ASSETS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2694, 1 February 1876, Page 2

ASSETS.

Of this amount £1,446,516 9s 6d is represented in coined metal, £170,555 4s 8d iv bullion and bar, £193,141 9s 9d iv landed property, £4,GG5,316 2s Od in Bills discounted, andi£4,157,787 17s 3d ia debts due. The total amount of dividends last declared was £317,404 13s 3d. It is scarcely necessary to again remind the public that the Wesleyau Tea Meeting comes off at 6 o'clock to-night, aud that it will be followed by a lecture from the E,ev. Mr Buddie on the subject of Courtship and Marriage. To-morrow (Wednesday) Mr Beau champ will sell by public Auction at Martou a large quantity of dress goods, boots, tea, &c. The sale commences at 2 p,m. and will be well worth attending. The English Goverument are already preparing for eventualities in the East. Lord Napier, of Magdala, has been appointed Governor and Commander-in-chief of Gibraltar with a view to proceed to Egypt immediately upon any emergency arising. Bad health compelled General Sir Fenwick Williams to come to "England. He is not likely to return to Gibraltar, at all events until affairs in the East are sufficiently settled to permit Lord Napier's return to this country. The quartz taken out of the Little Agues (Tararu) claim has astonished the miners by the different levels yielding gold of values as different as they can well be. The top level gave £3 8s to the ounce, a lower one £2 18s, and a middle one only £1 14s 10d. The difference is caused by the pi'eseuce of unusual quantities of silver. It would appear from a late number of the Cape Standard that defalcations amounting to £52,000 have taken place in the Capt Treasury. At the Resident Magistrate's Court at Cape Town on Oct. 20, Mr A. J. von Breda, whose position in the sorvico is not stated, was charged with having stolen that amount froni the Treasury. Evidence was given to show that prisoner had become insane, and he was remanded. Bail was taken at £5,000, for which sum be was bound to appear that day three months. A correspondent writes : — "Can you inform me how it is that the votes of certain parties were known at the late election ? I ask the question because of a fact which has come under my observation. A lady is going round the town settling up small accounts with tradesmen because they did not vote for her husband. What ] want to know is " how the secret could have leaked out ? " No imputation can be cast on the secrecy of the ballot if the provisions of the Act are fairly carried out. We are quite sure that nothing improper took place at the election, though the law in some ways should t have been carried out move stringently. With respect to the question as to bow it was known that certain tradesmen did not vote for any political candidate, we have no doubt that the tradesmen stated the circumstance themselves, or took some open part in the election. This is our explanation. The laxity which I we wish to point out in working the ballot, .is in permitting demonstrative partisans to remain in the polling booth and making observations to the electors. Another thing we noticed contrary to law is,turuing the number so that every person may see it when the voting paper is opened. The provision is that the number, — which is necessary to preveut. the consequeuces of fraud in double voting at different booths or personation, — shall put ou the corner of the paper at the back aud so turned over that it cannot be seen unless search be made for it to discover a fraudulent vote. The Returning Officer should always instruct his deputies fully in these matters, as many of them are aew to the work. We remind those who wish to enter horses for the Wanganui Jockey Club Handicap that the nominations close at the Commercial Hotel on Thursday at 8 o'clock p.m. Our readers will have noticed that Mr Simons has returned to Wauganui after an absence of some months, and resumed his work as piano tuuer, etc. Orders may be left at Mr L. L. Levy's. We understand that Mr Simons contemplates making a lengthened stay iv the district. The members or the Borough Council met in the Town Clerk's office to-day (Tuesday) to hear appeals against .rates. There were only about ten objections, and these were held over till the meeting in the evening, owing to the number of Councillors present not being sufficient to transact business. The reductions, if any aye made, will be rery trifling as compared with the total amount to be collested,

