The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-21 00:00:00

DI7NABURG AND WITEPSIt (LIMITED).

The annual general meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern; Mr. T. A. Mitchell, m.p.,
in the chair.

The report stated that the bulk of the earthworths be_
tween Dunaburg and Polotsk, a distance of nearly 100 miles
had already been completed, and several miles of the per:
manent way laid down and ballasted ; and that so soon
as the weather permitted operations between Polotsk and
Witepsk a further distance of 61 miles would be com-
menced.

The CHArm^ in moving the adoption of the report,
said that the works had progressed at a more rapid rate than
had been anticipated, and this had obliged the directors to
call up the large amount of £3O per share. The engineer
assured the directors that the• line would be completed
within the original estimate, and there was no doubt that
when completed the traffic would be most remunerative.

Mr. GOSCHEN, M.P., seconded the motion for the adop-
tion of the report, which was agreed to.
The retiring directors, Mr. Goschen, and Mr. Bischoff-
sheim, were re-elected, and Mr. Levick and Mr. Fitzwagram
were also elected, an addition of two directors being re-
quired under the articles of association.
The retiring auditors, Mr. Coleman and Mr. Sim, were
re-elected, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of
thanks to the chairman.

RAILWAY BILLR'. '`" ' '—
Yesterday the Examiners took into consideration the
following bills :
Sotrrn-EAsTERL—To enable the company to make four
new lines—the first commencing near Deptford Creek and
terminating by a junction with the London, Chatham, and

PRICE 4d
STAMPED sd.

Dover, on the north side of Croom-hill-grove; the second,
a continuation of the first to Charlton, on the North Sent
line, near Church-lane ; the third, an extension of the
second to Sand-street, Woolwich ; and the fourth, from the
Greenwich line to Cranbrook. Additional capital, £905,000,
loan, £3ol,ooo—that is to say, £255,000 for the purposes of
the Act and £650,000 for the general purposes of the com-
pany, and £B5, 000 loan and £216,000 for general purposes.
The Standing Orders were declared to be complied with.
METROPOLITAN AND SOUTH LONDON.—For a railway,
three miles in length, from the Finsbury extension of the
Metropolitan Railway at its intended termination, passing
eastward under White ch a pel High-street and Ca nn on-stree t-
road, thence southward under the Blackwell Railway and
the eastern dock of the London Docks through the Thames
Tunnel, to St. Mary, Rotherhithe, with ten branch railways
of an aggregate length of -six miles, to connect the former
with the main line and all the leading metropolitan rail-
ways; capital £3,000,000, loan £1,000,000. Among other
yn theot
to have been complied with in certain respects.
labouringgeneralerect po
houses
cwl
classes.
ssa:istd. isb
Tu proposedbuildings
standingngs r t authorise tr
orders
accommodationeo
rr s
we
et
rhee
declaredc°ni Pcompany

The Alleged Extensive Frauds on Insu-
rance Companies.

Yesterday, John George Barry, Alfred Barry, William
Sedgewick, James Arnett, and Chas. Thorne—the first two
the proprietors of Meriton's Wharf, Dockhead, and the
other their servants—were again placed at the bar of the
Mansion-house, before Mr. Alderman Stone, to ungergo
further examination upon the charge of conspiring together
to obtain, and with obtaining, by fraud large sums of money
from various insurance offices ; and also upon the charge
of conspiring together to steal, and with stealing, a quan-
tity of bales of jute, the property of Mr. Baxter, a broker,
carrying on business in Great St. Helen's.

Alderman Phillips was on the bench during the exami
nation.

Mr. Giffard, Q.C., and Mr. Poland appeared to prosecute;
Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. Metcalfe attended for J. and A.
Barry, Sergeant Tindal Atkinson for Thorne, and Mr.
Lewis, jun., for Sedgwick and Arnett.
Detective Sergeant Brett said—On February 14 I went
with Sergeant Hayden to Meriton's wharf. I took James
Geo. Barry into custody upon the warrant at his office. I
told him who I was, and read the warrant to him, and he
said, "All I have to say is the charge is utterly false."
After the remand, on the same day, I went back to the office
with Hayden, and took possession of some books andpapers,
amongst which were some purporting to come from Mr.
Elioart, addressed to Messrs. Barry. I made a furthersearch
on the 18th, and found two letters from Toplis and Hard-
ing, dited Dec. 27th and 81st. I found them in the letter-
box at the office.

