AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume V, Issue 477, 20 May 1862, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

(From ihe New Zealandcr.) , WAIHOIHOI COAL MINE. The Prurv Coal Mine is a great fact. On Thursday, the Ist inst., the Tramway which has been constructed from the mine to the Slippery Creek, a distance of some three and a-half miles, was opened by several of the directors in person; a truck, containing some twenty passengers attached to the waggon in which were nearly two tons of coal, was conveyed to the creek, where there is every facility for loading boats, at any state of the tide. The following day, the Company commenced work in earnest, and are prepared to deliver coal at Slippery Creek ior from 12s. to 13s. per ton. The Tramway _is a substantial, durable structure, well finished in every respect, and reflects great credit on the perseverance and energy of the Directors. In our next, we shall give a more detailed account of what we consider to be one of the most important works which have been undertaken in the province of Auckland.

COROMANDEL GOLD-FIELDS.

Coromandel, April 28. For the last few days we have enjoyed delightful weather, but to-day there is a decided change and every appearance of both wind and rain, in fact like the commencement of winter. The miners here are delighted with our climate as compared with the great heat of Australia or the wind and rain of Otago. All the miners are very sanguine, and think highly of Coromandel as a gold country ; and every one looks forward to the coming spring as the time that will settle the question as to Coromandel becoming a payable gold-field. Considerable excitement has been created up here on its becoming known that the finders of the thirty-ounce nugget had weighed for them at the store of Mr. Douglas on the Tiki, upwards of eighty ounces of gold, both coarse and fine. It is supposed to have been found to the north of Mr. Ring's sawmill. Mr. Watson and party are hard at work both day and night, and have sunk a shaft ninety-eight feet deep, and at a depth of eighty-five feet they came upon a quantity of kauri timber, which was some trouble, but to persevering men, such as this party is composed of, such obstacles are only trifles; and it is to be hoped that when the five hundred pounds shall be expended, that some arrangement will be made to keep on this truly energetic party. Murphy's party, I am happy to say, have now no fear of being troubled with foul air; for the tunneling party broke through last Friday, and had they not done so the men in the shaft must have left off working. Provisions were served out to twentyeight prospectors last Saturday by Mr. Beeson, who has gone to some expense and trouble to forward the views of the Provincial Government. Below the claim of Messrs. Murphy, Yon Kempsky and Robinson are working, and getting gold in payable quantities. On the Tiki I saw some beautiful specimens, obtained by Turner's party, one weighing ten ounces and valued at £20, being one out of many obtained by this party ; they dug upwards of three pounds weight in five weeks. A great many of the miners are busy preparing for winter, building substantial tents, tables, &c, as though they were well pleased with the prospect before them.

[From the Southern Cross.)

PROGRESS OF ACCLIMATISATION. "We ann unced, on the arriva of the ship Cashmere, Captain Petherbridge, from London, she that had brought ft considerable addition to our stock of imported birds. We are now enabled to supply a complete list, which we do as under :— Received on Died on the liuiud voynge G pairs blackbirds 12 2 Vh „ thrushes 13 0 0* „ starlings 12 0 0 „ larks 12 2 Goldfinches 8 3 Linnets !) 1 Sparrows >~, 10 '.) Bullfinches 8 5 Chaffinches 14 10 Robins 0 0 Partridges 9 4 Barnacled geese 4 0 Canada do. ......... 2 ............ 0 125 3G —Tt will be seen, therefore, that out of 125 birds, 3G died on the voyage from London to Auckland, lopving 80 to be landed here. They are i.ow at Government House. These birds were selected by Mr. Bartk-tt, Superintendent of the Regent's Park gardens; and were attended during the voyage by Mr. Wilson. Tho creatures were kept in a boat set apart for that purpose. We hope the greatest care will be taken to preserve these birds, especially as they reprepresent many of the more common song birds of the mother country, and their multiplication in the province will remind our fellow colonists more tlmn any thing else of the land of their birth. When writing on this subject it may not be out of place to remind the authorities that there is an Acclimatisation Society in Auckland, with the view of suggesting for consideration the propriety of setting apart a section of the government domain fur special occupancy in furthering the objects of the society. We may expect considerable accessions to our stock of imported birds and animals, from time to time, through the exertions of the Acclimatisation Society, and it is imperative on them to provide a suitable place of reception. We believe the society would be willing to undertake the cost of preserving the birds and animals and also the outlay necessary to fence and prepare the ground, provided the Government made a giant of a few acres at present useless. (From the Aucklandcr.) BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. The first half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of this institution has taken place, Mr. James Williamson, chairman of tlio Board of Directors presiding. The report, which we give below, having been read, the chairman congratulated the shareholders on the unprecedented success

