Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 3130, 1 March 1873, Page 2

The usual monthly meeting pf the Otago Schoolmasters’ Association was held tp-day. There was a good attendance. The Committee appointed to examine School-books reported, that they had been examining several aeries, and that so far as they had yet seen, censidered Nelson’s “ Royal Readers” as being superior to any scries at present in use. Mr' M'Laclilan, Kaikorai. was appointed to read a paper at next monthly meeting. Our Naseby correspondent writes : “ Tenders are again called for the sludge channel, this time in one block of about ten miles. It is supposed that it can bo thus done several thpusan i pounds cheaper. Of course individual contractors are angry at the disregard to their interests, &0., bqt no doubt the OrOToraweat its *etiog tor

best. Mr Pearce has obtained the contracts on the head race, now holding twenty miles in f«ll. He calls for 2UO men, and is reported ; o be offering 8s {.or diem.’’

The cricketers of Dunedin do not seem to respond to the invitation given at a recent meeting to practice the game in anticipation of next season’s {day. Whether it is that those gentlemen who gave the invitation do not set the example, or whether it is the result of the late contest at Chrial’church, Iho effect is the same. A paucity of attendance is the experience of each day’s practice. r l his afternoon was no exception. Beyond those playing there were very few on the ground. The game played was one between eleven of the Volunteer ami eleven Civilian members of the Citizens’ Club.

At the Mayor’s Court, this morning, the girl M rgarct Lewis, remanded from yesterday, on the charge of having obtained two pairs of boots by means of false pretences, from the shop of Mr Prictor, and with being a criminal child, was again placed in the dock. M r Charles {Smith was called, but said he knew nothing persi nally of the case. He then made a long statement in explanation of an alleged error in the report of the case published in (he Star of last evening, but the only difference between his statement and the report was, that the latter represented him as having sa : d, ‘‘be would be wiling to take back the girl rather than see her go to ruin,” instead of “he would be willing to take her back for the night, only, to allosv the mother to make a statement before the Bench decided the case.” The mother of the girl, in answer to the Bench, said, the reason why she did not appear yesterday was because Mr Prictor had said to her that if she paid for the boots no further action would be taken in the matter. She had looked after her daughter and clothed her well. The Bench expressed the r opinion that she bad been very neglectful of her duty as a mother, ami censured her severely. Considering all the circumstances of the ease, the girl would be discharged ; and as there was no use in speaking to her, the un-thcr would be cautioned that she would be held respon ible for the future conduct of her daughter. There was no other business transacted. Messrs Ward and Bradshaw occupic I the Bench The ninth annual meeting of the Permanent Building Society of Utago was held last evening at the office of the secretary, Mr J. S Webb, —Mr H, J. Walter, in the chair. The following report was read and adopted : —“ N otwithstanding the unprecedented competition for investments which has characterised the past year, the Committee are able to present favorable balance-sheets in each class of the Society’s shares. First Series : A number of mortgages in the first series having been paid off during the year, the Committee have employed the accruing funds chiefly in paying out shareholders who were willing to withdraw, thus avoiding the necessity for re-investing for short periods at unfavorable rates of interest. Duly 213 shares of this scries now remain in force, of which 138 have been advanced. The profits for the year are L 1,069 Os 8d ; a portion of these has been paid to withdrawing shareholders, leaving the total credit to profit and loss at L 5,542 2s 3d, or L 26 Os 4.1 per share. The Committeearo therefore able to predict, with confidence, that this series may be wound up before the end of the current year, and that payments ot subscriptions and redemptions will probably' ceas.e with the November meeting, This expected result is in gra ifying accordance with the calculations made in 1870 by Mr Brent and the • core.tary. Second Series : An advance of nine shares has been m ule in this series, and the balance of funds has been invested through the permanent series The number of shins has,by withdrawals, and by conversions lo Class B, been reduced to 224. <i which 32A arc advanced. The profits of the year are Ll7O Is 2-1, bringing the credit to profit and loss to L4Ol His sd, equal to LI 17* 9d per share. I’ermaneMt .-cries : The Society has been strengthened in this department of its business by the amalgamation with it of a society formed at Lawrence in August last, an arrangement which has proved mutually advantageous, i uring the year, investments to the amount of L 6,290 10s have been secured. .after providing for dividends on -hares iu Class A, at the rate of nine per cent., and for the tabulated piolits • n shaves in Class B, and writing off one-lifrh of the preliminary expenses, a surplus profit of LSI 9s 9d remains. In accordance with the mb s. one half of this amount will be passed to the credit of the guarantee fund, ami from the ba'ance, a bonus of Us per cent, per annum, will be paid on shares in Class A, and credited to the holders of shares in Class B. The total number of Class A shares is now- 231 (equal to L 5,775), and in Class B, 848. The Copimitte have de ennimd nut to issue more shares of Class A in the present state of tfic niouey market, except on terms which will considerably reduce the ordinary interest payable upon them, but not interfering with the rights of their holders to participation in surplus p'olits.” The secretary made a statement as to the busine-s of the society, and showed that, if only the same amount of business should be transacted during this ensuing year as in that just closed, the bonus on shares in the permanent series would be at least at the rate of L2 per cent, per annum. A large accession of business in the Tuapeka district was expected by the local committee there, and there was every sigu of a good business being done iu other quarters. The bank account was that day overdrawn more than L 2,500, which was sufficient indicated of the activity of the society at the present time. Mr John Mitchell was elected a member of Committee, and Messrs Thomas Dick, John O. Eva, <L U. Matheson, and Henry Wise,—retiring members, were re-elected. A vote of thanks to the chairman was passed, and the proceedings terminated.

The Rev. A. J. Campbell will lecture in the First Church, on Wednesday evening, at 7 30. Subject : ‘‘Young Men’s Work in this Age, and in this Country.” The Harbor Company’s steamer Golden Ago will make an extra trip on Monday, leaving Port Chalmers at 6 30 p.m., to give the residents there an opportunity of visiting Chiarini’s grand circus.