The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-06 00:00:00

SMITHFIELD CLUB.-(THIS DAY.)

The annual meeting of the members was held
at 1 o'clock, at the club-rooms, Agricultural Hall; the
president, Lord Tanoroan in the chair. The attendance was
numerous, and included Earl Spooner, Lord Faversham,
Lord Berner', the Hon. General Hood, Mr. C. Barnett,
Mr. Torr, Mr. R. Stratton, Mr. Owen Wallis, Mr. J.
Overman, kr.

In the report, which was reed by the hoe. secretary, Mr.
Braudreth Gibbs, it was stated that the total amount offered
for prizes this year is 1,9651. The balance in favour of the
club on the lot of December was 4,7481. I3s. Sel., mid the
invested capital was 2,9611. 4s. 3d, It was intended to invest
2,003/. more immediately in the funds.
The Duke of Richmond was elected president for the
seeming year.

PENIS.'ULAR AND ORIENTAL STEAM NAVI-
GATION COMPANY-(THIS DAY.)

This day the twenty-fourth annual meeting Or
this company was held at the compso►'s Ohms, Leaden-
hall-street ; Mr. A NDIRSON in the chair.

The report, which has already Leen published, having
been read,

The CHAIRII.L2I, in proposing its adoption, referred prin.
ripely to the cyclone in Calcutta, which would throw
considerable expense on the comp►ny. The Bengal was
thrown high upon the sand, but her hull was
uninjured, and it was hoped that she would still be an dß-
cient vessel when she was got to sea. The Hindostan was a
mere hulk, and stood at nothing in the campany's books.
The cost of transit in Egypt had been reduced from 71. to
21. 10s., and great credit wu due to the Pache of Egypt for
his administration of that country. (Hear.)
Mr. HADOW seconded the motion, which wu adopted.

RANK OF BRITISH NORTH AMBRICA.-(THIS
DAS.)

This afternoon the half-yearly general meeting of
this company was held at the offices of the company in St.
Halereeplaos ; Mr. Roamer Carr= in the chair.
The report stated that the returns from all the
branches during the current year exhibit • satisfactory
increase of profit ; and the directors felt amply justified
in declaring the customary dividend of three per coot. for
the half year, fres of Moans tax, which ell be payable on
the sth Jae. next.

The report was unanimously adopted, and the meeting
having been made special, Yr. H. It. Ferrer was elected a
director in the room of Yr. Oliver Ferrer.

LONDON AND NORTH WRSTERN RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)

A special meeting of the shareholders was held
this day at the Eustm-station, for the purpose of
considering the propriety of creating new capital,
pot exceeding 363,000/., in pursuance of the powers
000tained in the Oompanies' Act of 1664, and also to autho-
rise an agreemeat for the parched.e of the Shrewsbury and
Welel:Tool Railway, and for that purpose to create and
authorise the issue of JOO,OO/. four per cent, preference
stock ; u pursuance of the Shrewsbury and Vi'elchpc.ol
Act, 1844.._ . .

Mr. It. MOON, the chairman of the company, presided,
and having explained the objects of the meeting, said they
inteoded to imam tire per nit. of the new stocks rateably
amongst the present prop€iMon. The new capital was re-
quired in connexion wit► the West London Extension and
the Bedford and Cambridge Railway. tie then moved a
resolution conferriog on the directors the power of creating
Sew capital to the extent of 365,00 X.
The resolution haring been seconded, was agreed to after
some discussion.

The CHAIRMAN said the next resolution was that relating
to the Shrewsbury and Welchpool kiiilway. Under the Pre-
sent working agreement between that company and the Loo-
doe and North Western an unfriendly feeling existed, and it
was therefore deemed desirable by the North Western
board to purchase the Shrewsbury lice. He would therefore
move that the directors be empowered to raise new capital
of :100,0C.d. for the purchase of the Shrewsbury line,
such new capital to be entitled to a perpetual preference
dividend of 4 per cent. per annum, and to be issued in ex-
change of the existing capital of the Shrewsbury and
Welchpool Railway Company.
The SOLICITOR having reed the terms of the agreement
of purchase, the resolution was adopted.
The proseediegs concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

THE COLENSO Cass—We understand this case
will not be taken by the Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council until Wednesday, the 14th inst. The Bishop et
Caps Town intends to appear '• under protest."

