THAMES CATTLE MARKET. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1357, 12 March 1881, Page 2

THAMES CATTLE MARKET. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. )

Mi'Ssrs. Hanks & Co. report that at the Paraw«ii cattle tnatkct on Thursday, the supply of fat c.ittle w.is not guiteup to late numbers. Messrs. Gould Bros., of Waito.i, brought forward a prime lot of light-weight steers and heifers, which were readily bought up at a slight increase upon late rates. Sheep were plentiful, being principally supplied from Mr. Alley's flock. ttidding was slow at first, but e\cntuallv the pens were cleared ■it from 13s Cd to 13s. A few pens of good lambs made los gd to us %d. The prices for beet were 2js to 25s per loolbs.; primo wether mutton, 2\ per lb.

Nrw Zealand Loan and Mercantile Aglncy Compvvv. — The sixteenth annual general meeting of the shareholders in the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company was to have been held on the 4th February. From an advance copy of the directors' report that was to be submitted to the meeting, we take the following 1 : — " The net profit ior the year 1880, inclusive of LBl7O 10s 2d brought fotward from the preceding financial year, after deducting expenses, interest, commissions, and incoihe ta\, writing off stationery and furniture, and making- due provision for all bad and doubtful debts, exhibits a, sum of 1,63,168 15s gd, which the directors recommend should be applied as follows, vir..: — Payment of a dividend at the rate of xo per cent, per annum, and interest on calls paid in advance on old shares, L 31,376 9s ; payment of bonus at 5 per cent., Li 5,637 10s ; reserve fund, Lio,ooo ; to be carried forward, L 6154 16s gd : total, L63,i6ft 15s gd. In July last an ad interim dividend was paid at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, amounting, with interest on calls paid in advance, to Li 5,688 .js 6d, so that thoro now romains for distribution the ium of I, (7,480 us 3J. The dividend and bonm now proposed arc equal to the maximum of previous yoaw, and the addition of Lt 0,000 to the reserve fund will raise that fund to Li 70,000. The relaxation in the monetary pressuie throughout the Australasian colonies, of which evidence was afforded twelve months ago, has, in the interval, been further developed. This has naturally led to a. reduction in the colonial rates of interest, which, although it has diminished somewhat certain sources of the revenue of the company, has tended to strengthen the position of its constituents. The higher value of wool and the large increase in cereal and other produce, consignments during the past year, have also exerted a most favourable influence on the pastoral and agricultural interests of the colonies ; and while the company here has been in a position to issue debentures and to receive moneys for investment under guaranteed mortgages m New Zealand at lower rates than those previously current, the increased value of the consignments directed to its caro has augmented the amount of commissions earned on their disposal. The Right Hon. Sir James Fergusson, in ; consequence of having been appointed Governor of Bombay, some months ago resigned his seat on this company's board of direction, to tho regret of bis colleagues. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Sir Edward William Stafford, one of the original shareholders of the company. In accordance with the provisions of the articles . of association, Mr Boutcher, Mr, Russell,'' and Sir E. W. Stafford retire from the board of directors, but offer tbeßjiseJvO^far re-pleo^OB, , TJIO-

auditor-!. — M*s*r« CII.II los John Taylor ;ind Roderick Macky— likewise retire, but, bping eligible for re-election, again offer their service*."