Presbyterian Synod.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3350, 1 November 1889, Page 2

Presbyterian Synod.

Dukedin, October 31. At a meeting of the Presbyterian | Synod of Otago and Southland it was decided to interview Mr T, Fergus with a view to having the licensing law more rigidly enforced. In the evening the deputies from the Northem Church wore heard. The Rev

Mr Beatties spoke on the question of union, Mr Jack speaking on the religious training of the young. A deliverance was adopted congratulating the Northern Church on the progress made, The discussion on the Confession of Faith was resumed, speakers being limited to ten minutes, Eventually a resolution was carried deferring the consideration for next year, awaiting the decision of the Free Church of Scotland on the same question,

National Insurance Company

Dunedin, October 81. a The directors of the National In- jj mrance Company, in their annual J report, recommend a dividend at the ' rate of 10 per cent, leaving £4,278 to l be carried forward. The profit for ? the year, added to the balance > brought forward, gives a total of ' £14,082 to deal with. There was an s increase in the premium income, but 1 the losses havo been heavy. ' Heavy Fine. i Dunedin, October 31, At Lawrence, Simpson and Hart, brewers, of Weatherstones, were fined £IOO and costs for a breach of the Beer Duty Act, The Omahu Murder Case. Wellington, Friday, Tbe Omahu murder case was re. snmed, No witnesses were called for the defence. Mr Cottrel! addressed the jury for tbe Crown, Ho asked them in the first place to put aside all question as to whether tbe Donnelly or tbe Broughton party were the aggressors, He presumed the defence would be on two lines, firstly provocation, but he thought that would rest more with the sympathies than the intelligence of the jurymen. Tbe second lino might be that the prisoner was a Maori of the old school, and a man of hasty temper who was likely to be greatly irritated by the action of the Donnelly party, The learned counsel quoted cases to show provocation and loss of temper were not allowed as palliations of murder. It would not do to permit Natives to take tbe law into their own hands without being, punishable. No doubt Turanga's party were wrong in going on the land and behaving as ' they did, but that was no provocation ' for such a murderous attuck,

SUNDY LIQUOK.

Dunedin, Friday,

Mi' Fergus lias been interviewed l by representatives of the publicans who without exception disclaimed any wish to sell liquor on Sundays, He replied that the weakness of the Act lay in any person calling himself a traveller was entitled to demand refreshment after walking a certain distance. Certainly the law ought to be effectively administered, and if not operative the sooner repealed the better. Ho would bring these mailers under the notice of the Cabinet. The Ministry had no intention nor any wish to prevent punishment for any violation of the Act, and tlie police should be given every assistance to carry out the law.

Customs Returns

Wklmsuton, Friday,

Tko customs returns for October are 1116,518 to which something less than £IOOO will have to be added for Weskport iig.iin.tt £115,310 for September, and £124,553 for October hist y.w. The principal ports show, Aucklaiid£2l,;Jßi,Wellington£l!J,2ol Clirisleliiirah £23,911, Dunedin £27,703. The beer duty showed £•1,980 without the Westport return, against £1,536 for October last year, and £IOG fur September lust Auckland contributed £1,059, Wellington £520, Christchurch £l,Oll, Dunedin £1,250.

Wellington Land Boarl The ordinary monthly meeting of tho board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs Mai'chaitt, Fitebcvbort, McCardlo, and McArthur. It was decided to postpone the consideration of the question of disposing of certain lands in the Taulievenik.au and other river beds. Applications for leave to transfer were dealt with, permission being granted in the majority of oases, Tinio to pay up arrears of dues was granted in several cases where it was thought tho reasons given for default were of a bona iide nature. The County Council of Paliiatua having stated they had no objection to the board leasing section 11, Block X, Manga, hao, provided roads were reserved, t« was resolved to instruot a surveyor to lay off roads and report. A letter from Mr A. B. Bunny, asking that a transfer should be granted from Hull to Official Assignee was laid on table, With reference to weighting ssotiou 11, Block IV, Maligna (0, Hayes), with the value of' Mr Yile's improvemp\p K it was resolved to weight the section with the value as estimated by the ranger, Messrs Rorelase mi Bamicoat, solicitors, Wanganui, wrote stating that the solector of section I, Block Mangaone (H, CzepAQsiky), was taking steps to complete the required improvements this season, and would do so within twelve months. Resolved to give the required time upon information being supplied to the Board as to the char-

