The Express.
London, England, 1859-06-27 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.

The following is the report of the directors, to be
submitted tt the meeting of proprietor., on the 30th last.:—
" In acc ,rdance with the understanding come to at thelast
half-yearly general meeting, that the accounts should be
made up annually to Slat October, and presented to
the meetings in December, no accounts are appended
to this report, and the director., therefore, abstain
from any c mnutut on the financial posit'on of the com-
pany until the meeting in December neat, when they trust to
be able to lay before the shareholders a satisfactory etyte-
noset of the year's working. In the meantime they hope it
fa unnecessary to state that the dividends on the debenture
stock and preference capital, as well as the interest on tie
outstanding &Lettere debt, will be punctually provided for.
Under these eireumetanoes the business Wore the prevent
meeting will be confined to the election of directors and to
the consideration of the proposals contained in the notices of
motion, with such revolutions ea may be proposed thereon.
The directors retiring by rotation are Mr. Anderson, Mr.
lonides, Mr. Ogilvy, end Mr. Denby Seymour, M.P., all of
whom are eligible frr re-election. Mr. Seymour, however,
on account of his numerous engagement., does not come
_

for re-election. Another vacancy hes also occurred by the
resignation of Capt. Walter. It does sot appear to your baud
necessary under the circumstances to till up those two vacan-
cies. This, however, is a matter which it is the special
province of the shareholders to determine. Some of the
provision. in the agreements between thin company and the
Brighton Railway Company never having been carried into
effect in strict conformity with the term. of the agreements,
ft wee determined by the boards of both companies to refer
there matter. to Mr. Robert Stephenson, the eminent
engineer, who was originally appointed a.referee. An award
has been recently made by .that gentleman of a nature
favourable to the views of your board, and this
Liss led to a reconsideration of the whole subject, which
it is hoped will result in a re-arrangement between the two
companies on •basis more statbsfactory for both. le the mean-
time, as the subject is nods r consideration, it is undesirable to
make any statement In detail, bet the shareholder. may be as-
sured tbattheirintereetswill becarefully offended to by the di-
rectors. The number of visitors to the palace daring the
year endint 30th April last has been 1,412,013, beingan in •
WWII of 38,078 over the number daring the year ending
April 30, 1838, thus showing that the attractions of the
palace and perk continue, as they have dons ever since the
opening, steadily to lacreess. On the other hand, the
directors have not relaxed their effete to curtail the ordi-
nary expenditure of the uadeetaking Ia every poegible way
cessittent with the efficient working of the establishment
and with the thorough maintenance of the building. Among
other subject. which bays received their special attention may
be eneationed the exhibitor.' department, in which a maa-
rid hope .vernent has been effected, in regard both to the mi•
coanactlation for tenants and the amount of rental secured.
A considerable portion of the space formerly let to con-
tractors has now come again into the hands of the company,
which the directors anticipate will enable them to effect still
further Improvameuts. Arrangements have also been made
by which the menegement of the internal and external
gardens is now united nada: one heir!, from which advan-
tageous results may be expected. The shareholders cannot
fail to have noticed the marked improvement which has
taken place in the picture gallery, particularly in the class of
works exhibited there. These changes have evidently given
much satisfaction to the visitors, and the directors anticipate
still further improvements in this important department of
the palace. It is impossible yet to submit any ationrale
statement of the results of the Handel Festival. The dime.=
ass only congratulate the propristore on the remarkable
wean with which Its celebration has been attended.
It has realised all the expectations they ...peeved
eosestudag it in their last report, and will he highly
adventure:um to the company fa a pecuniary point of new.
The directors beg to call the attention of the shareholders to
the Crystal Palace Art Maim, which L. been received with
much favour by the public, sad which they think will be
found to Ise delerviag of their support."

CITY OF LONDON HOSPITAL FOR DISBAR= OP Till
CUT, VICTORI %•PAItIL.—Tbe avoitor of polka. rolioved
.4 Ai* inothation awing kit welt wee 4013, of which 191

DEBTBUCTION BY ?I la OF THE SOUTH-
EASTERN RAILWAY STATION 41'1141018U.

READING, SUNDAY.

