The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-30 00:00:00

INTERNATIONAL GENERAL AVERAGE.

During the meeting of the association a section, the object
of which was to discuss the subject of international general
average, held its sittings on the 26th, 27th, and 28th inst.,
at the Museum. Sir J. Wilde was in the chair on the 26th,
and Sir F. Kelly on the 27th and 28th. There were present
commissioners appointed by the Governments of Russia and
Belgium, and delegates from various commercial and insur-
acce associations of New York, Boston, France, Holland,
and other continental states; and from London, Liverpool,
Sunderland, and other towns.
fiirJ.WILDE in his opening address dwelt on the importance
of the object aimed at by the section. It was most desirable
if practicable that one uniform rule should prevail amongst
maritime countries in a matter in which seafaring men were
continually brought into collison with foreign laws.
A long discussion ensued on the clauses of the draft of a
bill or general code introduced by the committee. The
fifth section, which related to voluntary stratviingg, was
struck out, and a clause was substituted to the effect that
when a ship is intentionally run ashore because she is sink-
ing or driven on shore on rocks, the consequent damage
should not be admitted as general average. It was
resolved that means should be forthwith taken towards
obtaining the sanction of the several legislatures of the
countries represented to the rules hero framed, which were
henceforth to be known as " The General Average Rules,
framed at York, in 1864." The co-operation of mercantile
associations and the leading mercantile men in the several
countries was also to be invited.
To-day meetings of the several departments were held
for the purpose of preparing reports of their proceedings,
and subsequently a meeting of the council was held at the

CLOSING GENERAL MEETING.
At half-past one o'clock the final general meeting of the
association was held at the Festival Concert-rooms. Lord
BROU GUAM took the chair.
Mr. HASTINGS read the report of the council, which con-
gratulated the association on the interest and value of the
proceedings. It had not been expected that at York so
large an assemblage would take place as in other cities, tut
it was hoped that valuable results would ensue, especially
in reference to the welfare of the rural population. Never-
theless, the number of members, being 1,019, was larger in
proportion than that which attended the meetings of the
association at any other city. The result of the discussions
had been most valuable. Especial allusion was made to the
working men's meeting, which had been accepted by the
association as a marked success. The report alluded, spe-
cifically to each of the departments, particularly to that in
which the question of mental responsibility of criminals,
the sewage of towns, agriculture, and reformatory disci-
pline, had been discussed, as well as to the conference on
internatioal averages. It was stated that Mr Peabody and
Mr Jarvis, of Massachusetts, were honorary members of
the association. The council gave their thanks to the Lord
Mayor and corporation, to the various bodies which had
afforded accommodation to the association, to the dean and
chapter for lighting up the Minster, to the railway com-
panies for the facilities afforded to the members for transit,