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Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 514, 1 May 1880, Page 3

The Timber Trade at Wellington is increasing, indicating renewed activity in building.

The Civil Service Commission is taking evidence at Wellington, and will procceed next to Auckland. Legs of Mutton are now soiling at a skilling each in Wellington, and one butcher make a business of going round with a cart-load of them.

Forged Notes arc circulating in tho Middle Island, and several have changed hands at Dunedin. Notes of £1 value have been altered to represent £5 or £lO. Nineteen Deer were turned loose at Mangakawa ranges about three years ago, but have since been invisible to settlers around Cambridge until lately. Three does appeared this year on Messrs Martyu’s estate, and have given birth to three fawns.

Mr Dalrymvle has purchased Mr Waring Taylor’s Waitatapia station at Parawanui, Rangitilcei, consisting, of about 7,000 acres, with 4,000 sheep, and 300 head of cattle, the price being £30,000.

“ Commercial Buggies” are getting into favor in this district. This American notion is one of the good things which Jonathan has shown us how to make. A buggy of this patten will accommodate a settler and his family in a four-wheel ride, or he can travel commercial fashion, packing over so much baggage into the rear without spoiling the smartness of his turn-out. There is a front seat and a higher back seat; and it struck Jonathan that if these could be telescoped into one when only one seat was wanted, it would leave abundant room behind the seat for bagThat’s the idea of the commercial buggy. ! The front seat draws forward and lifts off, by detaching two spring catches, the hind seat also drawing forward into a convenient position for driving, and so clearing the latter part for baggage. Or the front seat can remain attached, but drawn close up to the front, being thei-e no impediment and not unsightly ; while the larger back seat then stands midway on Ihe body of the fourwheeler. It is a most convenient machine, adaptable for a family party or for a lone traveller. The commercial buggy is being manufactured on a rather important scale by the Messrs Williams, of the Patea Factory ; and the style and finish of. their recent turn-outs is earning them ranch credit, which means increasing business. Patea keeps a coachfactory going with fourteen hands. A few more local industries on that scale would lift the place up. ;

The Bank of New Zeilahd’s halfyearly balance-sheet shows a net profit on the six months of £74,101. New shares sold have realised a premium of £17,193; and the whole balance available for dividend is £97,185. The dividend is at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, with a farther 5 per cent, in the shape of a bonus, making 15 percent, on the year. The capital stands at one million sterling, and the ,reserve fund at £555,000. The - notes in . circulation are £497,361; the floating bills are £1,837,451; and the deposits, &c. amount jto £7,629,811. The bank’s coin and cash balances available at call amount to £2,114,667, besides £875,456 in. London on short call. The bank holds Government securities to the vplue, of £282,532. ’ The bills receivable and the securities held in .London amount to £1,081,433; and bills discounted and other debts due, to the bank,, £6,454,979. The share* number one hundred j thousand, at £lO each. Tbe magnitude of the bank’s transactions is shown by the total assets, which exceed eleven millions sterling.

Cork. County ■ has had an exciting contest. Colonel Coulthurst and Mr William Shaw, the former members, both Home Rulers, were supported by four bishops and a hufidred priests, and,returned by a large majority, beating Mr Kettle, the Parnellite,