Mr. Elioart said—The letters produced were written by
me, and sent to Messrs. Barry. (The letters were read, and
the first was asking Messrs. Barry for a list of the goods
consumed, and also a list of goods saved.) I sent the first

letter by hand. When I wrote the second I had received a
printed list, two copies of the red list, a list similar to the
one produced of the goods consumed ; and after that I wrote
the second letter, and sent it to Barry Brothers. The se-
cond letter acknowledged the receipt of the list of goods
destroyed, and asked for a list of those saved ; and witness
said, after sending that, he received a letter (produced) en-
closing a written list of goods saved, and stating that it was
at first intended to print the list, but that course had been
abandoned, and was signed " Barry Brothers."
Mr. Theodore Baxter said—The letter produced, dated
let December, is the one I sent to Messrs. Barry Brothers
at the request of Mr. Alfred Barry. (The letter was read,
and was to the effect that the witness was interested in 996
bales of jute, ex City of Sydney, which were uninsured,
and begged of Messrs. Barry not to allow that portion
which was not destroyed to form part of the salvage
claimed by the insurance companies.) Witness said—l
wrote a similar letter to Messrs. Elioart.

Mr. David Harding, of 50, St. Paul's-churchyard, sur-
veyor and insurance agent, said—l heard of the fire at Meri-
ton's-wharf in November, and went to the wharf the next
morning. lam agent for the Alliance and the Royal Ex-
change, and other companies. I saw Mr. Alfred Barry, and
asked him for a list of the goods destroyed, and he gave me
a rough list as follows :-20,000 bales of jute, 2,000 bales
of sugar, 1,000 quarters of seed, 1,000 quarters of wheat,
1,500 quarters of split peas, 1,200 bags of saltpetre, a quan-
tity of shellac and safflower. I afterwards received a printed
list—a black one, and subsequently a red list. I found there
were some discrepancies in the red and black lists. I wrote

