The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

COWES, ISLE OP WIGHT, April 18.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
STOPPAGE OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT SAVINCS' BANS.—
The numerous depositors in this unfortunate concern
were thunderstruck this morning on seeing a bill pub-
lished by the directors and trustees, stating that "in
consequence of a defalcation in the actuary's accounts, the
hank s for the present closed." Nothing can exceed the
consternation this has caused, as it has been the deposit
of the little savings of the whole island. The Odd Fel-
lows, Foresters, and nearly all the other benefit societies
have their funds deposited in it. It is unpardonable
that persons should undertake the offices of directors
and managers of concerns and never look into the ac-
counts. Poor people deposit their little alls on their
faith in the directors' names. It is not a fortnight since
the Ryde actuary of this bank was tried at Winchester
for receiving 301. and appropriating it to his own use,
lin place of putting it to the subscribers' account, when
the present defaulter appeared as a witness against him.
Rumour is busy in naming the deficiency, and the pro-
bable loss—some accounts state that the loss to the de-
positors will not exceed 3s. in the pound, while others
state that they will not be paid above 3s. in the pound—
that the accounts have been bad for ten years. Fortunately
for the neighbourhood of Cowes numbers have withdrawn
their money lately to purchase shares in the National Free-
hold Land Society, which has purchased two large
estates in and near the, town of Gurnard, of 143 asses,
and Mill Hill of 25, for distribution amongst the mem-
bers. The stoppage of this savings' bank is likely to
have a very bad effect on the depositors generally, as
having conceived that their money was secured by the
Government ; and now finding that it is not, it may
cause many to be less provident, under the impression
that if they save any money they know no secure place
to deposit it in. 'Tis high time that Parliament took
the matter in hand. The defaulter, we understand, was
a local preacher.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—The continued fine
weather has brought the land into fine condition, and a
great deal of spring wheat has been sown in the island.
The land has also been got into fine condition for oats
and barley. The turnips are nearly done, and the grass
is very backward, for this, some warm showers are much
wanted. "lay has advanced to 5/. and Cl. a ton. La-
bourers' wages has advanced in many parts to 12s, per
week, and a great difficulty found -in obtaining a suffi-
cient number of hands even at that rate, The potato
crop being almost entirely lost last year, few will be
tempted to plant to any extent this season.

APRIL 19.
REMOVAL OF THE COURT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT.—
Her Majesty and the Royal family are expected to arrive
at Osborne House on Saturday the 30th inst.
Lord Godolphin Colonel Smith, Mr. Mease, and
several other members have arrived at the Royal Yacht
Squadron House. The signalman, porters, &c., are to
be taken on for the season on the Ist of May.
It is proposed to have a review of all the yachts in all
the yacht squadrons in front of Osborne in August.
ISLE OP WIGHT SAVINGS' BAHL—Mr, William Yelf,
actuary of the Isle of Wight Savings' Bank, was this day
examined on a charge of defrauding the depositors in the
bank of 8,2761., and remanded till Monday next. The
total deposits exceed 68,0001., the present deficiency ap-
pears to be'8,267/. Mr. Yelf commenced helping him-
self in 1839, the first amount taken being 150/. ; he
continued taking toll annually till 1848, since which
period it does not appear that he has abstracted any-
thing. The director, trustees, and auditors do not seem
to have given themselves much trouble in examining the
accounts in the past 14 years. It is that one column,
the total of which should have been 300/., was set down
1,3001.

We have great reason to believe that the depositors
will receive back 17s. for every IL deposited, but even
this is a serious loss to poor widows, servants, and
orphans. The shock to confidence and public credit is
most serious ; the loss of their saving will prevent many
from putting by to make provision for a rainy day, for
sickness, old age, or misfortune • many have deprived
themselves of necessaries to make some provision for
future wants but if there is no safe place to deposit their
savings in, they will have no incitement to be provident.

LONDON FEMALE DORMITORY AND INDUSTRIAL IN-
STITUTION.—The annual meeting of the friends of this
society, established to afford protection to the poor out-
casts who procure a wretched existence by a life of sin,
and, if possible, restore them to their friends or procure
them situations, so that they may sin no more, was held
at the Freemasons' Tavern, on Monday evening. Mr.
Wilkinson presided, in the absence of the Earl of Shaftes-
bury, who was detained in the House ofLords by the May-
nooth debate. The chairman having opened the business,
Lieut. Blakemore (the secretary) read the report, which
stated that the objects ofthe society were fivefold :-1. To
provide a refuge for friendless women and street-walkers ;
2. To restore such of them, as they could, to their friends,
and to defray the expense of doing so if necessary ; 3.
To place them in hospitals, or provide them with medical
assistance if they were ill or afflicted. 4. To provide
situations for penitent women as domestic servants; and
lastly, to assist those who could not be otherwise pro-
vided for to emigrate. During the past year 140 unfor-
tunate women had been admitted into the dormitory, of
whom 105 had been domestic servants. Of the 140 ad-
mitted, 42 had been placed in situations, 14 restored to
their friends, and 30 had been otherwise provided for.
31 women remained in the dormitory when the report
was made up, and 21 had left from various reasons. .Of
the 140 so received, 46 had been born in London, and
the remainder came from various parts of the country.
The society had received most valuable assistance • and,
at the close of the financial year, there was a balance in
hand of 1401. Auxiliary societies had been established in
St. Pancras, and at Brighton and Dover ; and similar
institutions were being established in other towns. The
report was adopted, and a number of resolutions in sap-
port of the charity carried.
FUNERAL OF THE LATE MASTER SHIPWRIGHT.—The
remains of Mr. Oliver Lang were conveyed in a hearse
to the grave in Old Charlton churchyard to-day, and
only one mourning coach followed. The carriage of
Commodore Henry Eden, superintendent of the dock-
yard, and several private carriages containing intimate
friends of the deceased, could not resist their desire to
pay a last mark of respect to the memory •f one so
highly esteemed as Mr. Lang was during the long period
of his employment in the Government service. Upwards
of 700 of the shipwrights and workmen of the yard also
joined in a procession to Charlton churchyard, having
obtained the CoMmodore Superintendent's sanction,
which was expressed in the following terms :
" It• having been represented to the Commodore
Superintendent that the majority of the officers and
workmen are very desirous of showing their respect to
the late master shipwright, by following the remains of
the deceased to the grave,
" The Commodore Superintendent sanctions such
parties quitting the yard for that-purpose at nine o'clock
for preparation ; adding, that the dinner hour for the
four following days will be from 12 to one o'clock, in. stead of 1•30 p.m.
"The dinner hour will be as usual to-morrow.
"By order of the Commodore
ISDuopeociKi t
se ne
cdreent ta,r y
" Woolwich Yard, April 18, 1853."
BOOKS, &0., TO THE EAST INDIES.—The Post-master
General has issued a notice to the public
from and after the first day of May nex't specifying
that
, printed books
may be transmitted by post between the United King-
dom and the East Indies by the Overload Mail,
Southampton, or by the direct packet from Plymouth,
vice the Cape of Good Hope (subject to the usual con-
ditions as to being in open covers, having no writing or
marks, &c.), at the following rates of postage :—Packet
not exceeding lb. weight, 6d. ; not exceeding 11b.
not exceeding 2 lb. 2s. ; and not exceeding 3 lb., is.

10
20
10
20