The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-05 00:00:00

AFRICAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY.-(THIS DAY.I
-A--

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors
was held at 1 o'clock, at the company's offices ; Dir. P.
liaDow in the chair.
The SECRILTARY read the following report :
" In conformity with the resolution passedat the general
meeting of the proprietors, held on the 24th June, 1857,
your directors have now to submit their report of
the company's affairs for the six months ending 31st
October last, together with the balance-sheet and state-
ment of accounts to that date, duly examined and signed
by the company's auditors. In making up the accounts'
your directors have discharged all the expenses of
navigating and maintaining the ships, the cost of in
surance and repairs, and have made the authorised
reserve for depreciation ; they have also made other pro-
visions in accordance with the policy,whichhas alreadybeen
approved of by the proprietors, with the view of preserving
the company's property in • sound financial position. After
paying all these charges, there remains a balance to the
credit of revenue account of 5,32 W. Is. 9d., out of which
your directors recommend the payment of the usual divi-
pend of Ks. per share, free of income-tax, for the half-year
ending 31st October last. This payment will absorb
4,402/. 45., and leave 925/. 17a. 9d., to be car-
ried forward to next half-year's account. Your directors
have much pleasure in reporting, that during the last
six months the mail service has been performed in a
most satisfactory manner, and that the ships are in a high
state of efficiency. The last ship under the old mail con-
tract is due at Liverpool on the 10th of December, and the
Interoolonial steamer Retriever has been ordered to Eng-
land, as under the new contract her services are no longer
required on the coast. Various alterations have been
intreduceu into the service under the new contract. The
course of post has been reduced from 79 days 6 hours to 71
days ; two ports, Brass and Nun, called at under the oldoon-
tract, are left out,and two ports, BlonroviaandJellah Coffee,
are added. The alterations made were moat carefully
considered by your directors before they were adopted,
and they have every reason to believe the new contract
will be performed in as satisfactory a manne to all
parties sa was the old one. The first ship under then ew
contract was despatched from Liverpool on 24th October.
Your directors have to report that their tender accepted
by the Postmaster-General was for a single service
per month. They had offered to perform a fort-
nightly service, but their offer was declined. They
have for a considerable period had their serious attention
drawn to the propriety of providing more accommodation
for the increasing traffic: on the Coast of Africa, and while
regretting the decision of her Majesty's government,
they have thought it expedient to make arrangements
for an experimental additional line, which the modifica-
tions introduced into the new contract have enabled
them to do, without increasing the present fleet.
It is their intention to despatch the first ship of this
additional line on the 10th of January next, and they
hope that the increased accommodation thereby afforded
to commerce will, at no distant period, be productive of
material benefit to the proprietors. With the view of
placing before the proprietors, in a condensed form, the
working of the late contract, a return of the sailing'
and arrivals of the mail packets under it has
been prepared, and is circulated together with this report.
In accordance with the usual custom, this report and
statement of accounts have been circulated among the pro-
prietors seven days before the day appointed for the
meeting."
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report
and accounts, observed that since the last meeting a new
contract had been obtained and come into operation. In
the accounts full provision was made for depreciation. It was
71!, percent., and he hoped that as the company progressed
that rate would be increased. The vessels were all in
good. condition, and had kept their time under the new
contract. Although the amount to be received annually was
10,000!. less, he believed that, owing to the reduced
service on the coast, the arrangement would prove
equally profitable with the old one. The company had
as much traffic business as it could provide for and
the board would not spend any large amount in car-
rying out an experimental line.
Atter a short discussion the report was adopted, and,
after declaring a dividend of Ss. per share, the proceedings
terminated in the usual manner.

SHOCKING DEATH WHILE PRACTISING ON A
TRAPEZE.

