nickel a share, payable September 26 to common shareholders of record on September 5.

Terra Nova is the Bermuda holding company for four wholly-owned operating entities, which are involved in the writing of diverse property, casualty, marine and aviation insurance and reinsurance business on a worldwide basis.

The four are Terra Nova Insurance Co. Ltd. in the UK, Terra Nova (Bermuda) Insurance Co. Ltd., Terra Nova Capital Ltd. and Octavian Syndicate Management Ltd. which manages seven Lloyd's syndicates in which the company has a participation.

Schwab charges clients who use "e.Schwab'' a flat $29.95 for any stock transaction up to 1,000 shares and three cents a share after that. Fidelity plans on charging $1 less than Schwab for its service, which it plans on launching this year.

The Schwab service was introduced in January 1996 and currently has 865,000 customers who are active "electronic traders'' according to the company.

Tech Tattle is a weekly column which focuses on technological developments and computer industry issues. If you have any ideas for topics or a business you would like to discuss, please call Ahmed at 295-5881, ext. 248, or 238-3854.