The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-06 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN AND GENERAL FREEHOLD
LAND SOCIETY.

Last evening a meeting of the shareholders of the
Metropolitan and General Freehold Land Society was
held at the British School Rooms, Cowper-street, Fins-
bury, The principle object of the meeting was to ballot
for eighty rights to advances, 40 from the ballot rights,
and 40 from the rotation division.

From a statement circulated in the room, detailing
the numerous advantages held out,, it appeared that
by joining this society, a mechanic, or labourer, or other
person of limited income, might, by small weekly contri-
butions, become the proprietor in his own right of a
piece of freehold land, upon which a dwelling house
might be erected, either to let or to occupy. To effect
this object, land was purchased wholesale in large quan-
tities by the acre, and divided into plots of an annual value
of not less than 405., and allotted to the shareholder
at the wholesale or cost price, thus effecting a saving of
from thirty to sixty pounds on each plot. In the pur-
chasing of land, great care was taken to obtain as far as
possible such as would be immediately available fcr
building upon, or other valuable purposes, or which the
members can dispose of at a ground rent on building
leases. The estates already purchased at Barnes and
Wimbledon had given the greatest satisfaction to the
members, and would bear comparison with any other
estates purchased for the members of freehold land
societies. The cost of the conveyance to the members-
was 30s. each, exclusive of stamps, which was added to
the price of the allotment, and paid for by the allottees
in their regular subscription. The society advanced the
difference between the price of the allotment and the
contributions paid in by the allottees. The allot-
tees might at any time redeem the mortgages by
paying off the advance made to them, and a re-
lease was given them by the trustees, and their
shares extinguished. Deposits were received by the
society in large or small sums, and interest at the rate of
five per cent. allowed. The money so deposited with the
society, with the interest thereon, might be withdrawn
upon giving seven days' notice to the secretary. The
society thus offered greater facilities, a larger rate of
interest, and better security than any savings bank.
Shortly after eight o'clock the chair was taken by G.
J. Philps, Esq.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the even-
ing, said the observations he should have to make to the
meeting would necessarily be very short. He need not,
he was sure, enlarge upon the proceedings of the Metro-
politan and General Freehold Land Society, because he
might say these proceedings were before the world. The
shareholders knew what they had done during the year
just passed ; they had expressed their satisfaction in the
liighest terms, and they had ample reason for that satis-
faction, because they had got their premiums in their
pockets. (Cheers.) He was sure that there could not be
more weighty reasons than pounds, shillings, and pence.
(Laughter and cheers.) The principle business of the
evening consisted in balloting (for the tenth time) for
10 rights to advances from the ballot division, and 40
from the rotation division, making in all, according to the
resolution of the committee, 80 rights. He (the chair-
man) would feel great pleasure, before resuming his seat,
in answering any questions that might be put to him.
The first part of the proceedings would be the election
of scrutineers to conduct the ballot.
The seals on the ballot box having been verified and
removed, and Mr. Hind having volunteered to act as
one of the scrutineers,

The CHAIRMAN again rose, and said they required the
assistance of two more gentlemen, in order that the
business of the evening might be got through briskly,
the weather being very inclement. He hoped two other
gentlemen would volunteer to act as the colleagues of
Mr. Hind. He trusted the society would be enabled to
put as much land into the hands of the shareholders
this year as they had done during the year just ended.
In that year the directors of the society had put into
the hands of the shareholders 50 acres. (Cheers.) That
he considered was something. (Cheers.)

Two gentlemen having volunteered,
The names of Mr. Hind, Mr. Grossmith, and Mr.
Hack were then put to the meeting and agreed to.
The corresponding numbers of the shares taken prior
to the commencement of the proceedings having been
handed to the scrutineers, and by them placed in the
wheel, and
The forty numbers having been drawn,
The CHAIRMAN said the advice he gave those gentle-
men who were so fortunate as to get a right was to hold
on, and for this reason : A gentleman had given a com-
mission to an agent to purchase rights to the amount of
4001. ; indeed, the agent was empowered to go to the
extent of 8001.—thus showing to the assembled share-
holders the high estimation in which this society was
held. (Cheers.)
The forty rotation rights having been added, the fol-
lowing numbers were announced at the termination of
the ballot, by the secretary (Mr. D. R. WHITE) :-
2,006, 822, 2,689 and 2,690 grouped, 3,334, 2,931,
2,633, 2,704, 1,961, 3,128, 914, 1,036, 3,303, 916,
1,131, 907, 2,694, 1,040, 913, 1,960, 1,128, 823,
2,360, 910, 911, 908, 2,611, 1,034, 3,041, 909, 1,032,
2,957, 3,001, 905, 3,213, 1,132, 3,086, 1,184, 3,165,
1,039, 912, 2,077, 826, 1,130, 1,041, 824, 825, 3,109,
1,129, 1,031, 906, 2,239, 2,996, 2,953, 2,002, 2,260,
1,194, 1,035, 2,459, 2,241, 2,913, 1,037, 1,193, 2,515,
3,108, 3,335, 2,742, 932, 2,417, 2,586, 1,038, 904,
:3,239, 2,910, 2,937, 909, 1,033, 1,720, 915, and 919.
A vote of thanks having been given to the scrutineers,
Mr. HIND rose for the purpose of moving the follow-
ing vote of thanks to the chairman for the able manner
•in which he had fulfilled the duties of the evening. He
passed a high eulogium upon the chairman for the great
exertions he had made on all occasions in promoting the
interests and extending the means of the Metropolitan
and General Freehold Land Society, viz. : That the
thanks of this meeting are most justly due, and are
hereby given, to G. J. Philps, Esq., for the ability and
impartiality with which he has presided over the pro-
ceedings of the society this evening."
Mr. C. JOYNER briefly seconded the motion.
The resolution having been put to the meeting and
carried,
The CHAIRMAN, on rising to return thanks, said he
felt highly gratified at the manner in which his exertions
had been appreciated. He trusted that they would all
live long, and by being firmly united they would imitate
the bundle of sticks mentioned in the fable of old.
, The proceedings then terminated.