POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 188, 30 July 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

The report of the Stato Fir, J„s„rUmrtuieut for the year IUO7 states that the net income of Liu. Department for [lie three years since -H Hiaugnration lias ken as /oilows:- XiJU.j' ™ ' 1 » £20,1Hi2; 1007, C 23 l'U . wport says: "That the rates of nutim tor fire insurance are 100 Jow is shown by the fact that the results attained by the Slate Fire'lnsurance (Mice on its operations during the past three .years show a profit of only .eloOli aftor writing oil :t;ioo2 and reserving £7f'jl for unearned premiums. The insuring public, however, reaped the benefit of the reduced rales, seeing that the same amount approximately to £4dO,O(JU for Lie past three years." The statement ot accounts shows that after writiu" oil' £034 as the third quarter of . the"premuinary expenses aud reserving an additional £744 for unearned premiums there is a credit balance of £867. This is claimed to be a very satisfactory result, seeing that it has been attained tree of cost to the public in the face of strong and active competitive opposition, and at rates which have during the whole period been the lowest in the world for similar risks." It is stated that the Department's towards the maintenance of fire brigades will ranee fioin sto 7'/ 3 per cent, of the premiums received at each centre where a fir;' brigade working under the Act is in operation.

NATIVE LANDS SETTLEMENT. The following return of land dealt with under the provisions of section 8 of tlio Maori Land Settlement Act, 1005. and its amendments, was presented io , the House yesterday:—Annum (Toko;narn)_ ,8330 acres, valued at C 15,731, including £6255 improvements; M'hatatutu No. la (Ifangatu), GO acres, valued at £325, including £2O improvements; Rnnarnku No. 2 (Russell), 1725 acres, valued at £575; Parcmata-Jlokau (Russell, Wliangaruru, Hukercnui, and Opu;l----whanga). 7255 acres, valued at £(>92o (land £2420, timber £4500); Waihalia (Russell), 1143 acres, valued at £430; Routu No. 2e, Nos. 1 and 2 (Te Ivuvi, Hnkatere, and North Head),. 12,720 acres, valued at £3456, including £375 improvements; Mangapuaka No. 2 (Mangatoro), 478 acres, no separate valuation made.