Return SHOWING NUMBER OF Roman Catholics IN Provincial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 499, 3 November 1882, Page 13

Return SHOWING NUMBER OF Roman Catholics IN Provincial.

James Walsh, who was ariested in London in connection with the seizure of arms in Clerkenwell in June last, was put forward for trial at the Central Criminal Court on Monday, charged with having attempted, with other persons unknown, to depose the Queen, and also with having aimed at levying war against the Queen in Ireland, "in order to compel her to change her measures in Council." The accused, who is described as having maintained a calm demeanour, pleaded " not guilty "in a firm voice. Evidence was tendered by the police with the object of showing that for a long time the accused was in the habit of purchasing large quantities of arms in London, and shipping them to Ireland, The prosecution tbeu sought to prove the existence of a treasonable organisation in Ireland, with which, it was alleged, the prisoner was connected. The evidence by which it was sought to establish this part of the case was given by a policeman named Kavanagh, who sworfettf'treasonable proclamations having been posted in the neighbourhood of Limerick ; by a woman named Re&rdon, of Kiskeen, near Mill street, who said she had witnessed illegal drilling in September, 1881 ; and by Martin Oostella, of Derra, County Kerry, who deposed th.it he joined a secret society in December last. What connection all this had with Walsh does not, however, appear. Mr. Justice Stephen, \ efore whom the prisoner was tried, summed up en Wednesday, and in the course of his speech he said the case bore a strong resemblance to that of Davitt and Wilson, but that in the present instance the evidence as to existence of a treasonable conspiracy was much weaker. At the close of the judge's Bumming up the jury retired, and in a quarter of an hour returned with a verdict of guilty. The judge then sentenced Walsh to seven years' penrl servitude, and, describing this as a " lenient punishment," be said it was to be attributed to the subordinate part played by the prisoner in the transactions. — Nation, August 12.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said : Gentlemen,— There is an old but trite proverb, •Good vine need}, uo bush," and on this occasion, with such figures before jou as are presented in the report and balance-sheet which you have just heard read, I do not feel called upon to make any lengthened remarks. Comparison of the various items with the balance-sheet of last half-year will show considerable uniformity under nearly every heading, and, considering that the past is the off or more inactive »>alf of the year, I think you will agree with mo that the result is very gratifying. The period of the year accounts for the diminished volume of the Bank's exchange operations, included under the heading of bills payable in circulation ; the slight decline in deposits is wholly due to the gradual expenditure of public moneys ; while the small increase in the advance as shown under the head bills discounted and other debts due to the Bank indicates more active employment , of the Bank's re-» sources, and a corresponding dimunition of the large balances which for some time back we have had in comparatively inactive use in London. The net profits show an increase of over £16,000 as compared with the previous statement, and without trenching too heavily on the balance to be carried forward we feel warranted in recommending the handsome addition of £25,000 to the reserve fund, which will then stand at £6C0,0G0. On this — the occasion of the Bank having attained its majority— l may well be allowed to colgratulate shareholders on the immense results achieved since its in. ception, and the important position it now occupies, as shown in the balance-sheet. Without taking undue credit to ourselves for all that has been accomplished, we may look with satisfaction to the facts that £1,862,000 have been dispensed in dividends, while our landed property and bank premises have been written down to a point which might fully warrant our taking further credit to our reseive fund of fully £220,000, and over and above this large amount nearly as much more might be assumed as increased value of the Bank's property. As an illustration of this, I may say that a recent sale of the leaseho'd of the land in Cbristchuruh immediately in front of our premises gives a proportionate value to our site there of neady one.-fourth of the amount at which the whole of the land and valuable premises throughout the Colonies now stands in our books. Apart, however, fiom the mere profit attaching to our operations, who can estimate' the benefits conferred during the past 21 years on the commerce of the Colony through the instrumentality of the Bank ? It has been our uniform endeavour to Bupport legitimate enterprise, and while we have thus led to the accomplishment of much that could not otherwise have been undertaken, we are not slow to acknowledge that a generous support by the public has enabled the Bank to build up a business of which any institution might well be proud. Looking to the future, it is on the continued support of the public that we must rely fur results, and while, therefore, we cannot command succe s, we will at least endeavour to deserve it. As to the general ouilook of l-usneas in the Coloniec, while there is much to encourage a coufi leutiy hopeful prospect, the rapid general increase of imports affords a fitting teat for warning. Putting aside the views vyiiich political economists may expie.-,8 on the bearing of such condition, the fact remains that excessive imports have to be paid for, and the marked change which has taken place during the past six toontbs in the combined bank returns of the various Colonies, sufficiently points to the necessity for a sharp curb being applied to check this onward movement. Land speculation, also, in some districts deserves a passing notice, and while its existence may generally be accepted as an evidence of a large well-to-do class, it may well be apprehended that apparently easily-made profit may le id to laud gambling, whiencannot fail to be detrimental to thecommunity. While feeling bound to notice these disturbing elements, I have much satisfaction in expresßsing my confidence in tbe prosperous condition of the staple industries in the Colonies. Pastoral and agricultural interests for the season have very bright prospects before them ; and the rapid development of the frozen meat export trade, and of dairy factories to be utilised iv the same connection, opens up a future for these industries which will largely promote the general welfare. With theee remarks, I beg to move the adoption of the report aud balance-sheet. Dr. J. L. Campbell : I beg to second the motion for the adoption of the report. The motion for the adoption of the report was then put, and carried unanimously. ELECTION OF A DIRECTOR. Mr. William Innis Taylor retired by rotation from the Board of Directors. Mr. James M'Cosh Clark being the ouly candidate, he was duly declared elected. AUDITORS. On the motion of Mr G. P. Piebce, seconded by Mr. C. Alexander, Messrs Benjamin Tonka and William Innis Taylor were re-elected auditors " : VOTES OF THANKB. ' Mr. J. L. Wilson, in proposing a vote of thanks to the directors and officers of the Bank, said : To receive such glowing reports aud steady dividends from time to time must be exceedingly gratifying to all the shareholders, but there is something lying at the back of all this which we must not fail to recognise. Such large sums as are brought before us in this report muat n cessaiily represent a great deal of anxiety, care, thought, aad skill somewhere ; and we know where that comes from, and should not fail to recognise it. I have, therefore, great pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to the directors and officers of the Bank for their services during the past half-year. Mr. T. Hill : 1 beg to second that. The mo ion was put and carried. The Chairman, in returning thanks on behalf of the directors Baid : Gentlemen,— lt is with very grjat pleasure that 1 rise on the pieMnt occasion. This undertaking 1 , which was begun 21 years ago, but outgrown th« most sanguine expectations of those who were its' promoters. I claim that honor myself. Mr. Russell was the second, and his services were even more valuable — perhaps much more yaluable— than my own, in starling this institution. I have now

