The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-01 00:00:00

The SOLICITOR stated that it bad been so prepared.

Mr. WYLDE said that he understood it had been ori-
ginally intended that the concerns of the Company
should be managed by five Directors, and that that was
the numbers stated in the deed of settlement. Now the
Company had hitherto been carried on by three Directors
instead of five ; he wished to know the reason of this ?
The SOLICITOR said that this had been done with a
view to economy ; the three Directors were the origi-
nal projectors of the Company, and if it were considered
desirable to increase their number to five, that could
be done to-day.
Mr. WYLDE said he held in his hand a prospectus in
which the names of four Gentleman were mentioned as
Directors. One of these Gentlemen had since become
Manager, and he could not see in what manner this charge

was at, all economical.
The SOLICITOR said that it must have been a mistake
in the printing of the prospectus, as Mr. Thornton
never had been a Director, but had always held the
situation of Manager.
The SOLICITOR then commenced reading the deed of
settl ment. After he had proceeded for some time,
A PROPRIETOR suggested that as it would take up
some time to finish reading, it should not be proceeded
with, as every Proprietor would have an opportunity of
reading it previously to signing.
Mr. WYLDE had heard quite sufficient to satisfy him
that he should oppose the deed.
A PROPRIETOR suggested that Mr. Wylde had
better reserve his reasons until called upon to sign.
It was then agreed that the further reading of the
deed should be dispensed with.
Mr. THOMAS NIAS then moved that the deed be ap-
proved, adopted, and executed, which was seconded by
Mr. JOHN WILLIAMS, and carried.
Mr. WYLDE was about to make some objections,
when he was interrupted as being out of order, the mo-
tion having been carried.
Mr. Nuts suggested that, although out of order,
they ought to hear Mr. Wylde's objections, as they
might perhaps be of consequence to the future well
being of the Company.
Mr. WYLDE said that he had highly approved the
original project of taking twelve acres of ground for the
purpose of establishing Zoological Gardens ; but the
Directors had since taken four acres of ground addi-
tional for the purpose of building an hotel ; against this
he must protest, as he considered the Directors were
thereby mixing themselves up with the building specu-
lations of the new to wp of Rosherville. They had also en
tared into a speculation of building a pier, of which he
did not approve—they should have confined themselves
strictly to the letter of their prospectus.
Mr. NIAS said that with respect to the Hotel, they
could not expect that company would visit the gardens
unless shelter were provided for them from the uncer-
tainties of the weather. The pier he also considered
necessary to afford an easy, safe, and convenient landing
for persons visiting the Gardens ; he was glad he had
heard the objections of Mr. Wylde, because he was con-
vinced that they were groundless.
A PROPRIETOR asked whether it had not become
necessary to acquire the additional four acres in order to
secure a right of way to the Gardens.
Mr. WYLDE said a road could have been formed
without taking those four acres.
Mr. RosE, the architect to the Company, here pro-
duced the plan, and said that when he had been first
consulted he had declined having anything to do with
the Gardens unless those four acres were previously se-
cured. Had the Gardens been laid out first, and bad
the Company then applied to Mr. Rasher for additional

ground for the approaches, in what situation would they
have been placed ? He had also thought it right to
secure the licensed public-house which adjoined
the Gardens, and he had also thought it
his duty as a practical man to secure the pier.
After the Gardens had been finished, it would
have taken three times the sum to have secured these
advantages. The Directors had been guided entirely
by his advice, and he appealed to the Shareholders
whether be had not done his duty in leading the Di-
rectors to adopt this line of conduct.
The Chairman then signed the deed of settlement,
and his example was followed by several of the gentle-
men'resent. _ _

LuTwYctin said the Corporation of Gravesend
enforced a toil of 3d. from each person landing on
either of the Gravesend Piers—the pier bcicnging to
the Company being out cf the jurisdiction of the Cor-
poration of Gravesend, they would be able to receive
boats on their own terms. The Corporation received
18,0001. per annum from the two piers, and if the Com-
pany only received a revenue of 1,0001. per annum,
from theirs, it would amply repay them. The Direc-
tors were endeavouring to obtain the sanction of the
Thames Navigation Committee for the extension of the
pier to the low-water nark, so as to enable eassengers
to embark or land at all times of tide, and they had
every reason to think they should succeed in ob-
taining it. _ _ _