be letter produced to Messrs. Barry, asking, on the part of
all the insurance offices, for a list of all goods saved by the
fire. I received in reply the letter produced, signed Barry
Brothers, containing the list. (The letter was read, and
merely stated that the list accompanying Vasa list of goods
saved.) .1 went several times to the wharf, and saw the de-
fendants (alluding to the prisoners). I was acting, amongst
other offices, for the Northern. Messrs. Barry had a claim
for £1,782 upon that office upon the goods, which is settled.
John Thomson said—l am the manager of the firm of
Henry Clarke and Co., of New Broad-street. I went with
Mr. Baxter tt Meriton's-wharf. I there saw Mr. G. Barry.
I spoke, to him with reference to the first three prisoners
being in custody, and told him I had seen the report in the
papers that there were more goods saved than were repre-
sented. He said he was very glad I had come down, as he
could give an explanation. He voluntarily said that some of
the tallies had been altered by some of his men ; that a pile
of jute had been found 200 bales short, and concluded that
a pile opposite was 200 bales over ; that 200 bales had been
delivered from the right stack, and to rectify that the 200
tallies were taken off and replaced by other tallies. I for-
get which tallies were replaced, but I believe the Onward
tallies were replaced by the City of Dublin. I think he
said he had applied to Mr. Roberts for a meeting with
the representatives of the fire offices that they might
all ga over the stock and see what was saved. He then re-
ferred to Mr. Roberts's statement, as it had appeared in the
papers, that there were 2,000 more bales saved than were
represented. He said that could not possibly be, and re-
ferred to one particular parcel, which he said Mr. Roberts
had returned as 200 and odd, and that they had taken down
the pile and found it to be only 180 odd, or, as he said, 13
per cent. discrepancy. , Mr. Barry said there were similar
cases, and, taking the average per centage of discrepancies,
there ought rather to be a smaller quantity than Messrs.
Barry had returned. Mr. Barry told us that his object to
have the attendance of the representatives of the offices
was to go over the stock together, and Mr.Robeets told him
to attend a meeting. That he did so, and, after waiting two
hours, was told that theydid not wish to see him. Mr. Barry
said he thought it right upon that to call in impartial par-
ties, and had called in Messrs. Honey and Humphreys,who
were then taking stock, and in the course of a few days
they would be able to tell the precise number of bales
saved. I called again two days after that, and Mr. Baxter
was with me. I had just had an interview with Mr.
Roberts, and went straight from his office to Meriton's
Wharf. I don't know the precise date. I know it was at
Wednesday morning. I saw Mr. J. G. Barry. The fire
into another
question I asked was whether they had yet completed the
stock-taking, and Mr. Barry asked us to go
room. I don't remember if he said he had not. When we
went into another room, we asked Mr. Humphreys how
long long it would be, and he told us it would be about a
fortnight before it would be completed. I said as the parties
who owned the jute were abroad, and as from the reports
they would naturally wish to know whether any further
portion of their jute had been assured, I should
like to see the jute myself, referring to the jute
ex City of Sydney. Mr. G. Barry said we must excuse
his declining to interrupt the valuers who were taking
stock. I said I had no wish to do so. I merely wished
to see the parcel which had been saved, and he again said
he could not disturb the valuers. Mr. Barry afterwards said
if we would stop there he would see what he could do for
us. He left the room and went upstairs, leaving Mr. Baxter
and me in the office. We waited about 10 minutes. Mr.
Baxter went into the clerk's office and complained at being
kept so long, and after some little time Mr. John G. Barry
came down again. He said "Now you come with me."
I and Mr. Baxter went with a porter and Mr. Barry to the
warehouse L. The warehouse was completely shut up,
windows and doors. The porter opened it ; as he went up
we went to the top floor, and there found a quantity of the
jute ex City of Sydney. 1 counted, as far as I could, 280
bales. Mr. Baxter counted the same number.
Mr. Giffard-140 it appears on the said list.
Witness—Upon counting 280 bales, I said, " Mr. Barry,je
there are 280 bales," Mr. Barry said, " I am sorrykteod
Kr.
it, but for your sakes of course I'm glad." Baxter
Barry if we might see the warehouse A.
to our going
Mr. Baxter said. Mr. Barry at once assentedwas
locked up,
to warehouse A, and we went up.r all
I
and was opened by the same porter.
It
alsom r•
dßiaxdnteo"rt hear
found no tallies for the
tallies were turned inwards.
looking at the tallies which wevvreoperceptible.floors Some of the
icf there ware goods there, and
ladder. I asked Mr. Barry
h we went up to by a common
until we came to a floorg
he said " Yes." We found
City
of Sydney here," pointing to
said " There are some
rowbhilmales of jute there, and Mr. Barry
and he expressed his sur_
" I cannot
how many we
some at the end of the floroort.helrec,ounted 35 bales, and told
Mr. Barry
we all came downstairs together, and while the
dggawiidek took part
irregularities
—oorwhether
ara
porterprprime,
locking.
account for the trre
of his figures from Arnett, and Arnett from Sedgwick, or
whether in calculating the stock they calculated the number
of bales wrongly, I cannot say ; but that there have been
both great negligence and great irregularity there can be no
doubt."
Some evidence of minor importance having been adduced,
Edwin Radmall was called, and said--I was employed on
the 11th, 12th, and 13th of January to go through the stook

. -
at Meriton's Wharf. I found 9,073 bales of jute-on th
mises. I had the list of saved goods with me at fla
That list exhibits 8,221 bales ofi
jute that had been deliV6l:o_ered
between the date of the fire and the 11th, 12th, and 13th,
and find, including the goods that had boon delivered, that
there were 2,325 bales more than had been described as
saved. The number of bales delivered between the dates
was 1,473 bales. I believe no goods had been brought to
the wharf. Idid not make any allowance for any delivered.
I took the dates of the deliveries from the wharf. From the
date of the fire to the 9th December, the date on which the
second list was made out, 337 bales had been delivered.
The second list showed 100 bales as saved from the Mary
Stenhouse, whereas the number we found was 262 by that
vessel.
Alderman Stone declining to take hail.
The defendants were remanded until Thursday, Mr.