acter of the improvements and mannev in which they were boiug tarried out. Messrs AY. H. and G. O.Bailley, selectors of section 73 and 75, Block V, Makuri, applied to be allowed to effect their improvements only on section 75 instead of on both. To be informed that each selector must effect the required improvements on his own section this year if possible, and certainly next ymr; Mr, J A. Smith applied for permission to cut flaxfromunsold sections 4,7, and 9, Alfredton. Eefused, unless he pays

■tlie royally. Willi reference to the cancellation of Section 20, Block IV, Mangabao (J. Robertson), .it was decided that the cancellation be rescinded, provided the solector pays the instalment of rent and interest in arrear, and occupies the section. The Ekctahuiia lload Board proposals for the expending of thircfs accrued for section 6. Block IV, Mangaono, were approved. It was resolved that the surveyor be instructed to have the felling of bash on Malum township done this year. It was resolved to offer sections 45 and 46, Block XIII, i Makuri, for sale at an early date at f 10a per acre, section 4Ga to be offered for cash at auction, sections 45 and 46 to be thrown open under die Act of 1887. The Eketalmna Road Board applied for a certificate

under Section 8 of the Govemmen Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1880 toapply theannitalrecurring thirdsfoi theParkvillnßlockaa ordinary reserve Agreed to subject to the particular required by the Act being supplies Tito Pahiatua City Council umde i similar application with respect ti sections on the Puketoi, Mangaom Central, and Mangatainoko Blocks

Kesolved to deal with this on tbe same terms as the Eketahuna Road Board. With reference to Block 11,, Kopuaranga, it was resolved to cut out 40 acres for Mrs O'Brien, and ask her to sublet the balance of the section on the revaluation recommended by the ranger and approved by the board. As to the sale of sections 114,115, and 210, Block VII, Kopuaranga, and section 188, Block IX, Manaone, it was , resolved to withdraw these from the'' small run system, and offer them' | under the Act of 1877 at 10s an ac r e. The Commissioner proposed th at part of section 84, Block VII, Mangahao, be offered for salo under the Act of 1887, at £2 per acre, Agreed to. Mr D. Egan was given another fortnight in which to eßect improvements on his section (77L Mangahao, It was decided tha>l selectors in the village settlement who are subject to floods should bo allowed to exchange their sections for any forfeited sections or the same conditions. " The Selectors Lands devaluation Act, 1889," was considered, Mr McCawlle's motion that a list of the applications be submitted to the ranger for his inspection of the properties, revaluation and report if possible to the next meeting of the board, was carried. This concluded the business.

Bank ol New Zealand.

Major George and Mr Buckley.

A Warm Passage at Anns. In order to complete the report of the meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of Now Zealand, the Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Times sends to that journal tho interpellation between Major Gcorgo and Mr Buckley, and the subsequeitf discussion, as follows: Major George said it was necessary lie should point out that the joint action of those two honorable gentlemen (Messrs Buckley and McLeau) was not the result of any separate and independent judgment on the Bank's affairs. Mr McLean lmd not visited Auckland since tho last half yearly meeting, when he concurred in the report and expressed himself pleased and satisfied with the state of affairs. Since then he has been urgently requested by numbers of the. Board to come to Auckland and judge for himself, but he preferred to bo guided by Mr Buckley. It was very difficult to judge as to Mr McLoan's motives, for he believed Mr McLean, was a wealthy man. Mr Buckley, however, appeared to have been actuated by spite as well as avarice. He thought ho was safe in saying that thero was evidence in that room to prove that Mr Buckley bad stated that he came out to this colony with the intention of breaking the Banlu On many occasions lie had heard hit? say that if he did not get well paid k would "Smash the Baiik,"' or* " Damn the Bank," as ho more forcibly put it. These throats commenced in October last, so it was fair to assume that he kept this object in view.

