The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-26 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK.

Patrick Drisral, living in a snuill house in Redcrosa-court,
Borough, was brought before Mr. Cumbe, on a warrant,
charged with neglecting to register his lodging-house, or
comply with the requirements of the act of parliament.
Inspector Dodd appeared to prosecute the Last, being
specially appointed by the Commissioners of Police.
Sergeant Saunders, 34 A, said be was employed as
as assistant to Mr. Bell. He went on the night of the 4th
instant to the defendant's house—only two rooms. He
found six beds, and twelve persons sleeping therein. Eleven
of them paid thi. a week.
Mr. Combe asked what condition the place was in !
Saunders replied that it was very dirty, and the walls
were bmilten down. The doors were also in a filthy state.
The defendant said he had not considered his house a
lodging•house under the meaning of the act of parliament,
se all his lodgers paid him weekly.
Mr. Caul* told him he was mistaken. His was is com-
mon lodging-house. and such a system could not be tole-
rated. Here were twelve persons sleeping in two dirty
morns in a confin,l sistoe. detrimental to health, and likely
to engender fever and the worst of disease. He should not
be doing his duty unless he indicted the full penalty of 5/.,
or two month,' imprisonment.
The defendant said he could not pay the fine.
Mr. Combe —Then you must go to !risen, and I hope it
will act as a caution to you and other lodging•housekeepers
for the future.

GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS COMPANY.

The twenty-first half-yearly ordinary meeting of
the shareholders of this company was held at the London
Tavern last evening ; Mr. Alderman ILtare in the chair.
The report of the directors, which was taken as read, con-
tained the following statements :
" The directors beg to submit to the consideration of the
shareholders the balance-sheet and revenue account of the
company for the sax months ending the 30th of June last.
From these documents it will be seen that the rental of the
company. as compiled with the corresponding Wilmer of
1/400, bee Mamma to the extant of 1.4111., and that the
receipts from coke and other product' show an increase of
3.7361. IX 71, with a 1103411 increase in the cost of coal :
these results eualile your directors to recommend that a
dividend at the rate of six per cent. per annum, free of in-
come tax, be paid on and after the 20th day of November
next, kering a balance of 1,1881. 10s. lid., to the credit of
the next half-yeses account, in addition to which • sum of
5,000/. is provided in part payment of the verdict submitted
to in the actions brought on account of the Wood-street
fire. The shareholders will have learnt from the public
journals the result of the late trials. New and unexpected
evidence was brought forward, and your board, having anx-
iously considered the ease as presented to the jury, acted on
the strongly expressed advice of their eminent counsel and
solicitors, and compromised the actions by consenting to the
following verdict, which is in full discharge of all claims
' It is ordered by the court, by and with the commit of the
parties, their counsel and attorneys, a juror be withdrawn
in each of the actions, and that the defendants do pay to the
plaintiffs or their attorneys the SUM of 25,01.10/., and
the costa to be taxed in each action. It is also ordered
by and with the like consent, that the costa are to be paid
within six months from the date of this order, and that the
defendants are to pay 2,500/., part of the 2i,0001., in six
menthe from the date of this order ; 3,500/., other part, in
twelve months from the date of this order ; and the residue
of the 25,01 Mr. by four equal instalments, on
the Ist day of July in each of the following
that is to say. 1863, legit, 1865, and 1866.'
Leaean4 as is this amount, it would have been probably more
than doubled if the use had gone to the jury, and the ver-
dict had been adverse, besides which further litigation
would have followed, and three arbitrations to fix the
precise amount to be paid, causing great expense, anxiety,
and interruption to business. As the verdict now steed.,
payment being divided over several years, it is a manage.
able evil, and your directors trust that by economy and
attention your proper dividends will not long he died-
oished. In the report presented in October, 11460, you
were informed that owing to the contract of the company
with the Coinmirsiouens of Sewers, the act for regulating
the supply of gas to the metropolis did not necessarily
come into immediate operation. On the lat of February
next that contract is by the 36th clause of the act put
au end to, and the company would then of necessity
come under its obligations. The let of February would
have been an inconvenient time for making the change,
being the heaviest period of supply, and it was necessary
in making our new coal contract in place of that which
expired in August, to have a better quality of coal, in
order to meet the requirements of the greater illumi-
nating power which is imposed by the new act
under heavy penalties. We therefore gave notice
to all our coosumers that the change would take place at
Michaelmas List, and yaw directors have every reason to
believe that, as the increased price under the DOW act will
be moompanied by • larger corresponding increase of illu-
minating power as compared with the original act of the
company, the consumers will have no reason to regret the
change, which was nut 'ought by your directors, but Un-
posed upon them by parliament at the instance of the dele-
gates from the metropolitan boards and parishes. As your
directors will want funds to pay for some necessary o:tou-
gh:MS to meet the payments required by the verdict in the
fire in Wood-street, and likewise for working capital, as
their present coal contract stipulates for mall payments,
they recommend that az, issue of shares shall take place on
the lot of January, 1802. The present share capital of the
companyaid up is 172,1601., leaving uncalled the amount
sanctioned by parliament, 23,140/. Of this sum they re-
commend that 17,210 e. be raised by the issue of 1,721 shares
at par to the present shareholders, which will give one new
share for every ten shares held by them."
After some further discus ion. principally en matters of
detail, the motion for the adoption of the report was put
and carried, and • dividend at the rate of six per cent.
pee annum, free of income tax, was declared.
Mr. Alderman CAMEL then moved • resolution autho-
rising the issue of 1,721 new shares to the present share-
holders ; those shareholders not holding ten shares being
paid 4s. per sham
Mr. Austin seconded.
Mr. KELLY said he thought the additional capital was
ant required. When the districting took place there would
be no need of extensions. and the chairman bad stated it
was intended to pay for the Woodatreet fire out of
revenue, and be moved as an amendment that no additional
capital be raised.
The CHAIRMAN observed that Mr. Kelly had left out of
view tho fact that they would require 5,0001. • mouth for
the next throe months, ready money, for coal.
The amendment was then put, but only two hands were
held up for it, sod of course it was lost.
The original motion was then agreed to, and a vote of
thanks having been given to the chairman and chrectors, the
meeting separated.

