NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 221, 5 June 1915, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

PHILMEL, . WELLINGTON, June 2 s "The Philomel ia still doing very good and useful work" said the Minister of Defence to-night. "The latest report I have received regarding the vessel shows that she baa been busily employed, under the direction of the Admiralty. One of her tasks was to tow some houseboats from one front to another point. I may not mention the locality where she has been operating encountered some very heavy wea:her and unfortunately lost the' housei boats, but there was no loss of life on that occasion. The Philomel has been : put to all sorts of work since the outbreak of the war, and she has acquitted herself well. Her officers and men have encountered many difficulties and dan» gers and they have suffered a few loses but they have taken their part in the world-wide naval campaign that is being conducted by the British Admiralty in connection with the great war. GRAND SENTIMENTS. LORD LIVERPOOL'S CHEERING jWORIX WELLINGTON, Juno 3 ' In his speech at the official opening of the Citizen's Carnival in aid of funds for wounded soldiers and Bailors His Excellency the Governor said:— "There are two ways of doing what is right. They are by the State alone and by the State aided by well wishers who want to give expression to their esprit de corps, I believe that phrase esprit de corps has to all of us a very great significance, espeeialy under the circum stances under wheh we are now placed I for one should be very sorry to see individual effort stifled and .every thing done on hard and fast lines. His committee has appealed to the citiens of Wellington to do something for the patriotic fund because it thought that ev- ! ery citizen of Welington would like to | have a personal interest in the show. [ and to do BOmething for the object for which the carnival was promoted. When I made the appeal to the j->eople of New Zealand a fortnight ago, those were the sentiments that actuated me. I was ! well aware that Jt did not depend on any party in the State whether or not j the wounded were eared for. I knew j ! they would be cared for. In any case j but the expressions of feeling that ha<e j reached me by letter and telegram have assured me that my appeal has touched a very large number of people, in the Dominion who wanted the opportunity to give personal xpression to ther feelings. There are hard times in front of us, and it is well to be prepared. We all want to do a little more than-any-body else is doing." said His. Excellency. "Let us try and avoid criticism This is no time to force the hands of those who are very hard worked. I am referring particularly to our Hospital ship which is shortly to leave for the front. 'Be it to our virtues ever kind and to our faults a little blind,' and by doing so you will help the cause you have at heart. I have undertaken to because I am personally interested, personally anxious .to help, and I intend to see that the ship leaves New Zealand as well equipped as it is possible to make her." (Applause.) BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET. ■ ______ WELLINGTON, This Day. The report and balance sheet of the Bank of New Zealand for the year ended March 31st, shows profits, after making provision for a,nnual donation to Provident Fund, bad and doubtful debts, etc.. are £396,166 16/9. Prom this has to be deducted the interest #n' guaranteed - aSecft, £ 2f,6SQ W 4,

leaving £369,486 1/5, which with the balance from last year, £51,608 8/10, makes, in all, £371,094 10/3. From this sum there has to be paid an interim dividend, at 6 per cent, on A. and B. preference shares, absorbing £45,000; and on ordinary shares, £55,699 19/6; leaving available for distribution the sum of £270,394 10/9. This the directors propose to be distributed as follows: Dividend at the rate of 4 per cent, on A preference shares, £20,000; dividend at the rat e of 6 percent, on ordinary shares, £72,868 10/; bonus at the rate of 3 per cent, on ordinary j shares, and on B preference shares, £35,891 18/; transfer to Reserve Fund £84,463 12/10; making the reserve