of their institution, comparing its progress duiiug the brief period of its existence with that of other similar institutions. Votes of thanks were proposed and carried to the Directors and the officers of Ihe establishment, and Mr. David Nathan was elected a direotor, in the room of Dr. Campbell, who retired by rotation.

RepoVfrofthc Directors of the Bank of New Zealand, for the half-year ending on the 3>lst March, 1862.

In accordance with the 75th clause of the Deed of Settlement, the directors have now the pleasure of meeting the proprietors of the Bank, and at this ihe first half yearly meeting, of presenting their, first report and statement of tbe financial position of the Bauk on the 31st March.

Of the 50,000 shares forming the capital of tbe Bank, only 1175 remain unappropriated, and these the directors propose to retain for those parts of tbe colony where the Bank is at present unrepresented. Since their election to office on the Ist of October last the directors have established eleven branches and agencies throughout tbo colony, exclusive of the agencies ou the gold-fields of Otago. The bead office at Auckland was opened on tbe 16(h October; tbe Taranaki branch on the 15th November, the Dunedin branch on tbe 2nd December ; the Wellington and Nelson offices on tbe 15th January ; and all the other branches and agencies have been siuce established. It will thus be seen tbac none of the offices have been a full half-year in operation, while many of tbem were only just commencing business. Yot, after deducting the charges of the general management, and expenses at the head office, and ten branches and agencies, the directors have the pleasure of unnounoing a uett profit on the 31st March of .£6,097 ss.

The directovs recommend that a dividend at the rate of 6 per centum per annum be declared on the paid up capital; that the sum of £3000 be placed to the credit of the reserved fund; and that the balance, amounting to £726 13s. be carried to the profit and IoS3 new account. The dividend to be payable at the bead office on and after the 6th May, and at the branches and agencies on the receipt of advice. Iv accordance with the provisions of the Deed of Settlement, John Logan Campbell, Esq., retins, from the directory by lot. Mr. David Nathan, and Mr. William Williams have given the requisite notice that they are candidates for the vacancy in the direction, to be filled up this day. —For the directors, James Williamson, President. Balance Sheet of the Banh of New Zealand for the half year ending 3farch 31tf, 1862. Da. To paid-up capital .£108,785 12 0 Notes in circulation 62,914 0 0 Bills in circulation 6,288 6 9 Deposits 334,097 7 4 Balances due to other Banks... 37,797 3 0 Profit and loss account 6,097 5 0 £555,979 15 1 Cr. By coin and bullion £201,512 0 4 Bills receivable and all other advances 102,164 4 3 Balances due by other banks 117,475 6 7 Notes of other banks 3,900 0 0 Preliminary expenses 906 17 10 Landed property 3,860 0 O Bank premises, furniture, and stationery ... 6,100 18 1 £555,979 15 1 Profit and Loss Account. Dr. To expenses at head office and ten branches and agencies ... £0,093 8 2 Amount written off bank furniture, premises, and preliminary expencesaccounts ... 858 17 7 Balanco 6,097 5 0 £13,049 10 9 Cr. By gross profits for half year ... £13,049 10 19 Dh. To dividend at 6 per cent, per arm. £2,370 12 0 Amount carried to reserve fund 3,000 0 0 „ „ profit and loss new account, 726 13 0 £6,097 5 O Cr. By balance £6,097 5 0 Reserve Fund. Dr. To balance £3,000 0 0 Cu. By transfer t from profit and loss £3,000 0 0 We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Bank of New Zealand ior the have year ending March 31st, 1862, and that we half counted the cash balanced and examined the bills and other securities held at the office, and compared the returns of the branches with the above balance-sheet, and found the same to be correct. S. Browning, ) A ..j;j nrH Wji. C. Daldy, } Audltors-