NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 8

NOTES.

The report of the Indemnity Mutual Marine Assurance Company shows that the net premiums received in 1910 were £338.071. An interim dividend of ss. per share was paid in October, absorbing £16,750, and a similar payment was made on April 1. out of a. balance of £51,552. The capital paid up is JE2OI.CCO, and the reserve fund £350,0C0. According to "La Vie Financiers." Belgium has as much as £ICB,OCO,CCO of capital invested abroad, mostly in support of industrial undertakings. Tramway undertakings are much favoured by Belgian capital, especially in Russia, whore Belgian companies arc interested in the tramways of as many as 27 towns and cities. An interesting list of the distribution of Bel- , gian holdings abroad is as follows:—Russia, £17.640,000; Congo, £13,700,000; Spain, £13/80, 000; Argentina. £11,600X00; Egypt, JEO.76n.CCO; Germany, £3.560,000; Italy, £6,640.050; France, £5/80,000; Holland, £2,800,000; various foreign countries, £13,540,000.

The South African Union has a debt of £116,502,628, ot which £62,566,034 was takeri over from the Capo, £32,317,592 from the Transvaal, £22,686,594 from Natal, and £8,932,408 from the Orange River Colony. Of this .-630,211,766 is classed as reproductive and £36,290,8<2 as non-reproductive. On the other hand, there are sinking funds £4.620,402, as well as cash in hand and investments. In ono respect the South African Union is well placed. Nearly half the debt is a<, 3 per cent, or under, while over a further £30,CC0,C00 is at 35 per cent. Thus only one-fourth carries interest over 3J per cent.

Argentine export prospects this year are relatively unfavourable, according to liarch advices from Buenos Ayres.

The prospects of foreign trade for thia year are not such ah to call for any great iiasto in providing creator facilities for it According to the opinion of competent authorities, the Director of Rural Statistics has made a, prudent estimate of the ciuantity of exportable wheat—viz., about 2,250,000 tons—bat ho has, it is thought, over-esti-mated the production of linseed and oats, of which, it is probable, the exportation will not exceed 4C0.0C0 tons each. As for maize, all are agreed that little, if any. will be exported, there is still a swell in hand of last year's production, and this, with what has been produced this yc.ir, will suffice for home consumption, if sufficient rain should fall at intervals to provide pasture for the. cattle and other animals.

Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1457 19s. I'd.