The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-21 00:00:00

DLNNER TO MR. GODLEY ON HIS RETURN
FROM TUE CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT.

Last night a number of the friends and admirers
of Mr. Godley, the leader of the Realers to the new colony
of Canterbury, in New Zealand, celebrated his return
boom by a dinner at the Trafalgar Hotel, Greenwich.
About slaty gentlemen sat down to dinner, amongst whom
were Lnrd Wharneliffe, who presided, Lord Monteagle,
Lord Lyttelton, Sir J. Pakington, M.P., Mr. Adderly,
M.P., Mr. Mnnsell, M.P., Mr. Stafford, M.P., Mr. U.
Herbert, M.P., Captain Taylor, M.P., Captaio Douglas,
Mr. R minden Palmer, M.P., Mr. J. Ball, M.P., Mr. Chap-
lin, Mr. Chohnondeley, Sir Walter James, &c.

AVSTRALIAN ROYAL MAIL STEAM NAVit.i
TION COMPANY.

Yesterday the adjourned ordinary general meeting
of the shareholders was held at tic London Tavern,
Bishops/ate-street ; ISlr. J. 0. in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN said the meeting were aware that the
adjournment took place on the 29th ult,mo, in consequeace
of the accounts not having been prepared at the time of the
last meeting. They were now prepared nu to the 30th cf
June, and would be prefaced with a brief report.
The SECRETARY (Mr. Marshall) then read a report. In
this it was stated that the only circumstances of interest
which had occurred during the adjournment were the re-
turn of the Melbourne, and the advice from St. Vincent of
the arrival there of the Victoria, after a run of ten days
fifteen hours from Gravesend. The receipts of the home-
ward voyage of the Melbourne had 'acceded the expecta-
tions of the board, considering the untoward cireumstanct a
attending her outward passage and deb nticn at Lisbon,
the expenses consequent upon which must necessarily leave
the voyage a charge upon the company. The directors re-
garded the voyage of the Victoria with considerable inte-
rest, as the principles upon which she had been dispatched,
namely, those of economising fuel and using the screw
purely as an auxiliary power, would prove whether or not
voyages of such duration and character could be made with
profit to the proprietors.
The SECRETARY then read the following balance-sheet
On the debit side, paid-up capital, 252,0021. ; creditors,
26,9911. 165. 3d. ; bankers, tor loan, 15,0001.; bills pay able,
25,932/. Ils. ; reserve towards the creation of a fund fin the
purpose of meeting the depreciation of the floating stock of
the company, 3,300/. ; total, 323,229/. 7s. 30. On the credit
side-By cost of vessels : Australian, 47,6731. 3s. 24. ;
Sydney, 49,0321. 165. Id. ; Melbourne, on account, 29,5261.
15s. Id.; Adelaide, on account, 40.693/. 195.; Victoria, on
account, 41,524/. 18s.; total, 213,461/. Hs. 4d. Debtors,
32,1461. 13s. 7d. ; cash and bills, 10,3821. ; stamps on
hand, 151.; preliminary expenses, after writing off one-
fifth to profit and loss, 2,761/. 17s. 4d.; ntiice furniture,
2661.; store at Blackwall, 1051. 45. I Id. ; King George's
Sound agency, expended in the construction of a coaling
station, 832 i. 55. 2d. ; balances remaining to be dealt with
on the completion of the Tomes which were pending, or
the accounts of which wets not completed on the 30. h of
June, 1853-excess of expenditure over receipts. 21,2951.
sd. ; coals, 24,654/. 7s. 3d. ; insurance, 4,1341. ss. tid. ;
ships' stores, 1591. 13s. 6d.; total. 59,2131. 61. 7d. ; pretit
and loss, 13,024/. 19+. 4il. ; making as on the other side of the
account a total of 323,2291. 7s. 33. This account was
audited by Henry Donkin and G. C. Begbie.
The profit and loss account was as follows :-Debit side-
General charges for expenditure from the time of the for-
mation of the company to this date, being a period of a year
and a half, including, am sear other items, salaries, 1,5781.
18s. bd. ; office expenses, 598!. 135.; and directors' allow-
ances, 3,7301.; total, 7,526/. la. ; interest, 40'2/.13e. lid.;
loss on purchase and sale of the Mountaineer, 3891. 13,.3d.;
deprsciation on office furniture, 10 per cent., 29/. I Is. 9d.;
preliminary expenses fir one-fifth of amount of that ac-
count written off, 6901. 94.4 d.; reserve towards the creation
of a fund for the purpose of meeting the depreciation
of the floating stock of the company, 3,3001.1;
total, 12,338!. 91. 11d. ; balance brought down, 7,3011.
Is. 6d.; first dividend of 5 per cent. per annum on
paid-up capital, 5,6731. 17a. 10d. ; total, 13,0241. Ds. 4d.
Credit aide :-By Australian's first voyage, balance of
that account, 2,7871. 115. 3d.; government contracts,
2,166/. 13s. 4d.; discounts, 191. 119. 4d. ; rs gistration lees,
131.125.60. ; balance carried forward, 7,351!. Is. 6d. ; mak-
ing the total 12.3351.95. 11d.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report, and the accounts
now presented, be adopted, printed, and circulated, for the
information of the proprietors.
Mr. Wanrox, a director, seconded the motion.
After • long discussion the motion was agreed to Ilea-
nimously.
It was proposed by Mr. Fisitrit, and seconded by Mr.
ROBINSON, that Mr. Samuel, Gurney Shepherd should till
the vacancy in the auditorahip.
Colonel COFFIN moved as an amendment that tie elec-
tion should be deferred until the next meeting.
The amendment was carried by a large majority, and
the proceedings terminated.