The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-04 00:00:00

LONDON DOCK COMPANY.

Yesterday the ordinary half-yearly meeting of the
proprietors of this company was held at the Dock-house,
Bank-buildings. Mr. CarrLar in the chair.
After the confirmation of the minutes of the last half-
yearly meeting,
The Szcarrawt (Mr. J. D. Pewits) read the report of
the directors. It stated that—. The number of loaded
ships from foreign ports which entered during the six
months ending 30th November last, was 646, measuring
207,248 tons. The number for the corresponding period of
1852 was 711, measuring 228,551 tons. The amount of
earnings during the six months ending 30th November last,
has been 250,6091. 7s. 2d. • the amount of the like earnings
for the corresponding period of 1852 was 235,5941. 16s. 4d.;
the amount of expenditure during the six months was
151,8751. 17s. 11d. The amount of the like expenditure
for the corresponding period of 18.52 was 140,2211. 14a. Id.
The amount of expenditure includes the payment of the
income tax. The balance standing to the credit of
profit and loss is 261,7431. 18s. 10d., out of which the
directors recommend the payment of a dividend of V. 10s.
per cent. on the company's stook for the half-year, amount-
ing to 91,0821. 12s. 6d., which will leave a balance in favour
of the company of 170,6611. 6s. 4d.; out of which the direc-
tors propose to appropriate 10,0001. to the credit of the ac-
count standing under the bead of new works, 1846. Of the
balance standing to the credit of profit and loss the sum of
159,0331.35. consists of the amount of outstanding charges
due to the company on goods in the warehouses. The
stock of goods in the warehouses on the 30th Nov. last was
107,631 tons. At the same time last year it was 114,736 tow.
The bill for enabling the company to construct an additional
entrance to the docks received the royal salient on the 4th
August last, since which time the directors have been en-
gaged in taking the necessary steps for obtaining possession
of the ground and preparing for carrying out the proposed
work.' . . _

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report
and the statement of accounts appended, observed that
though the increased earnings of the half-year had been
accompanied by an increased expenditure, he thought,
upon the whole, the account was satisfactory—the result of
the comparison of the two half-years being something uke
3,0001. in favour of the last. There were some items in the
account of expenditure of the last half-year which were a
little higher than the same items in the previous account,
but these were all susceptible of explanation ; and he
should be glad to answer any questions that might be put
in reference to them. The chief increase was in the items
of wages and materials, and this was accounted for in the
larger, earnings. The stock of goods in the warehouses
when the present account was taken—viz., 30th of Novem-
ber—it was true, was somewhat smaller than at the corre-
sponding period of last year ; but the growing business
which had been done in the month succeeding afforded a
tolerably hopeful prospect of the results of the current
I half-year.
A Psonurroa asked for some explanation as to an item
in the accounts of 6,0001. charged for interest.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the charge in question was
principally for interest on debentures. The company owed
about 300,0001. on debentures, but as the amount fluctuated
accordingly as the debentures were paid off, the charge for
interest fluctuated in the same proportion.
The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to, as
was another authorising the payment of a dividend at the
rate of 21. 10s. per cent., free of income tax, for the half-
year.
A vote of thanks to the chairman, the deputy.chairman,
and the Court of Directors, was then passed, in acknow-
ledgment of which
The CHAIIIMAN urged upon the proprietors who were
shipowners the duty of cooperating in maintaining the
prosperity of the company by sodding their ships to the
London Docks, which, with the increased accommodation
that was being provided, would be able to receive vessels of
every class.
The meeting then separated.

FUNERALS OF Till MALAYS.—Tho Malays, as I
have before mentioned, are very fond of music, and pretty
good psrformen. They even have music at their funerals,
and a large band accompanies the procession through the
streets. During my stay at ktanilla there was a great mor-
tality among the children, and some were baried every day.
One day I met four little boys running along, laughing and
swinging a basket between them, and to my surprise ClA-
covered that the basket contained a dead child, strewn over
with flowers. I saw another dead child interred with more
ceremony. The procession was headed by a brass band,
preceding a sort of platform ornamented with ribbons and
lowers, carried on the dewiders of several men, and sur-
mounted by a canopy, beaver which the dead child was
seated on a wain hotel bark supported by a piece of
wood, while Ile brad sateet on each side. The spec-
pole, which MI6 Me \error, esenied very attractive
to the crowdedargeiellea fa tits streetv—A Skacher's Tow
Rs a W W
ZAT.—Tba rising importance of thg
sailma ef MOW' is shown in the return Ott • `......"7.4".1,
elyeelo. Ilia hos just reeehed us. It appears thei., la 7 7
year sally hoe 30, 11161, the net value of th4l;ele
Oren the estnele taaasethwurds of the 30th plehilWig
ledeale wee XV era Madrid tieereai
Urea realmetst of Ha oyster es stated
Mseien noels Day, prelim for seporatioe
velaseet, teem via* it 11 &Wed seem
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