The Express.
London, England, 1865-08-28 00:00:00

BANE OP AUSTRALASIA.-(THIS DAY.)

—•—
The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of
Ude company was held at the bank premises, Threadneedle-
street, this day ; Kr. E. Banaroze, ILP., in the chair.
The report of the directon states :
"In oonformity with the practice which has now
been established some years the directors have invited the
attesdance of the sherehoiders for the purpose of 'anomie-
leg a dividend, end of informing them that in the in-
terval that ban elapsed since their last report, the
rfie:of the book has been steady and satisfactory.
tist be home la mind that within the last few
years the number of local banks in the Australian
adonis, has greatly increased, and that banking operations
there are now carried on in the lam of active competition
in all quarters. The position of the bank is, however,
frilly maintained, and there is every reason to look
evendently to the future. The business in New Zealand is
booming important, and the result for the half-year mid-
kg in April last is as good as was anticipated. The
seat of goeeromeet having been transferred from Auck-
bad to Wellington, it has become necessary to
open • branch at the latter plus, for which
the sanction of the Court has been already given.
The dividend and bonus will be payable on the 17th
of October neat, and will be at the rate of 14 per
met. pee ann free of Memo' tax, that is to my 2L 18e.
on each old sha e., and 21. 2s. on *soh new share.
Henceforward the old and new shares will stand on the
same footing in regard to dividend and bonus, and all dis-
tinction between them will cease."
The Caillitaf said the business to be transacted on the
termed occasion was of so formal a character that ho almost
regretted that they were bound by precedent to invite their
presence to-day, as the only business was the annoueos-
ment of a dividend. That dividend was 7 per cent. for the
half-year, sad would absorb 78,7501., which considering the
merit increase in their capital he thought should be con-
sidered es highly satisfactory. In inning the new shares dime
might consider that the directors had not been good stew-
ards in issuing them at par, but they were bound to do
this by the provisions of the deed of settlement. The ad-
visee from the colonies were favourable. It was mid in-
deed that business was dull, but the business of the bank
bad undergoes no diminution, and the bank hai
come out of certain transactions, which when he last addressed
them were subjects of anxiety, without loss. Th had taken
deep root in New Zealand. and expected to babe in future
to report that considerable profit bad been made is that
colony.
Mr. BUMS seconded the =Aloe, which was agreed to
unanimously, and the prooesdiap closed with a rote of
thanks to the chairman and diremon.

NUMEROUS FIRES AND PROBABLE LOSS OF
LIFE.-(THIS DAP.)
-4--

About 2 o'clock a.m. an alarming fire, nearly •
attended with fatal results, broke out in the spirit
cellars of the Red Lion Tavern. Charles-street. Long.
sere, in the occupation of Mr. Henry M. Key.
Oonductor Christianson, with the Royal Society's emu,
succeeded in briegieg down Miss Ann Kay from the second
floor, also misted Mr. Key down. The damage due to
the premises sad stook was oonsiderable. The origin of the
fire is unknown. Had it not been for the conductor and hi
escape, Miss Key must have been suffocated.
As exciting scene also took place at • fire on the pre-
mises of Mr. Morris, • coffee-bogie keeper, "tarrying onbusi-
nem at 7, Commercial-street, Whites:haul. The fire com-
menced in the cellars, where some old baskets,
through some unknown cause, became ignited.
Owing to the density of the smoke most of the
inmates had the greatest difficulty in effecting their escape.
As it was, Mr. Morris was rendered quite insensible and
powerless. A medial gentleman was at oasis sent for,
but after we hour Mr. Morris bad not been
restored to conecionenem, and the probability is that he will
newer recover. It baring been stated that some children
were left in the building, two polio. constables, named
David Potter and George Stephens, rushed into
the premises to save them, but inch was the suf-
focating nature of the smoke that the constables
also became prostrated, and had it not been for the instant
assistance rendered by Conductor Wood they must have
perished. He brought them both down from the second
floor, greatly exhausted. Happily the flames were con-
fined to the back part of the building.
Abont 2 o'clock • destructive fire took place In the pre.
mime of Mr. Keenan, orleollee eaoe.desler, No. 21, Hope-
street, Spitalfields. With the exception of the groend
floor the premises, he.. were destroyed.
Another fire, nearly attended with loss of life, took
place is the premises of Mr. Purchase, an oil
and colour-merchant, No. 217, Blackfriars-road,
Mr. Purchase was rescued from the second floor with an
escape, but for the prompt arrival of which be meet have
perished. The whole of the basement and the contents
were destroyed.
A few minutes before 4 o'clock another destructive fire
took place in the premises of Mr. Brown, • dyer, 23, Poole-
street, New North-road. The premises and the °outsets
were destroyed.