The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-30 00:00:00

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.

Yesterday the seventeenth annual general meeting
tattle proprietors was held at the company's effices, No. 4,
New Broad-street ; Mr. Divert', M P., in the chair.
After the usual preliminaries,
The MANAOEII (Mr. Miller) read the following report :
" The directors have the satisfaction to state that not-
withstanding the excitement produced in the colony during
the past year by the gold discoveries in the province of Vic-
toria, and the consequent unsettled state of a large portion
of the population, the interests of the company have not
been injuriously affected. The gold field disco-
vered within the colony at Echunga, though it
has yielded a fair return to many of the perse-
vering diggers, has not proved 13 productive as was at first
anticipated. The actual quantity ebt tined had not been
ueertaiee 1 ; but it was the opinion of many, that the
diggers generally had been more successful than they
chose to admit, and that gold had been found to tome
extent in other districts. With respect to the company's
land, an examination has been made of the sections on the
western branch of the Oukaparinga river, and particles of
gold had been found in every hole dug ; it wee not how-
ever considered sufficient to justify a continuance of the
search in that locality. The party were engaged in
exploring other dust -lets of your property, and a re-
port of a late date may shortly be expected. The
inventories of the whole of the company's property
have been easefully revised by the colonial manager and
the local board of advice up to the 30th October last,
and with a few trifling exceptions, the lands have been
retained at the tame valuation as that of the preceding
year. According to these documeats, the total value of the
property at the above date amounted to 327,2251. ss. ltd.,
a sum which the directors believe is much under its actual
value. The accounts made up in the colony for the year
ending Oet. 30. 1652, exhibit the following amount of in-
sme derived from rents, &c , vie., rent from country lands
10,789/. 17s. Oel. ; rent from town lands and building',
3,233/. 17s. &I. ; rent from rort property, 1,253/. 64. ; rent
from warehouses, 2,887 f. 55. 3d.: wharfage dues,
2,8021. 155. 7d. ; mineral rents and royalties, 2641/.29.6d.;
total, 21,229/. 4s &1., being au increase of 7281. 21. 91.
on the amount from the same sources during the previous
year. The remittances received during the peat year, con-
sisting cf gold, copper, and capper ore, have yielded a profit,
as has also the wheat received in payment of rent, and dis
seed of in the colony. Owing to the unsettled state of the
population, and the attraction of the gold diggings, little has
Wien done in granting additional farm leases ; only 840 acres
have been let ; whilst on the other band 440 acres have been ,
relinquished, so that the increase in this year's rental will '
be small. The directors, however, confidently expect that
a material improvement will take place during the current
year, both from additional leases of land, and from an ad-
vance of rent on the existing leases, some of which are about
rising to the second, and some to the third term of 7 years.
The sales of land have been limited almost entirely to
tenants exercising their right of pre-emption. They con-
sist of 216 acres of the country lands, two small portions
of acres of the town lands, and two allotments at the port,
realising together the sum of 2,3631. 10s. 6d. This amouat,
after deducting 4201., the advance obtained on the valua-
tion of 1851, has been reinvested, with some addition,
in the purchase of 3,003 acres of good agricultural land
at a trifle above the upset price of 20s. per acre. These
lands arc situated on the rivers Torrens and Ookaparinga,
in tho districts of Port Elliot and the Ooolwa, and on
the overland route established to Mount Alexander
gold diggings. The directors consider these purchases
have been made on most favourable terms ; the ge
price given at the land sales in Joinery last having been
365. 3d. per acre for country sections of second rate quality.
