Page 1 Advertisements Column 1

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10060, 21 February 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

The annual report of the directors of the Standard Insurance Company has been issued. The balance-sheet shows the income from underwriting to bare been £73,858 5s 7d ; from investments, £4,339 2s; transfer foes, £24 IGj : total, £78,22213s 7d, The total losses amounted to £32,090 8a 7d ; re-insurances, £24,854 12s lOd; expenses of management, etc,, £15,633 9s lOd; balance of profit/ and loss, £5,134 2s 4d. The underwriting profit was therefore £769 14s. The directors recommend a dividond of 7£ per conb. They regrob that business has not been more profitable, which they attribute to the low rates for fire insurance which prevailod in the colony and the numerous casualties to shipping. The Minister of Railways recently issued a circular, which was posted at all railway stations throughout the colony, intimating that waste patches of resorves along tho lines were available for Cultivation ab reasonable terms. One of our staff, who travelled in the direction of Helensville last week, -ascertained that advantage will be taken by many persons to leaso portions of these lands. The project is a step in the righb direction, and will make a sensible increase in the railway revenue. Tho Hon. Mr. Cadman deserves a word of approval for his action in the matter, as it will largely increase production, and bo a convenience and a help to residents in many parts along the railway linos. The Telegraph Department has a number of men . employed erecting a new copper wire to connect Wellington with Auckland direct. , The route is by way of YVairarapa, Forty-mile Bush, Hawke's Bay, and alopg the East Coast through Taupo.