The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-04 00:00:00

RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSURANCE

COMPANY.

The ninth half-yearly meeting of the proprietors in this
company was held yesterday at the offices of the company, 3,
Old Broad-street, City, Sir John Deal Paul, Bart., in the
chair.

From the report it appears that the following is a com-
parative statement of the number of tickets issued during
the half-year ending 31st December last, with the same
period in the preceding year :--Single journey tickets, first
class, 1852; 23,424 ; 1853, 29,754. Second class, 1852,
49,683 ; 1853, 55,548. Third class, 1852, 72,342 ; 1853,
75,229. Double journey tickets, first class, 1852, 2,977 ;
1853, 4,877. Second. class, 1852, 5,431; 1853, 9,514. Third
class, 1852, 12,299 ; 1853, 15,665. Periodical tickets, 1152,
2,715 ;' 1853, 2,910. Policies for terms of years, 1852, 47 ;
1853, 32. For life by one payment, 1852, 44 • 1853, 34. For
life by annual payments on a decreasing scale, 1852, 173.
1853, NeW policies, 216 ; renewals, 126. Total, 342. The total
amount of the premiums on the insurances effected during
the half-year is 4,9251. 14s. 3d., which, added to the receipts
of the previous six months, makes the total income of the
year 1853, 18,9001.155. Bd., against 7,4221. 12s. 6d. for 1852.
The amount received to the 31st December was 4,0171. ss.
making, with the balance of the preceding half-year, and the
interest on investments, the sum of 6,2751. ls. 7d. to the
credit of revenue account. Against this are placed the working
expenses, the Government duty, the amount paid as compen-
sation, and a second payment of 150/. towards the replace-
ment of preliminary expenses, leaving 2,7631. 7s. Bd., to the
credit of the revenue account. A further investment of 6001.
in the 31 per cont. Consols has been made as a reserve on ac-
count of sums received for term and life policies, making the
total balance invested for that purpose 1,6001. In addition to
the amount in hand and invested, the sum of 9081.95. Id. was
due from the clearing house and agents, which increases the
available balance to 3,6711. 16s. 9d., from which the direc-
tors recommend that interest for the half-year on the paid-
up capital of the company, at the rate of 4 per cent. per
annum, free of income-tax, should be paid, and 'the re-
mainder, after defraying the charges for Government duty
and commission unpaid at the close of the year, should be
reserved to meet claims and contingencies on existing pe-
riodical tickets. The sum paid 'as compensation shows a
considerable decrease on that paid in previous half-years.
The number of claims have been more numerous than usual,
but the injuries were generally less serious. The number of
claims settled during the half-year has been 34, in respect of
which 5511, Bs. 3d. has been paid, against 19 claims on
which 1,9011. 13e. 7d. was paid in the preceding half-year.
Two claims remain unadjusted from the nature of the inju-
ries received. The total amount of the compensation
amounts
by the company since the .opening of the office 13014 amo.
to the large sum of 11,8751. ss. 7d., and affords the best proof
of the utility of the company.
The Caammax, in proposing the adoption of the report, said
he might confidently address the proprietors In language
he of
congratulation at the close of the most
. plrouspetintroyus
of which was
year of t
existence of the institution,
now widely established, in pthroepopilrotr as its advantages were
more fully known and appreciated by the travelling public.
At the terrible accident which had happened in Ireland only
one gentleman was insured, and it was remarkable that he
was seated in the same carriage with the ladies who had been
killed. Ile had; however, escaped, and received as compen-
sation 251. At the accident at Thetford also only one of the
assengers was insured, a commercial traveller, who had
falcon out an insurance ticket. • Both of this gentleman's legs
were fractured ; but he was happy in being able to state that,
in spite of these severe injuries, he was progressing
,favour-
ably. He was happy also to say that, at the request of a
large majority of influential travellers by the line, the Brighton
Railway Company had at length consented to issue this com-
pany's tickets. He trusted. that the South-Eastern Company,
which was the single existing exception, would also allow the
travellers on their line to avail themselves of the benefits of
this assurance.

After a short discussion the report was adopted, and the
proceedings terminated.

CIISTOMS.—The change in the hour of attendance of
the officers of the landing and waterside departments of
the Customs generally took place on the Ist inst. From
this time until the Ist of November the hour of com-
mencing business will be eight instead of nine o'clock,
as during the winter months. As the hours of attend.
ance at the Customs regulate the transaction of business
at the great dock, establishments and the waterside
generally, the .extension of time will take place at those
marts of commerce fOr the receipt and delivery of all de-
scriptions of foreign goods from the bonded premises in
the port of London.
GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—Her Majesty's Emigra-
tion Commissioners have given notice that they are ready
IT:Creceive tenders for the supply of two ships to carry
einigrants to New South Wales and Victoria, to be ready
to embark passengers on the 18th of April next.