The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-22 00:00:00

BRITISH FISHERIES SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting in pursuance of the
let 30 and 21 Vic., cap. 93, was held yesterday, at WlRiles
Roma, King-street, Bt. James's. Mr. Cloaca LOCH oc-
cupied the chair, and was supported by Sir Graham Mont-
gomery, M.P., Major 11Plepay, Captain Tudor, R.N., and
others. The report, which was read by Mr. Macleod of
Macleod (the Secretary), stated that the directors, finding
that the cost of the harbour works in Wick Bay would ex-
ceed the amount they originally contemplated, bad resolved
to apply for an additional loan, and had accordingly ad-
dressed communications to the Board of Trade and to the
Public Works Loan Coinmissionen. The Board of Trade
formally approved of the further loan of 20,0001., in addi-
tion to the sum of 60,0001. already applied for. The reply
of the Loan Commissioners was as follows :

"Smith Sea House, June 19, 1863.
"Sin,-1 am directed to inform you that this board
having had under consideration the application of the
British Fisheries Society for a loan of 80,0001. tinder the
Harbours and Passing Tolle, &c. Act, 1861, for the purpoee
of certain harbour works in the Bay of Wick, have resolved
so far as regards 60,0001. of that sum to giant • loan to that
extent in aid of the expense of constructing the astern
breakwater, such lose to be advanced as follows :-20,4;001.
in 1864, 30,0001. in 1865, and 10,0001. in 1866, by suck in-
stalments and at such times as may be arranged between
this board's secretary end the British Fisheries Society, the
tint advance to be subject to the production of evidence to
the satisfaction of this board of the expenditure out of the
fends of the society of 40,0001. upon the works, and the
eubeequent admixes subject to the production of similar
evidence of the expenditure of the preceding advance;
each instalment to be secured by a mortgage of the harbour
revenue', sad all tolls and other income derivable from
the undertaking, end to be repayable by 45 annual
iowal-
meats, the first to be paid at the expiration of the fifth year
from the date of each advaoce, interest at 31 per cent. to
be paid annually on the principal sums from time to time
remaining unpaid. The due application of such 'demo, is
to be secured by a bond to her Majesty from the directors
of the society, or the major part of them. lam further to
acquaint you, that the consideration of the application, so
far as relates to the sum of 20,0001. required for the trans-
verse breakwater, is postponed, until the fattens break-
water and works shall have been completed, or until the
plans for such transverse breakwater shall here been ap-
= by the proper authorities, and submitted to this

On the receipt of the letters from the Board of Trade and
the commissioners, immediate directions had been given for
entering into arrangements with the contractor. and Mr.
Hunter having withdrawn his tender, that of Messrs.
Macdonald, of Glasgow, bad been finally accepted ; the sum
agreed upon for the various works being 1°5,704/. No time
had been lost in preparing the contract, and it being under-
stood that the inhabitants of Wick atd Pulteney-town were
desirous of showing their interest in the construction
of these works, it was resolved that there should be a
ceremony on the occuion of laying the first stone of the
eastern breakwater. The neesessry arrangements were
made by the contractor, and on the Ist of October the first
atone was laid by the Countess of Caithness, in presence of
a deputation from the board of directors and a large asaem•
blare of persons, an imposing processiou of trades with
banners, proving (if any proof were wanting) bow much
alive the industrious community of Caithness were to the
importance of the undertaking, and the benefits it would
confer upon them. The contractor had 111000 that time been
engaged in the arranpmenta necessary for carrying on the
works with vigour. A number of men were employed, and
the directors hoped that during the ensuing summer he
would be enabled to make good progress. The gross receipts
from the society'. estate in 1863 bad amounted to 2,448/.
se. lid., and the expenditure to 9171. le. 4d., leaving a
balance of 1,3311. 4s. 2d. ; out of which the directors re-
commend that a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. per
annum should be paid on each 504. share.
The CRAIRIIA3 moved the adoption of the report and
accounts.

Ilijor M•LF.AT, in seconding the motion, 'puke of the
great number of respectable tradesmen and animus of
Caithness and the impounding villages assembled on the
eocaaion of laying the foundation stone of the eastern break •
water, and of the extreme good humour and good order
which prevailed on that occasion.
The motion was agreed to, and the retiring directors, the
Earl of Caithness and Mr. Loch, and the retiring auditor,
Mr. W. Miller, were re-elected.
A communication was read from Messrs. Stevenson, the
engineers, to the effect that theme had now brio deposited
in the line of the breakwater 3,135 tons of stones, that the
contractor had sent to the ground a large quantity of plant
and timber for staging, and another cargo was now mite way,
and that other plant was being proceeded with, end would
shortly be sent to the works; so that they hoped soon to
report that the works had been fully organised.
A vote of thanks was then accorded to the chairman,
sad the meeting separated.

HOTEL AND TAVERN KEZPERs' PROVIDENT IN-
enrcrlos.—Yeatorday the twenty-fifth annual meeting of
the members of this institution was held at the Craven
li
Hotel, Mr. Lovegrove in the chair. Mr. Blackburn read
the report, from which it appeared that the committee were
anxious to raise the amount paid to recipients to what they
received formerly, and for this purpose they invited the co-
weration of the hotel-keeping:interest They regretted that
they were compelled to reduce the amount payable to each
recipient, bat the investment of 5,7001. would enable them
to give some mesterei*, however small. The auditor's re.
port showed that the receipts of the past year amounted to
291/. is. 4d., and after the expenditure there remained a
balance of 01. 18s. 7d. On the motion of Mr. Glover,
seconded by Mr. Goodfellow, the report was adopted, and
thauks voted to the president, vice-president, trustee., Ice.,
of the institution. Oa the motion of Mr. Targett, seconded
by Mr. Banks, the thanks of the meeting were givers to the
honorary officers and professional gentlemen for their ow-
vices. Mr. Funge, of the London Tavern, wee elected a
member of the committee. A vote of thanks to the chair-
man, moved by Mr. Bennet, and seconded by Mr. Tapster,
closed the proceedings.
THE SCOAR Dutim4.—Tbe foreign and colonial
committee of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, at a
special meeting held yesterday, to consider the principle on
which duties should be levied on engem, resolved unani-
mously to report to the council in favour of classification,
as opposed to a uniform fixed rate, so keg as refining in
bond-is not allowed. The discussion, which was a searching
one, lasted two hours and a half.

. •
MANCH NITER., Sll isrn ELD, ♦ND LINCOLNSHIRE
RAILWAY.—The total expenses of this company's railways,
ineludirig rents, toll., duty. &c., from January 1 to March
13, 1864, amounted to 63.5614 as against 65,2804 for the
corresponding period of 1863. The proportion of the South
lunation ressipts accruing to this company from January 1
to March 13 amounted to 6.4061., as against 5,9511. for the
corresponding period of 1862, and the expenses to 3,2764,
as against 2,5911.