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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2741, 29 November 1871, Page 2

The Wreck of the Ahuriri. — Although only a few days have elapsed since a subscription was set on foot on behalf of tlic crew of the Ahuriri, the handsome sum of L 122 Os 6d was collected, which was distributed to the sufferers[by Mr Butterworth, at the office of Messrs Butterworth Brothers, this morning.

The Provincial Revenue.-—The balance sheet for the quarter ending 30th September appears in the Provincial Oazcllc of Wednesday. The total revenue is set clown at L 60.270 7s 10d., and the expenditure at L 49,272 16 lid. The sources of revenue arc :—Sale of Crown lands, 1.26,883 llii Si; gold export duty, L 3969 4s lOd ; Goldfic ds revenue, L 4534 9s 4d ; General Government, L 13.794 10s 9.1 ; sale of Government buildings and land, 1.104 7s 8d ; Harbor clues, LS3S 18s 8d ; Dog tax, L6Ol 10s; sundries, L 43 12s 6d ; repayments, Immigration, Ac., L7l9J7s7d; repayments, Education, Ac., LI 115 10s Gaol, L 43 11s 2d; miscellaneous, L 4,965 Os fd; and licenses, L 359 Is.

.Princess Theatre. ‘With line weather, and programmes as attractive as those put forward on Monday and Tuesday evenings, the American Minstrels are sure to do good business for some time. Their second performance last evening was attended by even a larger audience than the iiight previous—certainly larger in the dress circle, which was conveniently filled. There was no alteration of the programme, and the principal selections, which we referred to at some length yesterday, were duly appreciated. Mr Clarke’s exquisite rendering of the song “Jennie in the Dell,” Mr Amery’s “ Village Blacksmith,” Mr Saunders’s harp solos, and Mr Herman’s violin solo, were all deservedly applauded ajid generally redemanded. Last, but not least, were the negro eccentricities of Messrs Kelly and O'Briej;, and the wonderful burlesque dancing of the latter, which kept the audience in a continual roar of laughter. An entire change of programme is announced for this evening.

Statistical. —The Few Zealand Gazette of the Nov. 20, gives returns showing the imports to and the exports from the several provinces of New Zealand for the quarter ending IScpt. 3G. The imports were Taranaki, L 3477 ; Auckland, L 229,031 ; Wellington; 1425,935 ; Hawkcs Bay, LI 1,05' 1 ; Marlborough, L 2553 ; Nelson, L 58,007 ; Westland, L 67.612 ; Canterbury, L 147.441 ; Otago, L40i,517, total, LI, 149,905, as against LI, 181,400 for the corresponding quarter of 1870 The exports were—Auckland, L 552,953 (prinoh pally gold); Wellington, L 29.579 ; Hawkes Bay, L 240 ; Marlborough, L 200 0; Nelson, LC0,326 ; Westland, LI9S, 941 ; Canterbury, L 93.732 ; Otago, L250.03S ; tot d L 1 ,218 099 as against L71»4,508 for the corresponding quarter of 187t>. The llax exported was— Auckland, 2 US! tons, 1.467S ; Wellington, 135 tons, L26*io ; Nelson, IS tons, L 445 ; Lyttelton, 330! tons, L 7015 ; Dunedin, 103 tons L 2137 ; Bluff, 42 tons, LSS7. The New Zealand Medal.— I The Wavfjanui Herald is exceedingingly irate at the manner of awarding the war medal. It says:—“ Are the Commissioners to blame that many who never heard a shot fired In earnest have obtained the honor? However, this is not the worst part of the business, We fin 1 that the recipients are in the company of rank Hauhaus, cannibals, and the worst scoundrels in the whole island. Here is an instance. Wepiha was present at the murder of the t’ev Mr Yolkner, and was the man appointed to sell by auction the effects of the murdered man, a duty which he performed with horrid levity, ,£ipidst the grins and howls of his infuriated cannibal confreres. This same Wepeha has claimed, and his claim is acknowledged and gazetted for the New Zealand War Medal. Here is honorable company to be in. The reward of bravery, loyalty, and fidelity to the Colony shall dangle at the breast of one o£-the most degnded of the savages who have been revelling in the blood of the colonists. After this there could not be any consistent objection made to Te Kooti having the modal.”