THE NEW ZEALAND BANKING CoMPANT.—(THIS
DAT.)—The second half-yearly meeting of this company
wet held this afternoon, at the offices in New Broad-attest,
Mr. J. F. Russell in the chair. The report recommending •
dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum free of
income tax, setting aside 4,0001. for the reserve fund, and
can ring forward • balance of 7141., was agreed to.
FRIGHTFUL AccIDILNT ON rag GREAT NORTHERN
RAlLWAV.—Yestatday Mr. C. S. Burnaby, wooer for the
East Retford district of Nottingham, held an inquest at
Ranalill, • village about sax miles from Retford, into
the cause of the death of Mr. Richard Russell, civil engi-
neer, of Bawtry, who was killed on the Great Northern
Railway on Saturday night last. Mr. Haswell, who bad had
great experience as a civil engineer. both in this country and
in America, and had lately received the appointment of
engineer of the new line from Dow:ester to Geioeborough;
be had been to Doncaster on business connected with
the line, and miming the last passenger train from
the place at 6 o'clock he, unknown to the officials there.
got into a coal train, expecting, it is thought, that it
would stop at Bawtry. This train did not stop until it
reached Raiford, and the deceased found himself as much
to the south of llawtry es be was to the north at Doncaster.
Anxious to get to has bane the same evening, and there not
being rt train for passengers, be walked into the goods yard,
and, ascertaining that • special good. train was about to be
despatched, he got into the van. The guard reported this
to the clerk in charge at the station, and Mr. Russell was
informed that he could toot go. Nothing more was seen of
him until he was found on the engine of another train, from
which be had to be ejected. He then left, went to the
Questa Hotel, ordered a conveyance to take him to Bawtry.
Before this was ready he left the hotel, and walked on the
Great North-road ea far as the Bawtry-moor crossing of the
Great Northern Railway, when he took the railway, and
from footroarksoo the down four-foot it would appear that
be walked along for a distance of 2i miles, when he was
overtaken by • down special goods train from Retford at
11.10 p.m. and killed upon the spot. The deceased's
brother, Mr. Samuel Russell, surgeon, of Blytb, stated to
the jury the nature of the injuries, and further that the
deceased was in good circumstaores, and bad no possible
motive for committing suicide. The jury returned • ver-
dict "That the deceased was accidentally killed."

SCQPRITED MURDER AT MERTHER.—EarIy on
Sunday morning, the deed body of a respectably-dressed
man was found in the river Taff, immediately opposite •
sotorMos quarter known as "China." As the pockets of
the deceased were turned inside out, and • suspicions wound
was found on the forehead, it is surmised that there has
been foul play perpetrated. For some time the body re.
i maimed at the Patriot Inn without being identified, but at
length an engine-driver on the Vale of Noah Railway re-
cognised him u John 1:4-eser, a fitter employed on the rail-
' way at Neath. He came to Merthyr on Saturday, and it
hu been ascertained that he received 5/. from a club oo that
day. After receiving this, be resorted to a low quarter of
the town, sod was not beard of until discovered floating in
the river. At the spot where found the bank is very Ka
cipitowl, and it is possible that deceased in • drunken state
fell over, and, being stunned by the blow, wan speedily
drowned ; bet the empty pockets are omieona. On Thurs-
day two arrests were made, and the whole place sines has
been in • fever of excitement.

The novel mode of lighting adopted by Mr.
Rimmed, at his new branch, in Regent-street, &Waite
large crowds every night. It consists of • bower of
luminous flowers roses. tulips, &e., made of delicately
printed glom, through which the light shining has a
Pretty effect.