Interprovincial

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 24, 18 June 1908, Page 24

Interprovincial

One hundred and sixty new Justices of the Peace ha\ c been created. It has now been decided to present the Dominion Day medals to school children throughout New Zealand on next Dominion Day. Mr. Ernest Short, the well known Itomney sheep brevier of Feilding, has decided to present his flock of 80 stud Shropshire Down sheep to the Government for the Wavciiey Experimental Farm. This gift is worth nearly £1000. Plans have been drawn for the new Post Office in Wellington, which it is estimated will cost £80,000. The building will be a handsome and massive structure of five storeys, or two storeys higher than the present building, which will be practically pulled down, at all events in so far as its exterior is concerned. By the ' Corinthic,' which arrives at Wellington this week from London, there are 187 Government-assisted passengers. These include 23 farmers, most with capital. One has £2000 and an income of £200 a year ; another £1600, and several have about £1000 each. There are 24 domestic servants, many of whom are coming to friends or to fill situations. Building is taking place in Wellington at a rapid rate. Last year, in the area administered by the Cith Council, including Melrose and Onslow districts, permits were issued for buildings of an aggregate value of £674,813, which is £117,277 more than the preceding twelve months. There were fewer building permits, 449 as against 553 in the previous twelve months, but the aggregate value of the work increased, showing that, a better class of building is being erected. The balance sheet of the Bank of New Zealand for the year ending March 31 shows that after providing for interest on guaranteed stock (£40,000) and reduction of bank premises and furniture (£20,000), the balance of profit for the year is £309,922. To this has to be added £31,675 brought forward from last year, making £341,5 1 97. An interim dividend absoribfng £50,000 had been paid during the year, leaving £29i,597 available for distribution. This the directors propose to distribute as follows :— ln payment of a dividend of 2-£ per cent, on preference shares, making 71 per cent.

for the year, £12,500; dividend, of 5 per- cent. - oruofc. dinary shares, . making 10 per cent. for- the yeair r £25,000 ; transfer to reserve, £200,000, making^.the- reserve £450,000 ; carry forward £5-4,097. Farmers in many portions of Tapanui districtespecially at the north end about Moa Flat— will (says the ' Courier ') coin money out of their grain and grass seed this season. Whilst many landowners in the north have suffered .from the dry season, the season 190-7-8 will long be remembered in South Otago as a bounteous period. Farmers selling wheat at 4s 6d, potatoes £3 10s a ton, grass seed at -from 3s; fcr 3&6d-v, and oats at 2s upwards are fortunate beings; p andLal?-"-though the low price of 'wool has handicapped someof the owners of broad acres, the high price of grain will restore the balance of income to at least the normal. In some instances land-owners in this district will fatten their banking accounts considerably, and provide capital for still further developing their properties.