The Express.
London, England, 1866-06-05 00:00:00

were then diamined.

THE CONSOLIDATED BANK (LIMITED).
MEETING OF MANCHESTER DEPOSITORS.
A meeting of customers of the Manchester branch
of the Consolidated Bank (Limited), convened by adver-
tisement, signed " A Creditor," was held yesterday after-
noon, in the Clarence Hotel, Manchester. There was a
pee#Ay numerous attendance, including Mr. De Flinne, the
gentleman who had issued the advertisement.
On the motion of Mr. Buten, the chair was taken by
Mr. Tucous CLIO°.
Mr. Ds Fumes, in obedience to the call of the chair-
man, stated his reasons for calling the meeting. He said his
object was to obtain information in regard to the position of
the bank. He had called repeatedly at the offices in Pal-
ma', but though received with the utmost courtesy, he
could gain no information. There was, on the part of the
officials, every disposition to give him information, but no
ability. He called again at the bank on Friday, and
than saw a scene which determined him to precipitate
matters by calling this meeting. He was talking to one of
the young men in the bank, and the manager was speaking
So a gentleman at the other end. Evidently it was a very
anxious moment ; the gentleman, as he left the bank,
seemed in a state of the greatest depression ; perhaps his
funds were entirely locked up. As he could obtain no in-
formation that day, he put the advertisement in Saturday's
papers, and at the same time wrote to the Manchester di-
rectors, stating that the objects he had in view were not
hostile, that he desired to call forth an expression of sym-
pathy and condolence, and a vote of unabated confidence
in them ; and, if practicable, a promise of material support
in the formation of a new banking company ; while, on the
other band, he wished to elicit all possible information
respecting their common wealth, now so grievously under
discount. He, therefore, requested them to further
his views by allowing the attendance of a gentleman
qualified and authorised to give the meeting the
latest particulars which might affect their inte-
rests. He concluded by informing the directors that the in-
spiration and responsibility of the advertisement calling
the meeting was solely his own. Having read the letter,
he asked if any gentleman was present from the bank.
(No reply.) Perhaps some one would come later. He bad
been informed that the deputy-chairman of this company,
who bad represented Manchester in parliament, and to
whom they were indebted both for financial and political
duties performed on their behalf, was very much cut up by
this matter. He wished to pass no censure on anyone ; the
directors were now expiating the sins of other delinquents
in London, and under these circumstances he begged leave
to move, " That this meeting, thoroughly impressed with
the conviction that the fall of the Consolidated Bank was
u little expected by the Manchester board as by the cus-
tomers now assembled, desires to express its sympathy and
condolence with the said board on the occasion of the ca-
lamity which has fallen on all in common." He referred
to two directors in Manchester, one of whom had bought
750 shares and the other 1,400 a few weeks before the
stoppage, as a proof that the Manchester directors had no
expectation of the fall of the bank, and that all were in-
volved in a common loss.
Mx. HEATON seconded the motion.
Mr. BIRCH conceived that the proper objects of sym-
pathy in this meeting were the depositors. (Hear,
hair.) He wished that Mr. De Flinne's motion had
taken a practiced shape, and pointed out some course
which would benefit those gentlemen who had given
their time to attend this meeting. He thought they should
acpoint a sub-committee to wait on the Manchester
directors, and obtain the information required, and, if
necessary, to enter into communication with the London
directors to ascertain what their position was, and when
they should be relieved of their present difficulty. He
did not believe in a vote of sympathy with the Manchester
directors at present. If they had been anything more
than mere dummies they should have been able to afford
information to callers at the bank. He moved, as an
amendment, that a sub-committee be appointed to com-
municate with the directors, and report the information
obtained to a subsequent meeting.
Mr. G. W. RICHARDSON seconded the amendment.

Mr. DR FLUME explained that the object of his motion
was to conciliate the directors, and reiterated his belief
that the conduct of the Manchester board had been
entirely honourable.
Mr. Alderman Mau, said he believed the Manchester
directors were all men of honour and integrity—(hear,
hear)—sad they had not met to condemn those gentlemen.
Had that been the object of the meeting, he would not
have given countenance to it. The gentleman who had
called the meeting had done the customers of the bank a
service, but his proposal at present was premature, and he
thought the course proposed by the mover of the amend-
ment was the right one. He, therefore, supported the
amendment. (Cheers.)
Mr. PICRSTONE said that he had likewise been unablito
obtain any information at the bank beyond the fact that a
liquidator had been appointed, and that the bank was to
be wound up. He expected that some gentleman would
have been present to-day to give them some information.
In answer to Mr. SWALLOW,
Mr. De FLINNE said he sent the letter be had read to the
directors, with his name, but bed received no reply.
Mr. BIRCH said, that in moving the amendment, he had
no intention to cast any reflection on the Manchester
directors—(hear)—but he thought it entirely irrelevant
sad out of place, at a meeting called for the purpose of
P information, to propose a vote of confidence in
them. That might be a proper subject to entertain at
some future meeting. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN having expressed his concurrence in the
amendment, it was put to the meeting, and carried with
only one dissentient, tho seconder of the original motion
withdrawing his support from Mr. De Flinn. and voting
fee the amendment.
A committee, consisting of the chairman, Alderman
Neill, and Messrs. De Flinne, Cooper, Birch, and Cotte-
rill, was then appointed ; and a vote of thanks having
hen given to the chairman on the motion of Mr. Birch,
the meeting adjourned.

A reform meeting was held in Dewsbury last
night, under the presidency of the Mayor. The govern-
ment bills were cordially approved of, and it was unani-
moutlY resolved, that in the event of the proposed en-
franchisement of Dewsbury being successful, Mr. E. A.
leathsro should be invited to offer himself u the liberal
candidate.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—During the
Nit week a favourable change has been experienced,
sad together with a warmer temperature, and a change
in the wind, several refreshing showers have visited us.
Storms of thunder and lightning have also prevailed in
different districts, though only partially. On Sunday
the heat was very great, the sun shining forth with
Peat power. The wind, however, has again returned
to the cold quarter, viz., to the east. Early on Mon-
* morning, however, another change took place.
The wind veered round to the south and south-west, and
several smart showers of rain fell, the prospect of
further fall becoming greater as the day advanced.
it steady fall of rain—what in old-fashioned phrase
zsed to be called " a good ground rain "—is now much
Wanted. Vegetation has considerably checked
by the cold easterly wind which has so long prevailed,
and the wheats and spring corn are looking yellow
tad pinched. The hay crop alto much wants rain,
Is the grass has grown but little, and is short both on
neadows and uplands. A few days' rain would do an
immense deal of good to crops of all descriptions.
We are now in the first week of June, and there as not
much time to lose, if we are to make up the leeway
Wore haytime and harvest. The reports from this hop
districts are not very promising. Warm nights as
forill U days, and plenty of moisture are much needed
crop, which at present does not promise
to he very abundant. At this time of year the
Planters are always sufficiently sensitive, but we trust
that a more abundant crop than they now anticipate will
fie their portion—and that the fate of the hop plant this
fear will not come to be described in the old lines—
" First the flea and then the By,
Then the lice—and then I die."
—Sussex Advertiser.