Commercial.

Evening Star, Issue 3807, 7 May 1875, Page 3

Commercial.

Seward a ■ 1 (i 11 lard 'report- having sold Colonial home, shave-; this day at 275. The following resolutions were carried at a meeting last night of the Dunedin slvfu-ohohlcrs of tho Titanic Steel Company “ That Mr A. Thomson be appointed R cretavy; that tho Dunedin directors be iiah-ucted i > express strongly to th.e directors at \\ c iiugcoh : lic yhavohoklera objections to having a director appointed os manager, and their wish that a tho: uglily compelont and practical manager he appoints 1; that all calls made slion d be advertised in alMucdh} paper tliat the shareholders express their satisfaction w-iHi the director recently app -tuted i, t Wellbig-to* to «tor«sent tfio Diaiediia shisrefioldc: s.” • , A- Myrcor re:.oris, for fhe week cudißK May o, retail pries only Fresh butter, ia jib and 11b prints, Is 9d to is Ittd per lb j in lumps, ls8d; and powdered and salt butter, Is Bd. The market is at present pretty well supplied with trosh butter, but the demand contuuus good. Salt butter in kogs. Is Gd per lb, but little or no demand at present owing to ■. ho large quantities imported from Australia selling at Is 4d to Is 4%d per lb. Cheese is very scarce, and likely to advance in price; best quality, Is per !b. Side bacon (smoked; very scarce, aud selling ;;t Is 4d per lb. Rolled baeoi is also scarce at Is 21 to Is 3d per lb. Colonial luuns are likewise very scarce at Is -Id to Is 3d per lb English bams, lu 6d to la 8d per lb. Eggs are still very scarce (never more so) and retailing, when ou liaud, at Ss per dozen,

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ HALL COMPANY,

The third annual meeting of this company was held in tlie Secretary's office lost evening, a fair number of shareholders being present, and Mr Jas. Smith in the chair. The report stated that although the directors we; a not in a position to declare the company free from the liabilities incurred in 1873 they were, nevertheless, glad to report a reduction of the debt t hen incurred; and having recently let the theatre for a period of six months, at a good rental, with every probability of a continuation at the same rate, they hoped soon to wipe off the liability referred to. The directors considered it due to the secretary of the company, Mr W. S. Douglas, to state that upon his own suggestion his salary had heon reduced to LSO a-year, as from’the 13th June, 187-I.—The Chairman said they were all aware that during the past year the greater portion of their property, namely the theatre, had been comparatively unproductive. The theatrical business had been unusually dull during the last year, and the Queen's had only been let For a comparatively short time. A portion of the building was in possession of Mr Harding, who had a license to sell liquors ; but, not making money, he was obliged to succumb to circumstances, nud the directors terminated his tenure and made a virtue of necessity by remitting a considerable portion of the rent due in consideration of his reuderingnp possession of the promises. Mrs Hainaan again took a portiou of the premises for two years as a dancing academy, at a rental of LIOO per annum. Inero were also three shops bringing in a satisfactory rent. The directors bad at first tried to induce Mr Barker,‘of the Criterion Hotel, and others 11) pay a rental, with a view of preventing- that part in the town from becoming dull, but he did not see their way to close upon the terms offered; and Messrs Steele and Keogh, lessees of the Princes Theatre ■ nrered a rout payable in advance, of L 775 per annum. On being Questioned, Mr Steele candidly idimit. I that their purpose was to keep the Uicatro closed, but at the same time stated that they wonjd not object to any performance which won.d n L las'a with their own. The {expenses wore gnmad rent, LPU; interest on mortgage, ronn’ wa rates, theatre license, insurances, Ac., WO; secretary's salary, LSO. The year’s finances mowed an improvement of LI3 J. The company was not m a • my flourishing state, which must be a matter oi disappointment to the shareholders, who bad entertained such sanguine expectations. When tne railways were opened there would boa ablo luniix of theatre-going people, and their expectntions might yoi; be realised. He had heard it stated that tne p-opnetbv of the Princess’s would at I nemo, -v , ding have his license cancelled,- ' vv ; ' ! 'b Wi 'i : rlic .theatre 'and the Queen’s J ne.i ie v. quid no longer be at the great disadvantage it had been. The secretary, Mr Douglas, bad, ran very considerate maimer, voluntarily reduced ins salary to one-half in consequence of the reduced state ot the company’s finances, to which the directors gratefully agreed. The report and balance sueet were adopted as read. —Messrs Jack and Allan were re-elected as director 1 -; j Messrs Hawkins and Youngman, auditors; and Mr Goodman, hon treasurer.