RIVERS REPORT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 9

RIVERS REPORT.

Local anglers had the choico of only two rivers yesterday, these being the Ashley, which was clear, and the Selwyn, fishable. Tho AVaimakariri, Opihi, and Waitaki wore "discoloured, and the Rakaia, A-hburton. and Rangitata were dirty.

LIVING ON PREMIUMS. Remarkable business methods were j described at th© meeting of the creditors and shareholders of the British United Assurance Corporation, Limited, at tho Bankruptcy Court recently (says the "Daily Express.") The chairman reported that the company's authorised canital was £60,000, but the amount subscribed never exceeded £8000. Tho company seemed to have lived entirely on its premiums, for it had no reserve fund, and although from May, 1906, to September, 1908, it had undertaken risks amounting to £1,054,000, its bank balance never exceeded £382. Generally the balance stood at about £100, but it had fallen as low as £20. The assets disclosed amounted to about £200. but it was very doubtful whether they would realise that sum. The risks which had actually arisen amounted to £18,000. A WORKMAN EYE SPECIALIST. There has just died in the village of Overtown, near Wishaw, James Shaw, a working-man who had an extraordinary reputation as an eye specialist (says the "'Westminster Gazette"'). Ho was originally a colliery engine-man, and workmen used to resort to him. in largo numbers. Indeed, many thousands of people were successfully treated by him, operations ranging from the removal of tho simple "tire" ! iv the workman's -eye to tho healing of the most serious affection. On ono occasion a man travelled all the way from New Zealand and had his eye put right by Mr Shaw. L p till his death I c continued to despatch weekly large quantities of his special preparations, for which there were applications from all parts of the globe. THE DAILY COST OF MOTORING. HOW TO SAVE MONEY. As thc motor car is coming into daily use it should be necessary, for owners and others to carefully consider tho running costs for oil. In I tho early days of motor cars the cost of oil was a secondary consideration, but to-day it is proved by tho recent | trials that many of tho cars are petrol-eaters. There is a considerable daily saving to be made by motorists, driving cars which aro proved by official test to bo economical in fuel consumption. It will be surprising to tho public to bo made awaro of some of the facts in reference to tho petrol test on the second day of tho Reliability Trial organised by tho Cantor-" bury Automobilo Association. The distance run on tho petrol test day was 148 miles, and reckoning petrol at eighteen pence a gallon (Christchurch price), tho official figures of tho Association prove that certain cars consumed the astonishing amount of over eighteen shillings' worth of petrol for the 148 miles. By the way of comparison and to show tbe daily saving m cash, we point to the Talbot team. The 15 Talbot, the winner of the petrol prize, used under eight shillings' worth of petrol, showing a clear saving of over ten shillings on one day's trip. The 10-16 French Talbot used six and ninenence worth. The 25 Talbot used nine shillinEcs' worth, while the remaining 15 Talbot used nine and fburpence worth, all the Talbot team being fnllv loaded with four passengers. The Talbot team was awarded first, second and third prizes for highest aggregate marks for reliability, petrol consumption, and hill climbing. Adams. Ltd.. 138 and 140 High street, Christchurch. 6