ATTEMPTED MURDER OP A YOIINO WOMAN AT
Laviecmcme.—Au extraordinary attempt was made in the
street of Launceston on Tuesday to shoot • young woman.
The Klimek is question was made by • young man, of re-
@portable connexion, named Henry Spettigue, who acme
year or so ago paid his addresses to Miss Ellen Burt, the
daughter of en innkeeper, and at this young woman he, on
Tuesday, deliberately tired with • revolver, as she was
walking in the street, the laX passing through her dream.
It appears that Spettigue's addreMes were mimed by
Miss Hurt, and that recently she bas been walking
with another young man. Some months ego Spettigue
was bound over to keep the pros towards Moe Burt.
Thursday morning Spettigue was brought before W. L.
Hanson, Feq„ and R. Kelly, Fag., charged with attempt-
ing to rounler Ellen Burt. at Southgate, in Launceston, on
Tuesday afternoon last. He wen brought up in charge of
tlice-inspector Fleet, of the Cornwall county *motels*-
. Ho appeared very dejected when brought into court,
an as the evidence against him was being given, he more
than once expressed regret for the great trouble he had
brought upon hie father and mother. After an inquiry
extending over three hours and • half, the magistmteecom-
milted the prisoner to take his trial at the next mime for
the county of Cornwall.—Wesim* Ilfornino Aram
THE NEW CHAHINO-MOSS RAILWAY.--Tbe con-
struction of the new railway from London-bridge to am-
ring-cross proceeds with the utmost activity. Irons the
Surrey sale of the Suspension-bridge to Highatniet, in the
Borough, the work of demolition of the houses and other
buildings through which the line is to pass is nearly
complete.

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THE EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF FIVE LIVES
AT BALLINCOLLIU.

On Wednesday evening Mr. Coroner Honahao held an
inquest on the bodies of the three men found—Long, Mer-
rick, and Davidson.
Mr. David Somerville deposed that he was connected with
the powder mills for the last 2f pairs, skull WAS at
present superintendent over the works. Knew the shimmied
for years—some of them for nearly 22 years. They were
five of the steadiest men in the establishment. Sew them
last alive at six o'clock that rouruiug, when they landed
before him, and were examined. That was prior to their pro.
carding to their work. Did not observe anything unusual
about them. They were all tit for their business. They
were told to go to No. 2 press-hawse. They had been
for the three past days of the week, and for some
time befora, employed at the mania place and at similar
work. They understood their work well. There was a
foreman in the house. He is missing, and witness presumes
he was in the house when the accident occurred. His duty
was to superintend the other men. Witness visited the
house about is o'clock that morning, when the five men were
in the house awl at work. At that time they were preside
powder. The house was in perfect order, and witness (maid
everything to his satisfaction. Witness was speaking to the
foreman then for some time. Asked him whetherall wearied,
and he said yes, and that his machinery was all oiled ; wit-
ness examined it, and found it was so ; the house had not
its full work to do that day, as other parts of the works
had been stopped by back water ; the deceased went in to
do some work, in order that there might be no arrears ; at
about 10 minutes before twelve o'clock that day was in the
works yard, when witness heard a report like that of SA
explosion ; it was so slight that he thought it was one of
the composition mills, and ran towards them ; saw others
running towards them too ; then found that the explosion
occurred in the western part of the concern, and made his
way towards it as fast as possible ; found this prees.bousein
ruins ; saw the three bodies the subject of this inquiry there ;
they were lying at different dietaocesfrom the scene of thee:-
plosion ; they were dead. The bodies were in a mutilated state.
Has no doubt that the state they were in was mused by
the explosion. The foreman of the house, and whose body
has not yet been found, was for over twenty years working
at powder. No trace of the other two men that were in
the house at the timed the explosion has as yet been
found. The river and the canal had been dragged close
by, hut without finding them. Witness intended to net
the river next morning to search for the bodies.
Other evidence having been offered, the jury returned a
verdict—" That the deceased lost their lives by an explo-
sion at the Sallincollig
_powder mills, but how the explo-
Mon occurred they cool not my."