Mr Buckely—lt is false. Major George-It is true. On many occasions Mr Buckley bad said so, and tlio dates ho would give if the meeting desired. Voices—Lot us have lliem all, Major George said they were as follows,-lltli October at the Board meeting he threatened to resign and ruin the Bank if he did not get his demands on the honorarium. On the 80th October he repeated the same threat, On tlio l'Jth April ho threatened the Board in a similar manner, Captain Colbecl; objecting to his again intimidating the Board, [ supporting Captain Colbeck. On the 29th April ho threatened to leave and ruin the Bank, and that ho held McLus& fl resignation in his hands, and lfe • would use it and his own for the purpose. On the 'lth JLiy at the Board lie demanded £IOOO a year out of the honorarium or he would leave and break the Bank. For the sake of peace and in the shareholders' interests that Sr gentleman ra permitted to grasp- t over two-fifths of the honorariina provided by tho shareholders for tlie services of seven directors, and be also* in a most unseemly manner took possession of ut furnished houso, carriage house,&c., belonging to the Bank,and which he now occupies.

A Shareholder—For whicli he pays how much. J Major Georgo~No amount. Mrßucldoy—lappeal toMrM.array whethorldonotpay for the house £l5O a year?

Mr Murray—l think, Mr 'Buckley, the consideration you gave for the house is the maintonanco and keeping of the house and Mr BuckloY-That arrangement was thai I should pay the wagejp o«o or two persoiv, employed at Mr Mitchelson's, and I have paid them, ("Oh, oh!" and laughter,)

Major George said Mr Buckley also got hia share, £400,' of the amount for payment of tho committee. After grasping allho could and selling his shares, making himself freo, he went out into tho streets and did all he could to depreciate the value of tie: shareholders' proporty, and his rtfativo Mr McLean was not mucin hotter, And these gents wished' topose before the shareholders as their' protectors and helpers, Well, 'he. did not"accept them in that position.. They might bo rich in pocket by:

tboir action, but in his opinion they had stripped themselves naked of honour, and ho would rather be tho ' poorat man in this room than cither of thorn, Mr John McLean asked Major Georgo to stato in what particular way ho had attempted to injuro the bank, Major Georgo-Yes, By selling your shares whon you wore a member of this board. Mr McLean asked if every man ■ who sold his shares did so to injure the bank, From the foundation of tho bank ho had beon one of tho largest individual shareholders, and until some timo ago ho had never attempted to sell a share. A lot of what Major Georgo had said was claptrap, and he bolieved that gentleman had made a lot of misstatements. Major (Jeorge—l can prove them all, Mr McLean said Mr Buckley never would have been there but for him, and he (Mr McLean) never would havo been there but for Mr Murray. He had lost more money by tho bank than Major George had in it. There was not a shareholder who had trieil to serve the bank more than ho had. Mr R. MacdonaldScott—You don't hold any interest in it. Mr McLean—l am a shareholder. Mr it. M. Scott-How many shares ? Mr McLean—l cannot toll how many. Major George-Ton, I think, and had 700 odd. Mr McLean—l do not know exactly. Major George—l do. Mr McLean—l havo been ono of the larcest shareholders since the foundation of the bank. Mr Macdonald Scott—From 770 which he held during the timo he and Mr Buckley were directors, he has only ten now. Mr McLean-That is very likely. Mr Macdonald Scott-And you come hero and insult people who hold an interest in it.