It is the rankest folly to allow rival ports to outstrip us merely because our lack of faith in the future of our city makes us fearful of doins; anything that may temporarily burden ourselves and tie [our successors. We have done much inoro for posterity than posterity will ever do for us, and it is only fair that those who come after us should bear something of tbe load which we in-: cur on our joint account. The return to ' which allusion has been made is us fol lows:— ; Amount of Boroughs. Loaus. Kati. Intorost. Dunodin .. £509,100 fi & 6 £27,441 ■Wellington .. 430 000 « 25 800 Auokland .. 125 000 6 7,600 Christohurch ~ 200.000 6 12,000 Oamaru.. .. 110,000 7 7,700 Napior .. _ 70,000 B 1200 Timaru .. ». 60,000 7 4,200 £1,501,100 £83,811 Amount o£ Harbours. Loans. Bato. Interest. AuoKiand ..£l5O 000 0 £9,000 Lyttelton .. 200.0C0 G 12,000 Napier .. .. 73,000 7 6,250 Oamaru.. .. 1(15,000 G 0.900 Dnnedin_ .. 220,000 G 13,100 Wanganui .. 100.000 0 6,0(10 «910,000 £55,350 Total Indebtedness. Name o£ Plaoe. Total Interest loans. to pay. nimedin 8729,«00 „ £10,6U Wellington .. .„ 1:10,008 .. 25 800 Auokland .. ..275609 .. 16 500 Oamaru 2P5.0D0 _ 17,000 Chrlatohuroh .. ~ 200,000 .. 12 000 Lyttolton .. .. 200,000 .-. 12,000 Napier 1J5.000 -.v dAM Wanganui .. „ 100,000 .. 0,000 Timaru 60.009 .. 4,200 Total .. .. £2,41M00 luiJOi Taranaki Harbour, £200,000?

Wo are- glad to learn that Mr W. Atkin was considerably better this morning. He had recovered his speech, and his sido was more flexible. A. special trip of tho s.s. Coromandei will be made this evening. The steamer will leave the Auckland Wharf this oven ing at 12 p.m. Tho Synod being concluded, special sor vices are announced for tomorrow at St. Matthew's Church, the Rev. Mr Edwards preaching iv tho» morning and tho Yen. Archdeacon Govett at night. Tho Bishop is also expected to be there. Dr. Wallis addressed his constituents last night in tho Temperance Hall. When ho began to Bpeak there were hardly thirty persons present, but as the evening .wore on the number gradually increased, until the building wis something like half full. A report of the speech appears in another column. At tho meeting of tho French Literary Society this evening Mr H. S. F. 