The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-21 00:00:00

GREAT NORTHERN.

The following are the principal passages of the report
of the directors to the 16th half-yearly ordinary general
meeting of the proprietors, to be held at the London Ta-
vern on Saturday, the 26th inst. :—" The result of the
half-year is contained in Account No. 3, being the net
revenue account. By this it appears that, after paying
and providing for all permanent chqrges, rents, interest,
working expenses, and dividend on the preference shares
or stock, there remains available for dividend upon the
original stock, and upon the B stock, the balance of
67,314/. 6s. 11d. This will afford a dividend for the half-
year ended 30th June last, at the rate, per annum, of 2i
per cent, on the original stock, and 51 per cent, on the
B stock, and these rates of dividend the directors recom-
mend to be paid to the proprietors of those stocks re-
spectively. There will then remain the sum of 1,1981.
6s. 71d., to be carried to the following half-yearly ac-
count. This dividend, undoubtedly, contrasts unfavour-
ably with the dividend declared in Feb. for the half-year
ended Dec. 31, 1853; but, whilst the directors regret the
disappointment which it may cause to the proprietors,
they find, upon a careful examination of the several heads
of expenditure, that the result has proceeded from cir-
cumstances which they could not prevent. Amongst
others, the severe snow storm in Janu'iry last, which
occasioned an actual loss of receipt from traffic of at least
7,0001., besides causing a very heavy expenditure in
clearing and repairing the line, several engines and trains
having been for three days immovably imbedded in snow
drifts. It must also be taken into consideration that,
while the receipts are less in the first half as compared
with the second half of each year, the working expenses
can never be reduced in the same proportion."

harvest has already been vigorously commenced by two
or three farmers in the immediate vicinity.—. Hull
Packet.

DuRHAm.-0 wing to the heavy rains which we have
experienced during the past few days the hay harvest
has been greatly retarded in this county. A great
quantity of grass has not yet fallen under the scythe,
and nearly one-half of the entire crop is still in the
fields. The first cutting of seeds and clover, which is
now all carried, has proved to be a very light crop. On
old lands, however, the crop is about an average. The
price of "pike-hay" is very high—from 41. 10s. to Si.
per ton having in several instances been given by col-
liery companies in this neighbourhood. This high price
is, perhaps, attributable to the lightness of the seed
crop and the large consumption of hay during last win-
ter. Should the weather take up there is every pro-
spect of an excellent and ;'abundant crop of wheat. In
some places the recent heavy rains have laid it ; but
with a week or ten days' fine bright weather several
fields of wheat in this neighbourhood will be ready for
the sickle. Oats, which at the early part of the season
were expected to prove a very indifferent crop, have
wonderfully improved. The dry weather during sow-
ing in the spring was not favourable, but with the sum-
mer rains they have greatly improved ; and they are
now confidently expected to prove a fair though not
quite an average crop. Beans, where they were sown in
good season, look well, though in Cleveland and the neigh-
bourhood of Stockton we bear of many failures. There is
a fair crop of peas. Turnips have seldom been known to
look better than they do this year. Upon light lands,
suitable for the crop, the recent rains have proved of
great benefit. The abundant crop of turnips, and the
large yield of straw from the wheat crop will com-
pensate for the deficiency in the hay. Grazing stock
are progressing well—though the prices still keep high,
from Bs. to Bs. 6d. per stone, being about 2s. per stone
higher than at this time in 1852. No doubt, in the
course of a month, when more grass beasts become fit
for market, some little reduction may be expected. In
comparison with beef, mutton is comparatively cheap-
6d. to bid. per lb.—Durham, Advertiser.
CARLISLE.—Since our last a good deal of rain has
fallen in this locality, and, we believe, over the whole
of the four northern counties and the south of Scotland.
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday were very wet days.
Tuesday was gloomy; on Wednesday and Thursday the
sun shone out with summer brilliancy and heat ; and
there is now a prospect of continued fine weather. The
cutting of wheat and barley has commenced in various
parts of the county.—Carlisle Patriot.
SELBY.—The farmers here generally have commenced
harvest operations, and more than average crops will be
gathered in this district should the weather continue fine
for a few weeks. We are sorry to learn that the potato
disease has again manifested itself, and within the last
week the crops have suffered materially. As it is con-
siderably later in its visitation this year than in previous
years, it is to be hoped it will be less virulent.—York-
shire Gazette.

Ross.—We observe with much satisfaction that the
whole breadth of grain in this district is of most luxuri-
ant growth, and is very little affected by the late heavy
rains ; there is little or no blight ; it promises a good
yield, and much above an average crop. Several large
fields are cut, and some is already gathered. Should the
weather continue as fine as it has been for the last week,
a great breadth must necessarily fall to the sickle before
our next publication.—Monnouthshire Beacon.
MONTROSE.—During the week we have had several
seasonable showers, which have benefited the green
crops generally, and the cereals have not been damaged
in the least degree, but are all ready for the sickle.
Shearing is commenced on two farms in the immediate
neighbourhood, and in the course of ten days harvest will
be general throughout the district. The potato crop is
still quite sound, and the rumour of the disease has died
away, we trust, for the season. For the week the tem-
perature has been of medium height, and the barometer
stands nearly at fair. Harvesting operations are now
commenced in right earnest in this neighbourhood. The
fields have, generally speaking, assumed the mellow tint
of autumn, and the merry voice of the reaper is now heard
pealing over the meadows. Mr. Neill, Borrowfield, we
understand, has upwards of a hundred hands employed ;
and they are already leaving behind them broad acres of
thickly-set stock s. —Montrose Standard.

In the district around Alnwick the corn crops are look-
ing remarkably well, the wheats are gradually assuming
the golden tinge, and are rapidly approaching maturity,
the fair weather of last week materially altering and improv-
ing their appearance, and should it continue favourable
there is every prospect of an abundant harvest. On Satur-
day last several samples of new barley were exhibited in
the market. The season has been all that could be desired
for the growth and cultivation of the turnip and other green
crops, and the richness and luxuriance of their present
promise has been very rarely if ever exceeded. Unfortu-
nately the fatal potato disease has again given unequivocal
indications of its presence ; to what extent its ravages
may spread it is impossible to predict, as that, no doubt,
depends much upon the condition of the atmosphere.
Last week symptoms of its attacks were partially ob-
served, but since Sunday last, which was warm and
close, and rained nearly the whole day, the complaint
has become very general—more particularly in gardens,
and in the allotments belonging to the Duke of
Northumberland, where, in some cases, the greater
portion of the crop is affected. Although every means
which experience or ingenuity can suggest have been
tried to arrest its course, all efforts have Hitherto proved
abortive and fruitless. Should the weather become dry
and warm, some hopes may yet be indulged that the
injury sustained will be limited, but should the reverse
be the case, there is every reason to fear the destruction
will be general and extensive in this neighbourhood.
This visitation is the more to be deplored as there is a
considerable breadth planted, and the produce is repre-
sented as having been until a short time ago alike
beautiful and sound.—Berwick Warder.

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 21, 1854,