INQI7IZT.—(THIS DAY.)
This forenoon, Mr. Richards, the deputy-coroner,
held an inquiry at the York Minder Tavern, Philporstreet,
Mile-end Old-town, touching the death of John Worthing,
aged 45 years.
Rosetta Brown, 1:1, New Norfolk-street, said that the
deceased was her brother-in-law. On Friday evening, at
I 9 o'clock, he was brought home insensible. Witness knew
nothing about the occurrence which led to his death.
Edward Butcher, Bloorgate.street,Mile-entl, said that be
and the deceased were carmen at flickling's, the corn
chandlers, in Mile-end. On Friday afternoon they were in
the corn warehouse, and the deceased saw a trapeze
erected in it. Ho said, " Here's gymnastics ; I'm cold,
and I'll try them." Witness cautioned him that it was
dangerous, but he only replied, "Oh, you arc
frightened;" and he then caught hold of the
wooden bar of the trapeze and swung round
and sat upon the bar. The deceased then
" I shall now twist round," and he caught hold of
the bar with his hands and bent backward, and while he
was swinging round, his head was underneath the bar.
But not being accustomed to that exercise the strain upon
his arms was too much for them, and he was compelled
to Ist go his hold, and he fell with great force, dashing
his head on to the stone pavement.
Mr. J. Ilickling, 100, Oaboru-street, said that the trapeze
was a regular one, and it consisted of two ropes, which were
fastened to the rafters of the corn warehouse roof, and the
ordinary wooden bar. It was usual when any person was
practising on it to put some soft substance underneath the
trapeze, but the deceased had neglected to take that pre-
caution.
Dr. Kay said that when be was called in to see the de-
, ceased he found him insensible. He died on Saturday
afternoon from the effects of a fracture of the skull.
The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a
verdict, " That the deceased lost his life in consequence
• of an accidental fall received while practising gymnastics."

The Imperial Court of Riom (Puy-dc-Dime) has
just decided that the epithet "female "applied to a woman
constituted an insult.
During the present season nearly 8,000 buildings
have been erected in Chicago, at a coat of about 7,000,000
dole. Among them are many churches and large ware-
houses.
The Surma/lotto Bee, a Californian paper, states
that the following memorial was presented to the Presi-
dent of that city by the Chinese residents :—" To the
Hon. the President and the Board of Trustees of the
city of Sacramento. The undersigned, residents of the
city of Sacramento, pray your honourable board to grant
them permission to burn fire-crackers and otherwise cele-
brate, in accordance with the customs of their native
country, for the period of three days, for the purpose of
driving the Devil from the city, and particularly from
that portion of it occupied by the Chinese. (Signed.)
Sacramento, Oct. 16, 1866."
ILLNESS OF LORD ASHBY; RTON. —OUT readers
will hear with regret that the health of the Right Hon.
Lord Ashburton continues to be of a serious character. We
understand that his lordship is removed to Hempstead and
in deep seclusion. The complaint, it is reported. la en-
tirely of a mental character. The establishment at Ruck-
enham Torts has been closed and the household servants
dismissed.—Lynn Aderthaer.
ABERDEEN L N 1 TERSITT. —On Saturday afternoon
the students in Aberdeen University met for the purpose
of nominating candidates for the office of Lord Rector,
Madrid, Nov. 30. I which becomes vacant at this time through the expiry of
The following are extracts from the order re- the term of office of the present rector, Earl Russell. The
ferred to : candidates nominated were Mr. Grant-Duff, M.P., Mr.
I Grote, the historian,feeling and Lord Stanley. The of
It is difficult, very difficult, to draw the line of de- the majority of the students was evidently in favour of
marcation which separates what is allowed from what is . Mr. Grant-Duff. The election takes place on the 21st
not allowed to military men in relation to politica. But inst., and the office is held for three years.
this grave and serious problem which exists in the MR. H. A. BRUCE AT MERTHYR.—On Monday
Mr. H. A. Bruce addressed a meeting of the electors and
principal Merthyr. The
ofl2° Itihe gentleman
and
nature of things has been solved amongst most
the
al
of the nations of Europe by the institution itself, by the
army itself, guided by the sentiments of good, and sward. reviewednouselecte o
dwelt at some length on the question of parliamentaryy
ing aalawful only what is just. All governments have vied in reform. He observed that there seemed to be, and he
enforcing this view, while carefully maintaining in the dif- hoped that there was, a growing desire for the extension of
ferent elassesof troops the military spirit which lathe source the suffrage, and that the present ministry would, there-
fore, have to introduce a reform bill into parliament, or
and pillar of all their virtues. The army must, therefore, • else' there would be a trial of strength in the House of
be kept a stranger to politics, the events of which tend to Commons, to be followed by an appeal to the country. If
weaken and extinguish the military spirit, to relax the ministers introduced a reform bill, they would have
Aline, and to produce division and discord amongst its many advantages which the liberal ministry had not, and
members—ending by making them implacable enemies, - !heir mea
large sure wpos:Vionfairof l one iteirw:luld:tseet with the
ere
although honour, the interest, and the legitimate pride anxious to the questioni settled, at least fora To
of the uniform depend on the brotherhood of those propose anything but a fair measure would be worse than
who compose the army. Everyone knows that the mill- bringing forward none at all.