The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-25 00:00:00

CREDIT FONCIER AND MOBILLER.-(THIS DAY.

This day the general meeting of shareholders in
this company was held at the London Tavern ; Mr. J. S.
WORTLEY in the chair.
The report has already appeared, and was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, congratulated
the shareholders on the position of the company, and
though they did notpropose so large a dividend and bonus
as on previous occasions, he hoped he might also congratu-
late them on a dividend and bonus at the rate of 30 per
cent. (Hear, bear.) Looking at the monetary difficulties
of the last six months, and the—he would not say
malicious reports—but the canards which had been cir-
culated to the prejudice of the company, their position must
be regarded as highly satisfactory. (Hear.) On looking at
the accounts they must be surpnsed at the smallness of the
liabilities, while the amount of profit and loss was the
large sum of 281,829/. They added to the general reserve
fund 300,0007., bringing that fund to the unprecedented
sum of 500,000/. In addition to this they carried to the
next half-year's profit and loss account 86,6001., and bad
150,0001. as a dividend reserve fund. The result was
that their 5/. paid-up share capital was worth
87. 13s. lid. per Share. (Hear, hear.) They might have
divided a larger sum on this occasion, but he hoped the
proprietors would support the directors in adopting the
LOOM prudent course of distributing in dividend
and bonus 30 per cent., which even in these days
of high dividends must be regarded as satisfactory.
There was a desire amongst some of the shareholders to
ascertain the expenses. There was something to be said
in favour of that view, but on the other hand they could
not make these great profits without great expenses. He did
not think it desirable, and he did not think it would be
to the interest of the shareholders to raise the curtain,
and to show to the whole world how their profits were
made. With regard to the remuneration of the directors,
they were entitled to divide 10/. per cent. amongst them,
after dividing 101. per cent. amongst the shareholders, and
after that they divided the further profits amongst the
shareholders, which in the present case amounted to 40
per cent.
The motion having been seconded, a discussion ensued,
which was going on up to the hour of our going to press.

ROYAL MAIL STEAM PACKET COMPANY.
(THIS DAY.)

This day the ordinary meeting of shareholders
was held at the London Tavern, Captain MANGLES in the
chair.
The report, which has already appeared, having been
taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, said the com-
pany was now in existence for about 24 years, and for half
that period the accounts and report were made up in
almost the same form as at present. There was
only a difference of 2601. between the working .
accounts of the last and the present year. Though the
French Brazilian line had been to some extent in competi-
tion with them since August last there was not that dimi-
nution in the traffic which might be expected. There was
an increase of 10,000/. on the receipts from pas-
-1 stingers—(hear, hear)—and during the last 10 years
the increase under this head had been 100,0001. This
increase was no doubt to some extent due to the supe-
rior manner in which their ships were fitted up. He
hoped there would be an increase of trafficto them from the
new route to New Zealandand Australia by way of Panama.
The general reserve fund, after being debited with the loss
on the sale of the vessels which it was determined three
years ago to dispose of, showed a credit balance of 24,939/.
With the exception of the casualty on board the Seine
nothing occurred during the year 1865 to affect the
insurance account. The dividend which the directors
laposed to divide was 4/. 108. per share out of the ba-
nce of profit and loss account, and 2/. 10a. per share as a
bonus from the insurance fund, free of income tax. Great
credit was due to the captains, and in a less degree to the
other officers for the care which they took of the ships.
Mr. CoLvILLE seconded the motion, which was adopted.

Mr. Gladstone has been invited by the directors
of the New Exchange, at Bradford, to visit that town, and
take part in the opening of the new building, in the
autumn of the present year.
The King of Prussia has just conferred the
Order of the Red Eagle on the physician who attended
Count de Bismarck during the slight indisposition of that
minister last week.

A letter from Basle states that an immense
avalanche fell, three days sioce, from the summit of the
Nero on the Lukmanier, and destroyed the oratory of St.
Barnabas and an outhouse dependent on the hospice of
Casaccin. A eowhouse, containing 22 head of cattle, was
buried under the immense mass of snow, but timely aid
having been obtained from the last-named town, 15 of the
animals were extricated unhurt. Fortunately none of the
inmates of the hospice received any personal injury.
THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF A CHILD NEAR
GATESHEAD.—The crime to which Sarah Melvin, a child
five years of age, residing with its mother at Carr's-hill,
near Gateshead, fell a victim on Friday, the 13th inst.,
still remains clothed in mystery inquiry before the
ro coner • fortnight ago dispelled the suspicion that the
murder of the little girl had been accompanied by •
criminal outrage, and to that extent the deed was de-
prived of much of its revolting nature. Public feeling,
however, was deeply evoked in reference to the crime, and
the adjourned inquest before the coroner (Mr. J. M.
Favell) held yesterday afternoon, was looked forward to
with eager anticipation, that evidence might be brought
forward pointing to the perpetrator of the deed. Sus-
picion had attached to the parents of the child, but under
examination yesterday they gave an account of their move-
ments on the night of the murder, which appeared to be
accepted by the jury as satisfactory in all respects, being
corroborated by independent testimony. At present the
I police do not appear to have any clue to the cr'minal, and
to give them an opportunity of making further inquiries,
the investigation was adjourned for • fortnight.