Saturday, June 30. THE TOTALISATOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 15

Saturday, June 30. THE TOTALISATOR.

The select committee appointed by the Legislative Council to inquire iuto the working of the totalisator have held their first sitting, and I understand that inquiries are being made to ascertain if the law has been complied with in all cases where licenses have been granted to use the machine. Resident magistrates in the first instance have the power to recommend the granting of licenses, and the Colonial Secretary on such recommendation grants them. The committee desire to ascertain if the recommendations in all cases were justified, and, in order to give effect to this, they have despatched circulars to all the secretaries of jockey clubs for information on the subject. They also ask for all particulars regarding the working of the machine. FAIR RENT BILL. Jt is rumoured that the Government intend to reinstate the clauses struck out by the Waste Lands Committee in the ' Fair Rent Bill. THE AGENT-GENERAL. No reply ha« as yefe beea received from Sir F. D. Bell regarding the offer of renewal of his engagement for three years. GOVERNMENT INSURANCE. From the annual report of the Government Insurance department which has been presented to the Hous^, I have taken the following facts and figures : — The number of proposals received during the year was 4517, representing £1,125,095,0f which 3124 were completed, the amount insured being £766.952, or £49,487 in excess of the previous year's business. In the general sectian there were 2607 assurance policies, amounting to £662,702, and 29 endowment policies aosurlng £2965; while 477 policies in the temperance section represented £101,285. The policies included 11 contracts for annuities, for which annuitants paid £3975, the annual payments under these being £346. The new annual premiums represented by the business done amount to £22,061. besides £7659 received as (single premiums and the price of annuities granted. Claims by death on account of 166 deaths amounted, with bonus additions, to £59,973 155, and claims on endowment assurance to £3462. Seven children's endowments matured, insuring £800. £30,305 was paid as cash value of reversionary bonuses surrendered. The gross income for the year from all sourcea was £268,372, an increase of £11,220 on that of the previous year. The interest on invested funds was £66,380, or £8104 above that of the preceding 12 months, and £2144 in excess of the total amount payable for claims arising during the year. The accumulated fund on December 31, 1887, amounted to £1,328,493. The tontine savings .fund system has proved eminently successful. It is proposed this year to ask- for legislative powers to carry into effect Mr Frankland's scheme to amalgamate the funds of the general and the temperance sections, and differentiate profits in so far only as the mortality experience of the two sections proves to be dissimilar. The indus^rj&l branch, is now practiqally closed,

The total amount of the department's, funds invested on mortgage at end of 1887 was £266^498 ; the sum lent during tho .year .under. the system of repayment by instalments beiug £29,385, distributed among 104 mortgages. SCHOOL BUILDINGS. For some time past numbers of various education boards have commented somewhat unfavourably on a circular issued by the Education department expressing disapproval of allowing school buildings to be used for the purposes of [ mere amusement. Tfce reason assigned for taking this course is that some two or three years ! ago the department, in order to avoid the heavy expense previously incurred in insuring school buildings, directed that all insurances should bo allowed to lapse, aud undertook to re-erect any buildings that might be destroyed by fire. Within the last few months nearly £800 had to be expended in rebuilding a school on the West Coast goldfields and providing temporary accommodation in the meantime ; and about a fortnight ago a school was destroyed at Dunrobin, Otago, which will cost about £300 to re-erect, the fire being caused by the bursting of a kerosene lamp used at a dance. It is considered by the department to be only reasonable that where it is liable to be called upon for such sums, some control should be exercised. No objection is offered to the, use of the buildings for lectures or entertainments for tho benefit of the school funds, the objection being merely to dances or any use which can be considered to be improper. GOVERNORS' SALARIES BILL. I hear that the Imperial Government are not at all satisfied with tho proposed reduction of the Governor's salary. Good men are difficult to obtain in the old country unless they receive a remuneration commensurate with the important duties which a gubernatorial [position demands. BANQUET TO CIVIL SERVANTS. The leading members of the civil service were entertained at dinner in Bellamy's last evening by the Hon. Mr Larnach. About 30 gentlemen partook of Mr Larnach's hospitality, and that gentleman's health was honoured in bumpers. Expressions of regret at Mr Larnach's approaching departure from the colony wero given veut to, and hearty good wishes for his future welfare were also expressed. Mr Larnach, in replying to the toast of his health, 6poke in very high terms of the ability and courtesy of the civil servants of New Zealand. During his term of office as a Minister of the Crown he had ample opportunities of judging them, and he invariably found them painstaking, intelligent, and obliging. A most enjoyable evening was passed.