AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3028, 29 October 1878, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

This day. A fire occurred at six this morning at the offices of Messrs Hughes and George, solicitors, a brick building in Shortland street. The fire is supposed to have originated in the clerk's room. The origin is unknown. The place was locked at five o'clock last night, and there had been no fire during that day. When the alarm was given the fire had a strong hold on the interior, but the brigade were quickly on the spot, and brought such a jet of water to bear on it that it was kept within 1 the building and got under. The inside of the building was almost wholly destroyed. Mr Baber, architect, occupied offices under the same roof, and lost all his plans, etc. Hughes and George are uninsured. The building was insured for a thousand pounds in the New Zealand, and a thousand in the Boyal, and was owned by the widow of Mr Battray, draper.

The Botorua has arrived from Sydney, with dates the same as brought by the Albion.

The Bank of New Zealand half-yearly meeting was held todaj. The report shows that the net profit for half year after providing for bad and doubtful dependencies is £83,280, balance of undivided profit last year £4988; total divisible £88,268. A dividend of fifteen per cent, was declared, and the reserve fund increased by twenty-five thousand. Eight thousand eight hundred carried forward. The twenty-five thousand carried to reserve fund makes it three hundred and fifty thousand. Power was taken to issue new shares so as to make the paid up capital one million, but it is not intended to issue these shares before March next. The directors' reports were adopted by. the meeting. The Judge refused a rule nisi to set aside the verdict in case MoGee v. Auckland Jockey .Club. Leave was given to take the case to the Court of Appeal.