The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-21 00:00:00

With respect to the important controversy recently
subsisting between this company and the Commissioners
of the Customs, the directors have to refer to the
report presented to the proprietors at the last half-
yearly meeting held on the 21st of July, which was
primed at the desire of the proprietors, and a copy trans-
mitted to each of them. In November ;est renewed notices
of trial were given by the solicitor of the customs in ten out
of the fifty-three informations tiled against this company,
which would be set down for trial at the sittings after
Michaelmas term. In the interul, however, the directors
learned with equal surprise and dissatisfaction that a com-
promise hail been elfetteil between the Commissioners of
Customs and the directors of the London Dock Company.
This unexpected event placed the ease of the St. Katherine
Dock Company in an altered and disadvantageous position,
and in the opinion of the directors left them no alternative
but to enter likewise into a compromise, which has becu
eff,eted upon the following terms. The comniis,ioneis have
distinctly absolved the directors and their officers from all
imputation of fraud, null upon an admission made on the
part of the company, that in the conducting of the business
of the docks some irregularities have taken place, and upon
payment of a nominal tine of 1001., the whole of the goods
placed under detention have been released, and all law pro.
ceeilings, which had becu instituted against the company
and their officers, withdrawn. The chairman said a ith regard
to the dispute with the Board of Customs, he could nut help
complaining bitterly of the conduct of the London Duck
Company in compromising this matter without consulting
with the Chairman of the St. Katherine Docks Company,
who had acted so straightforwardly throughout the busi.
nem, and concluded his observations by moving the adoption
of the report.
The report was then adopted, and
HENRY BUCKLE, Em., moved the following re-
solution : " That the cordial thanks of this meeting are due,
and i re hereby riven, to the directors, for their valuable
services and continued attention to the interests of the com-
pany, and likewise for the judicious manner in which,
under unexpectedly altered and disadvantageous circum-
stances, they have brought to a termination the controversy
lately subsisting between this company and the Board of
Customs."_ . . . .

JAKE'S Ewan, Esq., seconded the motion, whit's was
passed, and the meeting adjourned.

Raroam MEETING AT

Monday

evening • largo and influential nwerefing in promotion of the
muse of national parliamentary .form was held in the
lecture•hall of the Sheffield Mohisuica' Institution. Sir
Joshua Walmaley, M.P. and George Thompson, Esq.,
atteuthad as a &pandas ben the essuncil in London.
Some of the laustisisostiel ummysemisinit reformers
in the town wen aisle prewmat Mr. Cemeiller Soil, wee
called to the irk. Sir Joshua Weimaley, then came
forward amidst ouch cheering, aid said—Mr. Chairman and
gentlemen, I think it is now about two years since I last
had the tweints of appearing before the men of Sheffield.
On that oseneka we were almost at tho commencement of

our labours Sin.. ties (end &Deluding a short time pre-
viously) we have attended upwards of tiso meetings in vari-
ous parts of this country, from sae end of the kingdom to
the other; and it is • meet ratifying circurnstanee to Bud
that everywhere we ham slut with a kind reception. At
nese Ism we met with sitter an adverse vote or any serious
And I feel honed to say, that we feel deeply
indsbMi is d.. working eisiese—to the producing classes—
for la*, adds ems et these spilt= either more ear eine
or mare shamed than ear own, adopting, an a step
to what they &mirk the 11114///0 which we hare proposed.
Sir Jake Wa preeeeded In wiser the procreu of reform
in this country, explaiaisg the ilkjeds sought fur by the
Parliamentary Rehm Asieciedes. and eleady demmutrat-
ing their utility mad preetlealdlity, and concluded by ad-
vising the electors is side* cosy irendidate who would not
vote loran extremism et the beeehise.—Mr. 0. Thompson,
M.P., hawing spoken at esinideeelde_
_Leith, • resolution
wail ISM* by whisk the pledged itself to continue 1
to amen the Reim and the proceedings
claw& with a vote of thanks to the deputation.
Dierivertes FlRE.—This morning, about two!
o'clock a serious 4o brake eat at oa Ford, near
Bow Church, es the known an the Wick-
lane Works. The baiWisgs Wen nearly 200 feet in I
length, about GO feet wide, and be. GO to GO feet high,)
and was in the tenure of Mr. Jail, Allen, paper stainer.'
Several engines were shortly on the spot, end were taken to
a reservoir belonging to the East Landon water works, but
though the supply of water was ample sad in spite of the
'exertions of the firemen, eke week el destruction continued,
and at length the flames rose a eseridesehle distance above
the house tops in the neighbourhood; at the eau time im-
mense pieces of burning wood were d ow the build
logs near. The firemen at length in getting
the mastery over the flames, but not until the premises,
with the exception of one house were all but destroyed. The damage is roughly estimated at from 7,0001. to 0,0001.
The stock in trade and buildings were insured in the Alli-
ance fire °flee.
___ _ .

--•
THE BANBURY MURDER.—On Monday evening,
after a very brief deliberation, the coroner's jury returned
a verdict of Wilful murder" against Giovanni
fiudielcao Kalabergo. This decision deprivi s the fungi'.
trot's' investigation of any further public interest, as, with
the same evidence before them, they cannot fail to come to
• like conclusion. The prisoner will take his trial at the
seat Odoedshira