NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 262, 29 July 1908, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

: , STATE FIRE INSURANCE. Tho report of the Stato Fire- Insuranco Department for the year 1907 states that tho not income of tho Department for tho tbreo years sinco its inauguration has been as follows 1905, £13,127; 1906, £20,902; 1907, £23,194. Tho' report' says:—"That the rates of premium for fire insuranco in New Zealand are too low is shown by the fact that •tho results attained by. the Stato Firo Insuranco Office on its 'operations .during the past threo years show ;a -profit of only £1566 after writing off £1902, and reserving £7731, for unearnod premiums. Tho insuring public, however, reaped tho benefit of tho reduced rates - seeing - that: the same amount approximately:. to £450,000 for .tho past three years." . The statement- of accounts : shows that after writing oft £634 as the third quarter of the preliminary expenses, and reserving an additional £744 for unearned premiums thero' is a credit balance of, £867. This is olaimed to bo a very satisfactory result, seeing that it i has been attained ','free of cost to tho public in the faco of strong and, active competitive opposition, and at rates which have 'during the wholo period been the lowest in the world for similar srisks.V It is stated that' tlio Department's contribution towards the inaintenanco of fire brigades will range from 5 to 7-1 per contj, of the premiums recoiycdjat' .each ccntrs, whero. a .firo brigade working under tho Act is in operation. , . NATIVE LAND'S SETTLEMENT. The. following return of land dealt witli under the provisions of Section 8 of-tho Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905, and its amendments, was presented to the House yesterday Anaura (Tokomaru) 8330 acres; Valued nt £19,731, including £6255 improvements; Whatatutu No.la(Mangatu) 60 acres valued at £325, including £20 improvements; Runaruku No, 2 (Russoll) 1725 acres, valued at £575; Paromata-Mokau 'j (llussell, Whangaruru, Hnkerenui, and Opuav/hanga) 7255 acres, valued at £6920 (land £2420, timber £4500); Waihalia' (Russell) ' 1143, acres, valued at £430; Routu No. '2e, Nos. 1 and 2 (To Kuriy Hukatere, and North Head) 12,726 acres,' valued, at £3456, including £375 improvements; Mangapuaka No. 2 (Mangatoro) 478 acres, no separate valuation made.