The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-24 00:00:00

CHILI.

The most important news from this Republic is
the assassination of General Vidaurre Lcal, Inten-
dente of Valparaiso. This event took place on the
18th September, the anniversary of Chilian inde•
pendence. It appears that during the celebration
of a high mass in the principal church, at which
the General and an immense concourse of citizens
were present, some of the populace attempted to
possess themselves of the arms of the National
Guard, who were drawn out in the square in
front of the church. A riot ensued, shots were
fired, and the General left the church for the pur-
pose of restoring order. " But scarcely," says
the Mercurio, " did he descend the steps in front
of the church than he fell mortally wounded by one
of the insurgents' balls."

LOSS OF THE BRITISH BARQUE PALIIYRA.---The
British barque Palmyra, Captain Jamieson, fom
Sydney, July 7, in ballast, with three passengers,
bound to Callao, went on shore, September 25, three
leagues south of Lambayeque ; all hands saved;
ship a total wreck. The natives attempted to
plunder everything from the passengers and what
was washed ashore from the wreck, and the pas-
sengers and crew only succeeded in saving their
effects by offering a determined resistance. The
captain and crew remained at Lambayeque, and
were to be sent down to Callao by the first oppor-
tunity. The wreck was to be sold on account of
whom it may concern.

LIVERPOOL, Wednesday. The Anglo-Saxon
sailed to-day for Portland, Maine, with the mails for the
United States and Canada, and a large number of passen-
gers. The screw steamer Edinburgh sailed the same day
for New York, with the United States mails, and about 30
cabin passengers. On Saturday next the Cunard steamer
Persia will be despatched for New York with,the mails for
the United States and North. America. The box at the
Post-office closes at 8.45 a.m., and on the landing-stage at
9,30 a.m.

