THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8319, 20 October 1888, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1888.

The Annual Report of the Government Insurance* Commissioner was, in accordance with the provisions of. the statutory'law, presented to Parliament last session, and discloses a satisfactory state of things on the -whole. The Commissioner is able to state that, " notwithstanding the continued "commercial and agricultural depression "which existed during the year, and to •'which is mainly owing the high lapse!'rate experienced in common with all " other offices in this part of the world, and '■' despite the continual unscrupulous opposi- " tion of several foreign offices, whose agents ;.*" appear systematically to misrepresent this "department, the new assurances com- " pleted by the department show an increase " over the previous year, and the business of " the future presents a healthy and steadily "improving aspect." The specific form of unfair competition here referred to is explained to be the practice by agents of some societies, of obtaining assignments of policies from policyholders by misrepresentations as to the comparative .advantages of the [Government department and those of the competing offices. Numbers of policyholders, it is asserted, are thus induced to make assignments to "dummy" assignees, from whom they do not receive adequate consideration. The number of proposals dealtwithduringtheyear 1887 was4sl7 representing £1,121,09518s Id. Of these3l24 were completed. The amount insured wis £766,952 2s 4d, nearly £50,000 in excess of assurances effected in 1886. There were 11 contracts for annuities. The new annual premiums amounted to £22,061 3s 9d besides £7659 lis 9d received as single'premiums and £3075 19s 3d for the annuities, which entail annual payments aggregating £346 ls 3d. The number of assured persons who died during the year was 166, representing in preferred claims £59,973 9s, including bonus additions. The endowment assurances which matured were .15, the amount payable thereon being £3462 3s. A sum of £30,305 5s 3d was paid as cash value for reversionary bonuses surrendered. It is noted that the mortality of the ■ year was considerably under the expectation. The accidental deaths —9 by drowning and 4 by suicide-were equal to 14 per cent, of the total mortality. The gross income of the department for the year from all sources was £268,372 6s sd, an increase on the previous year of £11,220 17s lid. The accumulated fund amounted to £1,328,493 6s 2d an increase of £96,535 lis 3d, notwithstanding that, as abovementioned, so large a sum was paid for reversionary bonuses surrendered. The Tontine saving fund system was introduced in the third quarter of the year 1887. The object is explained to be the reservation of all profits accruing on the policies, and at the close of the period fixed to divide these profits pro rata among the survivors whose policies are in force. " The "scheme has been eminently successful "and promises to accomplish the " object aimed at — a more permanent "class of insurance business." In the course of his general remarks on the business of the department, the Commissioner refers to the decided check given to the progress of business in fche Temperance section in consequence of tho non-allocation of any bonus to temperance policyholders. This, it appears, has resulted from there

having been> nominal deficiency in this section, owing to the brevity of the period which had elapsed since its establishment. It was intended, it is stated, to ask for legislative powers last session to carry into effect an arrangement proposed by the Government Actuary, by which the policyholders of the temperance section would bene fit by whatever proportional longevity they may be found tb enjoy in comparison with the policyholders of the general section, " while at the same time " they fully share with these latter any profits n arising Irom sources other than favourable " mortality—these sources being excess of " interest over the assumed rate, saving in '** management expenses, and other sources "of a miscellaneous nature." The Bill introduced by the Government, and passed into law, does not, however, contain any proviriions to the effect indicated.

We are given to understand that a difficulty has arisen between the Seamen's Uuion and the Union Steam Ship Company, in reference to the dispute existing between- the Union and the Northern S.S. Company. Negotiations for a settlement have been carried on for the last three weeks between the executive of the Seamen's Union and the Steamship Companies' Association, but unfortunately they are said to have fallen through. "VVe learn on good authority that unless a settlement is arrived at the men in the New Zealand shipping trade will go oufc on strike early in November, and that this may probably be the means of leading to a general strike amongst the members of the Federated Seamen's Union end kindred secieties. Ifc is hoped, however, that wiser counsels will prevail and an understanding be arrived at without resort to such a serious step.

