GENERAAL NEWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 73, 13 May 1879, Page 3

GENERAAL NEWS.

Well Asbested. — Samual Gibson oan probably claim the credit of being the best arrested man in New Zealand. He ap-

peared before the Asbburton Bench yesterday, charged ou warrant with maliciously / wounding a horse. The h.wse had been r^ hired from a repository, and pleuty of evidence was forthcoming to show that it had boen stabbed in an unmerciful manner by someone, but the evidence against Gibson was hardly complete, and the iufoima* tion was dismissed. No sooner, however, had Gibson left the Court than he was followed, and re-arrested for cruelty to animals. His counsel objected to this procedure, on the ground that the warrant haid not been sworn to, and Gibson was again discharged. Again Sergeant Felton put his hand on Gibson's shoulder, and, to make his chances this time doubly sure, an information had been duly laid. Counsel for the accused was, however, on the alert, and he now raised the objection^ that the aocused could not be arrested within the precincts of the Court. Of course, the objection was fatal, and Gibson once more was free. He was about to retreat to the door, when he was re-arrested, this time without a warrant. For the fourth time he was discharged, and at the suggestion of the Bench, the gallant sergeant, who seemed rather nonplussed at the hairbreadth ; esoapes of his slippery customer, resolved io give him a run for a week. Gibson is probably under the impression by this time that it is the police, and not he, that should be prosecuted for cruelty to animals.—Ashburton Mail. Mabine Department. — The following wrecks and casualties are reported b' f Mi E. Johnson, the officer in charge oi the Marine Department, during the year ending June 30:- 61 casualties were reported to this office, 62 of which occurred on or near the coasts of the colony. Of these, 33, affecting, vessels of an aggregate of 4162 tons, were cases of total wreck (in this, however, is included the Hydrabad, which it is possible may be recovered), while 29, affecting vessels of 3479 tons in all, were caßeaof partial loss only. The number of lives lost on or near the coasts of the colony was 20, viz., 5 from the Lionel, 6 from the Excelsior, and 4 from the Clan Alpine (all hands in these vessels being lost), 2 each from the Echo and the Zion, and one from the Queen Bee.J fcNine casualties were reported as having occurred beyond the colony consisting of Bii total wrecks, with an aggregate tonnage of 1615, 2 partial losses (2588), and one case of only loss of life. The total of lives lost in these cases -was 12, viz., 7 from Hinemoa (lost with all hands), 2 from the Emma, and*J. each from the Bencleuch, Kedar, and Kentish Tar. UsriEASANT Dbeams.— The Melbourne . correspondent of the Bendigo Advertiser ■writes :— " Why not honor E. Kelly's draft at the Melbourne offices of the banks, instead of having ell this humbug and circumlocution ? :The whole of the country branches are kept in a fever. It is not good for business. Imagine the dreams cf the manager. He starts up in the middle of the night, kicks off the — I forgot, no blankets this weather— and the good lady seizes him by the arm: just as, with staring eyeballs, he is in the act af shooting Ned Kelly with a patent Mahoney toy pistol, as Ned is entering the half -open window; whole affair being the baseless fabric of a vision, which leaves not a rack behind -except rheumatism. Then we hear of another manager, during the fearful night waiche?, and while .fast asleep, giving his wife a backhanded smack on the jaw, whereupon she screamed but ' Kelly ! Kelly !' and the had to apologise with ' Beg pardon, fity dear ; I thought yon were Kelly.' " Lastd.' — During the month of March the the sum of £1454 was received at the Crown Lands Office upon deferred payment land in, the Sandon district ; in addition toTrhich nearly £1150 was received in scrip for Jland in the Bunnythorpe dis> triot

Bamc op Nbw Zealand. — At the Bank

of New Zealand meeting held at Auckland a few days ago the usual dividend and bonus of 15 per cent was declared. £23,000 was added to the reserve fund, and £9,700 carried forward. The report shows the coiu and cash balance to be one million .seven hundred thousand pounds, oi which 4769,000 is held in the colony, the balance in London. The profit and loss account was as follows : — Profit at 31st March, after making very full appropriations for bad and doubtful debts, £80,240 ; to which is added balance of undivided profit 30th September, 1878, £8,888, making a total available of £89,128 lls Bd, which it is recommended should be appropriated as follows : — To payment of dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, £36,360, Bonuß 5s per share, equal to 5 per cent, per annum, £18,125. Proposed increase to reserve fund, £25,000 ; balance carried to profit and loss new account, £9,753. The report was adopted. The chairman, in his' speech, remarked on the disastrous consequences of the City of Glasgow Bank failure, but said that the reporta of this bank's losses by such failure were quite untrue, as not a shilling was lost. The private deposits have increased by £168,000. The profit brought to account was about the same as last year, but lirger provision had been made for future contingencies; A hopeful view was expressed of the future pnwpects of the colony.