NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

(Br TELEGttAril —I*RE6S ASSOCIATION.} . : fr- : ' • PROPOSED TRAMWAY. ' Clsborne, March 20. ■. The Cook County Council lias decided to instruct the engineer to report on the' proposed tramway from Gisborne ,to Patutahi ror obtaining metal and the carriage of pas-'' sengers and goods. OTIRA TUNNEL. Auckland, 'March-20.,; The contractors for the; Otira TunrioT (Mossrs. J. M'Lean and Sons) .state that the bulk of the machinery for the Dig job is now afloat, and will be landed in Wellington very).' shortly. Tunnelling oporations should, therefore, ba in full swing before very long, : Tbo contractors state that they, have hundreds of applications from men wanting em-, i ployment on. the contract. This does not, however, indicate that there are many unemployed, as most of the applicants . are men already employed, -but seeking a long job.

KEMPTHORNE,' PROSSER AND CO. ; ' Dunedin, March 20. The annual, meeting ,of shareholders in. Komptborne, Prosser and Co.'s New Zealand Drug Co. was hold to-day. - The Chairman (Mr. Bathgate), in moving the adoption of tho report and balance-sheet, said the reserve on customers' accounts was £2992, and the fire insurance reserve £605 (increase of £343 on last. year). The Chairman explained that, though the fire cover was fairly satis-. factory, and every opportunity was taken to increase it, tho source, of safety from serious disaster lay in the fact that the cover extended over eight different risks in four centres. Tho staff fund amounted to £3320, ' open accounts and'liabilities to £79,352, and >. bills payable to £11,223. Stock was 'valued at £1/5,486,, land, buildings, plant, and : machinery ,at i £102,737 (as against £99,559 I last year), book debts owing £56,856 ■ (as against £59,855 last year), bills receivable and' in hand ,£966', and' cash in bank £3274. The Chairman said the business during the past year ' had. been ■ satisfactory, ; and he thought the Company could look forward to the. coming year with confidence. The-motion was carried. . Messrs. George Sievwright and John-, Mill were re-elected directors, and ■ ' Messrs. W. R. Holmes (Auckland), C. P. Powles (Wellington), G. W. Hulme (Christchurch) and -William Brown and Co. (Dunedin),'auditors.- ~ -

PROHIBITION.LEAGUE. ' ' Chrlstchurch, Jtaroli 20; The Chnstchurch : Prohibition' League passed the following resolution to-night :- : - "That the . League desires to call the attention of the Government 'to Commissioner Dinnie's letter to tho Licensed Victuallers' Association in which he refers to Inspector Mitchell's statement .that no-license at'lnvcrcargill. has been, a crowning success■ in'such' terms that gives the. impression that lie desiros to gag his subordinates and'in- ' timidate them from stating the'truth, as to -the.'remarkable success which; no-license has proved in Invercargill, Mataura, Clutha,Oarnaru, atld elsewhere."- It'was decided to > send a copy to-each of the Crown Ministers.

HOKITIKA HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. Hokltlka, March 20. A large and enthusiastic public meeting decided to support tho Hokitika Harbour Board in the proposed' legislation. to raise £36,000 for harbour/improvements. \' BOWLING' TOURNAMENT, Napier, March 20. '■ Some of the games in the first round of tho pairs' match at tho bowling' tournament have beon played, tho following being the results :—Currie and Simonds, 28, beat Caldor and Bartietfr,: 18; Hollings and Cochrane, 21, beat Parker, and Harston,' 18; Cowell and. Williams," 20, beat 801 l and Sutcliffe, 19; Gooder and' Porteous, 26, beat Bristy arid Badley, 24; Revs. J.. A. Asher and J.. W. Hayward, 21, beat Paterson and Paterson, 19; Williamson and Ricketts, 32, beat Townsend and Ewington, 15; Hall and Smith, 21, beat Woolley and Hunt, 15.