NORMANDY JOTTINGS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 472, 1 November 1879, Page 2

NORMANDY JOTTINGS.

Since my arrival at Normanby some months ago, I have not seen business so brisk as it is at present, although trades people to soma extent feel the transfer of the A.C. supplies to the store of the contractor as a prejudice to Normanby. Several new buildings are going up, among winch is conspicuous a very neat edifice for, I understand, the Presbyteriail community. The absence of a church wiil no longer be a reproach to our township. A good hall for publie meetings and entertainments is much wanted, and would, I dare say, bring us a greater share of amusements than at present falls to our lot. I hear that town lots are being enquired after, and land is looking up in value.

Further accomodation also is required in our hotels, for when one goes of an evening for our usual whisky and pipe, oui snug corner is sure to be invaded, aye, even our sanctum in the kitchen by a gentleman in blue, or in silver lace, but we joyfully gire place to such jolly good fellows as the A.C’.’s are. Only wo don’t like our cook getting so much attention in our absence, especially by married gentlemen. As your Waihi correspondent is supposed by some extraordinary decision to be civily defunct and deprived of his rights of reporting the news of the day in that locality, it falls to my lot to report the result of the cricket match played between eleven A.C.’s of Opunake and eleven of the Waihi club, which embraces some of our townsmen, and Messrs Beresford and Kidtliford played on the Waihi side. The game was played on the Waihi ground on Monday. The ground might have been in much better condition, considering the amount of labor available, and that probably had something to do with the result, ns the match was looked upon a certainty for Opunake. The Waihi team took the field at 10.30 under capf.rn Fo'ey. Goring and King taking the wickets. Without going into details ofc the bowling and batting, I may say that the innings closed in an hour-and-a-half with a score of 50. Opunake, under Major Goring, took the field, Waihi opening with Beresford and Webb at the wickets. The bowling of sergeant Smith was excellent, but that of. Connolly did most execution, while the fielding of the Major’s men, who seemed to work as one, was excellent. But it is a matter of general comment that Major Goring’s men will do anything for him, and will follow him anywhere. There is an amount of esprit de corps in that officer’s company not found everywhere, which will tell in the field of war as well as in the athletic strife. Waihi made 61 in its first innings, and after a brief interval for a slight refection, the game was resumed. Opunake somewhat improved in the seeond innings, but when the stumps were drawn Waihi showed to the front by 2 runs and 5 wickets to spare. On Tuesday a united A.C. team played Hawera on the very splendid ground of that club, the condition of which reflects the greatest credit on that club. As your Hawera correspondent will no doubt furnish you with a detailed account of the match, it would be infra dig on ray part infringe on his powers of description by any detailed report. The result, however, of so large a majority for Hawera was hardly expected from the first innings, and the decision oi the umpire had a good deal to do with the victory. The return of fine weather and brisker market for labour is creating a desire among the men of the A.C. force to obtain their discharge, as the inactive life of the camp together with its restraints is no doubt irksome. I hear a good deal of grumbling since the men were put on rations, and not a little dissatisfaction at the trivial charges by which thier pay is reduced, so that should an order come as is expected to icduce the force, many men will gladly go. No doubt the country will soon demand a reduction of expenditure, yet it must be protected, and any sudden reduction of the Defence Force might prove the greater evil in the long run. There are many intelligent men in the force who might command a higher sphere of labour, to whomitisonly atemporary stop-gap” who might remain under soma system of military land settlement.

The railway extension progresses apace) and one can see a good breadth of clearing in the bush to the north, but if the contracts were let in large sections it would be better, We hope the question of the station site will be settled as soon as the Ministry gets into harness. We were much gratified to hear of the acquisition of strength gained by the Government, and trust it will do enable the country to some useful legislation ere long. There is a general exodus from the township and neighbourhood to your races, for which I wish you fine weather and true sport.

SAINT MUNGO, Normanby, 29tb October, 1879.

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.' The half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the above Bank was held at Auckland, on the 23rd October, when thd following result of the past half-year’s operations was put before them : The. net profit at 30th Sep- £ s. d. teraber, after making ample appropriations for dependencies considered bad or doubtful, and the usual, reductions in Bank premises and furniture accounts, amounts to ..f 69,238 14 9 To which lias to be added—* Premium on 25,521 new shares taken up, part of 27,600 issued under authority of the halfyearly meeting of the proprietors held on 29th October, 1878 ..» ..* 1.80,613 15 0 Balance from half-year ended 31st March, 1879 9,753 11 8 Making a total available for division of : 259,406 1 5 Which it is now recommended be appropriated as follows : To payment of dividend at • the rate of 10 per cent. per annum 49,010 10 0 To bonus of 5s per share, equal to 5 per cent, per annum ... ... •• 24,505 5 0 To proposed addition to reserve fund ... ... 180,000 0 0 To balance carried to profit and loss new account... 5,890 6 5 £259,406 1 5