DUNEDIN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3014, 22 February 1881, Page 3

DUNEDIN.

February 29. Although the balance-sheet of the Standard Insurance Company presents some unfavorable features, the loss being very considerable, this partly arises from the directors having come to the determination to wipe off every possible loss at once, and start afresh under new management. The loss by defalcations amounts to £469 193 4d, the unpaid losses to £7,500, and the bad debts to £196 19s 10d, while the premiums received during the half-year only exceed by £1600 the atnouat paid in losses. A'meeting of ministers was held yesterday, at which a resolution was passed in favor of the Education Act being amended so as to afford facilities for religious instruction to be imparted to scholars by ministers or their deputies for an hour each day during the ordinary school hours. A proposal for reading in a part of the secular course of historical biblical selections was made, but it was withdrawn. The motion as carred is to be embodied in a petition and forwarded to Parliament.

The New Zealand Drug Company has declared a dividend often per cent., and carry forward £3,436.