The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-26 00:00:00

NATIONAL FREEHOLD LAND COMPANY.

The quarterly meeting of the members of this so-
ciety was held last evening at the London Tavern, and was
very numerously attended. The meeting was also • spe-
cial one, for the purpose of making some alteration in the
rules.
Mr. EnzsrzEa CLARKE having been called to the
chair, the minutes of the last quarterly meeting were read
and confirmed.
WRITTIKOKAN, the secretary, stated that the pro-
posed alteration of the rules had been suggested by a requi-
sition addressed to the executive committee, and was to the
following effect :—That rule 5 be emitted, and that the ful-
-1 lowing addition be wadi to rule 10 :—" That when the fines
on any unadvanced share shall equal the amount standing
to the credit of the member on that share, the share shall
be cancelled."
Mr. Wnirrixonalt then read the following report of the
progress of the society :
QV RRRRR LT RIFORT OF TIM PROORESS OF TRU BOCIITT.
Cash received for subscriptions and instalments:—
May £21,674 18 3
June 27.626 18 1
July 26,981 3 3
Total £76,282 19 7
Repaid to members who have given notice to withdraw,
including interest at the rate of 51. Bs. 4d. per cent., show-
ing the intent to which the society has been used as a
saviags' bank :
May £5,684 16 7
June 7,272 6 8
July

Total £20,169 6 9
Advanced to members on luta chosen, showing the amount
of land sold :
May
June 7,313 0 0
July 20,358 0 0
Total £32,560 0 0
Shares issued :—May, 2,435; June, 2,365; July, 2,407 ;
total, 7,207.
New members:—May, 645; June, 633 ; July, 665 ;
total, 1,943.
Estates purchased:—Stratford, 141 acres, 7,3301.
The whole or part of the following estates, which were
not eonsidered eligible to offer to the members, have bees
sold by auction or private contract at a considerable profit—
vis., Bromley, Bast Peckham, Broadstairs, Potter's Bar,
I. Albans, Saffron Walden. All these estates, or portions
of estates, have been re-sold at a profit, which will of course
be carried to the general funds of the society. (Hear.)
The progress of the society, as compared with correspond-
ing periods of former years, 12 as follows
Shares issued during the mouths of May, June, and
1849 1,270
1850 704
1851 2,400
1852 4,649
1853 7,207
Subscriptions on shares during the same tieriod-
-1849 £ 883 4 9
1850 6,010 19 7
1851 22,595 6 11
1862 54,296 19 1
1863
Mr. WHITTINONAM stated that the directors had &m-
-oldered a neolutio• passed at the last meeting, requesting
that in rotors the east of abstracts of title might be in-
cluded in the purchase money of the estate, end steps
would be taken for carrying it out in future. (Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN invited inquiries from any of the MM.
ben present, stating the readiness of the directors to answer
them; but no questions were asked.
Mr. BoxTaure moved the adoption of the report, which
was seconded by Mr. Jackson, and unanimously agreed ie.
The chair was then vacated, and retaken by Mr. Clarke,
on the election of the meeting, in order to proceed with the
special business.
Mr. WHITTINORAM said it was proposed to repeal rule 8,
by which all shares were forfeited on which the payments
were in street for six months. As the fine on arrears for
1,2, 3, and even 4 and S months, was only a few pence,
it was palpably unjust that the whole share should be for-
feited, where the arrears ran for a month leaser. (Hear.)
The resolution for repealing the rule was then put and
unanimously agreed te.
It was also resolved that the following addition should be
made to the 10th rule :—" And when the fines on any ad-
vanced share equal the amount standing to the credit of
the member of that share, the share shall be cancelled."
Mr. BONTEMPS urged on the members the duty of per-
sonally attending to the registration, as he understood that
notices of objection had been pretty liberally distributed.
The CHAIRMAN said it was to be hoped they would have
this •ime revising barristers who were at least blessed with
common sense, (Hear, hear.) it was the duty of the mem-
bers, not only to themselves, but to the society, to look after
their political rights.
In answer to complaints about the non-completion of
roads on certain estates,
Mr. Witirrivoiteas stated that the committee had it in
serious consideration, whether it would not be better to
delay the distribution of the estates until the roads, rte.
were completed. The other course had been hither";
adopted, owing to the natural anxiety of members target
into possession of their lots. Many members commenced
cultivating their lots immediately, without waiting for the
formation of roads, and made a profit of the land; but
those whose object was to build were naturally desirous to
have the roads made as earl? as possible.
The CHAIRMAN stated, in answer to a question, that the
Woodford estate would probably be allotted in the course of
two months.
Thanks were voted to the chairman, and the meeting
then adjourned.