Of the country lands, comprising 47,3851 acres, nearly
all of first rate agricultural quality, there are 39,45 acres
leased fir terms of 7, 14, and 21 years, at rents varying
from 51. to 10s. per acre; 33,841 acres substantial! y fenced,
14,891 acres ate under crop, and 1,124 acres fallow. On
seventy of the farms there are good stone and brick dwell-
ing houses, with wooden farm buildings. The port pro-
perty consists of five sections, containing 501 acres of land
adjoining the water. About 22 acres of this property are
leased and occupied. On a part of section A are erected
the company's wharves, having a water frontage of upwards
of 1,000 feet, with 14 feet depth of water alongside; also
two substantial brick warehouses used for bonded and other
goods, besides various other buildings let for offices, stereo.,
and dwelling hooses. On another part of this property
your patent slip is erected, on which vessels of upwards of
1,000 tons burthen have been repaired. The terminus of
the contemplated railway between Adelaide and the port
will adjoin the company's wharf, and when completed
must greatly enhance the value of this part of the pro-
perty, as has been already in some measure proved by
the recent sale of an allotment or 30 feet frontage by In
feet deep for 1,0001., or at the rate of upwards of 10,0001.
per acre ! The steam dredge, after much labour and ex-
pense, is now found to answer its purpose in improving this
property, both by increasing the depth of water in front
of the wharves, and supplying soil for filling up the
adjacent swampy land. The town lands comprise
124 acres in various parts of the city of Ade.
!aide ; about 28 acres of which are leased aid oc-
cupied,
leaving 96 acres still unlet. The manager is en-
deavouring to get the whole of the town property let on
repairing leases ; and authority has been recently sent out
to him to extend the term of town leases for building to 61
years in special cases; a step which the directors have been
Induced to take in order to meet the rapidly improving con-
dition of the colony, and from which they anticipate the
most beneficial results. The company's mineral lands at
Mount Barker, about 30 miles distant from Adelaide, con-'
sist of 11,980 acres, and abound in copper and other ore,.
A great portion of this property has been hitherto un-
productive ; only 679 acres are lot, partly for agriculture
and pasture, and partly as mining was ; but, owing to
the superior attractions of the gold diggings, the latter have
been as yet very partially worked. The Kanmantoo
mine, which forms part of this property, as is well known
to most of the proprietor', has been worked for several
years by the company to develop its value, and your
directors are fully convinced from the result that an
outlay of capital and the application of steam machinery
are alone required to make it amply remunerative. All
the mining operation, of the company ceased in January,
1851, and having been objected to by many of the share-
holders, will not be resumed. The ore and copper received
from Adelaide and sold in this country during the past year,
leaves a balance of 7631. 10e. 4d. in favour of mine. The
directors have the pleasure to anaemia, that her Majesty's
government have acceded to the petition of the Com-
pany for • Charter of Incorporation, a, noticed in the supple-
mentary report presented to you in December last. A draft of
the Charter is now before the law officers of the Crown,
and, there is no doubt, will shortly be completed.
To be in a position to obtain the charter, it was necessary
to call up the instalments remaining unpaid on a portion
of the new shares issued in 1851; and the directors
are enabled to state that the holders of thaw shares
have most promptly responded to the tall. A portion only
of the capital authorised to be seised at that time, having
been called for, the directors propose to avail themselves
of the authority then granted, to make a further issue of a
limited number of shares, in order to pay off the debenture
debt falling due in the present year; this will now be ef-
fected on most advantageous terms to the company.
Due notice will be given to the proprietors of the terms
on which these shares will be limed. To supply the
vacancies created in the direction since the last
annual general meeting, by the death of J. Red-
den Todd, Esq and the retirement of Richard Foster,
Req.. the board appointed, ad interim, Robert
Chalmers, Esq., of Thorloe-square, Brampton, and
George Gay, Esq of Bedwell Park, Herm, both of
whom now offer themselves for election to the proprietors.
Bertram Wodehouse Currie, Esq., one of the two directon
who retire from office pursuant to the deed of settlement
(Mr. Fester already referred to being the other), offers him-
self for re-election; es do also the two auditory, John Han-
ley White, Esq., and William Richards, Esq. The direc-
tors are happy to state, that emigration has steadily im-
proved both as regards the number and character of those
who have left Eogland for the colony ; and the funds avail-
able for this purpose have been largely increased by the
extensive government land sales at Adelaide during the year.
