The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-28 00:00:00

CO7TON SUPPLY.

A meeting was held at Manchester, yesterday, to receive
a deputation from London of gentlemen interested in the
formation of the Western Australian Cotton Company
(Limited), to explain and to give information as to its posi-
tion and prcspects.

Mr. T. CLEGG was called on to preside, and said he did so
with great pleasure because, having taken a part in endea-
vouring to procure cotton from Africa and the Mediterra-
nean, and especially from Aft ica, it had seemed to be thought
he could see no other source of supply. The fact was he
welcomed any attempt to g,•t cotton, no matter where. He
thought it was time every one should take part in the
movement, and he thought any man of property who had
£5OO to spare—or even £lOO or £so—would do well to in-
vest it in schemes of this kind, and as shares in this com-
pany were only £5 each he could well do that, even with
more limited means. He could not say much, of his own
knowledge, of Western Australia, but he would say that
the cotton grown there, which he had seen, was the best
cotton he had ever known (Hear, hear.) He held some
in his hand, and his impression was that it was worth
.?s. Ed. per lb. He had been engaged actively in promoting
the growth of cotton for the last 12 years, and had had to
dip his hand deep into his pocket. Still he had hopes that
he should see his money back again, and perhaps with some
iaterest. He was satisfied that he had helped to lay the
foundation of a lasting cotton trade with the West Coast of
Africa, having invested jointly with a friend about £7,000
in the enterprise. He had, besides, engaged in three schemes
for procuring cotton from India, besides two others, and
prom.sed to join a cotton-procuring company. He did not
say this in the way of boast, because he held it a matter of
duty. He thought it nonsense to say that, because men
were cotton-spinners, they should not endeavour to promote
the cultivation of cotton, especially if they did not wish to
see their workpeople dependent upon charity.
Mr. Ross MANGLES, a member of the Council of India,
spoke of the deep sympathy of all class s throughout the
country with the present sufferings of Lancashire, and de-
scribed at some length the suitability of the soil and climate
of Western Australia for cotton-growing. It had also the
advantage of being near two great labour markets--those
of India and China; it being only 12 days distant from
Ceylon by steam, 10 from Singapore, and 21 Ironz China.
He pointed to the great good that had been done in rescu-
ing the Mauritius from poverty by coolie labour, and said
that the coolies returning thence to India often bad been
found to have amassed considerable savings.
All that Wes-
tern Australia wanted was the fostering help which such
companies as this could give, much as the Government of
India gave help in developing the tea trade of India, having
themselves started its cultivation, and afterwards turned
e
over the enterprise to the Assam Tea Company, which was
now a thriving and prosperous undertaking, making a re-
turn of 10 per cent.
l‘irt. hleVfoanctnsAlyd,
btehfoereMthayeonating r ofe Salford, moved "That
from it appeared that Wes-
tern Australia was a British colony eminently suitable to
the growth of cotton."
Mr. W. Monnrs seconded the resolution, and it was
carried unanimously.
Mr. T.a.. TAILOn, of London, moved " That the Wes-
tern Australian Cotton Company was worthy of the sup-
port of the meeting.”
DR. Councillor RuNINEY seconded the resolution, which
was carried.

This concluded the business.
Some to working
--en were present, and two of them briefly
addres ed the meeting, under the idea that a cheaper and
inferior cotton wa,
Mostly wanted, but
The CHAIRMAN' explained that while such cotton as
could be grow
bulk of sup/ I grown in India and elsewhere was necessary as the
).Y, nevertheless there was much need for the
kind now
exhibited to the meeting. He also pointed out
that it
was to the interest of the working men, because,
while for every I,ooolb. weight of this cotton spun 215 in-
dividuals were employed, the same weight of India catcall
would only give omploymentio 54.
The meeting pissed off well.

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.---.
The directors of this company recommend the shareholders
to declare a dividend on the ordinary stock of the cornpanYl
at the. rate of 5 per cent, per annum, for the half-year end'
ipg the 31st July, leaving a balance of X 143.