Jvai:

EASTERN COUNTIES Ran.wAy.,—At the annual
meeting of the Employis Provident Fend of this company,
just held, it was stated that the number of members
amounted to 603, and that the total balance in hand We.s
1,1371.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE MUTUAL FIRE

ASSURANCE ' COMPAN Y.

The annual meeting of this company took place at
12 o'clock yesterday ; Mr. Lows in the chair. rho fol-
lowing report was read by the Secrettay
" The national system of tire assurance, based upon the
mutual principle, founded by this eompaay tire years since, ,
hss continued up to the present time to meet with un-
abated prosperity. This system, which gives the security
of an assurance against damage by tire to the masses of the
population of this country at cost price, fosters the provi.
dent habits of the people, by reducing to the lowest point
the neeemary outlay. The directors of this company have
popularised this principle by the establishing of branch
offices and agencies, and the dissemination of information
by means of the press, throughout the country ; believing
that the principle of Mutual Fire Assurance requires
only to be known, and understood generally, to be
universally practised. They have also, during the
put year, obtained the additional security of a
guarantee fund of 200:0001., which has been
effected, without interfering with the mutual principle
upon which the company is founded. It is believed that
very large proportion of the property in this country is un-
insured, affording ample scope for the operations of this
company ; and the directors have urged upon the agents
and policy holders of the company, earnestly to make
known its features to persons not at present assured in a
mutual office. With this view, also, nearly two hundred
respectable persons have been appointed as additional agents
during the past year. The business of the company Das
very considerably increased during the past year, and the
Imes have been, both in the year and from the commence-
ment of the company, less than half the premiums received,
and it is considered that if the vigorous measures in opera-
tion for the sate extension of the company's business be ably
seconded by the policy holders, still more encouraging »-
Silts will appear in the year ensuing. The directors re-
ported last year that they had applied to government to re-
move a very onerous tax imposed under the Joint Stock
Act, whereby every mutual office bad to pay a registration
he of Is. per policy holder, which, seeing that the com-
pany has issued above 9.000 policies, amounted to a coml.
'able yearly sum. The directors are happy to state that,
upon these representations, the above tax was removed,
and the removal made to apply to all mutual offices, whe-
ther for fire or for life assurance. And if the suggestions
the directors are about offering to government in respect to
the partial abolition of the fire insurance duty are equally
successful, two great obstacles to the spread of fire insur-
ance among the moues of the middle and working cluses
will have been removed. During the last year 2,016 new
policies have been issued by the company, assuring property
to the extent of 940,5611., and making the total assurances
' effected 8,782 for 3,664,6811, sterling. The receipts of the
put year have been 8,1241. 2s. led., being—Premiums,
4,1071. 14s. 81. ; duty, 4,0161. 81. 2d. The total receipts
frees the commencement of the company—Premiums,
12,3661. 18a. 3d.; duty, 12,4621.21. 21. ; total, 24,8281.00 64.
The CHAIRYAN. in !Roving the adoption of the report,
imiagratulated the meeting on the prospect which bad at-
I Minded the operations of the society, and all those con-
anted with the office had done everything to insure ene-
mas.
Mr. ISAAC Donser seconded the resolution, which was
agreed to alter a short discussion.
The proprietors present were unanimous in awarding
!edit to the directors and the officers of the company, and
la anticipating great advantages from the company. The
meeting then separated.