At the annual meeting to-day of the Walton Park Coal Company the directors' report stated that even in the face of keen competition the company had been able bo hold its own. There was a credit of £1441 18s, which the directors recom mended to be carried forward. The meeting resolved to write down the capital by one-half, £6006, and write off a corresponding sum from the general plant account,

The Rev. Dr. Stuart), Minister of Knox Church, is again in a highly critical state of health, and may not last through tbe night.
Latest. At 11 o'clock to-night the Key, Dr, Stuart had ral.iad considerably.
Invercaroill, Thursday. The Southland Frozeu Meat CompaDy held an extraordinary meeting yesterday, at which the directors' proposals to in crease the capital to £100,000 were adopted. It was announced that) the New Zealand Shipping Company and Turnbtill, Martin and Co. would take 4000. five-pound shares, and tbnt us a coote quence the vesse'a ot both companies would make the Bluff a port of oil. The two shipping companies will have the right to elect two of the Bix directors. The directors had been negotiating with Nelson Brothers for amalgamating the business in Southland, but this will be unnecessary if tbe shoreholdeis confirm the resolutions passed to-day. Strong comments were made on the apathy of tbe sheepfarmers, who would not take stock in the company, bnt got the benefit of the high prices rnling through tbe competition which their laxness threat ened to convert into a monopoly, with a consequent reduction in the value of sheep.
Sporting News.
