TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4782, 20 July 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

■ (per; PRESS AGENCY.) New Plymouth, Wednesday. A public meeting was held this afternoon re boundaries of counties in this province, when the following resolution was unanimously passed “ That it is undesirable to divide the province into two counties as proposed by the Counties Bill, as being financially unjust, and being calculated to produce financial difficulties and complications ; that the formation of the whole province into one county would avoid this, and is calculated to work equitably, and to fairly adjust the various interests concerned." The resolution is to be forwarded to the members. Napier, Wednesday. At twenty-five minutes past four o’clock this morning an exceedingly sharp shook of earthquake passed over Napier, travelling apparently from south-west to north-east. It was the 1 severest shock experienced for some time past. No damage is reported except the throwing down of the upper part of the chimney at the boiling down establishment, Clive. Christchurch, Wednesday. The directors of the New Shipping Company have issued their report, to be presented at the general meeting bn 2nd August. The operations since Ist January; 1875, show that . there ■ had: been a profit of £43,177, which they propose to appropriate—first, to liquidate balance at debit of profit and loss account on 31st .December, 1871, £14,360j second, to

transfer to a reserve pay a dividend .for the half-year endingJiOth June at 8 per .c'ept/per'annuini.£sodo;i und'to; carry the A severe |shoolc: jof earthquake rienced at t four, minuted past foilr this morning. '/V X / VX., W. G. Brittain; one "of the pioneer settlers,' and for many years Chief Commissioner of Lands, is dead. ....... .

Dr. Turner, who has been travelling the colony lecturing on hydropathy, was brought up at the R.M. Court to-day, charged with stealing an overcoat belonging to a passenger on board the steamer Wellington. He was remanded till Friday. > Dunedin, Wednesday. It is understood that'. Mr. Caldwell has, through his Honor the 1 Superintendent, challenged Mr. Reynolds, in the event of it being correct that the latter opposed him when in the Ministry, to prove a single charge against him during the whole of his official career. The Auckland correspondent of the Times telegraphs that the captain of the City of New York is reported to have stated that when he reached Lyttelton he would telegraph to Dunedin, asking if the authorities were prepared to guarantee against risk in taking the steamer into Port Chalmers, and that unless they did so he would send on the mails from Lyttelton. • The Bruce Herald is being published in Dunedin owing to a misunderstanding with a banking institution. The half-yearly report and balance-sheet of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, to be submitted to the meeting of shareholders to be held on Wednesday next, shows that the position of the bank continues steadily to improve. The capital has advanced to £322,967; the net profits for the half-year, after deducting all salaries and expenses of management, rent, and other charges, as well as making ample provision for bad and doubtful debts, and interest accrued on deposits, amounts to £6434, to which add balance of profit and loss account carried over from 31st December last, making a total of £10,084 to be dealt with at the present meeting. The directors strongly recom■mend that it shall be appropriated as follows : In augmentation of the reserve fund, £6433 ; to be carried forward to next half-year, £3651. Mr. Alex. Rennie has withdrawn from the contest for a seat on the directory. Cargill, Gibbs, and Co. received a telegram from Helmuth, Schwartz, and Co., dated June 21st, as follows :—The wool sales opened with a moderate attendance of both home and foreign buyers. The total arrivals comprise four hundred and seven thousand bales. The market is very depressed. Beth home and foreign buyers act with much reserve. Prices for fleece, washed, and scoured show an average decline of 2Jd. to 3d., and grease 2d. Crossbreds show a less marked decline compared with closing rates of last sales. Prices expected to rule without further change during the remainder of the sales.

At a meeting of the Albion Coal Company to-day the attendance was limited, and, in accordance with the rules, the directors retained their seats. ' Greymouth, Wednesday. An important public meeting was held to protest against proposed boundaries of the county of Ahaura, by the exclusion of Reefton from the county. Resolutions were unanimously passed that the Government be requested to make the county the same as the electoral district of the Grey, as the commercial interests of Reefton were identical with those of Greymouth. A shook of earthquake was felt at three o’clock this morning. Lyttelton, Wednesday. A smart shook of earthquake was felt here at 4.10 this morning, lasting several seconds. Hokitika, Wednesday. The steamer has returned, having landed the Italian immigrants at Jackson Bay. They are all well pleased with the appearance of their future home. Arrived : Alhambra, from Melbourne. The Waipara goes out to-night to tender her, but will not return till the morning. A smart shook of earthquake was felt here at four o’clock this morning. Westport, Wednesday. Good crushing of Alpine Company’s stone. 150 tons gave 130ozs. of gold. There was an earthquake shock here this morning at 4.17. It lasted 10 seconds. The Tui left for Greymouth at 10.30 this morning. Wanganui, Wednesday. A very violent shock of earthquake was felt at 4.15 this morning. New Plymouth, Wednesday. An earthquake lasting for several seconds, and of a violent nature, occurred here this morning at 4.12. The Taranaki with English mails has arrived. She left for Nelson at ten o’clock. The Henui furnace is cleared, and the men are paid off. Patea, Wednesday. A severe shook of earthquake was felt here this morning about 4.30. It lasted one minute. ' Mahton, Wednesday. Heaviest shock of earthquake at. 4.20 this morning that has been experienced for years, accompanied with loud rumbling.