MORE FIGURES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2287, 26 November 1889, Page 2

MORE FIGURES.

~* ; — Continuing our exploration among the ( last batch of sessional papers to hand we come upon two or throe returns which present facts and figures oi considerable interest. One of these relates to THE GAS COMPANIES OF THE COLONY, From this we learn that there are twenty-two cities and towns m New Zealand supplied with this illumnant ; in -fifteen cases the supply being famished by limited liability Gas Companies, viz, : — Auckland, Ashbdrton, Christchurch, Dunedin (Suburban;, Gisborne,' ' Grey mouth, Hokitika, Lyttelton, New Plymouth, Napier, Port Chalmers, Thames, Timaru, Wanganui, and Wellington ; m the other seven the gasworks being owned by the municipal bodies, viz. : — Blenheim,} Dunedin (City), Invercargill; Master ton, Nelson, Oamaru, and Westport. The capital invested (exclusive of Port Chalmers, for which the figures are not given) totals up to £727,000, and so far as the Companies are concorned the dividends earned are generally very satisfactory. Last year the Auckland Company paid 17 per cent, Wellington 15, Timaru 12£, Lyttelton 12£, Napier 10 and 2\ bonuj, Uhristcburcb, Greymoutb, Hokitika, and Wauganui 10, iSew Plymouth 8, Aahburton 7, Gisborne 6£; and Thames 6. The price to consumers per 1000 feet for lighting purposes is 13s 4d m Ashburton and Gisborne ; 12s 6d m Hokitika, New Plymouth, Thames, and Slenheim ; 12s m Greymouth, Lyttelton, and, Wanganui ; 11s 8d m Oamaru ; 10s 8d m Timaru ; 10s m Napier, Masterton, and Westport ; 8s 4d m Nelson; 83 m Dunedin (Suburban) ; and 7s 6d m Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin (City), Invercargill and Wellington. The next paper giveß the particulars of the ; SUPREME COURT CRIMINAL AND CIVIL BUSINESS for the year ending 31st March, 1889-: Prom this it appears that the number of Criminal cases on the calendar was Northern District, 125 ; Wellington ditto. 128 ; Nelson, 80 ; Canterbury,, 82 ; Westland, 2 ; Otago, 104 ; making a total for the colony of 471. In 256; cases the prisoners pleaded " guilty," and 214 oases went to trial. In the Divorce jurisdiction there were set down 1 for trial m the Northern District, 86! cases ; Wellington, 70; Nelson* 7 18; Canterbury, 28 ; Westland, 14 ; Otago,; 70 ; being > a total for the colony of 281, of which 198 were actually tried— figures which willi- we;, fancy, surprise not a few readers. In Banco ' there were for , the colony 200 motions or other applications ; and no less . than 1880 summonses or other applications m Chambers. The last of the returns to which for the present we propose to refer is one dealing with TfliE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF FRIBNDLY ' ' SOCIETIES. . This shows the following, facts. The ! Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows has accumulated funds to: the amount of £176,200 ; the number of; members (all theso figures of course relate to Now Zealand only) is 9,742 ; the present value of benefits is £429,288 and of contributions £250,210, showing as compared with the actuarial standard, a total deficiency of £2,818, or a defioiency per member of £0 29. The Independent Order of Oddfellows, Grand Lodge of New Zealand, shows members 1007 ; value of benefits, £39,504; ditto of ..contributions, £31,750 ; accumulated; funds; £1Q,679 ; surplus, £2,925 ; or, per member, £2 90. The National Independent Order of Oddfellows, Auckland district, has, members, 371 ; benefits, £14,149 ; contributions, £9,205; Accumulated Funds, £1,485 ; deficiency, £3,459, per member, £9 32. The Ancient Order of Foresters shows members 7133; benefits,' £297,220; contributions, £164,338; Accumulated funds, £83,853 ; deficiciency, £49,024, per member, £6 87, The Ancient Order of Shepherds has mumbers 81 ; benefits, £1791 ; contributions, £985 ; Accumulated funds, £493 ; deficiency, £320 ; per member, £8 96. The Loyal United Friends' Benefit Society has members 51 ; benefits, £2085 ; contributions, £1088 ; accumulated funds, £138 ; deficiency, £809,; per member, £15*86. The Independent Order of Bechabites shows members! 1827 ; benefits, £58,477; contributions, £31,099 ; accumulated funds, £15,848; deficiency, £11,530, per member, £8.68. 'I he Sons and Daughters of Temperance, 550 members ; benefits, £21,704; contributions, £10,619 ; accumulated funds, £8792 ; deficiency, £7393, per member, £13*44. Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, members 983, benefits, £40,386 ; contributions, £20,105 ; accumulated funds, £7021 ; 1 deficiency, £18,200, per member £13 42. Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia, members 652 ; benefits, £28,183 ; contributions, £14,325 ; accumulated funds, £3365 ; deficiency, £10,493, per member, £16.p9 ? . jßailway Employees' Benefit Societies, members 299 ; benefits, £14,703, ; contributions, ££587; accumulated funds, £1833; deficiency, £7283, per member, £24.35, These figures are well worth the study of the officers and members of the Societies* mentioned m every instance, except that of tbs Independent Order.' of o«uieiiows, and those of six of tlje districts of the Manchester Unity (viz, Hawkes 'Bay, Marlborcugh, North Westland, Ashley, North Canterbury and Lyttelton) and Court Goromandel of the Ancient Order of Forostors, all of which show a surplus, there is a deficiciency per member shown as compared with figures actuarially deemed safe, and it would therefore appear necessary that the finance of those institutions should be thoroughly overhauled and reformed.