The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1867.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.
(THIS DAY.)

The public participation in the Cattle Show com-
menced at 9 o'clock this morning, and from that hour up
to 2 o'clock there was a steady and increasing stream of
visitor.. In fact, so far as can be judged at present, the
interest of the public in exhibitions of this kind has by no
means undergone any diminution since this time
last year. With the aid of innumerable jets of gas, the
building is to a certain extent warm, and the inspecting
visitor fortified during his inspection against the severity
of the weather. One of the chief features on the
present occasion is the enlargement of the side galleries,
each having been pushed forward to the extent of
13 feet. The effect of this is at once to give more room
to exhioitors, and greater space for locomotion in the
interesting and extensive departments of machinery and
roots. In the centre of the building some curiosity hrs
been exhibited, in reference to 34 immense white
bag-looking objects suspended from the ceiling, and
covered with white canvas, and sundry jokes have been
cracked on the subject. What is is in fact simply
the chandeliers which are prepared for the approaching
illumination of Sanger's Circus, when the Cattle
Show shall have given place to Christmas entertain-
ments of another kind. Of course Mr. M.Combie's giant
ox and the novel eland have attracted a large share of
attention. Remarkable size, it may be observed, is not
confined to the prize animals in the show. It is a
singular fact, and nationally encouraging with regard to
the physical qualities of the British race of egriculturists—
that of the judges and stewards engaged this year on
behalf of the council of the club—seven gentlemen are
more than 6 feet high, while three stand 6 feet 2 inches.
The gales of prim animals to metropolitan and provincial
butchers commenced this morning, and have been proceed-
ing at a brisk rate. Her Majesty's Devon steer, which
obtained the Bret prize in Class 1., has been purchased by
Messrs. Cowell and Co., purveyors to her Majesty,
Knightsbridge.
Among the visitors this morning was the proprietor of
the eland, Lord Hill. The sale of this curiosity his lord.
ship has entrusted to the Secretary of the Agricultural-
hall Company, Mr. S. Sidney.

SMITHFIELD CLUB ANNUAL MEETING.

(THIS DAY.)

The annual meeting of the Smithfield club was held
at 1 o'clock,at the club rooms in the Agricultural Hall, the
president, General the Hon. A. N. Hood occupying the
chair. Among those present were Earl Spencer, Mr.
Simonds, Mr. Owen Willis, Mr. J. Baldwin, Mr. J. Brad-
shaw, &c. . _ _

The report was read by the honorary secretary, Mr.
Brandreth Gibbs ; it stated that the balance in hand on
the lat instant was 2,4851. 18s. 7d. The total amount of
receipts during the year were 2,9K31. 19s. 10d.; the total
expenditure was 2.9111. 34. 9d. ; leaving a balance in fa-
vour of the club of 721. His. Id. Of this 181. in. bad to be
invested, being life compositions, leaving a net balance in
band of .If. I.ls. Id.

The Duke of Marlborough was elected president for the
year 18b9.

THE UNION BANK OP IRELAND (LIMITED).
(THIS DAY.)

This morning an extraordinary general meeting
of the above bank was held at the City Terminus Hotel,
Cannon-street ; 31r. E. W. WINGROVZ in the chair.
The following report was taken as read:
" The directors beg to lay before the shareholders their
report of events that have occurred, and important nego-
tiations concluded by them eines the meeting in January
last. In the first place, they beg attention to the state-
ment of accounts forwarded to the shareholders on tho
16th September last, on reference to which it will be seen
that the profit for the half-year, after making
provision for bad and doubtful debts, and paying
all charges and interest on current and deposit accounts
appertaining to that period, and allowing for 'rebate ou
bills discounted not yet due,' *mounted to only 301/.
its. 2d., which, added to the balance of 1,201/. 13a. Ild.
brought forward from the previous half-year, made a
total of 1,503/. se. ld. at credit of profit and loss account, a
result equally discouraging to the directors as to their co-
shareholders. The directors regret to inform the share-
holders that the security held in the case of Lefroy, Stein
and Co., of Limersck, was on the 22nd ultimo
finally decided as invalid, and that a loss has
been incurred on the account of about 13,0001.
The new premises in College-green, Dublin, were opened
in April last, and the sub-branch in Lapel-street was simul-
taneously closed. Advantageous proposals having been
made by the ;31unster Bank (Limited), with the view of
preventing undue competition between the two institu-
tions, arrangements were concluded whereby they were to
confine themselves to the province of Munster, with an
agency in Dublin, and this bank was free to open branches
in the other three provinces. By this arrangement
the branches at Cork, Limerick, Charleville, Tip-
perary, Fethard, Brut!, and Kilmallock were discontinued.
The shareholders were informed by circular of 16th Sep-
tember last that important negotiations were then pend-
ing • the directors regret, however, that legal difficulties
caused a very unexpected delay in their completion, and
the uncertainty in the public mind regarding the matter
proving to be very prejudicial to the bank, a committee
of shareholders in Dublin composed of gentlemen of influ-
ence, and stated to represent more thanhslf the proprietary,
and with whom the directors were in friendly
communication, considered that each delay had
deprived the proposed arrangement of a considerable
portion of its value, and that it was not therefore desire-
ble to proceed further in the matter • the highly respecta-
ble firm alluded to decline under the circumstance to con-
tinue the negotiation, which was then brought to an end.
The directors not seeing any hope of a dividend fur some
time to come, in the absence of which the shares would
necessarily remain depressed, and public confidence
in the bank be consequently diminished, they, in
the best interests of the proprietors, and with
the concurrence of the comnittee of shareholders,