Mr. THORNTON, the Manager, then read the report,
which stated that a similar institution having been pre-
viously projected, the Provisional Committee of which
had taken land, and expended a considerable sum on
the Garden-ground, the Directors had succeeded in
obtaining all their interest in the land in question for
6911. Os. 4d., being the amount that had been ex-
pended on the lands, so that the Company had re-
ceived an equivalent for their outlay without the sa-
crifice frequently made in such .cases. The Report
then proceeded to quote the statement of Mr. Rose,
the Architect to the Company, as to the advantageous
terms on which the pier and the surrounding grounds
(with the old public-house license) had been secured
for the purpose of erecting the Hotel, Library, and other
buildings, necessary for the establishment, and intended
to form the River entrance to the new town of Rosher-
villa. It further appeared from his statement that con-
siderable progress had been made in laying out the gar-
dens, which have been enclosed vvithiti a brick-pale, and
also in the building of the Hotel, so that there was every
prospect of the Gardens being ready for the public by
Midsummer. The Report, after congratulating the
Proprietors on the statements of M. Rose, alluded
to the negociations going on with the Thames Navi-
gation Committee relative to the extension of the pier,
and stated the intention of the Directors to apply to the
Crown for a Charter should it be necessary so to do.
The Report then proceeded to matters of finance ; it
stated that in September last the Directors found it ne-
cessary to make a call to meet their engagements, but
reflecting on the then depressed state of the Money
Market, they determined to advance 1,0001. themselves,
and deferred the call to the commencement of the pre-
sent year. Of the 2,800 shares on which a deposit was
made, 1,788 have paid the call, and the Directors con-
fidently anticipate the payment upon the remainder, in
which, should they be disappointed, it would be their
painful duty to declare the shares forfeited.
The financial statement was then read, from which it
appears that the gross receipts, including the advance by
the Directors (which has not yet been repaid) amount
to 5,588/. of which sum, after the payment of the pur-
chase-money for the ground, for the building the wall,
for the purchase of animals, keep, wages, &c. &c., a ba-
lance of 5261. 17s. Oid. remains in the harids of the
Directors.

The adoption of the Report was then moved by Mr.
GEORGE, seconded by Mr. WILLIAMS, and carried una-
nimously.
Mr. A. CLARK said the only thing that. had induced
him to join the Company was their having the pier and
the hotel ; he had been connected with many speculations
of this sort, and from his own knowledge he could state,
as he visited Gravesend every week, that if this was pro-
perly carried out it would be one of the most flourishing
concerns he had ever been connected with. He con-
cluded by moving the thanks of the Meeting to the
Directors, the Manager, the Surveyor, and the Solicitor.
Mr. NIAS had great pleasure in seconding the propo-
sition of Mr. Clark, but suggested that the votes should
be proposed separately. In which Mr. Clark con-
curred.

Mr. GasirEr.r. rose to move as an amendment that
the Meeting do adjourn, taking as the grounds of his
opposition to the vote, the purchase of the Hotel and
the Pier ; but finding the sense of the Meeting de-
cidedly against him, he withdrew his amendment.
The votes of thanks to the Directors and officers
were then severally put, and carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN and the officers briefly made their
acknowledgments, and after a vote of thanks to the
Chairman, the Meeting adjourned at four o'clock.

METROPOLITAN BENEFIT SOCIETIES' ASY-
LUNI.—On Thursday about 150 gentlemen, including the
Lord Mayor, Major Wood, M.P., Mr. Ald. Copeland,
the President and the Vice- Presidents of the above Charity
sat down to dinner at the London Tavern to celebrate their
first anniversary. The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor in
the chair. The object of this Institution (of which her
Majesty is the patroness) is to provide an asylum fOr the
aged and infirm members of benefit societies. It was
established in the year 1829, and since the period of its for-
mation sixty-one inmates have been received, and who,
but for the institution, must have sought refuge in a
workhouse. The sum of 5,8001. has been already ex-
pended, of which 1,5001. has been borrowed on mortgage ;
3,500/. has been appropriated to the purchase of a plot of
ground for the erection of part of the building, and the
remainder for other expenses. The cbject of the present
dinner was to raise a sufficient sum to discharge the in-
cumbrance now on them, and to complete the undertaking,
which, when accomplished, will afford accommodation for *lt will be remembered that the Phrias are the un
sixty-en^ aged couples. About 40(1. was subscrihcd 1^ ^i n't, Indfiln whotr. ~1-rIH,.!--y her
the course of the evening. grows somewhat rabid, ironically compares the plebs.

of Commissioners and Ministers put together. This