Naval and Military Intelligence.
-4.--

spetra:Bto., er
The Ist battalion 13th Regiment will arrive at
Aldershot from Dover to-day, and will be quartered
in the West Infantry Barracks. The regiment con-
gists of 28 officers, 756 men, 7 horses, 44 women,
and 42 children.
IThe 2d battalion 60th Rifles will march from their
barracks at Aldershot at half-past 10 o'clock to-day,
and proceed to the North Camp station (South-
Eastern Dov.
Railway), whence they will proceed by
A general regimental order, signed by Col. G.
Gambier,eial
Deputy-Adjutant-General, Royal.
Artillery, directs that in the event of any soldier of
the Royal on Artillezy home service wishing to trans-
fer his
regimental savings bank balance to the post-
office savings bank, di
comman ng officers are to re-
port the particulars direct to the War-office, when
the necessary steps will be taken, in communication
with the Postmaster-General, for effecting the de-
sired transformation. The order
also announces that
all allowances now granted in lieu of soldier servants
to regimental officers will cease on March 31 next,
and paymasters of brigades will take care that no
charges are inserted in their accounts for such allow-
ances after that date. With reference to the regula-
tions for regimental canteens, it is to be understood
that the fact of the paymaster being the custodian
of the canteen fund will in no way render his sureties
or the public liable for any amount deficient therein
in the event of their being a default in the public
accounts of the paymaster.
Experiments are being made in Aldershot camp
with the South American " jerked beef" with aview
to its introduction in the army if found desirable.
The beef at present does not find favour with the
men, who consider it deficient in nutritive proper-
ties, and find fault with its flavour.
In accordance with an Admiralty order received
at Chatham, the engineer officers in charge of vessels
repairing or fitting at the dockyard are to attend on
board from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily, with the excep-
tion of short intervals for breakfast and dinner, for
the purpose of exercising a proper supervision over
the factory workmen, their instructions being to re-
port any case of improper workmanship or idling
on the part of the mechanics. In consequence of
this order considerable additional responsibility is
placed upon the engineer officers of the navy.
In consequence of the expected arrival of the irort
screw steam troopship Urgent, 4, Capt. Samuel
Henderson, at Devonport, the 2d •Regiment, under
command of Col. Thomas Addison, C. 8., quartered
in the Raglan Barracks there, were prepared to em-
bark for Cork. The transport not being ready, the
soldiers received orders on Friday to unpack their
baggage. They are now expecting the Urgent on.
Wednesday.

The Alecto, paddle sloop, 3 guns, 800 tons, and
200-horse power, Commander William H. Blake,
arrived at Spithead yesterday morning, on her re-
turn to England from service on the south-east coast
of America, and, receiving her orders soon after
arrival, sailed from Spithead again in the evening
for Woolwich, to dismantle and pay out of commis-
sion. She sailed from Rio Janeiro on the 14th of
December last, arrived at Pernambuco on the 3d of
January, and sailed thence again on the following
day. On the 4th of February she anchored off
Fayal, but was compelled to get under way again.
immediately by the setting in of a southerly gale.
She remained outside until the 6th, when she con-
tinued her course to England, without having com-
municated with the shore. From Fayal to the en-
trance of the Channel strong gales were experienced
from south to north-east, chiefly from the latter
quarter, and from the Channel entrance to Spithead
strong north-westerly gales. The Alecto brought
home several naval supernumeraries from ships
serving on the south-east coast of America, which
were transferred to the Vicbry flagship, in Ports-
mouth harbour, previous to her leaving Spithead for
Woolwich, by a harbour steam tender. Mr. John-
son, naval instructor, invalided, from her Majesty's
late ship Bombay, also came home as passengers in
the Alecto.

