NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 19, 12 May 1904, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

Lord Plunket' has sailed for New Zealand He saw the King in Ireland, who regretted Mr Sqddon's indisposition.

Tihe census of Gerladine town as taken by the Town Board overseer recently by a house to httuse canvass, s)hows that the population stands at 920, or 80 short of the required n,umber to form a borough.

TJhe Premier, whose health has not been good for gome time, left on Friday for a month's cruise in the Hmemoa around the northern light/houses. Friend and foe alike hope that Mr Seddon may return completely restored to health.

Miss Aileen Ward, daughter ol Sir Joseph Ward. V\!ho, when barely 15 years, sat for a competitive 4ustralasian examination organised by the London Trinity College of Music, was one of three— the others are Australians — who have been successful. She got 94 per cejit. of marks. By the last mail she received a prize of nine guineas.

The estimated population of the Colony on the 31st March was 894,389 persons— 473,493 males and 420,896 femiales. The Maori population included in the foregoing estimate was 43,143—23,112 males and 20.031 females ; and the population of the Cook and other Pacific Islands annexed in 1901 is also included— viz., 12,292— 6369 males and 5923 females.

The annual report of the Government Life Insurance Department shows tihe total income for the year to be £403,380 New premiums amount to £33,462, as compared with £21,968 last year. Interest earnings totalled £152,353, as against £147,486. The expenditure was as follows -—Death claims, £117,414, as against £121,882 ; endowment payments, £77,023 ; cash bonuses, £12,350 : annuities. £12,326 ; surrenders, £31,252 ; loans leased by surrender, £19,050 ; commission, £16.867 ; taxes, £9521 ; and expenses of management, £38,332, against £36,168 Accumulated funds show an increase of £129.214 In the accident branch the premiums totalled £21.381 claim*, £13.230 ; commission £3364 : salaries. £2287 : expenses of management, £784 The result of the year's operations show accident funds at £1255, an increase for the year of £248.

During the hearing of a charge against the master of a Home steamer at Wellington lasit week, the Stipendiary Magistrate had occasion to remark, owing to the free and easy air with which defendant conducted his case, that he .seemed to think because he was master of a vesisel he was also Premier of New Zealand. At a later stage, t c Magistrate considered it necessary to info? m deiendant that the court was his Worship's quarterdeck, and not defendant's. The captain was fined £5 and costs for employing a greaser witihout first entering into an agreement with him and plating him on the articles.

An open-air meeting was held under the auspices of the Auckland Trades and Labor Council to protest against Chinese labor in South Africa The lollowing resolution was carried ■ — ' This mass meeting of citi/ens of Auckland emphatically protest against the introduction of Asiatic contract labor into Souijh Africa, be1 oving that, to do so would endanger the stability of the Empire and be untair to the white and colored skibiects of the Empire already in South Africa ' There was a large attendance, and the resolution, which was moved by Mr Fowfds. M H.R , and supported by Mr Baume, M II. R , was carried unanimously.

According to a return compiled by the Dunedin agent of the Government Tourist Department the number of persons, who visited Dunedin from outside New Zealand during the year ended March 31. was over 1900. Of these 480 were from England, 85 from Scotland. 27 from Ireland, 2 from Wales, 82 from the United States, 402 from Victoria, 426 from New Soutih WM^. 63 from Tasmania, 79 from Queensland, 85 from Western Australia, 106 from Souih Australia, 15 from South Africa, 12 from India, 7, from Canada, 15 from Germany, 5 i'rom

France, 3 from Japan, 3 from China, 2 each from Aus r tria, Fiji, and Noumea, and 1 each from Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Russia, and Madagascar.