The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

THE BANK OF AUSTRALASIA.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Bank of Australasia
held yesterday, the report of the directors was unani-
mously adopted. The chairman (Mr. Oliver Farrer)
referred to the dividend of 15 per cent. declared in Octo-
ber as indicating the progress of business, and stated
that, in addition to the increased amount of profits which
the board had been enabled to distribute, attention had
also been given to the formation of a guarantee fund,
towards which, it is anticipated, when the accounts shall
be presented in June next, 200,0001. will be found appli-
cable. The operations of the bank have latterly become
enormously augmented, but although entailing great
labour on the managers and officers both in London and
the colonies, they have hitherto been conducted without
a single important loss from bad debts. According to
the latest advices from Sydney the circulation had in-
creased in the interval between October and July from
659,0001. to 915,000/. ; the advances from 971,0001. to
1,350,0001. ; and the deposits from 2,200,0001. to
3,800,0001. The only discussion which took place re-
lated to the future prospects of the bank, and to the
terms agreed upon for the site of the new London
establishment, the explanations afforded being received
as satisfactory. The following is an abstract of the
statement :

" In presenting the half-yearly statement, the directors
have again to congratulate the proprietors on the prosperous
condition of the bank. The latest advices received from the
branch establishments afford evidence of the satisfactory
progress and continued increase in general business, and
justify the directors in stating that the profits during the
year of account ending in October last will exceed those of
the preceding year. Under these circumstances, they have
no hesitation in announcing that the formation of a perma-
nent guarantee fund is now a matter of certain attainment,
and they entertain no doubt that, after providing for the
payment upon the shares for the ensuing year, at the pre-
sent rate of 15 per cent. per annum, the accounts to be
submitted in June next will show that they have been
enabled to separate and set apart, as a guarantee fund, the
sum• of 200,0001. to be reserved as a protection to the ca-
pital, the interest thereof being applicable to dividends.
This important object being accomplished, a larger propor-
tion of the profits, as they may from time to time be
realised, will then be available for future division. The
proprietors must be aware that late events have im-
parted an unprecedented impulse to the trade of Australia,
and that fears have been entertained that the imports
into the colonies have been in excess; but there is
every reason to believe that their inherent wealth, abun-
dand resources, and increasing population will soon enable
them to recover from any effects of over-stocked markets.
In compliance with respected solicitations from many of
the most respectable and influential residents, branch
banks were established in July in the thriving settlements
of Port Fairy and Portland Bay, in the colony of Victoria;
and another at Moreton Bay, in New South Wales, is in
course of formation. The directors embrace this oppor-
tunity of stating that they have secured a valuable and
advantageous site for bank premises for the use of the
London office, situated in Threadneedle-street, the build-
ing of which will be commenced forthwith."

MARLBOROUGH-STREET. - (THIS DAY.)

EXTENSIVE SHOPLIFTING BY A FRENCHWOMAN.

Josephine Colin, a good-looking young Frenchwoman,
was brought before Mr. Hardwick for final examination,
charged with having stolen a large quantity of valuable
property from the shops of various silk mercers, drapers,
&c., at the West-end of the town.

Mr. Spicer, the barrister (instructed by Mr. Rutter,
solicitor to the London Trade Protection Society, 170,
Regent-street), appeared for the prosecution.
William Cossins, shawl buyer at Messrs. Swan and
Edgar's, silkmercers, Piccadilly, stated that on Monday
evening last he went to Mr. Neate's, the pawnbroker,
Duke-street, Manchester-square, and was there shown a
piece of French cambric, now produced. He imme-
diately identified it as the property of the firm, and
worth at least 3/. Witness had, about an hour pre-
viously, been spoken to by a police constable, and had
then made a search, which led to the discovery that the
piece of cambric was missing. 'Witness had seen the
prisoner in the shop as a customer.
Wm. Bruce, assistant to Mr. Neate, pawnbroker,
produced a piece of cambric, pledged for 41., on the
14th of November, with other articles by the prisoner.
Mary Ann Bridge, searcher at the Marylebone-lane
Station-house, said she searched the prisoner when she
was brought to the station, last Saturday week, and
found nine duplicates sewed in the hem of her under
petticoat. The prisoner would not give them up with-
out offering great resistance.

A person from Messrs. Dallison and Co., drapers,
Regent-street, said from information he received from
an officer, he went to Mr. Neate's, pawnbroker, Duke-
street, where he found the two pieces of cambric hand-
kerchiefs now produced, which had been stolen from the
firm.

John Griston, an assistant in the employ of Messrs.
Dallison and Co., identified the prisoner as the person
who came to their shop on last Friday week, and pur-
chased 3i yards of silk, which she paid for. She then
ordered some pieces of French cambric to be sent to 18,
Langham-place. Witness went with the goods, but could
not find any such number as 18. The cambric produced
was missing shortly after the defendant left.
A number of other cases against the prisoner having
been proved, and the evidence interpreted to her by M.
Albert, the interpreter, she was fully committed for
trial.

The Court, during her examination, was completely
filled by shopkeepers and their assistants, and the floor
of the Court was covered with a miscellaneous collection
of articles stolen by the prisoner from different shops
she had visited.

MARKET NEW, --(THIS DAY.)