COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 108, 26 November 1873, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(FROM THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS AGENCY.)

Auckland.

At the South British meeting to day it was stated that ££9375 was realised by the sale of shares, and an increasing capital was carried to the reserve fund. The receipts for the half-year amount to £17,933, being an increase of £3931 on business of the previous half-year. The losses have been heavy, amounting to £9551, including £ll3O not paid before the 31st August. The balance carried over to profit and loss new account is £11,941, including £125 from the reserve fund, making £IO,OOO. The total assets are £51,000. The Alexandra correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, who was lately visited by Tawhaio, says that drink is obtained and sold to the Kingites, who sacrifice everything to obtain it, which is rapidly reducing their numbers. Te Kooti is reported to be a victim of the rum bottle, and drinks very heavy. He expresses his desire to be tried in England for his offences, as he conceives he would there get a fair trial. Tauranga. Mr. Chadwick, a large property holder, threatens to fence a ditch on a portion of the TaurangaNapier main road, in consequence of the Government declining to give him compensation. Wellington. Preliminary arrangements are being made to establish an Insurance Company, in £1 shares. There are good names connected with the enterprise. Not less than one-third of the capital is to be called in within twelve months. A great impetus has been given to it, owing to the dissatisfaction regarding the National allotment. South British shares sold by auction at 37s 6d ; National Insurance, 225. Christchurch. At Mr. Nosworthy’s sale of racing stock. The following horses were sold :—Lurline, the winner of the Canterbury Cup 1872, 1873, was bought by Mr. H. Redwood, of Nelson, for 750 guineas; Calumny, by Mr. R. Ray, Canterbury, 550 guineas; Defamed, Mr. L. Walter, Canterbury, 170 guineas; Hatred, Mr. R. Ray, 300 guineas; Malice, Mr. R. N. Campbell, Canterbury, 220 guineas. The Inter-Provincial cricket match, Auckland v. Canterbury, was commenced on the 18th. The Auckland team scored 90 in their first innings. Canterbury, with seven wickets down, made a total of 53. The fielding of the Canterbury team was splendid, but the bowling was not up to the usual mark. The bowling of the Auckland team was magnificent, especially that of Sweete. Waimate. Cobb’s coach, with twenty-two passengers, capsized yesterday, five miles south of this. Mr. Matthew Miller, of Napier, was seriously injured; the other passengers were unhurt. Grahamstown. The Provincial Council election resulted in a great victory for the secular education candidates. The men returned are Brown, Swan, Carpenter

and Bagnall. The Catholic candidates, O’Haire and Hopcroft, were nowhere. Timabu. A grand Masonic demonstration took place on the 20th, on the occasion of the consecration of the new Masonic Hall. Most of the stations are shearing now at 20s per hundred.

Burned in a Well. —A few days ago, says a Chicago paper, a terrible accident occurred on the farm of Mr. William Preston, at Butler. They were at work boring for oil. Three men were in the well at the time, when suddenly oil was struck, bursting high into the air. Scarcely had it spouted above the surface when the oil took fire, sending a blaze high into the heavens for a distance of over 100 feet. Great excitement prevailed. The fact of the men being in the well caused a panic. They were burned to death, and when their bodies were recovered they were in a horrible, shrivelled mass. The derricks and machinery were consumed, involving a loss of several thousand dollars.

The export of kerosine from New York for New Zealand during the week ending 23rd July was 22,600 cases. The amount for the same week last year was 13,880. The total amount exported for the Australion colonies was 151,025 cases. The London Jewish Chronicle, of the 28th June, informs its readers that “it is stated that Mr. Vogel, at present Prime Minister of New Zealand, will shortly resign, and that Mr. Stafford will be asked to form a Ministry. Mr. Vogel, it is said, is about to proceed to England, and it is understood that he is to be made a knight.”