The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-13 00:00:00

ZIONEY MARKET

AND

comnRCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK.
the general discount market there is not
Much business in progress, the mercantile corn-
rennity being induced to hold over their bills until
after the Bank Court to-morrow, in the hope of a
reduction of 1 per cent. in the official minimum.
The lowest rate out of doors is now 51 per cent.,
but there is a very large supply of floating capital.
There was no material change in the foreign
exchanges yesterday.

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of
the Union Bank of London was held to-day—Mr.
P. N. Laurie in the chair. The report, which was
unanimously adopted, declared a dividend for the
last six months at the rate of 15 per cent. per
annum, and a bonus of 21 per cent, on the paid-up
capital, being at the rate of 20 per cent. per annum,
clear of income tax; and after payment of the
above, amounting to £78,000, there will remain a
balance of £77,363 6s 2d.
A special meeting was also held for the purpose
of considering the propriety of increasing the capital
from £3,000,000 to £4,000,000, by the creation of
20,000 new shares of £5O each, The resolution
Was unanimously agreed to, and it was also resolved
to issue the shares at £3O, bearing a premium of
£l5 each.
The directors of the English, Scottish, and Aus-
tralian Chartered Bank have issued their report of
the result of the operations of the Company for the
half year ending 31st March in the Colonies, and
30th June in London. The balance of profit
is
£28,467 Os. 10d., which the directors pro-
pose to appropriate as follows :--To the pay-
Ment of a dividend at the rate of 6
per
cent, per annum, free of income-tax, on 600,000,
£13,000; towards the reduction of bank premises
andfurniture accounts, £1,000; to the reserved fund,
£B,OOO ; which will then amount to £43,000, leaving
a balance of £1,467 Oa 10d to be carried forward.
We understand that the far-famed Oxford and
Canterbury Halls are about to be merged into a
joint-stock company under the Limited Liability
Act. This step is taken, not because there is any
necessity to place the undertakings on a wider basis,
for both are in a very flourishing condition, but to
give Mr. Charles Morton, the present sole proprie-
tor, the opportunity of ultimately withdrawing from
the cares of active management, although the com-
pany, in which he is a very large shareholder, will
not lose the benefit of his advice and co-operation.
It would be a work of supererogation to
speak of the claims of thesehalls, two music
carr
each of which, in dense localities,
y away the palm of patronage from all
their competitors—the Oxford being nightly filled
by a very superior class of 'West-end patrons, and
the Ca:uterbury Hall offering permanent attractions
in its splendid picture gallery. But there are
vouched documents put forth by Mr. Morton in
anticipation of the intended change, which place
beyond all doubt the highly successful
character of
the undertaking from a commercial point of view.
It appears that in admissions alone to the Oxford
during the lest three years, ending March 25th,
there have been received not less than £43,385,
and for the sale of refreshments during the
same period £46,602. The certified accounts show
an annual profit of upwards of 25 per cent.
The capital of the company is £120,000 in 8,000
shares of £l5 each, 'We understand that one half
of the capital has already been applied for. This is
eminently an age for joint stock enterprise, and
there is hard'ty a species of undertaking which does
not take the shape of a public company. But the
Present venture has nothing of speculation in it.
The company will simply have to step into Mr
Morton's sleaes, and carry on both undertakings in
the same judicious spirit of enterprise, in order to
continue, and improve a past brilliant success,

Two O'LOCK.
At Paris, this day, according to Mr.o Reuter's
telegram, the Three per Cent. Rentes were 66f. 30c.
Business in stocks and shares has not been very
actively pursued to-day. But the several markets
present a firm appearance, the alterations in prices
being Very trivial. The Funds show a slight im-
Pmvement upon yesterday's quotations, Consols
being nn
--Z- .1- for money, and 90'1
.1. for the account.
The New for
and Reduced Annuities are 891, 1 ;
India 5 Per
Cents., 1041 i; Enaced 5 per Cents.,
10.11 ; do.
8i per Cents., 1141 f ; and the Bonds,
53. dis.
There is
not much animation in the Foreign
Market, and the
only movement of importance is
a lief) of 23- per cent, in to 73the Confederate Loan, viz,
-i- 744, ; Turkish 6
er Cente., 1862, are 681
691 ; ditto Consolides, 80p
.1- ; Mexican " cx. all,'
281 1 ; ditto New, 261
I ; Greek, 24: ,-, ; Spanish
Passive, 29 1 ; 811 '
an_ _.ussAan, 874
~,...
Business in the Railway Share Market has con-
tinued moderately active, and prices have in several
instances shown increased firmness. ,-.
exreat Northern
A Stock, North Western, North Eastern (13erwick),
and South Eastern have each advanced / ; and
'Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln I,
amain d, at
The Foreign and Colonial lines r
ull
about former quotations.
, Lank and Miscellaneous Shares continue in 'very
'ircited request, and the few dealings entered into
have led to no material change in values. EuropeQa
140,t1 American Finance Corporation are quoted li 1