NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2446, 7 February 1882, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[FEB PBESB ASSOCIATION.] < AUCKLAND, February 6. J An Example to Christchurch. , The Auckland G-as Company has deolared a dividend of 16 per cent. The discount haa i been increased to 20 per cent., making the i prioe of gas for cash 8s per 1000 ft. Coal Dividend. ! At the half-yearly meeting of the Bay of i Islands Coal Company a dividend was de- : clared of 10 per cent. Mr Firth and Dr. j Campbell were re-eleoted directors. I School Prizes. j At the distribution of the Auckland College Grammar sohool prizes Sir G. M. O'Eorke pre- ( aided, and Lady O'Borke distributed the ( prizes. The new head master, Mr Bsrrie, and f the Premier addressed the pupils. The chair- • man said he had been just informed by the Premier that a vote of £ISOO for higher , eduoation in Auckland had not been allowed ( to lapse, but had been placed in the hands of those who would see it properly expended. WELLINGTON, February 6. j A Government Barnacle. ■ Mr Henry Clapcott has been appointed general leoturer of the colony to the Government Insurance Department. It is intended ' to revise and to push the industrial branch of ' the business. - InquestAn inquiry was held to-day into the origin ef the recent fire in Hunter street. The evi- , dence proved nothing beyond the fact that the gasfitter had examined the gsa meter during the day, and that he had used a j matoh in his examination. The jury returned ■ a verdict —" That the fire originated in the meter box, either from the meter or pipes, but there was no evidenoe to show how it ignited." RacingBookmakers and owners of horses to-day subscribed £45 ior the lad Morrinhan, who received severe injuries while riding King Quail. The Southern horses left by the Botorua this evening, Sir George and Magnolia going to Picton by the Penguin. Settling for the raoes to-night took place, when the following amounts were banded over:—G. Bates, £593 15s; B. P. Martin, £133; J. Pilbrow, £llß 15s; Sir Hercules Bobineon, £76 ; P. Butler, £6l 15 a ; C. Redwood, £47 10s; Hon. Wm. Bobinson, £47 10s ; T. H. Hill, £l4 15s; Mr Sinolair, £9 10s; T. Orosbie, £9 10s ; total, £llll 10s. NELSON, February 6. Accident. Whilst putting new blades to the propeller of the steamer Waireka on Saturday afternoon, the chief engineer, B. McGill, got his hand orushed. MoGill had previously lost two finders of the same hand by an accident, but hopes are entertained that the thumb will be saved. GEEYMOUTH, February 6. Mining. The yield of retorted gold from the Golden Fleece Extended Quartz Mining Co., Limited, for the crushing of 150 tons quartz just completed was 2400zs 6dwts. This was a trial crushing from the reoently discovered reef at the lowest level. DUNEDIN, February 6. Coombs and Son's EstateA meeting of the oreditors of Coombs and Son, tanners, was held to-day. The trustees closed their report with the following paragraph:—" It is necessary to add that, in looking further into the sooounts, the trustees find them to have been moat irregularly and improperly kept. At the 31st of October, 1880, as pointed out in the report of the committee, there was a deficiency according to the stock aooonnt of that date of £BOOO, and the trustees are therefore of opinion that both the debtors must have known their position at that time, and should not under these- ciroumstances have oontinued tbw business, whioh has moreover since then evidently been improperly carried on, from the fact that the present deficiency amounts to £28.913 15a 6d or increased during the fourteen months by'a sum of £20,913 15s 6i." The trustees also reported that O. Coombs, jun., of Christchurch, made an offer of £II,OOO, but it was not aocepted. It was eventually decided to leave the whole matter in the hands of the trustees. ____________