The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-12 00:00:00

IRONMASTERS' QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

WOLVERHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.—The first important
meeting of the ironmasters of South Staffordshire, East
Worcestershire, and Shropshire, for the quarter, was
held in the Corn Exchange of this town to-day ; and
owing to circumstances—some of which were of an un-
usual character, such as the visit of Lord Tngestre upon
his election canvass—was most numerously attended.
There was scarcely a firm comprised within the district
unrepresented.
We stated a fortnight ago that at the preliminary
meeting held in Birmingham the advance of 20s. per ton,
which had taken place upon manufactured iron during
the last quarter, was determined upon as the governing
price for the ensuing quarter, and that it was likely to
eiodnathaths ebetehee,nhfyoltlohwe intogeqeuoartehrley meetings.
market to-
day, perfectly correct. It was understood by all parties
that no advance should take place, and that existing
prices should be maintained.
Upon inquiries made of the leading ironmasters of the
district, we ascertained that the demand for iron was
extremely brisk—that the books of the first firms of
South Staffordshire were full of orders—and that, owing
to the state of our foreign relations in the East, parties
who would otherwise be disposed to-order, as well as
those by whom such orders, if given, would be required
to be executed, were alike disinclined to extend business
at existing quotations. So far the state of the iron
trade is considered satisfactor There are, however,
besides the demand for iron, other causes which' lead to
the maintenance of present prices. There is a great
scarcity of ironstone and still greater want of coal in
South Staffordshire. These great requirements have for
the last two weeks been aggravated by the state of the
weather, which has ledourkptoc,:much inconvenience' in. the
iron districts. We observed to-day one or two trains of
eadmfpotro
thens h iirreo
nore nofththeisSdtiosutrrieVt Valley
although,
when introduced two years ago, hopes
were fiut
has,irt theaee
or
dirmanufac-
turefgtotertained of its being considerable
of
fuaintaining its first repu-
tation. ofnathlle
accounts, bestdescfr!ipilteidonisn
The workpeople, notwithstanding the present high
price of all descriptions of food, are apparently contented.
The great meeting of the iron trade will be held at Bir-
mingham to-morrow•
bliNceheitemsnrerteoapsiretnetdaiicnt

LAKE BATHURST GOLD MINING COMPANY.--A meet-
ing; of the scripholders of the Lake Bathurst Gold
Mining Company was held yesterday afternoon, to
receive a statement from the committee appointed
to investigate the affair;s. of the undertaking. It
appeared that an attempt bad been made to open
negotiations with the directors, but without success,
various excuses having been urged in order to create
delay. It was therefore proposed that a resolution
should be adopted empowerin,g, the committee to
take legal or other proceedings fir the protection of the
interests of the shareholders. On this a lengthened dis-
cussion ensued, and, contrary views having been ex-
pressed, no definite result was arrived at. In the course
.nf.the pireeeetimß3 an opinion from counsel was read, to
the effect that the promoters And director's sever:illy
the p:ti t tftken in the fGrma-
tion of the company, and that allottees eau recover hi
full the amount of their depotsite.