THE WATERLOO LIFE AND CASUALTY
~ ASSURANCE COMPANY.
s%._._____
ANNUAL MEETING—(THIS DAY).
The eighth annual meeting of the shareholders
and policyholders in this company was held this
day at the offices, 355, West Strand.
The chair was occupied by . John Bishop, Esq.,
chairman of the board of directors.
The :usual routine business having been trans-
acted,
The CHAIRMAN called upon the manager to read
the directors' report, which was as follows :
" The eighth report of the general proceedings of the
Waterloo Life Assurance Company affords the directors the
opportunity of announcing the realisation of their often re-
peated expectations of the success of the company. The
report of tne actuary, Peter Hardy, Esq., presented to the
directors during the past year, a copy of which has been
placed in the hands of every shareholder and assurer, jus-
tifies your directors in asserting that a great success has
been attained, and that they have not misled those whose
interests have been confided to their care by hopes founded
upon other than careful and trustworthy calculations. In
testimony of this assertion, the attention of the share-
holders, assurers, and all friends of the institution, is par-
ticularly directed to the following extract from
that report :—The present condition of the society
may be regarded as satisfactory. The proprietors'
share of the surplus affords them a frir amount of remune-
ration for the use of their capital, taken in conjunction with
other advantages they have already enjoyed; and the sum
to bo divided amongst the assured, gives to them a fair
amount of bonus; in short, the results of this valuatian, in
my opinion, arc quite as favourable as could reasonably
have been expeeted when all the difficulties attendant on
the establishment of a company are fairly borne in view."
The directors attach great importance to the report referred
to, and they feol convinced that the declaration of so satis-
factory a bonus, as the one advised by Mr. Hardy, will tend
materially to strengthen the position of the company in pub-
lic estimation. That it has yet led to the only practical
manifestation of such appreciation on the part of the
public, the directors cannot assert ; time not hav-
ing been given it to accomplish that which, never •
theless, may be looked for as a natural result.
The past year has not been favourable to life assurance ;
for, although there has been no scarcity of money, and
labour has proved abundant and remunerative, there tas
been a wide-spread neglect of the great principles and pro-
visions of life assurance ; and offices have felt their progress
has not been commensurate with the prosperity of the
times. The year now closed has proved an eventful one
in the history of the Waterloo ; it has been one of more
than ordinary labour and anxiety to the directors, and they
are glad to be able to report that its business has been of a
progressive character. Negotiations having been entered
into for the purchase of the business of the Magnet As-
surance Society by this office, and such purchase having
been considered to be unattended with any unusual risk or
responsibility to this company, your directors have com-
pleted the arrangements commenced at an early period of
the year, and the business of the Magnet Society is now
incorporated with that of this company. It is not pos-
sible to speak here with anything like certainty as to the
beneficial result which may follow upon the connection thus
formed. The acquisition of a number of policy-holders and
agents is ordinarily an advantage to a company; and the
directors have great pleasure in expressing their opinion
that such will in the present instance be the case. Your
directors have limited the business of the year to transac
tions of a safe and durable character ; they have not under-
taken any hazardous or speculative risk ; and, by the adop-
tion of this course, they have been obliged to decline many
proposals for assurance which, if accepted, would have in-
creased the result this day reported. The increase made to
the company's business during the year, taking into ac-
count the policies transferred from the Magnet, is re-
presented by 751 policies for £214,010 yielding in an-
nual premiums the sum of £8,206 2s. 3d. The average
amount of each policy is £283 12s. Bd., and of premiums
under each £lO 18s. 6d. As, however, in every instance of
the transfer of a business some policies transferred are not
renewed with the office purchasing, and as only a few 1
months have passed since the transfer of the "Magnet"
was effected, wherein but comparatively few policies were
renewable, the directors consider it desirable to furnish a
statement of the business of the year in another form, which
embraces only such transferred polices as have been renewed,
and the ordinarily acquired business of the company, from
which it appears that 482 policies have been issued for sums
amounting to £133,320, and yielding, in new premiums,
£4,941 12s. 3d. per annum. Your directors have
been called upon during the east year to pay the sum of
£3,712 10s. to the representatives of deceased members;
the claims which have arisen during that period being
thirteen in number. The smallness of the amount is a
fair subject for congratulation, seeing that this is the eighth
year of the company's operations, and that during the
seven preceding years the whole sum paid under this head
amounted to only £11,849. Some of the amounts paid by
the company have proved the only means of support or
assistance to the widows and families of deceased members ;
the knowledge of which fact will, your directors trust, lead
all the shareholders who may not yet have made provision
for their families, to adopt the easy and safe method of so
doing which an assurance of life yields. Several of the
agencies are extending the business of the company in a
satisfactory manner. New agencies have been appointed
wherever such appointments have been deemed con-
ducive to the interests of the company, and some
of an important character have been added to the
list of the company's representatives by the transfer
of the " Maknet ;" the directors hope after the exer-
tions of another year, to report a considerable increase
to the business of the company from these agencies.
The retiring directors on this occasion are, George M hell,
Esq., and Henry Smith, Esq., who being eligibkli offer
themselves, and are recommended for re-election. In ac-
cordance with the deed of settlement the auditor who retires
is, James Andrew Durham, Esq., who is eligible for re-
election, and is recommended by the board for re-election.
The statement of accounts for the past year, which is now
submitted as part of this report, has been carefully examined
by your auditors, who report the perfect accuracy of the
same, and entire agreement with the books and vouchers of
the company. Interest on the capital stock of the company
after the rate of 6 per cent. (free of income-tax) is recom-
mended for payment; and such rate of interest is hereby
declared accordingly. While the directors are able to speak
satisfactorily of the past, the position acquired should only
be regarded as the starting point for the future. The work
of life assurance is essentially progressive, and there is a
wide field for progression, seeing that but 300,000 of the
population of our empire are at the present time assured.
New business is essential to the success of an assurance
office, and if this be obtained year by year, in the proper
proportion, there is no rational ground for fear as to ulti-
mate results. -The directors would, at the close of another
report, very earnestly renew their appeal to all friends of
the institution for influence and support, reminding them
of the powerful results which unity of action may at all
times command ; the more so when employed in works, or
for purposes, so beneficent as those involved in the success
of a corporation established upon the principles of the
Waterloo. Believing that that influence and support will
be readily accorded, the directors cheerfully pledge them-
selves to a constant and unremitting watchfulness over the
interests of the company.—JosEpu BISHOP, Chairman."
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and after detailing the
proceedings of the company for the last year,
moved the adoption of the report just read.
Mr. VAUGHAN had great pleasure in seconding
the motion for the adoption of the report.
The motion was unanimously carried.
Mr. CRICK moved the re-election of the retiring
directors.
The Rev. Dr. HEWLETT seconded the motion.
The resolution, together with -others declaring
the dividend of six per cent., were- carried unani-
mously; and the proceedings terminated with a
cordial vote of thanks to the chairman, and Mr.
Willams, the manager:

7BIS DAY'S MARKETS.