The War Department steam vessel Lord Panmure,
Commander T. H. Moore, having shipped the four
600-pounder wrought iron guns intended to compose
the armament of her Majesty's armour-clad cupola
ship Scorpion, under fitment at Birkenhead, sailed
from Woolwich Arsenal on Saturday for Liverpool.
An experimental 300-pounder smooth-bore gun,
built up in the Royal factories of Woolwich Arsenal,
from the design of Mr. John Anderson, the assistant-
superintendent, was on Friday mounted on a new
species of wrought-iron carriage and slide, with
transporting gear, designed by Commander Scott,
R.N., and manufactured under the superintendence
of Mr. Trickett in the dockyard factory. The gun
was planted in front of a wooden section of a ship's
broadside, in preparation for an official inspection by
Rear-Admiral Frederick and other members of the
Admiralty Board, who had signified their intention
of being in attendance in the factory at Woolwich
for that purpose. The inspection was, however,
postponed to an early day this week. The gun is
made of a metal known as " Firth steel." It weighs
124 cwt., and is to form a portion of the armament
of her Majesty'slo-gun iron cased corvette Favourite,
in course of completion, on Mr. Reed's principle, at
Woolwich. After their lordships' visit the gun and
fittings will be transported to Shoeburyness for trial.
The method of running the gun in and out and the
simple machinery and appliances by which it can
be moved by a single gunner are a great improve-
ment on the ordinary system.
The construction of a wrought-iron gun carriage,
platform, &c., on a new principle, and intended for
one of Capt. Coles's cupolas, was last week com-
menced in the Royal carriage department of Wool-
wich Arsenal, to work a 300-pounder gun fitted and
mounted for service on Lieut.-Col. Shaw's
pivot
principle, so as to enable the gun to be
pointed and
t
d
fired through an embrasure not exeseing
for-.
the
cir-
cumference of the gun's muzzle. In Col. Shaw's
mer invention the trunnionsof the gun were removed.
In the present invention they will
cast steel gun, be retained.
Capt. Blakeley's 14-ton hammered
ted in front
the Russian Government, has been moun
and slide,
f the butt on a wrought iron proved a few days ago at the Woolwich butt, for
° carriage
made at their own works, and is now ready for ex-
appointments and promotions were
periment.
t the Admiralty :—N. B. Shute,
• ated to a naval cadetship ; J. H. Martin, H.
no
to the Victory, for Haslar Hospital ; S.
H. T 1 id
B. Craig, yesterdayfComi oi
gw , andfollowing
a W. H. Stewart, acting assist :
sßurrigeeotyliscketo, and
the
RJ.oySaltewAadrteacatein,
fgorassPlisyrat.
pital ; IV. H. Bowen, assist. Paymaster, to the St.
E. ;W. F. Capps, confirmed aschief
E. Parsons, of the Griffinassist.-surgeons,
to
promoted engineer
to acting chief
engineer ; E. Tricker, acting' second-class assist.-
engineer, to the Cumberland,
M. Graham, ass' as supernumerary ; J.
ist.-engineer, to the Fisgard,
supernumerary ; J. Knig ht G Pratt, and C.
Thompson, as assis t G.
ensineers, to the Royal
William, as *-
supernumeraries.

TILE DAVENPORT BROTHERS.—These performers
have not, it would seem, been entirely crushed by the
Liverpool disturbances. They are announced to appear at
Leeds. The Leeds Times publishes a letter from London,
in which the writer says :—" The Liverpool riot beggars
description. Mr. Palmer, the manager of the Davenport
Brothers, has left for Liverpool, and will take proceedings
against 20 members of the Gymnasiuro. Society. There
was upwards of £9O in the house on Wednesday night.
The Davenports returned to town to-day, the flesh on their
wrists being jagged and bruised in the most brutal manner.
The Liverpool affair, when sifted, will do us great good,
and had Mr. Palmer been in that town at the time he
would have disarmed their opponents, and offered ternis
for a fair trial—staking £l,OOO to £2O upon the success of
the Davenports."