INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), 20 December 1907, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

— ♦ [Per Press Associatioh.] , AUCKLAND^ December 20. A private cable message spates that at tho general meeting on January T the directors of the New Zealand and River Plate Company will recommend a dividend of 7 per cent for the year, the interim dividend to be deducted therefrom. The approximate Amount of the net profit is £39,269, of which the dividend will absorb £21,000, leaving £14.000 to be paid to the reserve and £4269 to be carried forward. The directors will also recommend that £10,000 shall be carried to the xer serve fund in consequence oi the revaluation of the New Zealand assets. The total 'reserve will then be £252,000. A report from tho city valuer, read at last night's meeting of the City Council,, stated that the ratable value of the city for the current year was £474,690. There were thirty supplementary valuations, aggregating £14,467, and another to be submitted in February. This, with increases on old land values, the valuer estimated to bring the annual increase tip to £25,000 ratable value, which was equal to a capital value of about £0.00,000. GISBORNE, December 20. Hare M^tenga was brought up m three charges to-day, including the original case of horse stealing five years ago, in consequence of witch he cleared to the bush. He was remanded till to-morrow. Matenga expressed a desire to have the cases heard together. He said he was prepared to make a ' statement when the proper time came. HASTINGS, December 20. I The Hastings Borough Council last I night received from the chairman of the Patangata County Council a letter covering the following resolution parsed at its last meeting : "It being reported j that Mr Ken* Hardie. intends to visit New Zealand, and in view of his recent j utterances while in India, this Council is strongly of opinion that he should receive no official recognition in his public capacity as a member of the British Legislature from, any local body in tho dominion."- The Hastings Council resolved that the letter should be received, one councillor stating that he j would be sorry to say what he thought of its author. DUNEDIN, December 20. Three persons, one prohibited, weTe fined for being illegally on the premises of th© Grand Pacific Hotel on Sunday afternoon last. They pleaded that they had gone there to make use of conveniences.