The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-30 00:00:00

THE LAHORE BISHOPRIC.

Mr. H. SET)/OUR asked the Secretary of State for
India if he would undertake not to bring on the second
reading of the Lahore Bishopric Bill at a later hour than
ten o'clock ?
Sir C. WOOD said he proposed bringing forward the bill
on Monday next.
CHAPLAINS' REPORTS.

Mr. HANBURY asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
whether it was true that the chaplains' quarterly report
had been abolished; and if so, what had been substituted
in lieu ?

Mr. CHILDERS said, as he had already stated, the
chaplains' quarterly report had been abolished. All the
information they contained was now to be found in the
inspectors' returns and the annual reports._

THE PUBLIC-HOUSES BILL.
Mr. COX said, seeing the Secretary for the Home De-
partment in his place, he wished to ask him if he could
state the course he proposed with respect to this bill. A
number of deputations had waited on the right hon. gen-
tleman, and it would be very convenient if he would
state the course the Government intend to take.

Sir G. GREY said iie-hadreceTved-Taus-nunii;er of depu-
tations on the matter, and he had every desire to give
their representations the best cohsidoration. Ile was
anxious to see how he could meet their wishes, and there-
fore he hoped the hon. gentleman would abstain pressing
for an answer to his question that evening.
Mr. COX said he would repeat his question on Monday
next.
COURTS OF JUSTICE CONCENTRATION (SITE)

-
BILL.
Mr. LYGON resumed the debate on going into com-
mittee on this bin, and moved that the bill be re-com-
mitted, with instructions to the committee that they inquire
into the capabilities of the Thames Embankment, as
the site for the proposed Law Courts. The
Government had proposed to expend £670,000 on a site
which was entirely inadequate for the purpose.
Sir J. SHELLEY seconded the motion.
Sir H. CAIRNS hoped the proposal of his hoe. friend
would not meet with the approbation of the house, be-
cause the carrying of the motion would be tantamount to
a defeat of the measure as far as the present session was
concerned. He considered the site selected as the very best
one, and he felt that the convenience of the public would
be sacrificed if it was altered.

Mr. H. SEYMOUR considered they were about to make
another blunder with respect to the erection of their public
buildings. He thought that if the plan now accepted was
adhered to they would have a large block of buildings in
the place where there was no easy means of access, while by
moving a little more towards the south the best effect, and
utmost convenience, would be secured.
Mr. MALINS hoped the plan would he strictly adhered
to, and that the present motion would be rejected. He con-
tended that if the Essex site was to be accepted it would
cost a great deal more than £670,000. He therefore
felt the public !convenience would be best served by
carrying out the Carey-street site. He would rather
things remain as they were than accept the Essex-street
site.
Mr. W. COWPER said that he naturally felt the greatet
interest in the carrying out of the Thames Embank-
ment in a manner that would add to the beauty
of the metropolis. It would be quite impossible
to place the courts of justice there. (Hear, hear.) The
site selected, he felt, was the best that could be had, as
there was ample space for every purpose, and if in after
Years it was found nessary to take more land then
property adjoining the now law courts could be readily pur-
chased. As a matter of convenience the Carey-street site
was all that could be desired. It was close to the Inns of
Court, the law offices, and chambers of the leading members
of the bar, in addition to which a number of close
thoroughfares would be removed, and in their stead, wide
and handsome streets would be substituted. The value
of the property alone to be taken by Essex-street site would
cost over £300,000 in compensation, and thus an additional
cost of £700,000 would be incurred.

After a few words from Mr. CRAWFORD,
The amendment was negatived without a division.
The SPEAKER then left the chair, and the house went
into committee on tho bill.
The whole of the clauses were agreed to, and the bill
was reported without amendment.
(LEFT SITTING

TOLERATION.—A Glasgow paper states that a
compositor employed on ono of tho daily newspapers in
Glasgow has just been denied the privileges of membership
in the Freo Church, of which he and his wife have long
been members, simply on account of the fact that he is em-
ployed for a short time on Sundays.

It is a source
enabled again

of much gratification to the directors to bo
to report a continuance of that remarkable
. _

progress which has ever been the distinguishing charac-
teristic of their annual statements. Every year has exhi-
bited a considerable increase of business over that of its
predecessor. Large, however, as is the number of new
policies issued, it would have been much larger but for the
' great caution exercised by the directors and their officers
in the selection of the lives submitted, and the many pro-
posals which that caution has prevented from being carried
into effect. This will be seen from the figures given in
this report. Assisted by the able advice of their very
efficient medical staff, and taking advantage of the expe-
rience derived from their numerous transactions, the risks
of the association have been selectedlvith every advantage
in the company's favour. At the same time the share-
holders and members may rest assured that the directors
lose no opportunity of entertaining every available
business transaction likely to be of a profitable character to
the office.

