Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-06-27 00:00:00

LONDON CHAIVER%D BANK OF AUSTRALIA.

Yesterday afternoon the fifth general meeting of the directors of the
above bank was held at the London Tuvern-Mr. Duncan Dunbar in
the chair. In their annual report the directors soy-" The spirit of
over-trading and speculation manifested in the Australian markets
during the past year has necessitated the exercise of the utmost
caution in conducting the affairs of the bank at the various branches.
It is, however, a subject for congratulation that the corporation is
gradually extending its business, and acquiring fresh claims to the
confidence of the colonists. The proposed establishment by the
government of the colony of Victoria of a bank of issue, attended
with prospective restrictons oa the operations of all existing
banks, having excited some apprehension in the minds of several
shareholders, the directors deem it fright to advert to the
subject. The project appears to have met with but little support, for
the colonial public were not slow to perceive that a measure of this
character, while calculated to deter the future introduction of British
capital to Australia, was also at variance with the principles of free
trade, and could not, therefore, he otherwise than opposed to the
true interests of a community essentially dependent on commerce
for its prosperity. Under these circumstances, it is grstifying to
the directors to be able to announce to the proprietors that
the measure in question has been abandoned. The latest
advices received from the colonies are as follows: viz., Sydney,
11th April, and Melbourne, 15th April. The letters of the inspector
represent the bank's operations to be of a satisfactory oharacter.
and its business steadily increasing. The accounts now
placed before the shareholders are made up to the 31st December last.
From these it will be seen, that after the usual deductions, there
remains to the credit of profit and loss the sum of 2 ',WV. 6s. Id. ;
from which the directors recommend a dividend to be paid of 2* per
cent. for the half-year, ending 31:t December last, viz„ 16,875/. ;
leaving a balance of 6,1021, 6s. Id. to be carried over to the
next half-year, The accounts made up to December 31, 1856,
show the following liabilities :-Notes in circulation, 253,7261. ;
bids payable and other liabilities, 399,062/. 13s. 3d. ; depo-
sits, 371,3411. I6s. 2d. ; total due to the pnblia, 1,024,1301.
9s. sd. Capital-Original capital paid up, 503.000/. ; second
capital Paid up, 200,000/. ; profit and loss, 22,977/. 6s. Id. ; total,
1,747,11.7/. 15s. 6d. Asset;:-Coin and bullion, 658,5991 2s. ; bal-
ances due by other banks, 96,7591. i 1 s, 5 I ; bills receivable and other
securities, 942,8431.195. ; freehold, leaseho:d, and other property of
the corporation, 43,2141. 10s. 6d.; open policies, 1,4961. ss. 6d,;
stamps, 4831. 3s. 1 Id. ; preliminary expenses, 3,6811, 3s. 2d. ; total,
1,747,1071. 15s. 64. Profit and Loss Account.--Dr.: To dividends-
viz., fourth dividend of 2 per cent. for haif year ending 31st
December, 1855, 11,0001,; fifth dividend of 2i per cent. for half
year ending 30th Jane, 1856, 14,3751. ; to proportion of preliminary
exnenses-viz., for half year ending 30th June, 1856, 5811. 4s. 4s. ;
for half year ending 31st December, tes6, 5811., 4s. 4d. ; to balance
carried down, 22,977/ , 6s. Id. ; total 49,5141, 14s. 94. Cr, : By
balance at 31st December, 1855, per last' statement, 11,1031. 14s. lld ;
by balance of p:oflts in London and in the colonies for the year ending
1856, after
;dbedyubcatlinangeecubrrroeungthetxdpoewnnse,s
2,
23,
90 ;4;1 0. 16. 198..
1d
31st December,
lOd.; total 49,5141. •
The report was adopted.

REVOLTING AFFAIR.—Nir. Arnold, at the Westminster
police-court, London, was occupied a considerable time in
investigating charges of description against a revolting
Stephen Fryer, between fi'.ty and six 'y years of age, butler
to Mrs. Gorden, 47, Wilton-crescent. It appeare to have
been the praoice of the accused to invite page boys is the
neighbourhood to his own home, in Smith-street, Chelsea,
and to [its rni,tress's pantry. The matter was first brought
under the eogn;since of the police, by the mister of one of
the toys, when Inspector Cummin's, of the B division,
entered upon a searching investigation of the matter, and
having heard that the must frightful practices had been
going
od for some time, brought three bays, under the age
Ol'sixlete, to this court, wh .se information on oath was
fully taken and duly scrutinised by Mr. Arnold before a
warrant was issued far the prisoner's apprehension. It is
roost painful to add, than. the eviderce of two of the boys
irresistibly leads to the conclusion, that, if not absolutely
consenting parties, there appears to have bean neither that
resistance nor immediate exposure that well-considered
minds would most unqestiopaOly have prompted. The
accused was remanded„

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph.]