accepted an offer from the Hibernian Bank to
take over the remaining branches, with the several m-
mimes, by which arrangement the branches at Dublin,
Bray, lie, and Abbeyleix were also discontinued. Your
directors then took into their anxious consideration the best
and most speedy method of dissolving the company, and of
returning the assets to the proprietor, at the earliest pos-
sible date and at the least cost. They consider this
will be best met by the adoption of the resolutions to be
proposed at she general meeting, and having suggested to
the Hibernian Bank an arrangement by which the share-
holders in the Union Bank of Ireland may receive at their
option either 17/. per share in cash, or for every two shares
in the Union Batik, one share in the Hibernian Bank, in-
dependent of the cost of liq,idation and compens►tion to
calkers ; the offer, which is considered a fair and equit-
able one, has been conditionally accepted, and the direc-
tors trust the liquidators will be empowered to arty it
out."

The CHAISMAN entered into • lengthened statement
showing that the losses of the bank amounted altogether
to about 40,000/., and that the proposed arrangement with
the Hibernian and Munster banks was the best that
could be done for the shareholders, and he moved • resolu-
tion that the bank be voluntarily wound up, and appoint-
ing himself, Mr. J. I). Hill, Mr. H. Shore, and Mr. John
Cameron, as liquidators.
After some discussion, in which the terms of the arrange-
ment were freely canvassed, the resolution was carried
unanimously, and • vote of thanks to the chairman closed
the proceedings.

his BorcicArLT ON FIRES IN THEATRES.—MT.
Dion Boucicault does not believe that theatres can be
made iron-proof. He has, however, • process to recom-
mend. He says: " Above the singe, and co-extensise
with it, there is a gridiron floor, from which hangs the
pendant scenery. Let the timbers of this floor, which is
open work, be laid on their under face, with lines of small
iron pipe, forming • gridiron, pricked at every inch
with holes ; let this system be in communication with
the water main constant service. Let one lever which
turns on the water be against the wall of the stage on the
inside, another corresponding lever contiguous but on the
outside, so that the water may be turned on by • person
either outside or inside of the building. The effect of this
, operation would be tolet falls continuous and even deluge,
more effectu.il in checking • fire than the jet from a hose,
because it not only addresses itself to the seat of the fire,
but to adjacent material. A similar gridiron process
should be introduced underneath the stage ; an-
other on the rafters over the auditorium, and •
fourth in all available places around the ceiling, so placed
that the rain from such would fall or be projected on the
woodwork of the boxes and stalls, Bach of these systems
should have a separate main,so that each could be brought
into operation separately ; yet the whole might be under
the operation of one master main' by turning
on which the whole theatre, from the back of
the gallery to the rear of the stage, could be
deluged in a moment. It is of great importance
that such a process should be as readily worked
from the outside as from the inside of the building. I
believe that the water companies supply what they term
sealed mains; that is, the constant service of the street
main is conducted into the building, and the lever is
there sealed up : to break this seal is to confess the use
of the supply. Such facilities exist, as I am informed ;
and if they don't, and the companies offer any impedi-
ment to their introduction, an act of parliament might
be obtained to render such assistance obligatory."
ACCIDENT THROUGH TEE FROST.—(THIS DeT.)—
This morning two accident, of • serious character, occa-
sioned through the frost, were admitted into the accident
wards of the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-inn-road. The
, first was that of • carman of the name of James Wilkes,
' residing at 25, Ring.street, Mile-end. He was driving a
team of four horses up Guildford street, Gray's-inn-road,
when the shaft horse slipped, and in endeavouring to gain
its footing, kicked the unfortunate man on the leg, causing
' a severe comminuted fracture of the leg. The second was
that of Janice Price, of Farriugdon-road, • painter and
glazier, who was walking along Bedford-square, when he
accidentally slipped,and inflicted severe injuries to his right
foot and ankle. Both patients were admitted under the
, care of Mr. Gant, and every attention was shown them by
I Mr. Jeaffnmon and Mr. J. D. Hill, the house surgeons.