TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5118, 18 August 1877, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRE33 AGENCY.) Auckland, Friday. The yacht Secret has been sold for £550 to a Sydney gentleman. The footballists left in the Taranaki to-day. Nelson, Friday.

"It is reported from Farewell Spit that a quantity of wreckage is lying there, apparently torn from the bow of some vessel. There are pieces of rail 20 feet by 12 inches by 4 inches, of bright hard wood, like mahogany or teak, with planking attached, on which are cut the letters ANTOFAGASTA; also, a female figurehead, 5 feet high, painted white, with a wreath of roses round the head.

Chkistchurch, Friday.

. A meeting of citizens was held last night in the Odd Fellows' Hall, which was crammed. The Mayor was in the chair. The following resolutions were carried unanimously :—(1.) That this meeting of citizens desire to draw the attention of the Government to the present unsatisfactory state of trade, and to urge upon the Government the necessity of fostering, so far as possible, the manufacture of all the ironwork, woodwork, -and other material required for the public works of the colony. (2.) That, in view of the greatly increased manufacturing power within the colony, this meeting is of opinion that the colonial Legislature might, with advantage, adopt the resolutions passed by the Provincial Council of Canterbury in August, 1871, viz. : —"That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that the railway and other plant or materials should be obtained within the province, where this can be done at a cost not exceeding 10 per cent, above that at which the same can be imported; and that public tenders be invited for the same." (3.) That this meeting views importation by Government of manufactured articles, which can be produced with advantage within the colony, as an injury to the general interests of the community.

The total number of applications throughout the colony for shares in the Union Insurance Company, computed from telegraphic returns, is 794,801. As some of the minor bank agencies may not have had time to send in returns to their head offices, the total number may be estimated at 800,000. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Shipping Company was held to-day. Mr. J. L. Coster, chairman of the board of directors, was in the chair. A report was read to the following effect:—"During the period under review the company has had to contend with the keenest competition, and the directors have deemed it prudent to somewhat restrict its operations. The insurance fund has been commenced, and there is to its credit £IB4B 4s. 2d. The new ships Opawa, Piako, and Wanganui have been built, . and the Pareora has been purchased and added to the company's fleet. All the vessels are in a thoroughly efficient state of repair, and are well outfitted. The number of the company's constituents is steadily on the increase, and the directors feel satisfied that the establishment of agencies in all the important centres of trade is sound policy. The balance to credit of profit and loss account up to June 30 was £19,106. The directors propose to appropriate this as follows: —Addition to., the reserve fund, £6250 ; dividend at 8 per cent, per annum, £19,000 ; carry forward to profit and loss new account, £"2856." The balance-sheet accompanying the report showed the 'net profits for the past year to have been £15,288. The report was adopted. A slight discussion took place respecting the cause of the board of advice in Dunedin being abolished. The chairman explained that this was due to the members of the board not adopting certain regulations ; that in fact the members of the board were alone to blame ; and the board could be resuscitated at any time ; but he believed the Dunedin shareholders would rather have only a resident director. The retiring directors were reelected, and subsequently Mr. J. L. Coster was re-elected chairman. Invercakgill, Friday. A meeting of carters has been held here to consider whether a carter, after- paying a fee of £1 to the Corporation, could be compelled to pay another £1 to the Railway Department. It was decided to ask the Minister for Public Works the following question :—" Can a holder of a Corporation carter's license be charged special license by the Railway Department ?" At a meeting of citizens held this afternoon it was resolved that a Benevolent Institution should be provided for Southland. An influential committee has been appointed to take further action in the matter. Lawrence, Friday. An inquest was held this morning before H. Carew, Esq., coroner, on the body of Charles Gillard, who died in the hospital from injuries received by a fall from his dray three weeks ago. A verdict of accidental death was returned. Rich quartz has been discovered at Lammerlaw Creek, Waipori.