NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2363, 29 October 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

fPEB PBESS ASSOCIATION, j AUCKLAND, October 28. The Timber Trade. A general rise in the price of timber has taken place by the action of the Timber Company. EducationalAt a meeting of the Board of Education, a letter was read from tbe Government declining to accept the prevalence of an»epidomic as the reason why the capitation should not be diminished proportionately with the diminished attendance. Death hy Drowning. A son of Mr S. Leers, accountant, aged four years, strayed from home, and was fonnd drowned off the breakwater. Mechanics’ Bay. Mysterious

At Port Albert two sailors are missing from the brig Emily, loading at Kopnrn mills, since Sunday. Their disappearance is mysterious, as they had only just joined the vessel. One of the men, Carl Pearson, had £2O wages due, and has left behind new boots, clothes, watch and chain. The captain thinks they have deserted, but the crew are of opinion that they must be drowned. Both men are Swedes. NA PIER, October 28. The Harbour Question. At a meeting of a number of tradesmen and property owners held last night, it was decided to obtain an engineering opinion on the feasibility and cost of a harbor at the Bluff. The intention is to float u company to carry out the work. Shearing’ Shearing is now in full swing, and excellent clips ate generally reported. A large quantity of wool will this year be offered at local sales. Messrs Headley and Lyons’ first sale is to be held about the latter end of November. WELLINGTON, October 28. The Governor. His Excellency leaves for Christchurch on Sunday to attend the consecration of the Christchurch Cathedral. The Bishops of Wellington, Nelson and Waiapu were passengers South by the Wanaka to-day for the purpose of being present at the consecration. DDNEDIN, October 28. Large DividendTho National Insurance Company directors recommend to the shareholders at the forthcoming meeting to declare a dividend of Is per share and a bonus of fid per share, equal to 30 per cent, per annum, which wiJ leave a balance of £BOOO to carry forward.

[fbom the own coeebspondent op the “PEESS] WELLINGTON, October 28. With reference to the very bulky new tariff of railway charges just gazetted, which occupies forty closely printed pages of tabular figures, I may explain that there is no alteration as regards passenger fares, and the chief changes in respect to freights are in the direction of affording increased facilities for the conveyance of wool, grain, &c., from distant places to port. It is hoped that the new rates will be generally acceptable. Wish regard to financial matters, yon will see that the gazetted returns of the quarter’s revenue, when added to the previous quarter, fully bear out my advance information as to the results of the half year’s transactions. Customs realised .£693,777 for the half year, or .£43,777 over the estimated yield ; on the other hand, the second largest item of revenue, the railways, produced nominally only £ 116,845 for the half year, or .£33,155, less than half the total estimate of the treasurer for the year. This, however must not bo relied on as a guide to the prospects of the year, as the railway returns are made up so differently from those of the other departments that it is not easy to arrive at a conclusion of any practical value nntil the year is ended. I am still of opinion that the net profit of the railways for the year will be at least £1360,000, and probably nearly, if not quite, £IOO,OOO. This view is based on substantial grounds, and on careful computations by competent authorities. The actual land sales for the half-year realised .£167,221, of which £1150.000 was from cash sales, and the balance on the deferred payment system. A credit balance of £37,541 was brought forward from last year’s land fnud account.