MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A LADY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 163, 24 May 1862, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF A LADY.

The sagacity and tact of our detective police are now being subjected to a severotest, in an affair of painful, mystery. On the 21st of last month Airs. Buxton, a young English lady, who had been residing with her husband in Spain, and who was on her way to visit her family in Yorkshire, was seen safely in a train leaving Paris. Her immediate destination then was Newhaven ; and, on taking leave of her relatives in Paris, it is certain that she had on her person some very valuable jewellery, including a diamond ring of great cost. He luggage contained, besides her own wardrobe, presents for tier friends in England. For twenty-three days nothing more has been heard of this young lady, except that she had reached the London terminus of the Great Northern Railway—a fact which, if clearly established, would carry abundant proof of her intention to proceed on her journey to the north of England. We are glad to understand that Air. Field lato of the Detective Police, has with the help of his assistants, traced the missing lady to the spot we have mentioned, and that they have no doubt on this point. Thus far, then, we find that Mrs. was pursuing a journey planned with the knowledge and concurrence of her husband aud her friends ; that she had accomplished- the greater aud more difficult part of that journey ; and that, having arrived in London, she suddenly disappears; for, beyond the station at Kings-cross, nothing can be learned respecting her. Inquiries at Leeds and ou tbe railway route have been prosecuted to no purpose whatever. The country police along the entire line and in adjacent localities have been communicated with, and iiave aided, to their utmost power, the researches of the London officials. In the mean time, the young lady's husband has arrived from Spain. It is needless to say that tho friends of Airs. Buxton are plunged into tlio deepest grief and consternation by her mysterious absence. An advertiscmeut has been desseminated giving full particulars of her age, personal appearance, .tress and property. The direction ofthe inquiries has been confided to the hands of Air. Field, who is omitting no possible means of discovering the young lady's whereabouts. — Dispatch.

A Rich and Gay Haikorksser.—An application was yesterday made to the Civil Tribunal to prolong the powers of a person who had been appointed a provisional guardian to the es^ tate of an old mau who died in the Rue St. Nicolas in January last, and who had long been known to the neighbors as the "Ay ire." When the juge de paia; went to seal up his property to secure it for the rightful owners, he found an immense quantity of jewellery, consisting of diamond rings, bracelets, brooches, a1507i,252f in cash, and a red. pocket-book full of love letters, addressed by ladies of high rank to Peter Frederick Scheult. From these it was ascertained that the deceased was once the fashionable hairdresser ofthe French Court during the first Empire and the two succeeding reigns. Scheult was a Pomeranian by birth, but having attained great excellence in his profession, he came to Paris, and got appointed head hairdresser at Court. He held that post till 1830, when he had amassed a fortune of about 400,000f. He then purchased the domain of Alontcient, near Nantes, where he always passed the fine season in a little cottase, whicli he had built for the puriiosc. The room lie occupied in Paris was a m'srable hole, dirty, and with scarcely any furniture. As the deceased died without a will, and his relatives are all in Pomerania, considerable time will be required to realise the estate, and, therefore, the prolongation of powers was granted as demanded.— GaiignanHs Messenger.

