The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-13 00:00:00

HALF-YEARLY MEETING-THIS DAY.

The first half yearly meeting of the shareholders
in the Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company was
held this day at the " Oxford." Evan B. Jones,
Esq., chairman of the company, presided.
The SECRETARY having read the report, which
has already appeared at length in The Sun,
The CHAIRMAN said he had great pleasure in
meeting the shareholders at their first half-yearly
meeting, especially as this balance-sheet contained
so comfortable and pleasurable a statement. They
had, no doubt, had circumstances to meet over
which there was no control, and foremost amongst
them was a very' inclement winter. It
was certainly true that very many of the public were
prevented from taking out-door amusements when-
ever the weather was unpropitious. Yet notwith-
standing the most adverse circumstances he had
on many occasions visited the Oxford, and the
wonder on each evening with him was, not that
there were so few persons present, but that there
were so many. (Hear, hear.) That circumstance
showed that these attractions, such as those offered
by the Oxford and Canterbury, which no weather,
however bad, could prevent the public from patro-
nizing. There had been commercial depression and
other occurrences that militated against expenditure
for amusement, yet, with all these adverse circum-
stances against them, they were enabled to pay a
dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, with
a bonus of 2s. per share free of income-tax. (Hear,
hear.) Their manager, Mr. Morton; had carried on
the business of the two large establishments in the
most liberal and energetic manner, and he felt he
might very safelypromise them an increase even on
the very good dividend now declared. The dividend
with bonus was equivalent to 17 per cent.—(hear,
hear)—and even then they had not exhausted their
half-year's profits, because they had carried over to
the next half-year, after paying the dividend and
bonus, a sum of no less than £2,433 9s. 9d.:(Hear,
hear.) They had not escaped being involved in
disputes with certain individuals, and he was sure
he need not allude at any length to them, because
they were no doubt aware that one of them was the
dispute with Mr. Gye relative to Donato. The suit,
as they knew, was never finished, but he would tell
that it had then been settled, and that the next
place that that celebrity would appear at would
be the Oxford. (Hear, hear.) The securing of
Donato had been productive of great benefit to the
managers of Covent Garden, and he had no doubt
that the engagement would be equally remunera-
tive to the Oxford and Canterbury Hall Company.
(Hear, hear.) With respect to the Canterbury Hall, he
would just allude to their great ghost illusion, which
had of late produced so much excitement amongst
the opposition managers. That entertainment had
been so successful that it had brought down
upon them the combined body of theatri-
cal managers, and had subjected their active
and energetic manager, Mr. Morton, to a prosecu-
tion, or he might rather say a persecution, which
doubtless would lead to a great change in the law
with respect to music halls and theatres. (Hear,
hear.) The matter was already before Parliament,
and he felt sure that something would be done to
settle a question which had engrossed so much
of the public attention. (Hear, hear.) The
shareholders were under very deep obligations
to Mr. Morton, who had throughout the whole
of the negotiations relative to the transfer of
the property acted in the most liberal and open
manner. Amongst one of his pleasurable duties of
the day would be the moving of special vote of
thanks to that gentleman whose only thought and
desire was how to improve and increase the
prosperity of the two gigantic esstablishments of
which the company were now the possessors.
The board proposed to carry out certain alterations
in the premises, which were certain to result in
bringing more business, and consequently increased
profits. (Hear, hear.) He, as he had already ob-
served, thought the shareholders had made a most
successful investment of their money, because there
could not be a doubt but that their dividend would
rapidly increase—(hear, hear)—and he certainly
recommended those who had been fortunate enough

to obtain shares not to part with them even at any

premium, because they had embarked their capital
in one of the best, the safest, and soundest concerns
in the metropolis. (Hear, hear.) He begged to con-
clude his observations by moving the formal resolu-
tion for the reception and adoption of the report
and balance-sheet. (Cheers.)
Mr. ANDERSON said it gave him the greatest plea-
sure to second the motion.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. WOMERSI.EY moved a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors for their active exertions
during the past half-year.
This resolution was also carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said it now gave him the greatest
pleasure to move a vote of thanks to Mr. Charles
Morton for the energy and zeal he displayed as their
managing director.
Mr. GARST ON seconded the motion with the most
sincerest pleasure.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
Votes of thanks having been awarded to the
auditors, the proceedings terminated.

