The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-07 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER.

A NOCTURNAL AMUSEMENT, AND SUSPICIOUS POSSES-
SION.—WiIIiam Goozee, a young man, was charged with
unlawfully ringing house bells, and further with being in
possession of some tobacco.

Henry Sparks, 186 B, said he was on duty at Brompton
at two this morning, when he saw the defendant go up to
the door of No. 1, Brompton-crescent, and ring the house
bell, after which he hurried away to 21, where he pulled
another bell, and was then taken into custody by witness.
On searching bim at the station, there were two half-
ounces of tobacco, in different papers found upon him.
Mr. Arnold—What have you to say, defendant?
Defendant—Nothing particular. I can account for the
tobacco.

Mr. Arnold—You are described as a barman out of place.
Defendant—l got the tobacco from a retired publican,
Mr. Sladdow, who used to keep the Adam and Eve, and
now live. at 38, Dartmouth-street, Westminster, and I
expected somebody would have been here from him, but
there has not.
Mr. Arnold—Did the defendant give a correct address ?
Polic,man—Yes, he did ; and I have been there. It is a
respectable place where he lodges.

Mr. Arnold—l don't skink it necessary to say anything
more about the tobacco; tut what is your reply to the
charge of ringing the bells.

Defendant—l did not know there was any harm in it.
Mr. Arnold—You must have strange notions of things if
you don't think there is any harm in wantonly ringing at
houses in the dead of the night and disturbing the inmates.
Were there any complaints made where he pulled the bells ?
Constable--Yes, both complained; and the gentleman at
No. 21 came to the gate and complained at the time of the
ringing.

Mr. Arnold—This annoyance, which is a very senseless
amusement, must be put an end to. You are fined 205., or
14 days.

The London and South African Bank.

ANNUAL MEETING.-THIS DAY.

The second annual meeting of the proprietors of
the London and South African Bank took place to-
day. Mr. J. R. Thomson presided. The report,
which was unanimously adopted, stated that the
accounts for the year ending 31st December, 1862,
exhibited a surplus of £29,481 Bs. 5d., out of which
a payment on account of dividend was made in Oc-
tober last, at the rate of 6s. per share, free of
income tax, and stated that—

" Deducting for rebate on bills not due £5,233 lls 9d ;
applying in reduction of preliminary expense account the
sum of £1,608 6s, or one-fifth of the original amount; and
carrying to the credit of the reserve fund £2,000 ;an avail-
able balance remained of £14,639 10s 8d; out of which the
directors proposed a dividend for the half-year, ending 31st
December last, at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum on the
entire paid-up capital, free or income tax, carrying forward
£2,639 10s 8d to next account. The past year had been
marked by the completion of the bank's capital, to the extent
of £400,000, paid up in full, (in conformity with the provi-
sions of the Charter of Incorporation), a steady increase in
its business, and freedom from bad debts. As intimated in
the last anneal report, the directors now announced the
formation of a branch at D' Urban, in the colony of Natal.
Arrangements were in progress for the establishment of
others at Pietermaritzburg, King William's Town, and
Graaf Reinet ; and it is the intention of the directors still
further to extend the sphere of the bank's operation as may
be found expedient."
The Chairman stated that last June they had paid
a dividend of 6s. per share on £200,000 capital.
That capital had since that time been increased to
£400,000, and the directors now proposed to pay
for the past half year another dividend of 6s. per
share. Although the dividend was payable on
£400,000, the capital actually employed was only
£288,000. The net profit made during the year
on £2BB 000 was £26,644, or about 91 per
cent. The portion paid to the shareholders, includ-
ing the £12,000 to be distributed, would be equal
to a dividecd of 61 per cent. Although it was not
a general practice among the colonial banks to
afford a statement of the reduction made for rebate
of interest, their Lccounts exhibited a sum of £6,233,
which might be considered as profit, because it was
carried forward to next year's account. £2,000 was
also added to the reserve fund, A hich now amomited
to £3,100. The notes in circulation, deposits, &c.,
in June last, represented £95,000; in December it
had been increased to /145,000, and since then the
accounts from the Cape stated that a further incre
went had taken place, the total now being
£182,000. The directors had resolved to raise
another £lOO,OOO capital, and having obtained the
necessary sanction, they HOW proposed to issue
5,000 shares, 4,000 of which were to be appropriated
to the shareholders, in proportion of one new share
for every five old shares, and that the price be at
the rate of £24 per share. The 1,000 remaining shares to be kept for the benefit of the bank. A dui-
cussion ensued, the majority of the shareholders
contending that the whole of the proposed new
shares should be issued to the proprietors at par.
A compromise was afterwards effected, and a reso-
lution carried limiting the proposed new shares to
£22 each.