HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 981, 4 May 1870, Page 2

HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

The seventeenth half-yearly moeting of the Bank of New Zealand, was held on the 27th April, at Auckland. T. Russell, Esq., was in the chair. There was a moderate attendance. The chairman stated that a special meeting would be called at which it would be proposed that the capital be extended by £100,000, for the purpose of enabling the directors to maintain the business of the bank despite competition which had to be met throughout the Colony. James O'Neill, Esq., and others, approved of the suggestion, but thought larger extension of capital might be proposed. The report says that the amount available for division is £45,513 Bs. lid., which will bo appropriated as follows : —Ten per cent, dividend, £25,000; bonus, five shillings per share, £12,500 ; balance carried to profit and loss accoaut, £8,013 Bs. lid.

Left Over. —Wo have to leave over reports of the Police Court, and Town Board, also several articles, to make room for news of greater interest;. Our Ixter-provincial Communication. —By the arrival of the ' Phcebe' on Monday last, we are pub in possession of full files of papers from the following Provinces: —•Nelson, 30th April; Marlborough, 30th ; Wellington, 30th ; Canterbury, 29th ; Otago, 2Sth ; Hawko's Bay, 29th ; Southland, 23rd. We think that no one can complain of quick inter-provincial communication after this. The Town Roofing Ordinance Amendment Act. —The Nev) Zedlnnd Gazette of the 23rd April, contains an announcement that the Governor " has not been advised to exerciso his power of disallowing this Ordinance." Reserves at the Waitaua tor Religious Purposes. —We have been informed that his Honor the Superintendent has received instructions to set aside reserves in the Waitara township, for the use of tho several religious denominations. Cricket 'Match. —We are requested to state that a cricket match betweon Waiiti Camp and Town is to be played to-day, on the Parade ground —the wickets to be piGched at 10 o'clock. The Town Board. —The last meeting of this Board, previous to tho annual meeting, was held ou Monday evening, when there was a full attendance of members. Wo have to reserve our report till our next issue. Malicious Injury to Property. —Ou Monday last, Samuel Curtis was fined <Cl and costs for breaking into a house occupied by Mr. James Divine. The Rev. Father Holland. —We perceive that Rev. Father Jean Baptiste Louis Rolland has been recently gazetted as a naturalised British subject. Takanaki Rifle Association. —We understand that at a Committee meeting of this Association, held on Monday, ib was decided that the annual firing should take place on the Queen's birthday, when money prizes to the value of over £10 will be offered for competition. Full particulars will shortly appear in an advertisement, and wo therefore refrain afc present from going fully into the matter. We, however, hope that a large number of entries will be made so as to encourage the efforts of the Committee to stimulate rifle practice in the Province. Errata. —ln our Saturday's issue we published a report of the Select Commicteo on tho petitions I of Captain Gordon and others, for grants of laud under the " Military and Naval Settlers Act, 1869," and through some accident, two lines ivere left out in section two ; we therefore republish that paragraph in its entirety. "2. That claims which were valid at the time of discharge of present applicants, bub which had not been then exercised, through the neglect or indifference of such applicants, should be considered as having { lapsed." 1 Taranaki Steel. —We have been informed by Mr. U. R. Richmond that Major Atkinson, who had been requested to see Mr. W. C, Siemens, F.R.S., relative to tho Taranaki steel sand, has written out by this mail to say that this eminent metallurgist has expressed himself to tha effect that he has no doubc whatever as to the probability of smelting tho sand, and the only question to be considered was whether a market could bo found for the produce ac a paying price. He also states that the English market for fine steel was very limiced, and considered than as England would not be a market for the iron or steel produced in Taranaki, we should have to look to Australia India, and America, which, he thought, would be oar best customers, as in these countries the demand for steel rails was large and likely to increase. Steel for rail was worth £10 per ton, which price, he thought, would probably be maintained. Mr. Siemens also expressed to Major Atkinson his willingness to allow his patent to be used at a little over the English rate of 10s. pei' ton ; and if a responsible company was formed that ho would take an interest in it as paymonb. He says, howover, that he considers ib would be absolutely necessary for the Company to establish a rolling mill so as to turu out the material in a finished condition for bhe markeb, and that the capital should not be less than £60,000. The New Breakwater at Timaru. —We are sorry to hear that there is some likelihood of the recently finished breakwater at Timaru destroying the present landing place. Tho shingle is silting up on both sides very fast, and if it continues^ will result in forming a new beach over the buried breakwater. Should this prove to be the case, it will bo fortunate thab tho exporimont was nob conducted on a larger scale, and that only hundreds in the place of thousands have been thrown away. —Grey River Argus, April 16.