VACIIER'S PARLIAMENTARY COMPANION—NO.
186; March, 1865—possesses a peculiar interest of
its own this time, seeing that, in all human proba-
bility, the psesent issue of this little handbook to
the House of Commons as it now is, will be about the very
last that will make its appearance. Taking it up now for
the purpose of casual reference, one cannot help musing
meditatively on the number of those M.P.'s whose names
are likely to disappear from the Messrs. Vacher's next
year's Catalogue of our National Representatives, and over
tho now unknown names that will in a brief while have
been then found to have been substituted for them by the
respective constituencies.

MR. SANTLEY has returned to England.
SIR HENRY BULWER is gone to revisit the Suez
Canal at the request of Government.
THE CORRESPONDENCE OF NAPOLEON THE FIRST,
now in course of publication in Paris, costs the French
Government £2,000 a volume. As 16 volumes have been
published, this brings the cost to £32,000.
LORD CHELMSFORD'S LAST.—Somebody having
said during Lord Derby's provokingly candid and ironi-
cally forbearing speech, " Bethell, I daresay, wishes him-
self back in the Commons," "You mean," said Lord West-
bury's predecessor on the woolsack, " he would like, for this
session, at least, to be member for Bury St. Edmunds."
CONVICTION FOR A ROBBERY COMMITTED Two
YEARS AGO.—On Friday at the Nottingham Assizes
William Upton, with several aliases, framework-knitter
was indicted before Mr. Baron Martin with having broken.
into the counting-house of Messrs. Earwaker and Co., and
stealing £4l, on the 21st August, 1863. On the day in
question the prisoner was seen lurking near Messrs. Ear-
waker's premises, and also to come down the steps which
lead to the counting-house. He was apprehended at Lei-
cester, where he had undergone twelve months' hard labour
for housebreaking. The jury returned a verdict of guilty
He was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude.

PELIZZIONI.—The Italian, Pelizzioni, has received
a further respite. His life will be spared, but the statement
of his having received a free pardon is not quite correct ; in
fact there are great difficulties arising out of the seond trial,
and the necessity of consulting the two judges, and the
conflicting nature of the evidence. Tho life of the prisoner
being spared, there is time for the fullest inquiry into all
the circumstances of so singular a case with a view to his
ultimate disposal.—Observer.
COMMUTATION OF THE SENTENCE ON CECILIA
BARKER.—Cecilia Barker, who was convicted as an
accessory to the murder of a child at Cosely, in Stafford-
shire, at the Winter Assizes for that county, was respited
on the ground of pregnancy. She has been lately delivered
of a child in the prison. Under all the circumstances, the
Chief Secretary has felt himself justified in recommending
her to the mercy of the Crown, and her sentence has been
commuted to penal servitude for life. Her paramour and
accomplice, the father of the child, was executed for the
offence at the time in front of Stafford Gaol.

REWARD FOR LOST PROPERTY RESTORED.—At
Leeds on Thursday a young woman found a pocket-book
containing money in gold and notes. Immediately after
two gentlemen approached, whom she overheard speaking
of the lost pocket-book. She then said, " Gentlemen, have
you lost something ?" The reply was, " Yes, a pocket-
book." The description of the book and the money agree-
ing (the latter consisting of 30 sovs. and four £5 notes),
the young woman said, " Then I believe this is the pocket-
book," and gave it up. The owner thanked the girl, and
was about leaving, when his friend suggested that some
reward should be given. " Oh, yes," said he, " I'll give
her ss. and a jolly kiss." But the girl neither got the kiss
nor the 55., for she fled as fast as she could from the at-
tempted rudeness.

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HER MAJE ST Y.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 11.
The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
Princess Beatrice, drove out in a carriage and four
this morning, attended by the Duchess of Rox-

burghe.
Their Royal Highnesses Princess Helena and
Princess Louise arrived at the Castle from Buck-
ingham Palace, attended by Lady Caroline Bar-
rington, the Hon Flora Macdonald, and Colonel
the Hon. A. Hardinge.
The Duke of Roxburghe and Lord Lyons had the
honour of dining with her Majesty yesterday.
Princess Bariatinsky arrived at the Castle, and
had the honour of being presented to her Majesty
by the Lady in Waiting.

March 12.

The Queen and their Royal Highnesses Princess
Helena, Princess Louise, and Princess Beatrice
attended Divine service this morning in the private
chapel.
The Ladies and Gentlemen in Waiting als°
attended.
The Rev. C. Kingsley preached the sermon.