Tiie events of the year ISOI have pressed with uu•■'lial severity on the interests and resources of Fire snrance companies. That pressure, however, has monstrated that the ability of those Institutions is ual to the heaviest strain, and that the almost unaited confidence reposed in them is fully warranted, ie Liverpool and London has had to meet its share the disasters, but the large addition to its revenue ables the Directors to render, notwithstanding, the [lowing not unfavorable account of the year's exrience and results. capital. There has been a further issue of Capital to tho exit of £100 of Stock, and the amount in tlie hands of c Proprietors is now, therefore, .£189,002. FIRE DEPARTMENT. £ S. d. The Premiums received for In- ) surance against Fire V 3G0,130 19 9_ amount to - - - J Whilst those for IS6O were - 313,725 12 7 Showing an increase in the) £^g year of - - - - ) ' Tlie Directors conceive that these figures, coupled ith the fact, that to the augmentation of the Preiums, all the Branches, with one trifling exception, ,ye contributed, will be deemed satisfactory by the oprietors. They know how frequent and how i-ioiis Fires have been, and will recognise in the imirtant progr ess now registered the best evidence at in all things and and at all times the reputation the Company has been cared for, and the public nfidence secured. In the deliberations consequent . the Great Fire in London, the Directors considered at they, should best discharge their obligations by deavoring to obtain a moderate increase of rate, but ong with it to promote important improvements in c construction and character of risks by means of : immediate reduction in Premiums on the improvoents being completed. In the first instance they i not succeed, but there has ultimately been cstab;hed a scheme of charge forthe Mercantile Insurances London, based upon thatprinciple. Its beneficial leration in Liverpool and elsewhere, not for the Inrance Offices only, but for all interests, has been aply tested and established, aud it would be matter r deep regret if from any cause, its influence should crippled, and the effectual separation of Buildings confined spaces ofthe Metropolis, now commenced, stopped or retarded. The losses of the year are -219,313 19s. sd. LIFE DEPARTMENT. A large Life business has also heen transacted. The number of Life Policies issued is 754, insuring £448,562, and producing in Premium £13,793135. 6d. The account shows that the total received from this source was £135,974 2s. 3d., ancl the amount of claims paid £75,132 9s. 2d. Ofthe Annuitants, 13 have died, to whom £273 7s. 4d. was annually payable, and 51 new Bonds have been issued, under which Ihe annuities are £1,900 13s. 10d.—The total sum now payable in Aunuities is £21,271 17s. 2d., and the Balance at the Credit of the Department at the close of 1801 is £702,202 15*. 9d. Against that of 1800 707,785 7 3 Showing on addition of £54,477 8 6 To the Life Reserve, as the result ofthe business ofthe year. BRANCH ESTABLISHMENTS AND AGENCIES. .. The Proprietors will not fail to perceive that much ofthe improvement now noted i 3 to be ascribed to the activity and zeal of (hose, who at greater or less distances from the centres of operation, labour earnestly and ably to advance the interests of the Company in tlieir respective localities. It would be easy to name several who have eminently distinguished themselves, but it will probably be sufficient to say, that such exertions are not unobserved. The return of Renewal Lists, with every receipt taken up, is by no means infrequent, ancl is the strongest testimony to efficiency which an agent can produce. In such cases the rule is general, that the corresponding list of the following year is a longer and more imposing document. BKSEBVED SURPLUS FUND. This Fund is increased by £275, and its amount is now £210,421 lis. lid. PROFIT AND LOSS. The Balance at the credit of this account is £200,490 3s. 9d.. and from it the Directors propose to take the same dividend which the Proprietors have received for several years, and when that has been paid the Balance of undivided profit will bo £144,218 19s. 9d. Of the dividend now declared, one-third was paid in anticipation, on the Ist September last, and the remainder, for which warrants will be issued in due time, will be payable as usual, on the Ist of Alarch. The following Table exhibits the amounts at the credit of the several Funds of the Company:— ' ' Capital £189,002 os. Od. Reserved Fund 216,421 II 11 Life Fund 762,202 15 9 Profit and Loss 144,218 19 0 £1,311,905 7s. sd. This large sum is satisfactorily invested, and such part as is held by tho Boards, abroad is certified by them to be amply secured. The Board is now able to report that the Lancashire Company entirely failed in the endeavour to set, aside tlie Guarantees they had given on risks in. Valparaiso, under wliich claims had been made. Their liability has been established, and after some difficulty the. Board has succeeded in having it referred to Arbitrators, to determine what sum, in conformity with the principles laid down by the Vice-Chancellor, that liability amounts to. In the course of a very few weeks the award is expected, and a termination to proceedings' of a painful and costly character will then be arrived at. The Board has' had to regret the loss of an old and valued .member of the Direction, in the death of George Holt, Esq. At the establishment of the Company he was elected its Chairman, and continued in that office till the end of 1839. Since that time _ the Company ha? had the advantage of his judgment and experience, in the. superintendence of its aftairs. Throughout the entire period he evinced a warm interest in the welfare of the Institution, and his loss is proportionately felt hy his colleagues at the Board. In conclusion, tlie Directors feel that they may congratulate the Proprietors on this ending of 1861, Throughout nearly its whole course, continnal demands have been made upon the jfunds, to |an extent , which threatened to exhaust the entire Premiums of ( the year. Towards its close, however, a ohanjre was experienced and a valuable illustration was afforded ofthe real nature of a Fire Insurance Business.; It is not to be judged of hy the events of a day, or week, pr month. Its profits are not intended for the speculative or fearlul, but for those who have confidence in the principles on whicli such Institutions rest, and arc willing to abide the issue. There is no instance of a company that has attained by gradual and steady growth the magnitude of tlie .Liverpool and London, being seriously inconvenienced by the occurrences of a single year; there is no feature in the Liverpool and London itself to make it more liable than others to that contingency; there is much, on the contrary, to implant faith in its future, for those who know its constitution, and arc acquainted with its history;; and in its decided progress, year by year, tliere is; the most convincing evidence that it fulfils faithfully and satisfactorily its various trusts. The Directors, therefore, look back, with some pride on the successes "of the pasty and forward in strong I hope, for yet greater things. ■ GEORGE - GRANT, ' CHAIRMAN. /