COLONIAL RIFLE CONTEST. The annual colonial competition for the championship of tho Colon} 7 , and tho usual prizes offered b}' the General Government, commenced at Dunedin on tho 2/th April, and continued for the three following days. We are not yet in possession of tha full scores, but those of l-ho winners of tho various event's have reached ns by telegraph, and are as follows : — First Day — April 27. — Weather cold and wet ; showers of rain <md sleet. Judging Distance Prizes. — At such distances, not exceeding GOO yards, as may be appointed by the officer in command of the tiring party ; 5 shots in the whole to be fired by each competitor, who will ju.lge his own distance ; maximum points, 20 ; no prize to be given for a less score than 13 points. Ist prize, £9 j 2nd prize, £8 ; 3rd prize, £7. 1. — ILizard (Thames) 18 2. — Wilson (Ota^o) IS 3. — C.imeron (Christchnrch) ... ... IS Highest Wellington score — Halse, 15 ; New Plymouth—Bullot, 12,. Fikst Set of Prizes. — At ranges of 300, 400, 500, yards; 5 shots at each range; maximum points 60 ; no prize to be given for a less score than 40 points ; position at 300 yards, kneeling. Ist prize, £9 ; 2nd prize, £8 ; 3rd prize, £7. 1. — Hazard (Thames) ... ... ... 44 2.— Wilson (Otago) 41 3.— Moore (Nelson) 42 Highest Wellington score — Halse 41. Second Day. — April 28. — Weather fine and calm. Second Set of Phizes. — At ranges of 400, 500, 600 yards ; 7 shots at each range ; maximum points, 84; no prize to be given for a less score than 56 points. Ist. prize, £40 and N.R.A. silver medal ; 2nd prize, £30 and silver medal ; 3rd prize, £20. I.— Treseder (Otago) 62 2. — Balliam (Wellington) 61 3.— Gully (Nelson) 61 Third Day. — April 29. — Weather variable. Fourth Set, Running Prizes. — At a range of 200 yards. Time — 5 minutes, to commen c at first shot; competitors to come loaded, but not capped, to the liring point; at the word '' Commence," to cap and fire ; after every two shots, the competitor to carry his rifle, ammunition, rod, nnd everything he makes use of in firing, round a post 50 yards off, loading when he likes, but not capping, until he arrives at the firing point ; no assistance whatever permitted. Ist prize, £9 ; 2nd prize, £8 ; 3rd prize, £7. 1. — Hazard (Thames) ... ... ... 27 2. — Cameron (Canterbury)... ... ... 26 3. — Renouf (Napier) ... „. ... 26 Finn Set op Prizes— for Rapidity. — Ah ranges of 200 and 300 yards. Time, three minutes at each range, to commence at first shot, ns in the 4th set. No assistance whatever permitted. Ist prize, £9 ; 2nd prize, £8 : 3rd prize, £7. 1. — Buchanan (Otago) ... ... ... 54 2.— Goldio (Otago) 49 3.— Smith (Westland) 48 Sixth Set — Consolation Prizes. — At ranges of 200 and 300 yards. Five shots at each range. Maximum points, 40. No prize will be given for a Ipss score than 27 points. Range, 200 yards — position, standing. Range, 300 yards — position, kneeling. To be fired for by those competitors only who have nob succeeded in winning any prize in tho previous five sets. Ist prize, £5; 2nd prize, £4 10s. ; 3rd prize, £4; 4th prize, £3 10s.; sth prize, £3; 6th prize, £2 10s. ; 7th prize, £l 10s. 1. — Liddle (Wanganui) 28 2.— Bordaian (Auckland) 27 3. — Wearing (Canterbury) ... ... ... 27 Halse (Wellington) 24 The Champion Beltj Gold Medal, and the sura of £-10, goes to tho highest aggregate scorer in the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and sth sets. This year the' fortunate champion is Lieut. Goldie, of the Port Chalmers Naval Brigade, whose score was 180. There were special prizes for Cadets, each Cadet corps sending one representative 3 but none of those sent succeeded in making tho required minimum score. This is tho fourth year that Otago has taken the Champion belt. The prizes were presented in Dunedin on Saturday last, and the Northern competitors were to leave for their homes yesterday (Tuesday). Odd Fellows' Hall. — Bachelder's Diorama of Paradise Lost, was exhibited on Saturday evening, for the last time in Taranaki. Considering tho inclemency of the weather the attendance was very good, tho scenery seemed to have lost none of its attractions from repetition, but appeared to cause as much delight as ever. The accompanying lecture was delivered by Mr. W. G. Caroy with his usual good taste. At the conclusion of the exhibition, Mr. Carey in a few well chosen words, thanked the public for their courtesies towards him during his stay, and annouueed his intention of revisiting Taranaki shortly, in his professional capacity. Judging from this gentleman's reputation as a delineator and reader of Shakspearo, we should imagine that his promised visit will be looked forward to with interest. A large number of expensive gifts were distributed amongst tho audience, evidently to the intense satisfaction of thoso who held the lucky numbers. The company left for Auckland per • Phoebe', on Monday last. Mr. Sewell. — The Wellington Advertiser says — •" Mr. Sewoll has losb no timo in entering tho political arena. We thought Mr. F. A. Carrington, tho Superintendent of New Plymouth, was to bo allowed to walk over for the representation of Omata in the General Assembly, as a sapporter of the Fox Ministry. But suddenly we hear through Nelson that Mr. Sewell is also a candidate, as well as a Mr. Carthew, whose name we do nob remember as having yot appeared in New Zealand politics. We shall await with some curiosity Mr. Sevvell's newest declaration of faith." The English Commissioners. — Tho " AngloAustralian" in the Europe/in Mail just received, says: — "Colonel Maude, C.8., V.C., recently made a proposition to Earl Granvillo to raise a Volunteer Force for New Zealand, but has been referred by his lordship to tho Commissioners, Messrs. Bell, and Featherston, who are now staying at Charing Cross Hotel, and who, it is understood, have not been able to persuade the Colonial Secretary to alter his decision in respect to tho permanent withdrawal of troops from the Colony and other matters." Te Kooti's Hiding Place. — To Kooti is reported to be still hiding in the Waioeka gorge, with a few followers, and destituto of food, except fern-roofc and what he can pick up. It seems that honey is much depended on by those refugees in the county they are now in. Death of Mr. George Hogarth. — Mr. George Hogarth, well-known in literary and musical circles at home, died on the morning of the 11th February, at the advanced age of 87. He was the father-in-law of Mr. Charles Dickens, and contributed many valuable works on musical subjects to the literature of the day. In early life Mr. Hogarth acted as legal adviser to Sir Walter Scott,