will be exported to Great Britain every quarter. Half-orowns and florins, however, will be exempted: from withdrawal for a time. The amount withdrawn , since January, 1910, has been only £25,000. ■ An interesting discovery has recently been, made by Mr C. T. Burfitt, secretary of the Historical Society. It is a matter of history that Nelson possessed six cea chests, of which five have already been found in England, while the sixth has long baffled all attempts at discovery. Mr Burfitt declares that ho has found • the chest in Sydney, and will shortly exhibit it to the public. The chest, whose history can be traced from the Nelson family to the present owner, was originally fitted with shelves and sliding trays; but these, unfortunately, have been removed and lost. It still, however, bears a silver plate on the side, inscribed "Viscount Nelson, Duke of-Bronte, etc., etc." The chest, it may be added (says the Sydney Morning Herald) is not for sale. According to the railway returns recently published the passenger tickets issued from the Clyde station, which is the present terminus of the Otago Central Railway, for the year ended March 31st, totalled 7516. For the same period the principal goods consigned outwards were wool, 4293 bales; grain; 1181 tons; and general merchandise, 305 tons. The total revenue from all sources going outwards was £5915. Inwards, 2638 parcels were received, 1321 sheep,' 251,100 feet of timber, 1158 tons of grain, 2193 tons of general merchandise, and 1066, tons of general merchandise. The hearing of the Webster claim, which is being made by the descendants of the late William Webster, will probably take place at Washington some time next year. The claim, which is being made under the Pecuniary Claims Convention (an international convention between Great Britain and America), as previously stated', has reference to certain lands in the Auckland province which the late Mr Webster, an American citizen, is alleged to have acquired from the Maoris in the early day 3 of the colony. The latest statement of the claim is £1.250,000.