The Express.
London, England, 1849-08-03 00:00:00

VAN DIEMENI LAND COMPANY.

Yesterday a special meting o? tLis cctnpany war
held at the offices in Winchester-street, Old Brad-staret,
for the purpose of forfeiting shares on tibia eids were in
arrear.
JOHN CATTLEY, 111., having taken the chair, raid
the directors had deferred this meeting as long as possible;
but they thought it only justice to thcso in...Tricots who had
paid their calls regularly, that thy should now at
ones strike off from the register those names which they'
could no longer reckon upon as proprietors. (Hear,
'here.) With regard to the list now to be read
by the secretary, he begged Se say that the directors had
shown the utmost forbearance, both iu consideration of the
times and the circumstances under which this company lad
been placed. Even now, late as it was, if tbere were any of
these unfortunates whose names were in the list desirous to
redeem their shares from confiscation, he should be happy to
erase their names from the list of defaulter,. As every cam
which appeared in the list wee utterly hopeless, as far as
could be ascertained, he should at once call upon the secre-
tary to read the list and the resolution prepared for the
meet ing.
The SECRETARY, then read a list of 610 shame, and
the names of the prtprieton, who were in arrears.
The CHAIRMAN mid that out of this number 310 shares
belonged to their late governor and his family, but the par-
ties were quite unable to pay the calls, which he dare my
would be confirmed by Mr. Sheppard, whom I e saw pre-
, sent. Nose than two calls were in arresr en all the shuts
now to be fnefetarl.
Mr. BROOKSBANK staked U this was the first forfeiture
of shams ?
The CHAIRMAN replied that 140 odd tad beta forfeited
vote years ago. The whole number was not large madder-
ing the unfortunate state of the company.
Mr. SHEPPARD hoped no one would bo allowed to gat
off who had the means of plying. The person there men-
ned he understood was likely to come into a considerable'
sum of money.
The resolution, forfeiting the 610 shares, was then passed
unanimousle.
Mr. BROOKSBANH asked what were the liabilities of
the 111031pinv.
Tne CHAIRMAN observed that about six years aro the
board agreed, in order to induce parties to come on their
lends, to take their province for a period of seven years at
fixed prices, which, under the circumstances of the colony,
had turned out disastrous to the company. There was no
alternative bet to let the stipulation run out, which he was
happy to say would arrive in March next. (Heir, hear.)
Atter that tune he could tell then what the liabtlities ot the
tompony were; at present, be could only speak of their

tairagemen la.
Mr. BatiOICRANK, Mr. RICHARDSON, and another pro-
prietor, spoke in layout of a committee ut investigation to go
into the expediency of winding up the company ; but the
CHAIRMAN oprosed it, as he said a meeting mast be celled
specially for tie purpose.
The CHAIRMAN would say, that, after they had ra.t
all their engagements as honourable men, and another year
had expired, they would find no further calls nen seat),
sad w :aid know the worst that could happen. Their
tenantry were now prosperous, and with thdr increase and
prosperity the value of the lead of the company
must be 'shinned. They had the prospect of a steady
ren.tel, provided they got tenants for all land fit
for eultivatica, of 4,2001. a year. He was not pre) aced to
ray that this would be all in money, but it would be in that,
cleared land. produce or something of value.
A PROPRIETOR thought that produce would net
answer foe payment for rent.
The CHAIRMAN could not see why produce should not
be u good payment as ant thing else; they would not be
bound to 8:4 prices. (Hear.) He wou:d here mention
that the live stock on the company's estates on the let Febru-
sry was 9 622 sheep ; cattle, 2,299; hews, 204; and 72 deer;
the total value of which was estimated at 9,0001. They had
at their bankers' 1,8641.; there was e h donee of call
yet to b • received, with the other call of 4,001., and the
estimated prods., of 76 bales of wool, 1,2001.; so that after
making this call the directors would nor. have too large a
balance in hand.
After sone &minden, in which Mr. PALKIR, Mr. YAM,
Mr. SR aPPARD, and others took part,
The CHAIRMAN read en account from a Yen Diemen's
Land Journal of the visit of the. Bishop of Tasmania to the
Company's property at Cinder Head, when his
lor&laip expressed hi-hselt mach pleased to wd-
nese the prosp•r.rua state of the eet•leri, and the
Imp sums which the company had devoted to