The directors beg further to report that the gross income
of the association has increased to the sum of £124,091
7s. 4d., and that after the payment of all out-goings the
balance of income over expenditure for the year is
£30,560 10s. 10d. _ _

The assets of the association now amount to £247,503
Bs. 3d., or within a trifle of a quarter of a million of money-
The accounts have been duly audited by the four audi-
tors, who, in accordance with the custom of this associa-
tion, have met quarterly for that purpose. Their opinion
on the result of their labours will be best gathered from
the following report :
To the Board of Directors of the Briton Medical and
General Life Association.

Gentlemen,—We beg to report to you that during the
past year we have made the usual quarterly investigations
into the accounts of the association, and have much plea-
sure in reporting to you that we have found the same cor-
rect and satisfactory. All the mortgage-deeds, bonds, and
other securities, comprising the investments, have been
duly inspected, and are in perfect order. We have very
great pleasure in again bearing testimony to the efficient
manner in which the books and accounts are kept, and to
the excellent system adopted by the association. We note,
with much satisfaction, the increasing business and prospe-
rous position of the company, and we are, gentlemen, your
obedient servants,

HENRY ALCOCK,
WILLIAM BROOKS, Auditors.
JOHN BROWN
March 24, 1865.
C. R. ROWLAND.
In common with most assurance companies, this associa-
tion has suffered somewhat heavily from the highly-
increased rate of mortality experienced in the past year.
The claims have been 200 in number, and amount to
£60,810 Bs. Gd. This sum includes 35 claims for £10,227
14s. 7d., which, although ascertained, were not due for
payment at the closing of the books. Although the claims
of the year 1864 have been heavy as compared with those
of former years, it is a subject of some congratulation to
the directors that the association has been the means of
giving so excellent and practical an illu6tration of the ad-
vantages derived from the adoption of the principles of
assurance, as the distribution in one year of so large .a sum
as £60,000 amongst the families of those members who
have unhappily succumbed to the unhealthiness of the past
season.

wirl:Wheitin directors regret
whotmu towchas i
haveormany
to report
a director
the deiatchor
of the association, and whose removal from a sphere of
action in which he was so eminently useful, the directors
feel sure will be equally deplored by the share and policy
holders as by themselves. TO the vacancy in the board
thus created, the directors have elected Edward H. Sieve-
king, M.P., physician to their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Wales, and they beg now to submit such
election for confirmation.
Three of the directors, viz., Dr. Tyler Smith, Mr. T. B.
Jones, and Mr. Francis Webb, retire by rotation, according
to the provisions of the Deed of Settlement, but, being
eligible, offer themselves for re-election. The auditors,
viz., Messrs. Henry Akock, John Brown, William Brooks,
an C. R. Rowland, also retire, but offer themselves again
for the suffrages of the proprietors.
The directors recommend that a dividend at the rate of
6 per cent. per annum, free of income-tax, be declared.
The directors cannot conclude their report without again
offering to the proprietors and members their hearty con-
gratulation on the progress and position of the association.
Although the past and each preceding year have clearly
demonstrated a great success which it has been the good
fortune of the directors to obtain, yet, considering the many
circumstances which have occurred in the year 1864, cal-
culated to retard rather than to advance the progress of all
provident institutions, and the very excellent present
prospects of this association, the directors confidently an-
ticipate that continued and increasing success will attend
their efforts in the year 1865. They again urgently solicit
the assistance and co-operation of the share and policy-
holders in those efforts, in order that, at the occasion of the
next annual meeting, it may be the pleasing duty of the
directors to report results to which the present, satisfactory
as they are, will bear but an unfavo'irable comparison.
The ClimumAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said it was of such a satisfactory nature that ho need not
detain them by any lengthened statement. The new
busineSs had increased by 20,000 over that done last year,
which he thought was a very handsome figure for an
office of their age and standing. Many older
offices have not fared so well, although the
utmost endeavours have been made to secure business
at any risk. That had not been their case, and indeed had
the directors felt disposed, they could have added £7,000
more to that figure ; but they had adopted a safe and
prudent course, and he felt satisfied they were better with-
out it. A growing success attended their efforts for many
years, and be felt convinced that the Briton Life
stood so high in the estimation of the public that that
success would go on increasing and increasing. (Cheers.)
The chairman then alluded to the various topics men-
tioned in the report, and resumed his seat by moving the
formal resolution for the adoption of the report from the
chair, and carried unanimously.
The retiring directors having been re-elected, and thanks
awarded to the directors, the proceedings terminated.