Semew of Reviews, l/lS/Oe. 



Insurance Notes. 



629 



rooms, as seen by him in his recent trip to that city. 

 He states that safes were to be seen scattered in all 

 directions, most of them with their doors wide open 

 or missing altogether: some with their sides wrenched 

 open, and nearly all of them roasted outside and 

 scorched within, with the contents burnt to cinders. 

 The majority of the strong-rooms were in a like con- 

 dition, and about 7-5 per ceut. of the safes and strong- 

 rooms failed to preserve their contents from destruc- 

 tion. It must be remembered that the ruins stretched 

 some three miles across, and the fury and force of 

 such a furnace was beyond all imagination. 



From the annual report of the Sydney Fire 

 Brigades Board it is seen that the total sum held at 

 risk by the insurance companies there at 31st Decem- 

 ber last was £75,147,807. 



An important decision has been given by the 

 Superior Court of San Francisco on the question of 

 the liability of insurance companies for losses sus- 

 tained by the tires arising in that city consequent on 

 the great earthquake of April last. The Court held 

 that the companies were liable for the losses even if 

 evidence proved that the earthquake caused the out- 

 break. 



The steamer " Haversham Grange,' while on her 

 voyage from New York to Australia via Capetown, 

 was totally destroyed by fire at sea last month. The 

 vessel was 800 miles from Capetown when the fire was 

 discovered, and all efforts to stay the Hames were un- 

 availing. The position for those on board became 

 exceedingly critical, until the steamer " !Mataafa ' 

 was sighted. The latter came alongside, and took off 

 the passengers and crew in safety. The burning ves- 

 sel had to be abandoned to her fate, and the rescued 

 passengers and crew were lirought to Capetown. The 

 amount of the loss involved is estimated at £'3.5O,0OO. 

 A large quantity of the cargo for Melljourne and 

 Sydney consisted of resin and turpentine, as well as 

 general goods. 



The balance-sheet of the Colonial Mutual Fire In- 

 surance Society for the twelve months ended Septem- 

 ber 30th shows that a very prosperous year has been 

 pa>sed through. The net premiums, after deducting 

 reinsurances and returns, amounted to the large total 

 of £148,010, as against £134.747 for the previous year, 

 whereas the losses were £.5"2.3<>7 against £00,031. The 

 premium income is therefore £13.:263 greater, and 

 the losses £S'2(i4 less than twelve months ago, show- 

 ing a total gain of £21, -527 or the year just closed. 

 A dividend of 8 per cent, is declared, and a bonus of 

 2s. lid. per share, equal to 12^ per cent. — in all 2O5 

 per cent. — absorl)ing i^iO.-jOO, in addition to which 

 £20.tl(K) is added to reserve fund, making that fund 

 £100,000. The directors refer to the valuable .services 

 rendered by the Hon. J. F. Levien, -M.L.A...who died 

 during the year, and who was a director of the com- 

 pany since its establishment, and was' its chairman 

 tiir the past ten years. The management is to be 

 cimgratulated on the exceedingly strong position of 

 the company, as shown by the balance-sheet. In- 

 cluded in its assets are fJovernnient and municipal 

 securities (at cost) £100.000: fixed deposits, £•")(!, (100 ; 

 and real estate, £43. -590: its liquid securities thus 

 anionntiug to nearly £200.001). The manager of the 

 company is .Mr. W.V.L. Jack. 



THE UNITED 



INSURANCE COMPANY. 



ESTABLISHED i86j. 



ADELAIDE ■ 

 MELBOURNE 

 BRISBANE • 

 PERTH - • - 

 HOBART - - 



T. C. Reynolds, Resdt. Seoretarj 

 T. Lockwood, Kesdt. Secretary 

 E. Wiokham, Resdt. Secretary 

 J. H. Prowse, Resdt. Secretary 

 W. A. Tregear, Resdt. Agent. 



HEAD OFFICE 



THOMAS M. TINLEY, 

 Manager, 



SYDNEY. 



B. HAIGH. 



Secretary. 



THE 



CREDIT FONCIER 



Lends to Farmers in Victoria 



£,50 TO £,2000 



At 4M per cent, for 30 Years, with right 

 to pay off any half-year. 



Apply, 



INSPECTOR-CENERAL OF SAVINGS BANKS, 



MELBOURNE. 



th:« 



COLONIAL MUTUAL 

 , . FIRE . . 



INSURANCB COMPANY UMITBD. 



FIRE 



ACCIDENT ■ 



EMPLOYER'S 

 LIABILITY 



FIDELITY 



GUARANTEE 



PLATE-CLASS 

 BREAKAGE 



MARINE 



BURGLARY - 



y Insurance. 



OFFICES. 



MELBOURNE -60 Market SUmI. 



SYDNEY— 78 Pitt Street. 



ADELAIDE— 71 King William Street. 



BRISBANE— Creek Street. 



PERTH— Barrack Street. 



HOBART— Collins Street. 



LONDON''- St. Michael's Alley, Cornhllt, B.C. 



WM. L. JACK, 



MAHA.OIK. 