Oama.uu Dock Trust. —At the last meeting of this body, the Hon Mr Holmes explained that he had opposed the Oamaru Dock Trust Borrowing Bill in the Legislative Council because it made the Province responsible for the interest on the money proposed to be borrowed, To be consistent, therefore, he was forced to take thqp action, because lie had for a long period opposed Provincial borrowing, as being injurious to the prospects of the Colony. As his motives had been misunderstood, his actions misrepresented, and the public mind prejudiced against him unjustly, he determined to hajid jn Ip s resignation as a member of the Trust, which fro did there and then. At the same meeting It was stated that the works were going pn most satisfactorily—the tramway being so far completed that it yould be ready for the laying down of the sleepers and rails in about four weeks, and that sixty feet of the breakwater had been laid. Arrangements have been made whereby the Provincial Government will be enabled to at onco advance L 12,000 for the carrying on of the works. Insurance Companies. —The following extract from the \ctto amend the Stamp !>uties Act of ISIiG, passed during the late session, shows the effect that jp will have upon insurance companies Clause Ifj.— “ Kvery compa y now incorporated in Is'ew Zealand, or that may hereafter be incorporated, whether under any Act £or tie fegia-

tration of join-stock companies, or incorporated by Act of the General Assembly, and every company carrying on business in the Colony, whether incorporated in New Zealand or not, except as hereinafter provided, shall, on or before the Ist day of January next,' and thereafter in every year at the expiration of twelve calendar months from the date of obtaining the same, procure from the Commissioners a license in the form or to the effect in the Schedule B. hereto attached. And the Commissioners are hereby authorised to issue such license, on the payment to them of the duty provided for in the Schedule A. to this Act, end upon production to them of Act of incorporation, or other instrument incorporating or extending the incorporation af any such company : Provided that in the case of a company not incorporated in New Zealand, the Commissioner may require from such company, or any director, manager, secretary, or other officer thereof, such evidence of the due incorporation of such company as may be satisfactory to the Commissioners : Provided further, that no company incorporated by Act of the General Assembly shall be required to produce their Act of incorporation.” Schedule A. provides Annual license to be taken out by all joint-stock companies and incorporated companies, exclusive of mining and flax companies, carrying on business in New Zealand, whether incorporated in the Colony or otherwise : One shilling per cent, on nominal capital; but not to exceed a maximum of L2OO in respect of any one certificate of incorporation. Railway Contracts. When the Brogden contracts were before Parliament the opponents to their ratification argued strongly that it was disadvantageous to the Colony to accept large contracts, and pointed triumphantly to Canterbury as an example of the success which had attended the letting of railway works in small contracts. But strange to say, the opposite has been the case there. The Lyttelton Tim sin a rrceu‘ a tide uron the Northern railway, tells most conclusively against the system of small local contracts. In the first place we affirm that if the line from Addington to the Waimakariri had been originally given to one competent contractor, it would have b en finished and in working order many months ago. Whereas, under the present system it cannot possibly be completed until the end of February or possibly the middle of March. The whole length of the line is something under twelve miles. To construct this little bit of railway no lese than thirteen separate contracts have been entered into. Four contracts have been let for fencing and earthworks, four for bridges and culverts, one for plate-laying and ballasting, one for gates and main road crossings, one for gatekeepers’ lodges, and at least two more for station buildings and platforms. Some of those contracts have been taken by the same persons, but in many cases the work is given to separate contractors, who have no connection with one another. Under these circumstances, it is obvious that unless each individual contractor fulfils his work properly, and keeps within his contract time, the others must wait his convenience, and the whole work be delayed and thrown out of gear. Gy*- contemporary concludes:—But Messrs Brogden will get along at a pace somewhat faster than a mile in two Rjpnths, which is about the rate of construction on the Northern line. If Canterbury wishes to keep pace with the rest of the colony, it must swallow its repugnance to foreign contractors —if, indeed, sech a feeling exists —and invite the Messrs Brogden to make its main lines of railway as speedily as possible.