The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-04 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL-HALL COMPANY.

Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of
this company took place at the Agricultural-hall, Islingtoo,
to receive and coosider the report of the directors, and for
other purposes ; Mr. Joao Cconme in the chair.
Mr. S. Smarr, the escretary,read the report of the direc-
ton, which stated that the dheetore on this, the first meet-
ing for declaring a dividend, congratulated the shareholders
on the complete success of the nodertaking. The accounts
showed • profit which fully justified them in recommending
a dividend of 101. per cent. clear of income-tax. Such •
dividend would leave an ample margin of profit to be carried
to the next revenue account. It would be obeseved from
the accounts that 3901.. the premium received in respect of
new shares, had been carried to the capital account, which
the directors on consideration thought to be the proper
coarse. The future prospects of the company were
highly satisfsctory. Out of numerous appliostions
for renting the hall the directors bad selected
one for a series of musical entertainments of • high class,
commencing in this month, and had secured a rent in pro-
portion to the gross proceeds, which wee likely to be re-
munerative, without involving the company in any rids.
They were also preparing to hold a great loternational dog
show in the month of May, under auspices and arrange-
ments which could not fail to render it a great success. The
directors did not propose to launch into speculations as
caterers for public amusements, but to confine their efforts
to three or four shows in tile course of the year, chiefly eon-
'meted with the agriculture or the national 'ports of the
kingdom, and to letting the ball, either at a fixed rent, or
for • proportion of gross receipts. It had been thought ad-
visable to make the financial year close on the
31et of January, ea it would always be difficult to discharge
the heavy accounts connected with the cattle show
before that date. Since the general meeting of the share-
holders on the 10th December, 1862, the surveyors (Messrs.
Blitstone and Hunt, of Parliament-street) had ascertained
the amount due to the contractors for the ball, which, in
consequence of alterations and additions, considerably ex-
ceeded the original estimate. The requirements of the
building, in the matter of gas-lighting, fittings, paving, &c.,
were under-estimated, and it would be essential, in order to
reap the full advantage from the noble proportions of the
hall to lay down a movable wooden floor, erect an °reheats*,
construct worming apparatus, and in other ways increase the
comfort and convenience of the building. The archway on
Islington-green, with its twoahope, would prove an excellent
investment. Under these circumstances, the directors re-
commend the shareholders to authorise miming a sum not
exceeding 11,0001. by the issue of debentures, redeemable
within • limited period, and bearing interest at a rate not
exceeding 5/. per cent. The revenue account to the 31st
January, 1863, showed that the receipts amounted to
8,8301. 18s. 3d., and the expenditure to 3,4251. 10s. 3d.,
leaving a balance applicable to dividend of 5,4061. Bs.
After some discussion the report was adopted, • dividend
declared as recommended, and • resolution parsed autho-
rising the directors to raise 11,0001. upon debentures, to
meet certain expenses not estimated in the original Wm-
lations. The meeting then generated with • vote of thanks
to the directors.