NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 29

NEW ZEALAND NEWS ITEMS

AUCKLAND, December 29. Bankruptcy in the Auckland district has kept on a. level with last year. The number of cases dealt with in each year was 56. For the most part the cases involved no serious issues. Private assignments to the Official Assignee are becoming increasingly popular, over £20,000 being realised during the year on assets nrivately assigned him. In conversation with a Star reporter I the assignee said that the district was in a very favourable condition all round. There was no indication of a slump or even a falling-off in trade. During 1907 18 bankruptcies were filed throughout HawkeVßay. as against 21 last year. The realised assets fell short by £3019 of the liabilities, whereas the 1906 deficiency was nearly £7000. The rainfall last year totalled 37.65 in, the average for the past 20 years being 36.39 in. The vital statistics for 1907 are :— Births, 379 ; deaths, 179; marriages, 137. The comparative figures for the prevfais year are: — Births, deaths. 149; marriages. 148. The year's rainfall in Auckland was 54in, which is the heaviest ever recorded. The previous record was 53in in 1893. At Waihi ' the rainfall is reported to have exceeded 118 in for the year.

" For the last four years, to the end of March 31, 1907, the outstanding rates for the city of Auckland "amounted to less than 30s^-a record that probably stands alone in the history -of any city in the Dominion. The amount in question is owing by a ratepayer _living in Sydney, who has promised to remit it shortly, -*o that by the time the City Council's financial year expires there will probably be nothing whatever "outstanding

JJord Plunlcet left for Rotor va # -on the 4th on a 10 days' fishing- excursion in the thermal (springs district. Lady Plunket and the Hon. Kathleen Plunket join the party on Thursday next.