The official returns show an addition of 3,687 souls to the
population of the colony during the last quarter of 1852 ;
and there is reason to believe that the number has
not diminished during the first quarter of the present
year. The statement of accounts which has been submitted
to the meeting, shows a net profit arising from the opera•
dons of the company for the year, of 21,8551. 4s. 3d., out of
which the directors feel justified in recommending that a
dividend at the rate of six seer cent per annum, or thirty
shillings per share, clear of income tax, be now declared,
payable halt-yearly, on the 15th July and 15th January
next."

The following was the statement of liabilities and assets
up to the 30th April, 1853:-.
Liabilities.-Capital paid up, 307,1601.; debentures.
loona ; unclaimed dividends and calla on new shares paid
in advance, 3,134/. le. 6d.; debts due to sundries in the
colony, 5,3831. 19s. 4d.; property reserve fund, 15,4531.
121. 9d.; profit and loss, balance after deducting all charges
for the year, 21,8551. 41. 3d.; total, 363,0611. 17s. 10d.
"Assets.-Value of lands, buildings, wharves, dte., as
per inventories, dated 30th October, 1852, 327,2251. se. lid.;
value of sundry property in the colony, not included in
inventories, 302/ 141. 114. ; debts due to the company is
the colony, 15,8161. 7s. 6d.; colonial bills receivable on
hand, 9,918/. ss. 3d. ; cult on band in London, 6,989/.
13.. 10d.; open accounts in London, 2,140/. 2s. lid. ; office
furniture, &c., in London, 319/. 7e. 6d.; instalments en new
shares unpaid, 2.501. ; total, 363,0611. 170. 104.
" Statement of profit and loss account for the year end-
ing 30th April, 1853 :
On the debit side:-To charges in the colony, including
salaries, wages, and miscellaneous espeoses, 2,9661.135.6 d. ;
to charges in London. including income tux, rent, salaries,
and all expenses, 2,789/. 10.1. ; to interest on debentures,
4981. lus balance of colonial interest account, Ac.,
911. 10s. 44.-407/. 4s. Sd. ; to bad debts' &c., written aft,
861. 9s. sd. • to balance, being net profit for the year,
21,855/. 4s. id. ; total, 28,1041. 121. 7d.
" On the credit side :-By net income from rents, &c.,
to 31st October, 1852, in the colony, 20,0271. 18s. 94 ; by
net profit on a ale of land, &c., 4201.; by profit on remit-
tances, &c., from the colony, and on wheat taken in pay-
ment of rent, 3,2681. 64. 2d. ; by transfer fees, 2.9/. Ils. ;
by undivided profits, 30th April, 1852, after providing for
dividends payable 15th July, 1852, and 15th January, 1853,
4,098!. 16s. Bd. ; total, 28,104/. 12s. 7d."
The report was adopted unanimously.
Oa the motion of Mr. °AKIN, a vote of thanks was given
to the chairman and his co-directors, for their management
during the put year.
The CHAIRMAN, after acknowledging the compliment,
proposed a vote of thanks to the manager, Mr. Miller, ob•
serving that he had been most assiduous in the discharge of
Lis duties, and wes a most valuable officer.

The motion wu seconded by Mr. OALIS, and adopted by
the meeting.
Mr. MILLER said he was much gratified at receiving this
roof of confidence, and hoped to continue t 3 merit that
feeling.
Ou the motion of Mr. W. CC RULE, similar acknowledg-
ments wens made to the local oor•d at Adelaide—Mr.
Ihrtlcy, Mr. Davenport,• and Mr. Giles—after which the
meeting separated.

CURIOUS AUTOGRAPHS AND MUSIC.
During the last five days, some very interesting
collections of autographs and music have been brought io
the hammer by Messrs. Puttick and Simpson, of Piccadilly.
