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For a comparatively small community, New Zealand is amply served by insurance and assurance associations and companies dealing with accident, fire, life, aud marine risks. Some of these are purely local, others have their head offices in Australia, and others in various parts of the world; but in most instances the New Zealand chief offices are located in Wellington. With such an ample choice, it is obvious that a considerable amount of competition exists, and insurers have little cause to complain in that respect, although the rates for fire risks, which are uniform throughout all the offices, are a continual source of repining on the part of property-holders. As for the life rates, they are based on the tables of the expectation of life at various ages. Among the life offices, competition for business is very keen. The foreign companies doing business in the Colony have to deposit sufficient security with the State to guarantee the colonial insurers in these offices, and proper precautions have been taken to safeguard the interests of the community. Under the proper headings particulars will be found of all the institutions doing business in the Colony.