A fire of a fearful character, which ha; resulted in
the entire destruction of the railway station belonging to
the South Eastern Company, occurred hare at an early hour
this morning. The citation was an entirely wooden struc-
ture, containing booking.offloe, first and ascend-daze welds;
rooms, suyesintesdeet's office, Sc. Adjoisdng wee covered
platform, shout 100 feet In length, and frees It ell the trains
were desystched for London. A lamp room was erected at
the extreme end of the platform, and it was In this pleas the
fire appears to have originated. About half-past three
o'clock two engine cleaners, who were engaged at the en-
giee-honse, about 200 or 300 yards distant, and a watchman
as duty at the steam observed fire ptooteding
from the lamp room. As alarm was instantly given, and
the superintendent, Mr. Haab, who resides about a quarter
of a mile from the audios, wee in a short time on the spot.
In half an hour the flames had weed along the covered
platform and ignited the bookiereace, a brisk wind pre-
, veiling at the time. Mr. Haste, 111111761 to save the books,
ticket-boxes, and the cwih-box, containing about 1001., has-
tened to the back put of the station, h*ng to get an m-
erino there, but was prevented by the reW approach of the
flames. Ho then attempted to enter through the window of
his office, the door of the station beisg locked where the
chest containing the cash and notes wee plsced,
but the flames prevented his accomplishing his Ojai.
As the fire had than got possession of the bulling, it was
im-
poesibte for any one to ester for tk• purpose of sevieg any
portion of the property from its impending destruction.
About • dozen carriages, and two or three horse boxes, stand-
ing by the side of a covered platform, were shouted down the
lie. some dietetic. by the two engine cleaners, who were the
first at the scene of conflagration, and some men who were
on night duty et the Greet Western Railway Station. Some
of the carriages ern damaged by the action of the heat on
the paint, and a luggage truck, which stood on • side line,
was burnt. By four o'clock the station was one mans of
flames, and pieces of burning wood ffyieg about set fire to the
thatch of • stable in • yard shout 20 feet blow the level of
the railway. There were 15 L=mbelonging to the company,
in this stable, and as it eras that the building must
be destroyed, the attention of some of the railway officials
was directed towards effecting their rescue. With some dtfil-
eulty they were all got out, but the soaps was a very nar-
row one. The animals galloped in a frightened et.te into
the yard, and thence into the town, but they ware soon
secured, and ;rimed in stables at an Inn. One of the town
engines arrived soon after four o'clock, and took up its poi-
Son et the beck part of the station, the firemen pl.ytng upon
the stables and cottages occupied by the South Rasters
Company's employis. The railings had taken fire, but wake
was plentifully poured over the ft twee, and they were speedily
extinguished, and the cottages were thee saved. From the
lamp room an additional length of platform was erected, and
to avoid its destruction the communication with the upper
portion wet severed. This was happily effected, and it will
be found of great use during the erection of a new station, as
it will be the only point front which traine can depart.
The engines of the Phoenix and County ike-offlees were
on the spot, but it was some time before they could be
brought into nee, owing to the difficulty in getting water.
By desire of Mr. Haab the firemen directed their effort. to
saving his office, en that contained the most valuable pro-
priety. However, their exertions were fruitless, and by five
o'clock the roof of the station fell in, followed by a stack of
chimneys. In less than half an hour afterwards the station
was one MIN of ruins.

The telegraphic communication was stopped by the de-
'treater' of the instruments and severing of the wires. A
messenger was despatched to Wokinghsm, in order that •
mewls might be forwarded to the London-bridge station
for uses to remove the Jan's, so that the traffic might not
be interrupted.
The loath Western Railway Company ate losers by this
fire, as threyeerepy the game booking-office. All their ticket
cases and past of the furniture in the waltiogrooms have
been de-attars:l. The large book stand of MUM'S. Smith,
the newsvenders, erected co the plalform, bat shared the
fate of other property at tile @tattoo.
The Gteat Western Railway officials, and par icubuly Mr.
Smythe, the superintendent, exerted themselves in the most
preiseworthy manner to arrest, if possible, the progress of the
flame, and the destruction of the company's property. To
Mr. Heels, the South Eastern Company's supeeiniendent,
greet credit it due for the judgment he doplayed in directing
the tire engines under the trying oircurnstances. That the
firs originated from lightning there is not the least doubt, se
only tan minutes before the dames were discovered the watch-
' man saw the lamp room safe, and the lightning from three
o'clock to balf-pest was inteeeely vivid, and was observed to
strike the building.
The total lost of property is Tay considerable, as In addi-
tion to the station being burnt down, a large quantity of lug-
gage belonging to passengers has keen destroyed.
Mr. Knight, superintendent of the traffic department,
arrived at the station, from London, • few hours altereards,
sad he has directed the emotion of • temporary office near the
platform that was saved from the fire; 'hie will be done in
a few hours, and the passenger traffic will not in the slightest
degree be interfered with.