A Successful Society.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 46, 23 February 1901, Page 4

A Successful Society.

AUSTRALIAN WIDOWS’ FUND LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY, LIMITED.

Tins annual meeting of the members of the Society was held at the Head Office, Melbourne.

The Chairman, Hon. J. M. Pratt, M.L.C., said:—Gentlemen: It becomes my pleasing duty to move the adoption of the annual report which is to-day submitted to you along with a statement of the revenue account and balance sheet of our Society for tho 29th year of its operations. In doing so you will allow me to draw your attention to some of the leading points in theso documents, which, one and all, tell a tale of advancement and prosperity in every direction. You will notice that we [have again to report a large increase in the volume of new business transacted during the year. Our energetic representatives have brought before us upwards of 4,000 applications to be admitted to our membership, amounting in the aggregate to £540,511. The net result of our new business operations for the year was the issue of 3000 new policies assuring the sum of £637,627, and yielding an annual premium income of £24,61714s Sd, togethei-;with single premiums of £I,SS4 15s lOd. We also issued 12 policies for the purchase of life annuities of £426 4s 2d, in consideration of the sum of £4,630 15s 9d. These are results with which we have good reason to be well satisfied. They represent the best figures for this Quinquennium. At our last annual meeting we reported a new business which exceeded that of the previous year by upwards of £130,000. This year we baye not only succeeded in maintaining the flow of new business at the pitch then reached, but have actually exceeded that of last year by close upon £60,000. I therefore claim that the record we have placed before you is one of the best evidences one can desire, that, however healthy and prosperous the colonies were when we last presented our annual statement, they are still more so now, and the outlook to-day is even more re-as-snring than it was a year ago. Our report shows that the amount paid for surrenders aud the amount wiitten off for loans on policies discharged by surrender, last year, was the lowest on this account for the past six years. This is one of the very best evidences of the confidence of the members in the affairs of the Society. I wish I could impress upon every individul policyholder the wisdom of keeping his policy in force. Through neglect of this on the part of the husband and father we, as directors, have had frequently under our notice the great hardship caused to the widow and children. Heartrending eases, through neglect in tho payment of a renewal premium, are far more frequent than you may imagine. In passing from the accounts, I think it will be of interest to tell you that, during the 29 years of our existence, we have paid in cash to members or their representatives the very large sum of £1,372,885 12s Gd. And we have still in hand against future claims £1,428,293 13s sd, well and safely invested, and producing a rate of interest nearly £1 per cent per annum greater than that upon which we base our actuarial valuation.

The report was unanimously adopted, and the retiring directors, Hon. Simon Fraser, M.L.C., and the Rev. Dr Marshall, were reelected.

The story that Christian De Wet, who is responsible for the continuation of the war in South Africa, is no other than Charles Stewart Parnell, having been discredited by undeniable proof of the death of the “uncrowned King of Ireland,” imaginative peoplo have invented another tale of the same kind to take its place. Some years ago a scion of a dueal family left England, if not exactly for his country’s good, at least for his own safety. He has never since been seen in his old haunts, and the secret of his whereabouts, the methods of his living, are known only to his nearest relations. Suddenly there has sprung round this jman’s name a weird story. It is said that on the outbreak of the war he went to South Africa, enlisted with the Boers, rapidly came to the front, and is now fighting against his countrymen under the name De Wet. It is not possible to trace this story to its source. Like Topsy, it “growed.” It is widely spread, and in some quarters firmly believed. There is among other adjuncts to the fantasy a circumstantial story of an officer in a crack British regiment taken prisoner by De Wet, confronting the General, and recognising an old comrade and messmate. This sort of fable, is by no means uncommon. At the time of the war between Japan and China a member of the German Embassy told Mr Lucy a similar story then current in Berlin. The most brilliant and successful of the Japanese generals was Marshal Yamagats. It was solemnly asserted, and piously believed, that he was none other than the long missing Archduke John of Austria. Eleven years ago the Archduke, the youngest son of the Grand Duke Leopold 11., of Tuscany renounced his rank and estate,’assumed the name John Orth, and went abroad in the capacity of a master mariner. He was last heard of in Brazil. Thereafter all trace of him was lost, though in Brazil it was reported that be had sailed for Japan, The Arohduke’s renunciation of his high estate arose out of a quarrel with the Field-Marshal Archduke Albert, who took exception to military criticisms published by the Archduke John. It was insisted in support of the theory that the tactics of the Japanese Marshal were based on the quite original principles advocated by the Austrian Archduke. Moreover, it was said that till the war broke out no trace was to be found in Japaneso records of a soldier of high rank bearing the name Yamagata. This romance probably has no more foundation than have those suggested by De Wet’s brilliant achievements, but it is readily accepted by many well-informed people.