Only one petition of insolvency has been filed during the past week, the petitioning debtor being Robert Hogg, of Balclutha, watchmaker. The following extract ; f rom. Messrs Nelson Brothers' (Limited) letter, dated London, Bth September 1888, to the New Zealand Refrigerating Company (Limited) in reference to a recent shipment,of beef from the Waimate. estate and Messrs R. Campbell and Sons, Station Peak, shows tbat New Zealand beef is as much appreciated in Britain as New Zealand mutton, and that there is an excellent market for it:—" The beef has arrived in first-rate condition, except that a few quarters, having torn bags,are a little soiled. This is not serious, however, and we are hoping that before long you will be in a position .to use stronger covers. When sending the meat into the country districts here we invariably use stoufc canvas covers, as clean, fresh delivery is most important, and certainly enhances value. The ' Bell' brand is' especially fine qualifcy, and should sell well. We presume that the present prices obtained for this beef are satisfactory,— certainly as compared with what is often the fate of Americau consignments ifc has dono remarkably well. There is every reason to expect that a very large business will-eventually be done in this beef, if the quality of the consignment is maintained and regular supplies sent forward. Every week jthe provincial demand increases; the only difficulty at present.is the London market, where the prices we want can only be obtained occasionally when American is scarce. Still some of the large' London buyers are beginning to recognise the fact that the later shipments from New Zealand have been well frozen and are certainly of good quality, and the condition more reliable than most of the American-killed meat. Any information you can give us as to the extent of future shipments from your district will be very useful to us, as we are now assuring buyers that we shall be able to continue to supply them for some time to come. Tongues: These are very nice, and will sell in limited quantities at the price named in our, reporfc. Ifc is difficult to suggest any improvement in dressing them beyond cutting the windpipe closer and taking care that they are straightened out before freezing. If limited but regular supplies are sent forward a very fair trade mighfc be done in them. Tails are of course more useful during the winter months, when there would-be no difficulty in moving considerable quantities at prices ranging from lOd to Is each, according to size. Hearts: These aro nofc wanted, and will hardly make mouey. The present price is 9d to ls each, bufc there is little or no demand." The Resident Magistrate's Courfc sat till the unusual hour "of 7.35 yesterday evening, Mr Carew being occupied fche whole day in hearing two actions for damages for breach of contract brought by Dunedin buyers against Messrs R. Allen and Co., of the" Belford Mills, Timaru! The ground alleged was tbat quantities of flour and bran which were bought by the respective plaintiffs on a ris'mg market were not delivered by the defendants. In tho first case W. Wright, baker, of Dunedin, recovered £60, the amount of damages claimed; in the second case, in which W. L. Lees, of Dunedin^ claimed £75, judgment was reserved. At the City Police Court yesterday morning William Ramsay was charged with drunkenness-Sergeant-major Bevin stated thafc the accused had been in the hospital for a few days, and that expenses had been incurred on his behalf amounting to 15s. The case was adjourned for a week to give accused an opportunity of paying the 15s. Joseph Calder was fined 2s 6d and costs for allowing his chimney to catch fire, Messrs J. P. Jones and J. H. Morrison were the presiding justices. Messrs A. Thomson and J. Morgan, J.P's, presided at the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday, when Robert Sutherland pleaded guilfcy fco. assaulting Margaret Robertson at Deborah Bay on the 18th inst. The complainant, who had cohabited with the defendant, stated that she had been subjected to severe ill-treatment at various times from him when in liquor. He neglected to provide for the children, and when she remonstrated with him on the day previous he not only abused her but dragged her into the house by her hair and got a razor to cut her throat, but was stopped by the interference of some of the neighbours. This was corroborated by two witnesses. The Bench stated that the evidence disclosed a very unhappy state of affairs, and a most cowardly and brutal assault had been committed. They therefore inflicted a fine of 30s, in default seven days' imprisonment, with hard labour. The cablegram we received from London yesterday with regard to a new departure in the frozen meat trade does not convey a very intelligible meaning, the figures apparently having got somewhat mixed. Our understanding of it is this: A syndicate has been formed consisting of the shipping and insurance companies with Messrs ;Nelson ;Brothers (Limited), of Loudon, fco purchase meat from tho farmers at 2|d per lb frozen f.0.b., which will give them ljd per lb for tho unfrozen carcasses. Then tho farmers enter into a sort of partnership with the

syndicate, the basis of which is that the cost of the mutton in London will be 4£-d per lb after paying ljd per lb freight*. • If the meafc sells below 4£d the rate of freight will be so much less, aud the farmer still gets his ljd. But if tho mutton brings between 4£d and 5d per lb the syndicate gets CO per cent, and the farmers only 40 per cent, of the difference. If over 5d I

is obtained the syndicate takes 20 per cent, and the farmer 80 per cent. Thus if the price in London is 5d per lb, |d has to be divided, of which the syndicate get 0.52 d (say over |d per lb) and the farmer gets 0.35 d, or a shade under Jd. If our understanding of the meaning of the cablegram is correct the shipowner has much the best cf the bargain, as he will get 2d per lb freight if meafc sells afc sd, instead of ljd per lb as afc present, whilst the farmer will get 2d per lb for his unfrozen mutton, whereas he can readily obtain 2Jd just now. It would seem also to be contemplated that the whole of the mutton j should be sold by Messrs Nelson Brothers (Limited).