rnrt the shareholders at 42 different meetings — X may bare -been absent nerhaps from one or two of them — but I simply mention this to say that on each occasion we have met with the approval of oar shareholders ; and as I have said in moving the adoption of the report, in looking forward, I think the signs are that our progress will continue. I hope also that it may increase. Still, I think that we have very great right to be satisfied with the progress that the institution has made. Many gave us a very short career at the time the institution first started ; however, I am glad to be here now to find that their prognostications were not fnlfilled. Ido not know that I have much more to say on the matter, only to express my gratification at the honor again conferred upoa myself as one of the directors, and al*o at the apparent satisfaction in the minds of all parties with the efficiency of our staff, and the manner in which they have done their duty. Gentlemen, I may not have many years to live, still I should like to meet here as long as I do live, with the shareholders of this institution, and I hope its prosperity will not wane during that time. Mr. D. L. Murdoch (general manager), in returning thanks on behalf of the staff, said : Often as I have had the satisfaction of returning thanks for your kind votes of approval daring the last 17 years, T have special gratification in doing so on this, the occasion of the Bank having attained its majority. And as your confidence has been uniform during the minority of the institution, I may be allowed to express a hope that nothing will in the fut ure interfere with the con tinuance of your confidence and approval. I beg to thank yon very heartily on behalf of the staff for your vote, and I may again repeat my oft-given assurance that nothing will be wanting on the part «f the staff by every exertion in their power to maintain the continued success of the Bank. The rough minutes were then read, and the meeting terminated.

Districts.— Oensus 1881. Auckland Otego ... Canterbury Wellington Westland kelson ... Hawke'a Bay Taranaki Marl borough Chatham Islands Total for colony Persons. ...' 16.543 16,199 12,946 7,718 4,779 4,166 2,436 2,077 1,467 18 68,349 Males. 8,713 8,530 7,003 3,957 2,606 2,352 1,333 1,267 812 18 | Females. 7,830 7,667 3,941 3,761 2,173 3,814 1,103 810 655 36,593 31,756