OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 11

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

COMMERCIAL UNION ASSURANCE COMPANY.

The Commercial Union Assurance Co., which occupies one of the foremost positions among the British fire and marine insurance companies, was established in 1860 by a number of influential merchants and other gentlemen in London, almost immediately after the great Tooley street fire as a fire office solely, but in 1862 added life business, and in 1863 marine business. The company which is now one of the largest and wealthiest in England, has a paid up capital of L 250,000, a fire and general reserve fund of over Ti 1,000,000, and a marine fund of over L 250,000, while its yearly income from fire and marine premiums is over L 1,250,000 nett. It has paid losses to date exceeding L16,00Q,000, and has accumulated invested funds of L 3,000,000. A leading insurance journal speaks of the company as follows : —“ The Commercial Union is a strong, successful and conservative company, and is one of the best-managed fire offices in the world." While another leading insurance journal speaking of the marine department says“ It is of no little satisfaction to‘ refer to the Commercial Union as one of the strongest and best British offices transacting a marine insurance business." It pays to its shareholders an annual dividend of 25 per cent., its L 5 shares now selling at LB4 10s. Its directorate for the head office in London and all over the world, includes some of the wealthiest and most influential gentlemen of the present day. • The Commercial Union commenced underwriting in New Zealand in December, 1890, absorbing the business of the old Colonial Insurance Company of New Zealand, and now transacts one of the largest fire and marine businesses in the Colony, and has become very popular. The Commercial UuLn also transacts a very large fire and marine business in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia. On Thursday last the General Manager for, New Zealand, Mr Frank Allen, left for London, where he expects to arrive in time to be present at the annual meeting to be held there early in May. Prior to leaving the Colony a meeting of the New Zealand Board of Directors was held. Mr J. B. Harcourt, the chairman, presided, and proposed the health of Mr Allen, and wished him, on behalf of the Board, a pleasant .trip and a safe return. Mr George H. Harbroe, Manager of the Wellington Branch, who has been appointed Acting General Manager during Mr Allen’s absence, was also present, and presented Mr Allen with a handsome shield of photographs of all the managers and principal agents in New Zealand from Auckland to Invercargill, at the same time conveying to him their kind regards, and wishing him, on their behalf, an enjoyable trip and a speedy return. Mr Allen was formerly General Manager of the Colonial Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, having joined the Company in 1878, and became General Manager for New Zealand of the Com-

mercial Union in 1890) when that Company absorbed the business of the Colonial. Mr Harbroe was formerly accountant to the Head Office of the Colonial Eire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, having left the Australian Mutual Provident Society in 1878 to join the former Company. In 1884. he was promoted to Wellington Branch Manager of the Colonial, and was appointed to a similar position -in the Commercial Union in 1890, when that Company acquired the Colonial business. Both of the gentlemen named are influential and popular men in the Insurance world and with the public. The local directors of the Company are Messrs J. B. Harcourt (chairman), E. W. Mills, J.P., Jacob Joseph, J. Kirkcaldie, and G. M. Kebbell.

I don’t think your readers need make any effort to swallow the story anent the Duke of Westminster visiting the colonies to purchase real estate in Melbourne and other Australasian cities whilst values are down. In the first place, if His Grace entertained any such project, it is highly improbable he would undertake the job personally. To do so would be as good as asking vendors to put up their prices, and the Duke is the last person to commit an indiscretion of that description. He inherited from his parent the Marquis of W estminster an excellent understanding of the verb “to bargain,” and though a most generous and enlightened philanthropist, is a keen trader. H ; s case, indeed, rather suggests this. When at Eton little Lord Belgrave was known as “ Jack Sheppard,” his mother, curiously enough, suggesting the nickname. He was a small, thin boy, with a spare figure and~ an acute expression. Lady Westminster had his hair cropped French fashion, which rendered him the living image of Cruickshank’s pictures of “ Jack Sheppard” in Ainsworth’s novel, which had recently been published. Every boy at Eton was surreptitiously devouring Jack’s history, and Lord Belgrave had not been there 24 hours before his likeness to the popular hero of the moment was gracefully recognised. Miss D’Arcy, daughter of the Australian millionaire, who is credited with not long ago having refused a real live duke in His Grace of Marlborough, has bestowed her fairy and —but this is by the way—-well-gilt hand on Mr Hankey, of the 2nd Life Guards. Mr Hankey ;is a son of the Hankey who built the huge and towering pile which overlook St. James’ Park, and are known as “Queen Anne's Mansions,” otherwise “ Hankey’s Folly.” He is well off, and might be acquitted of mercenary motives, even if Miss D’Arcy were not as charming as one of Mrs Campbell Praed’s Queensland heroines. Whether the Government go out or not between now and next May it is said to be an open secret that Lord Carrington will, on the Queen’s Birthday, be created an Earl, and take the title of Wendover. This was the honour the first Lord Carrington aspired to, and it is said that when Mr Pitt died the patent for his promotion was being made out. Colonial Baptists will be interested to learn that Mrs Charles Haddon Spurgeon has resolved henceforward to discountenance bazaars for church purposes. She considers money thus got is too expensively obtained, leading, as such undertakings unfortunately seem to do, to heartburnings, jealousies, and a spirit of worldliness. “Bazaars,” says Mrs Spurgeon, “ are of the earth earthy; they suit its habits, its weaknesses, and its vanity, and fit in terribly with the present mania for betting and gambling.” Not every man who has lived in your part of the world speaks as nicely of it and of Australians as Phil May. Whenever he’s interviewed (and it constantly happens), the good old boy manages to lug in the Bulletin to give some colonial “ pal" or other a pat on the back. One week it is George Ashton who’s a “rippin’ artist,” the next it’s J. Longstaff, and so on. Sir George Grey’s relatives in New Zealand appear to have been alarmed by the reports of his spitting blood, &c., we sent early in December, and cabled Home last week (when we suppose the news reached Auckland) to know how he was. By this time, however, “ Richard was himself again,” and replied to that effect. If it were not irreverent to compare Sir George’s health to that of Mother Hubbard’s historic dog one might really do so. His friends “go (metaphorically, of course) to the undertakers to buy him a coffin, and when they get back the old joker’s a laughing.” Fortunately, Sir George’s illnesses and his marvellous recuperative powers are well known in New Zealand or I might be suspected of exaggeration, which (like all conscientious journalists) I abhor. Just at present Sir George is wonderfully well. He says the cold agrees with him, and upon my word I think it does. Of course he lives most carefully, residing in rooms warmed up to an even tropical temperature, and going out only in a close carriage. He reads a great deal, and what with his correspondence and the company of his friends and of liis lady secretary, seems to find life full of interest.