The making of shadows is becoming a matter of high art in France, where the recent work of a young artist, Caran d'Ache, has come to be distinctly known as "French Shadows." Historical military scenes are favourite representations of this artist at a Parisian theatre. Entire armies in their various movements pass across fche screen, and in the curious processions the figures of celebrities are so accurately cut that hey can be recognised. Great combats and the

capture of redoubts are shown. The figures are of sheet zinc, about 18in high, and are moved before a powerful lamp by several operators, causing the enlarged shadows to be projected on the screen. The flash of artillery is produced by a wad of gun-cotton, the roar of the cannonading by the big drum of the orchestra, the discharge of musketry by a large rattle, and the smoke by a cigarette. Many of the silhouettes as in tho drill where the guns move in unison act through mechanism, and some are coloured in parts by having apertures covered with transparent paper.

A letter from che Rev. Dr Stuart has been received by Mr VV. D. Stewart, M.H.R.,'dated September 7, in which he states that he was about to visit the Rev. Mr Russell, of Port Glasgow, formerly of Caversham. Dr Stuart writes.*—"l. spent a week in my old Border parish in meeting the people. 1 both suffered and enjoyed much, for, as a rule, they were the children, in ,the main, of those with whom I was so happily associated in Christian work and worship for 10 happy years. Some claimed a part in me because I baptised them, some because t admitted them into a church, some because I married them, and some because they were my comrades in work. I lived in an old manse whioh sheltered us and gave me a delightful sanctuary for years. I left Tynedale and its beautiful heather hills with fche feeling I should never again gaze upon them. I have to see many families in the west before I return to London, but I am beginning to get; tired of knocking about and being exhibited. I will be glad to resume the thousand and one engagements at Dunedin, and will look upon them as easy work in comparison with the life I lead."

It is understood that the appointment of Inspector of Material for the colony at Home is to be offered to Mr Blackefct, engineer-in-chief. As that gentleman ia entitled to retire ou a pension, ifc is thought he may decline the position,, in which case it is believed Mr W. N. Blair will be appointed. Information has been received in Blenheim thafc a dastardly attempt was made to burn the Hon. W. Clifford's house. The incendiary was seen by a jockey, who attempted a seizure, but was stunned by the man, who made off. It is believed that the man is the same as the person who caused the late fire at Blenheim. The news of the earthquake of the Ist September was sent to England in a somewhat sensational form. The message as ifc appeared in the Evening Citizen was as follows:—«A serious earthquake, which was felt throughout both islands, occurred in New Zealand on Saturday morning. There were five distinct shocks, extending over the space of nearly half an hourAt Christchurch the spire of the cathedral was destroyed, and other buildings were damaged, The inhabitants afc first fled from their homes, but returned later when the danger appeared over. A shock has since been reported from Westport on the south-west; coast of the Nelson district." A later telegram stated that the effects were not so disastrous as at first thought. In another partof the paper appears the following- editorial note.—"New Zealand has again been the, scene of seismic disturbance. On Saturday morning no fewer than five shocks of earthquake were experienced over both islands. Naturally, the inhabitants were greatly alarmed, great numbers flying from their houses to the open country. So far, however, as is known.no personal injuries were sustained, and the most serious damage done to property was the partial destruction of the spire of Christchurch Cathedra), and the overturning of various chimneys in fchafc town." The Lyttelton Times states that Messrs Herbert Henty. and Co., merchants, of Melbourne, were so pleased with the'ostrich feathers shown by Mr Matson at the Centennial Exhibition that they have offered to give full London values for all the feathers that he can send them. The expression a "millionaire" has acquired a considerable increase of importance by its introduction into the common speech of a people who reckon nofc by francs,- bufc by pounds sterling; bufc it seems,nevertheless, to be in a fair way to loso something of its imposing sound.' From the report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for Great Britain it appears ! that the receipts under the head of "Probate Duty " during the financial year ending March 31 last were exceptionally large, and that four personal estates of the aggregate value of nine and a-half millions sterling passed by will, producing duty amounting to £283,820. Two of these exceeded three millions each. What was the value of the real estate of any of these testators cannot,' of course, be known. The number of personal estates reaching £100,000 and upwards was also much in excess of the preceding year's return.

