INTERPROVINCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3524, 14 January 1886, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL.

(By Telkgraph.) Auckland, Jan. 13. At tho New Zealand Insurance Company's half-yearly meeting the Directors' report showed the nett premiums, after deducting re-insurances, to be £219,914. This sum added to the balance from last year, interest, rents, and profits on investments gave a total of £269,928. Tbe general expenditure, including full estimate of all losses to tbe 30th Nov., amounted to £247,063. After paying an interim dividend of 3s per share last July, there remained a balance of £22,860, out of which the Directors recommend a dividend of 3s per share, carrying forward £7865. The Grand Lodge of the New Zealand Independent Order of Good Templars opened their twelfth annual session at the Temperance Hall to-day. The Minister of Publio Works yesterday orossed the Punui bridge by train, it being the first entry of the " iron horso " into the King country. Tho manager of the National Bank received a cablo to-day announcing that the third instalment of tho Auckland City loan, amounting to £25,000 at 5 per cent, had been floated at £111 Is ld j the last instalment of the loan will be placed at £109 2s lOd. Wbllinqioit, Jan. 13. The General Survey Department have pre pared a number of excellent maps concerning New Zealand, which are intended for exhi; hition at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, to be held this year. One of tho maps, which have been beautifully executed, shows very clearly in detail the land tenure o£ New Zealand, along with which is given all important statistics sinco 1855. Another map gives the physical features of New Zealand. Both these maps are drawn on the scale of eight miles to one inch. Ten other maps show the localities of. the Maori population, the districts in which are to be discovered extinct volcanoes, and a third indicating the manner in which Crown lands aro dealt with. The subjects aro very interesting,, and the Department deserve every credit for the manner in which the maps are executed. Telegrams received by Government state that the prospectors who are to roughly searoh the King Country for gold, will make a start to -rUorrow, when they expect to reach Te Awamutu. Mr Arthur Clayden, has booked as a passenger for England, by the Tainui on Sunday next. It is understood that Mr Clayden hat

made arrangements with Government to lecture in the agricultural counties of England on New Zealand, with a view to the encouragement of the immigration of small capitalists and farmers. The s.s. Stella will leave for Caswell Sound early next week, for the purpose of conveying down to the quarries two or three of the Directors of tho Caswell Sound Marble Co , and two exports, who will make a survey of the Company's property, and afterwards submit their report and a sufficient numborof workmen to resume operations at the works. In connection with the enquiry at the recent narrow escape of collision on the railway, between an arriving passenger train and a shunting engine, the driver of the passenger train has been disrated for six months, and the driver of tho shunting engine for threo months. The Samoan chiefs who arrived in New Zealand to interview the Governor and Ministry in reference to British protection being afforded to Samoa are expected tomorrow evening. During their stay it is understood they will be entertained by Admiral Tryon on board tho Nelson. Government this afternoon received a mesaago from tho Agent-General stating that on receipt |of the Premier's message regarding the recent occurrences in Samoa he placed himself in communication with the Colonial Office, ond Lord Salisbury immediately telegraphed to Berlin and received a satisfactory ond reassuring reply from the German Government, stating in effect that nothing in the matter of annexation was contemplated. Chbistchubch, Jan. 13. At the adjourned inquest on John Smith Legge, who died suddenly on January 6th, the lettors of the deceased were produced, which provod that ho had poisoned himself by taking chloral. He wrote that he had been driven mad by financial embarrassment, partly caused by going in largely for consultations and sweeps, but luck was always against him. A verdict of suicide while temporarily insane was returned. His Kxcellency and suite left for Wellington by the Hiuemoa this afternoon. Donedik, Jan. 13. A case of somo importance to tenants was concluded at the Supreme Cou't to-day. Joneß and others claimed damages from J. C. Buckland, M.H.8., and another for breach of covenant of 1-ase. £200 was claimed for the non-repair of buildings, etc, £500 for neglecting to clean the land, and £2000 for allowing tho land to be overrun with couch grass. It was contended for the defence that couch grass was the very best thing for this land, as was proved by its carrying capacity for stock. After a lot of evidence the jury gave a verdict for the defendant on all the issues. The case of the Franco-Egyptian Bank v. the Bank of New Zealand is now proceeding. The plaintiffs claim £2326, having remitted a bill of exchange drawn on Georgo Turnbull, with a bill lading for certain sugar for which the bill was drawn. The bill of exchange was accepted payable on the 2nd April, 1884. The sugar was warehoused in Turnbull's own bond, pending the collection of the bill of exchange, and tho warrants were given to the Bank of New Zealaud. The bulk of the sugar was in the meantime sold by Turnbull and delivered to tho purchaser, and it was alleged that the proceeds were paid to the Bank. 'Ihe bill was not paid at maturity. Several notices of motion wero given at today's Presbyterian Synod on tho question of a successor to Professor McGregor in tho Moral and Mental ond Moral Philosophy Chair nt the University. Dr SaUnond and Dr Copland have been proposed, and also a motion that the appointment be left to the University Council. The President of the Federated Seamens' Union at Port Chalmers having received a cable from Melbourne asking him to prevent steamers leaving New Zealand for Melbourne during tho continuance of the strike thero, the Union has forwarded the following reply: — " We object to calling crewß out ; ship owners have not broken agreement with Federated Unions."