So very Likely!

Manawatu Herald, 28 May 1895, Page 2

So very Likely !

« A wonderful oorrespondeut of the New Zealand Times writing from London about our Colonial Treasurer's three per cent loan, has given an apt illustration of the fable of the frog who thought he was as big as a bull. He says the transaction " shows your Treasurer to be a ;very remarkable financial diplomatist " and then adds " As to the mean3 by which this important undertaking was achieved I of course know nothing, but I conjecture a good deal. It seems to me probable ..that the threat of withdrawing the inscription of stock from the Bank of England had a very beneficial effect, and made the old lady of Threadneedle "street, metaphorically speaking, " sit up." Even she is not big enough or strong enough to see £15,000 a year fade into thin air without dismay." How the London money market will rejoice when our , remarkable financial diplomat leaves for New Zealand. It is a pretty conceit to.he able to imagine a New Zealander threatening the Bank of England, and it is decidedly wonderful news to learn it "is not big enough or strong enough to see £ 15y00O '-a -year—fade -into thin air without dismay." : We wonder whether this benighted young person has ever taken -the trouble to learn the position oi the . Bank he writes^ so ..very foolishly' about ?»;J?o show the nonsense at his remark* we quote the following-figuisa*,, from .^whfch.fc wiiLbe seen the siipposed; threafc qf a : loss of £15,000 a year w«S no^ikely' to cause ifial ancient* -inßiitution either to shut its doors, or to obey the dictates of our Mr J. G. Ward: The capital of the Bank of England j&£3,816 f 8.48 ; Notes in. circulation £26,868,260 ; Notes in reserve (to provide for such losses in earnings as suggested by the N.Z. Times' correa* pondent). £25,512,695. Gold ajjd silver coin and bullion £37,455,029. We may also mention that the total dividends for the last year were at the rate of £8 10s per cent, and the price of Bank Stock is £330. These two last items may be subject to fluctuations, especially if many enterprising Colonial Treasurer's run home and threaten the Old Lady of Threadneedle street.

What most unpleasant names are given to racehorses nowadays. The winner of the Final Steeplechase at Wanganui was " Laugley the Devil." The winner of the Hfck Flat race at Wanganui was Sedgebrooi . who obtained a "divvy" of £73 17s. The race is described as having been a great boil over, the winner being a rank outsider. Mi 1 Griffiths, expressing the viewa of the Labour Party in the N.S.W. Assembly, said that Mr Reid, the Premier, had a whalebone backbone, which could be bent to force Democratic reforms better than the backbone of Sir George Dibbs, which was as brittle as glass. The Premier retorted that after Mr Griffiths' remarks it would be degradation and an insult to receive his vote. This! is not an advertisement but looks very much like one. It is part of the latest cable news :— The War Office has accepted a tender for the supply of Joshua's Australian brandy to the department. Inspector Thomson has taken over the Wellington police district from Inspector Pender. Amongst the usual Birthday honours are mentioned Mr Walter Besant, novelist; Henry Irving ; Dr W. H. Russell, war correspondent; and Mr Lewis Morris, poet, to be Knights Bachelors. „ The. Post says the Premier has beeu offered, and has refused a knighthood. Mr .7. G. Wilson has received a reply from the Minister of Lands to his telegram referring to the desirability of the Government acquiring the Motoa Estate for settlement purposes, promising that enquiries will be made, and that he will be further communicated with. We have got thus far. Mr Hyinan Marks; who died at Christchurch on Wednesday, has left among other bequests £5000 fox 1 the establishment of a ward at the Hospital to be called the Hyman Marks Ward ; the sum of £3000 to be invested and the interest applied to the destitute patients' relief fund ; the sum of £2000 to be. invested and the interest to be applied to the relief of the deserving poor residing in the Canterbury district ; £000 to the trustees of the Christchurch Jewish Congregation. Tenders are invited by the Borough Couucil fov making and painting a new sign board, and for fencing in the Target Reserve. Now the planting season will be in full swing very shortly we hope the Borough Councillors will undertake the fencing and planting of the triangle at the uorth end of the Main-street. To-morrow nominations for the office of Councillor for the Awahou Riding must be in tile hands of the Returning Officer before noon. We learn by advices from the South tha^ flour has risen to nine pounds a ton. On the 28th March the publication of the Pall Moll fiiiiliji-t ceased in its then form. No reason is given. A correspondent of the -IJiiwl'e'* Hat/ Ifcrald writes that he has noticed of late a strange bird swooping down ou his garden whose mission appears to be death to snails. The bird appeared not unlike a hawk, but smaller, and is also like -a hawk in his_ rlight. He swoops down, seizes the snail in his claws, and after rising some distance is seen to pluck the mollusk from its shell, which is dropped on the ground again. On Saturday afternoon the Government Under the Governor's warrant took formal possession of the Midland Railway and plant, under section 123 of ." The Railway Construction and Laud Act 1881." A smart earthquake was feH yesterday morning ntlO.lo. A loud vumb'.e preceded the shake. Inspector Pender leaves Lvttelton in the " Doric " for London on Thursday.