It is a very significant fact that during tho last 10 years close upon 2,000,000 acres have been added to the permanent grass lands of Great Britain, representing an increase of 14 per cent. Reckoning £1 per acre as denoting the diminished cost of labour ou the land converted to grass, we get £2,000,000 per aunum, a sum that would support 50,000 families of five persons each, as representing what may be regarded as a loss to the wage-earning class. This change is^ also responsible for a considerable migration of the rural population infco urban * districts. The relative increase of permaneufc pasture has been greatest;, as mighfc have been expected, in the grain-produciDg division. The increase has been at the rate of 14 per cent, in the grazing districts and 18J in fche corn-growing area. The subjecfc forms the basis'of a paper contributed fco the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society by Mr James A. Caird, a member of the council, who says the area has been sown down to grass because it has been found impossible to cultivate it remuneratively in the face of the great recent fall in the price of cereals. A return to a higher level of values would iv all probability cause a reconversion of this so-called permanent pasture to arable land; but in the meantime, while the newly laid down land is struggling to assert its permanency, there is a. loss of producing power, j * The St. James' Gazette has been conducted, since Mr Greenwood's precipitate departure, by Mr S. J. Low, M.A., who had latterly been acting as his assistant. Mr Low is a young Balliol man, of historical accomplishments, and was for a time Professor S. R. Gardiner's deputy at King's College. On the Platonic principle that a physician should have had personal experience of the maladies he seeks to cure, Mr Low should be well qualified to conduct the anti-Radical

organ, for at Oxford he was himself a Radical. Meanwhile, ifc is stated that the editorship of the St. James' Gazette has beeu offered to Mr H.D.Traill. , The " Shouting " Emperor (says the Pall Mall Gazette) keeps up the habit of speaking at the top of his voice. Here, for instance, is the latest string of superlatives which have fallen from the Imperial'lips:— "Ifc is the pride ot tbe Hohenzollerns to reign afc once over the noblest, ; the most intellectual, and most cultured of nations." This love of hyperbolical and extravagant exaggeration has not hitherto been the characteristic of the rulers of the " noblest, the most intellectual, and most cultured of nations." Of all thiugs bombastic, fustian is the most dis-

tasteful to culture, and fche constant conscious straining aftereffect is a novelty which the Emperor will fiud it difficult to make popular among the sober citizens of the Fatherland.

The Loyal VaUey Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., celebrated their anniversary with a concert and ball, held in the North Dunedin Hall last night, when a well-arranged and entertaining programme was gone through. The audience was nofc as large as was expected. Mr S. Myers (mayor of North-East Valley), who was in the chair, in the course of a few remarks pointed oufc tho greafc advantage of belonging to a friendly society, and especially the Loyal Valley Lodge. Mr J. Coombs played a violin solo, and took part in a duet for violin and piano. Mr S. George played two capital solos on the clarionet. Both performers were deservedly applauded. The duet "Very suspicious," by Miss Silk and Mr S. Myers, delighted fchose preseut. Madame David, Miss Heenau, Messrs Robertson, Dowie, Corbett and E. Towsey also contributed songs during tbe evening. Mr Tyree's comicalities greatly helped to amuse. Miss Derbyshire played an overture on the piauo, and accompanied the singers. Mr E. Towsey played for the dancing which followed the concert. P.D.P. Bro. Baird, who is leaving for Melbourne, was entertained by the D.P. Bro Bryant, of No. 19 District, U.A.0.D., at a bon voyaye dinner on Thursday evening. The other guests of the evening were Past District Presidents Bros. Moss, Morrison, and Hutchinson.

Professor Oscar David's gymnastic entertainment and exhibition takes place in the Garrison Hall n»xt Friday. Messrs Jamea Samson and 00. will sell household furniture, &c. to-day. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will sell draught and light harness horses, &o, to-day Messrs James A. Park and Co.'s sale of books today will commence at noon instead of 2 o'clock On Monday they will sell/afc 11 o'clock, tho damaged portion of the Okenbury's cargo of sugar • at noon freehold property in Richmond ; and at 2 o'clock on the premises, Duocau street, jiear Brown street household furniture, pianoforte, &c. The Grange Cricket Olub will play a scratch match ou the North ground to-day. All-members and iv tending members are invited to attend. Sides will i be picked on the ground.

The residents of South Dunediu are promised a musical treat on Thursday next, wheu tiie Soiuhern Philharmonic Society will repeat tha cantata "Ruth," wbich proved so successful a short rime «{,"*■ at Caversham. Tho society is doing good work in fostering a love for music among the voun.» people of the district, aud is therefore entitled to the support of the public,

m?" P- s„ m ith, sharebroker, Eldon CHambers. Telephone 370. (Broker to Auatralian M. P. Society). ,'.' To ?J? 015, son "*nd Co ■ mineral water works. Dunedin.—Hia Excellency the Governor (Sir William Jervois) considers your exhibition ginger ale and fi? T™°i «s«ellS?t quality.-c Signed) S. Mkdibi, A.D.0." The Union Steam Ship Company. recognising the Buperior quality ot our beverages have, appointed ua contractors to supply ajrated waters and cordials.-THoMsoN and Co., Bond street.—[Advt. i ■"«""