NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1566, 25 February 1879, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[SBB PBKBfI AGENOr.j Masterton, February 24. "William J. 0. Smith broke his leg yesterday by a fall from his horse. The stewards of the Wairarapa Jockey Club paid on Saturday—Butler, .£185; Vallance, Knight, .£75; Kay, JG6O; Gillies, .£SO; Murtagh, .415; Hill, [Pre§s Special Wire.] New Plymouth, February 24.

At the Land Board to-day, the Chief Surveyor iivas unable to afford any information about the Patea land, as the District Lands Officer, (Captain Wray, had retained the standard plans at CaiiJyle, contrary to instructions from tne Gove* -ment. When the Chief Surveyor sent, in accordance with instructions from the Sur-veyor-General orders to remove the plans to the ■chief office, Captain Wray, in his capacity of R.M., gave the police instructions not to allow any perstns to remove the plans from the local survey office. As District Land Officer he haß nothing to do with the plans or survey department. By last account he keeps a guard of police over the survey office at Carlyle. The matter is causing some excitement. Wellington, February 24. An amateur concert got up by Mr Parker, organist of St. Paul's, and warmly supported by the Mayor, is to be held here shortly, in aid of widows and children left destitute by the Kaitangata coal mine disaster Dtjnedin, February 24. A meeting, attended by about two hundred people, was held to-night to consider what steps fmould be taken to raise funds for the sufferers by the Kaitangata accident. The Mayor presided, and the meeting was most enthusiastic. It is anticipated that a large sum will be collected. The bookmakin? fraternity have shown their sympathy with the sufferers by the Kaitangata *"»tastroph«. Mr H. Prince ha 3 already collected amongst the members of the ring at present in town close on ,£IOO, and he is sanguine of increasing that amount to .£2OO within a few days. At a lecture delivered by | Mr Varley yesterday .£76 were collected. The report of the standard Insurance Company for the half-year ending December 30th shows a balance of .£23,010 to the credit of profit and loss account, which is recommended to be applied as follows ■: —To payment of a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent., J 2375 0; to profit and loss, The directors regret not being able to recommend the distri-. bntion of a bonus in addition to the dividend, but, in the present depressed state of insurance business, they do not feel warranted in so (doing. Invekcaegill, February 21. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce thiii afternoon a resolution condemning the ■existing bankruptcy laws was unanimously passed, and it was recommended that no bankrupt receive his discharge unless it could be shown that the estate would pay ten shillings in the pound. The reckless trading and speculation induced by the existing laws was warmly commented on. Mr J. S. Macdonald was tho mover of the resolution. The question of cooperating with the Commissioners of the Sydney International Exhibition was introdnced, and a sub-committee was formed to take immediate steps to collect exhibits in Southland.