GENERAL ITEMS

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 656, 27 October 1882, Page 2

GENERAL ITEMS

The Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Show was a great success.

Sir John Hall has given the sum of five guineas to be expended in prizes for the foithcoming Metropolitan Agricultural Show. The money has been allotted as follows .— £2 12s 6d for the best exhibit of fancy butter, £2 12s 6d for the best exhibit of salt butter fit for export, in tins of not less than 101b.

The Bank of New Zealand's 42nd hnlfyearly meeting was held on Wednesday. The directors' report shows a net profit for I lie half-year, after making allowance for doubtful debts, &c, of £98,921 17s 9.1, to which was to he added a balance from lust half-year of £1003 12s 2d, making a total £109,925 Us lid, which it is recommended to appropriate as follows :—A dividend at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, £50,000 ; a bonus oi' 5s per share, equal to 5 per cent., £25,000 ; addition to reserve fund, £25.0C0 ; balance to profit and loss new account, £9825 % lid.

A correspondent to the Press, sends the following :—On Sunday afternoon the inhabitants of the Irwell were startled with the news that a thunderbolt had fallen in the town-hip, and a boy seriously injured. On inquiry it was found tint the lightning had struck the ground on Mr Millar's property, and s=et the gorsa fence on firo. A son oli Mr Millar, who was milking a cow at ihe time was stunned, the bucket he had in his lvunl being scorched. The cow was thrown heavily over on her side, and was sonic time before she regained the use of her legs. Mr Millar and some men who were standing a short distance off were all thrown on the ground by the shock. After the inhabitants had recovered from their fright, they set to work and extinguished the fire, which was rapidly spreading towards the blacksmith's shop. Beyond the fright none of the parties were any worse for their upsetting.