Iv tho]S!ew Soubh Walos Assembly tlie other day, Mr Buchanan, in the eoiirsu of a speech, said .- — When thp Ministry was in Ganger, how anxious their faces became, and with what determined impulse they scoxu-cd the country for votes. The telegraph was put in motion, and every corner of the: city was ransacked. He had heard of the Minister of Lauds dragging n\\ hon. member out i of a prayer-meeting, where he was on his knees— (laughter), and told him not to be fooling there while the Government was in danger. (Renewed laughter.) The third half-yearly meeting of the Colonial Bank was held at Dune.din on Wednesday afternoon. The reporb, which was unanimously adopted, showed in the profit and loss account a balance of £5124 IGs 6d, after making provision for bad and doubtful debts. Tlie balanco for the last half year was £4723 18s 10d, making a total sum for disposal of £9848 15s 4d. The directors recommend that it should be dealt with thus: —To writing off in full the preliminary expenses, £(522S 15s Bd. ; to balance carried forward to next half year, £3619 19s Sd.The amount of capital paid up is £284,182 19s Gd The chairman said that the gross profits for the half year from the whole of the NeAV Zealand offices were £15,975 ; the expenses were £13,171), and £500 had been wiped off for doubtful debts. The Thames Advertiser is very anxious to have the Thames represented in the Legislative Council. We are afraid that would be small gain to the Advertiser. If the Thames wants any particular favors, it must eoncentral its attention when the money is voted, or between two stools, it may fall to the ground. Accordiug to the Indian Pioneer, it is the intentiou of Colonel Baker, who assaulted a young lady in a railsvay carriage, when his period, of imprisonment has expired, to become a Russian, and enter the cavalry service of that couutryin Central Asia. As a preliminary step to that end, he has written in triplicate, so as to avoid miscarriage, to General Kauffman direct, offering bis servioes, and promising in the event of them being accepted, to denationalise himself and become a Russian subject. His intimate acquaintance with many parts of Central Asia and bis knowledge of the language of the people, would make him a iorinidable enemy to British interests in that district. The principles of honour are as rigidly observed iv the Russian Service as in the English. But as there are probably no virtuous young ladies in Central Asia, Colonel Baker would not be Tery dangerous. Russia would be welcome to him . A new theory has been propounded by a Wanganui man, and as it seems to be novel, we give it as described by the author in a letter to the Dunedin Saturday Advertiser :— "ASTRONOMICAL. Sir, — Science having dispelled the idea of the earth being a fiat surface covered in by a blue roof, above which was situated Heaven, a considerable vagueness has entered into all our calculations concerning our destination after death, which vagueness tends to undermine our religious feelings ; and without a true religious feeling guiding his actions a man can never be really honest. In this, my attempt to disperse this vagueness,. I have uofc run. counter., with science in any way ; iv point of fact, it yields me great assistance. Science has proved to us tbafc the sun ia .the source from whence the earth draws its existence. The vegetable and animal kingdoms are especially dependant on the sun. The earth, however, is only one ofanumberoEulatiets that revolve around the suu, which are equally dependant on the suu with the earth. Science also asserts if life does exist on other planets, it- must be iv a different form to ours. If we say the earth is the only planet that produces life,we would imply there is a, great waste in all those big planets absorbing the sun's rays and giving uothing in return ; the sun's rays in our planet: mean ,life. ■ Nature,; by her wonderful fitness in all her doings, that we can fathom, contradicts any such theory of waste. Science also seeks to demonstrate that- the planets nearer to the sun than the earth are of too high temperature to support our kinds of life, therefore, we will suppose for various reasons,' that the life they support is inferior to ours. In Venus or Mercury this inferior life flourishes and-'decays',-liber-ating in- its decay a "subtle essence,' refined by its growth, which is transported to the earth, and our forms of life are the result' of its growth oh this planet. Man's soul is the subtle essence that the earth brings fortlii and it is transported to Mars, and then grows and improves ; so that we may scan another page in life's mighty mystery: 'There are planets and many worlds beyond Mars.', The editor appends the following footnote — [The above is too , abstruse for our , compre" heusion, but we've no doubt it will prove interesting to our speculative readers. — Ed/ S.A.] Two circus companies arc at present' performing in .Wellington. 1 In conueotiou with the accident to the turn-table we were glad to hear tint there is no necessity for going out of Wanganui for the casting of the wheels, tlie .job being already in the bauds of Mr Murray, who is sure to turn them out with < his usual : care. It. is anticipated thab they will.be completed about Monday or Tuesday.' The cogs.' that were broken are about two inches, thick aud as, they are short, the strength brought to bear against them must have been something enormous. In order to.' take out the' broken wheels it is necessary to take up the planking above them, that causing a. temporary stoppage of traffic: Should- a vessel require to pass through, the Bridge will bo opened by' blocks and tackle.

A meotiu"' of the Committee appointed to receive the competitors at Uio Colonial Prizo Firing was held last (Monday) evening at the Commercial Hotel, John Bryco Bsq.M.H.R. in the Chair. Tho chairman read a reply from the Defence Oflice, which ho had received (o an inquiry aa to tho time of the meeting, in which it was staled that it could uot.be held before the 28 February. Mr Somervile upon being requested to accept the office of Secretary, consentedjWhen suggestions and resolutions wove made and carried, ft was first of all determined to provide a lunch for tho Volunteers if the time of arrival of the Luna (which steamer is expected to convey them hither) would permit of it. A question was raised as to whether a ball or dinner shouldbe given at the conclusion of the Firing, when the ball was carried by a narrow majority. A suggestion was thrown out with respect to the admission of the visitors to the Grand Stand and Course on tho day of the races, free, but the matter was referred to the Jockey Club, to exercise its discretion. It was stated that Major Noake intended to make arrangements for a Cavalry tournament such, as we have now become accustomed to, and it was proposed and carried that a public pic-nic be given on the same oecasiou, the competitors to be invited. It was expected that the tradespeople would keep the day as a holiday. Mr Pharazyn stated he had requested the Provincial Government to make a grant of £50 towards the expenses, and that Mr W. H. Watt, who was at present in Wellington, would place the matter before the Superintendent and Provincial Secretary. A sum of £150, it was expected, would cover all the expenses, and a sub-committee consisting of Messrs J. P. Watt, John Anderson, S. Neill, J. Duigan, L. Jones, and T. Fawali wore appointed to bring the delicate but essentially important subject before the notice of a generous public. Mr L. Jones aud Mr Farrah were added to the general committee, the former gentleman being appointed Treasurer. The Committee will meet again in a fortnight, aud from the commencement which; has been made, there is little reason to fear but Wanganui will be represented iv a manner worthy of tlie 'occasion and of its well-established reputation. We would remind our esteemed Wellington contemporary, the Eveuing Argus, -that we have not received the usual exchange copies for some time, and trust the oversight .will be rectified. ' The p.s. Manawatu arrived from Wellington about noon to-day (Tuesday), and brought about' 'forty immigrants per Shakespeare. They are all Germans, and appear to come from the coast lands of their native country. There is a large proportion of women aud children, and none of them appear anything the worse for the voyage. We understand that a number of them will be forwarded to Marlon, where some have friends, while another batch may possibly go to Bulls.

Bank of New Zealand ... i Union Bank of Australia Bank of New S«nith Wales Bank of Australasia National Bank of N.Z. ... Colonial Bank of N.Z. .. £5,097,402 5 1,073,103 7 1,620,8:19 19 847,025 6 1,482,163 19 597,351 9 0 0 3 3 6 9 Total ... £11,325,940 5 3