The sale commenced on Thursday last, with about 1,200
autograph letters of Thomas Moore to Mr. Power, his
tunic publisher. These letters, extending over the period
between 1808 and 1806, furnish data for a complete history
of the poet, as they not only treat of the matters of busineis
between Moore and his publisher, but to :eh on nearly
every subject upon which be was engaged, and reveal more
of his domestic hatory, perhaps, than any ether series of
papers that can be pointed out. It is matter of much re-
gret that such a series should have been dispersed; even the
sale catalogue (extending to near 150 pages) is a readable
book ; but the letters themselves, in the hands of a skilful
editor, would have presented materials for such a history
of Moore as could scarcely be supplied from any other
source. At the sale, the value of the correspondence, in a
literary point of view, was far from realised, the
letters being arranged in lots as autographs
merely, and sold fur comparatively small sums, only
here and there an article reaching from one to two pounds.
The foregoing notice applies to the sale of Thursday and
Friday. On Saturday some copyright musical works of
Moore formed the subject of the auction, but scarcely fur-
nish any matter for remark. On this day's sale, four songs
of Mrs. Hemsns, in her autograph, sold for 91. 12s. The
same catalogue confined the musical collections of Mr.
Richard Clark, the author of " An Account of the National
Authem," and included some extremely interesting musical
portraits, relics, and curiosities. The books sold very well,
as the following extracts will show: Lot 438, a copy of the
Scriptures, called " The Great Bible," printed in 1539,
though very imperfect, sold for 131. 13e. Lot 467, a volume
of Mr. Clark's own reminiscences of Herne's Oak, which he
is old enough well to remember, sold for 61. 2a. 61.
A collection of manuscripts in ten lots 473 to
482, being transcripts of the charters of West-
minster Abbey, told for 201. Amongst the relies
we can only specify lot 528, The Anvil and Hammer of
Thomas Powell, the blacksmith, with which he beat the sr
companiment to the air sung in the hearing of Handel,
afterwards printed in the " Suites de Pieces," and subse-
quently called "The Harmonious Blacksmith," sold fur si.
That this was Powell's anvil there is no good reason to
doubt; the other part of the story must be taken quantum
vateol. Lot 530, a toning fork, formerly in the possession
of Handel, sold for 21. Ids. Lot 556, The quilted satin cap
worn by the unfortunate monarch, Charles 1., at his exe-
cution, sold for 51. 12s. 63. Lot .577, A portrait of Hand.i,
said to be painted by Sir J. Thornhill, sold for 111. The
sale concluded with some groups of instruments from the
collections id' the late Dean of Peterborough, the late Dr.
Stokoe, who succeeded Barry O'Meara in attendance upon
Napoleon at St. Helena, and others. The molt remarkable
of these instruments was lot 636, a violin, by Stradusrius,
which seemed to excite amongst the cognoscenti the most
lively admiration, and was knocked down after a sharp con-
test for 2401.

FATAL ACCIDENT FROM MACHINERY.
An inquest was held on Tuesday at the Man-
chester Infirmary, before Mr. Herford, the coroner for the
borough, on the body of James Huhne, a w , whose
death had resulted from an accident by machinery. De.
ceased was employed at the mill of Messrs. Simeon and
Thomas Fairer, Chapelfield, in the parish of Prestwich,
near Manchester. On Monday week he was employed In
putting on the straps, after the engine had started, and
stood with one foot on the window-sill and the other en the
frame. He was cautioned by one of the weavers to use •
step-ladder, which was kept in the room for the pur-
pose, but neglected the advice ; and whilst ho was
at his task, his left arm became entangled in the
machinery, and was torn off near the shoulder. He
was taken to the Manchester Infirmary, where it was
found necessary to amputate the arm still further, and he
died from the effects of the accident on Tuesday morning.
At the inquest it was stated that the deceased had more
frequently put the straps on without using a step ladder
than with one, though frequently warned of the danger.
One of the weavers observed that it was not usual to put
theatre, on after the milaa started. Mr. Simeon Ferrer
sell the deemed had bees employed for three months to
put straps ea, ead elephdders ware specially provided for
the pupae. He them& it was imposai: le to put the
straps on whilst the machinery was standing, because they
woaY awe NI as sour as it started. There had never been
as aselast Wore, except a crushed finger or so, since the
valises opened, in 1844. The jury found a verdict of
" Accidental death." The deceased was 38 years of age, and
has left a wife and two children.