DOMINION NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2418, 5 February 1909, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE CO. [Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 3. From the balance-sheet of the- New Zealand Insurance Company for the year ended November 30th, which has just been published, it appears that the net income from premiums, interest, and rents amounted to £647,300. ' The credit balance, after payIj&pafc of the dividend of £15,000 in August last s is £70,293, out of which the directors recommend placing £45,OUO to the reserve, and £ISOO for the investment fluctuations account. From the available balance of £23,793 the directors recommend the payment of a dividend at the rate of 2s per share, absorbing £15,000, and making 10 per cent for the year. The paid-up capital, reserves, and undivided profit now amount to £743,793, -after providing for the dividend recommended.

an Educational difficulty. Tlie Auckland Board of Education, after a lengthy discussion, decline to agree, to the committee’s suggestion tiifSt the wife of the headmaster should So appointed his temporary assistant at a country school, in the ■absence of other applicants for the position. It was decided that the principle that no relative of a- headmaster should bo appointed to his school should be strictly adhered to. A MARITIME LAW POINT. WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. In the appeal case, Captain Smith (superintendent of marine) v. Captain Sutcliffe (master of the steamer Tongariro), Judge Cooper to-day decided that the master of the vessel must enter into the customary agreement when transferring a seaman from one ship to another. A seaman named Young had been transferred from the Tongariro to the Rimutaka without receiving a certificate of discharge from the captain of the Tongariro, and without being brought before ibs superintendent of marine. HiS Honor held that a master of a ship must have a seaman legally discharged from his original ship. EXPORT OF GOLD. The export of gold from New Zealand last month was 35,965 ounces, valued at £145,854, a decrease of 23,107 ounces, valued at £85,654, compared with the return for the corresponding month last year. The quantity of silver exported last n>o mli was 44,426 ounces, of the value ~"'lfr>f £4427, as compared with 111,20/ ounces, valued at £11,215, in January, 1908. AN OPEN VERDICT. At the adjourned inquest on the body of William Brumby, which was found in Evans Bay on Sunday, the Coroner found that the deceased was found drowned, there being no evidence to show how lie came in the sea. o INVERCARGILL CUSTOMS % RETURNS. \ INVERCARGILL, Feb. 3. The Customs returns for January, just past,, were £SBBB, as against £6403 for the first month of 1908. The.beer duty, which was £153 in /January last year, amounted last month to £l4l. Wines last month showed & slight increase, but thoie was a decrease of £3O on cigarettes and of £232 on tobacco, as compared with the corresponding month of last year.