FIJI BANKING AND COMMERCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 171, 17 July 1873, Page 2

FIJI BANKING AND COMMERCIAL.

COMPANY, (Limited). CAPITAL— £250,000; in 50.0C0 Shares of £5 each. First Issue, £100, on 0; in 50,000 Shakes of £5 EACH, Provisional Directors: James Watt, Esq. frederick wliitaker, esq. Thomas B. Gillies, Esq. C. J. Stone, Esq. William Ajtken, Esq. Thomas Mokbin, Esq. J. fc>. AfIACFARLANB, EgQ, Bankers: The Bank op New Zealand. Commercial Agents: The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited. Solicitors: Messrs Wiiitaker & Russell. Secretary (p;-o teni): A. Wabdrop, Esq., fchortland-street. HpELE rapidly-increasing importance of the JL mercantile interests in the group of islands comprised in the Kingdom of Piji, and the absence of any reliable medium of exchange in that territory, have suggested the formation of this Company, which, it is intended, shall supply ordinary Banking facilities and undertake commercial agency business, by indenting goods, advancing on the produce of settlers, and undertaking consignments. Notwithstanding the difficulties which ihe early settlers in these Islands have encountered, the progress made in the development of Commerce has been very satisfactory — the returns of exports and imports exhibiting rspi^ expansion. The capabilities oi the Islands for sugar •and cotton cultivation are of the_ very highest description, an , with the introduction of capital aisd the means afforded to planters to turn their produce to account, there can be no doubt that the above interests will be very speedily snd largely increased. Already tracts of country have been secured by planters from other sugarproducing countries, the climate and soil of J?iji offering superior advantages. The European population 13 already considerable, and rapidly increasing ; and the general dtsire to support law and order, and the partial n cognition of the Government bv Great Britain, afford a reasonable ground for believing that transactions in Fiji may be undertaken with safety, and with the same recourse as in more settled communities. Important concessions, including an exclusive right to issue bank notes, and to transact all Government business, are under offer to the Company; and from data furnished to the promoters, it is believed that a very satisfactory return on the capital to be invested will be ensured. The scope of the Company's operations will not be confined to Fiji, but will embrace the

numerous groups of islands in the Pacific, as encouragement may from time to time offer. t* is believed that n. paid-up Capital of £50.000 will, for a time, amply provide for the current requirenients of the Company, the unpaid Capital remaining as a basis for credit with its Agents. A further issue of shares will be made as required, on terms to be settled by the Board of Directors. Of the £2 10/ to be called up on the First Issue of shares, a deposit of 10/ per share will be required on application and a like amount on allotment. Subsequent calls will be made as required, not exceeding £1 per share, with a notice of not less than one month. No promoters' or paid-up (shares will be issued, and the preliminary expenses are guaranteed not to exceed £1,000 Applications for shares — accompanied by a deposit of 10/ per share — will be received by the Secretary on and after Ist August and up to Ist September next, a prefererce bein? given to priority of application. In event of no allotment being made, the deposit will be returned in full. Auckland, July 4, 1873. 1862

mediately pounced upon him, and warned him to attend, and it is said, * tipped' him to rouse his fellow villagers. Nine were soon mustered, proceedings commenced, and a verdict was shortly afterwards recorded in spite of the dimness of the artificial light. This coroner was victorious, aad we cannot help thinking well deserves his fee." The bishop of Brisbane has announced that he intends resigning bis episcopal charge on his return to England. The Australian Jockey Club has resolved not to accept the same name for two horses in any race, and claims the power, if two horses are entered under similar names, to alter the name in either case. Those were dear kisses (remarks the Sydney Empire) in which the captain of the British chip Commodore indulged on his way to this port. The board appointed to investigate the case have fined him £259 3s 9J (estimated, we suppose, at so much per kiss), deprived the surgeon of his gratuity, and the matron of half of hers, and disqualified both for future employment ou emigrant vessels. This is sharp justice, and we should like to see the evidence which has rendered it necessary. The captaiD, we understand, is naturally indignant at his treatment, and says that it is the old story of woman's ingratitude. If he hadn't kissed the girls they would have kissed him, which would have come to much the same thing, and in any case they were villains to kiss and tell. A wonderful story of resuscitation after supposed death is told by a Castlemaine journal. "News reached Casslemuine on Saturday afternoon that Mrs Ludlow, wife of Mr John Christopher Ludlow, of Yapeen, had ' come to life' after remaining in a state of perfect unconsciousness since Thursday last, and being given up by the doctor who attended her as dead. On Thursday, it seems, all the usual sytnptonß of death set in, and an order was given for the coffin and funeral. The funeral was to have taken place this very day, and the hearse was about to leave the shop door of Mr Niebuhr, undertaker, when a hurried otder came in countermanding the funeral. From what we can learn, the existence of life was first discovered as two women were in the act of placiDg the body in the coffin. The case certainly possesses unusual interest." The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Times writes:— -Sir George Bowen, with all his wealth and impulsiveness of temperament, his geniality of eloquence, his overflowing cordiality, has shown us that he possesses a fair share of that very useful quality which the Scotch call " pawkiness." Although innocent as the dove, he ia withal as wise as tLe serpent. It came about in this way. The residence of the Governor at Toorak is not public property but leasehold. The lease expires in March next. Some speculators have bought it for the purpose of subdivision and sale, and decline to renew (he lease unless the Government consent to increase the rent from £1750 a year to £4000. The sum is an absurdly extortionate one, and neither the Government nor Parliament is at all likely to consent to pay it. There is a new Government House building, a structure of palatial proportions, so big that future Governors will have a good claim to have their salaries doubled to keep itup. But it is not built yet, and will not be finished for at least two years. No convenient and suitable bouse presents itself in the meantime. Dr L, X/, Smith, an " advertising doctor," known largely to some through the medium of bis own advertisements, is said to have offered the Government the use of his house in Collins-street, on the condition that be might carry on the surgery at the back, but it is not stated that the offer met with much favor. So no way was visible out of the difficulty. Just at this juncture, his Excellency, with a degree of diplomatic fact that immensely raises him in my estimation, determined to play the part of Deus ex mackina, and play a little game of his own at the same time. So he announced to his Ministers that the health of Lady Bowen had for some time required the change of a trip to Europe, ihat he had arranged that she wilh the family, would leave for England in March next, and th it as, under these circumstances, he would not see much company, it would not require a large house for his accommodation. That is to eay, in other terms, that his Excellency was ready to go ioto private lodgings and live quietly, pocketing at the same timn about £8000 a year out of his £10,000 salary. The announcement bas naturally caused a great shock to those who, under the captivating conversation of Lady Bowen, and the warmly affable manner of Sir George, had been looking forward to spending many a pleasant evening in the halls of Toorak.