The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-19 00:00:00

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

(Prom the Mining Journal of this day.)

GOLD MINES.-This has been a very dull week in the
gold mining share market, business having been of a
very restrictive character, and after various trifling fluc-
tuations in price the market closes at the lowest point of
the week. On the whole, the appearance of this depart-
ment of the Stock Exchange is decidedly flat, especially
for the Australian descriptions. The very unfavourable
accounts received by the Port Philip Company have en-
gendered a feeling of distrust, as it is known that a very
large expenditure has been incurred by them, and that
the greater part of it is, under present circumstances, a
dead loss, in consequence of an unfortunate conflagra-
tion, which, unhappily, destroyed a great portion of the
buildings erected by the company, and which were
ready for the reception of the machinery, which was just
completed under the superintendence of Mr. Evan
Hopkins. The descriptions best supported are Colonial
Gold, Great Nugget Vein, Nouveau Monde, Agua Fria.
British Australian, Anglo-Californian, and Ave Maria.
The Anglo Californion Gold Mining Company have
received advices from their superintendent, Sir
Henry Huntley, dated the 12th Jan., stating that
owing to the severe winter, which had been more in-
tense than any hitherto known, he had been unable to
bring the ore to the crushing-mills. Three mills had
been destroyed, but Mr. Davies, the company's agent,
had had the foresight to erect a platform of stone, 5 feet
high, and 10 feet broad, which had stemmed the torrent ;
and in the course of a few days, when the teams were
able to work, they expected to be in full operation, and
commence the reduction of the gold-bearing quartz. An
engineer, for the purpose of keeping the machinery in
order, will leave England on the 2d April.
MINES.-A large number of Heavy shares have been
sold this week, and, when the great rise in prices is co.--
sidered, it is not to be wondered at that a few of those
who purchased low should realise the profit on some of
their shares. Notwithstanding the sales, however, the
market is very firm, and the demand still greater than
the supply. Among the shares sold, Buller realised
1,260/. per share ; this time last year the shares were
6251.-the price, therefore, has doubled in 12 months,
in addition to 20 per cent, paid in dividends. Basset,
6101. to 6201. (these were 4001. in March last year); De-
von Great Consols, 4651. (price last year, 2901.); South
Caradon, 2501. (1101.12 months since); South Tolgus, 2501.
(130/.last year); Trehane, 24/. (51, last year); United Mines,
410. (42/. 10s. in March last year); West Caradon, 3501.
(120/. last year) ; Bedford, 101. 10s. (Si. last year) ; He-
rodsfoot, 201. (3/. last year.) In our last, we stated it
,was the intention of the committee of Herodsfootito de-
clare a dividend at the meeting on Thursday ; such,
however, was not done, although the assets over liabili-
ties were 1,3151. 55. ld. It was thought better, as the
assets were not yet in cash, to defer the dividend to the
next meeting, when 11. per share (10241.) might be divi-
ded, and about 400/. added to the assets in hand. The
profit showed in the accounts for three months was 9451.
The present returns yield 4801. per month profit ; and
the agent stated he hoped to increase the returns to 70 ,
tons of lead per month : after the meeting the shares
were sought after at increased rates. Esgair Llee shares
have advanced to 141. 10s. and 151.: the lode lately
discovered is said to be the finest in Wales. Clive 41.
15s. to 51. ' • West Basset, 14/. ; Grambler and St. Au-
byn, 321. lOs ; East Seton and Maude, 61. ; South
Frances, 1951. ; Bell and Lanarth, 151, West Seton
has been in good request, and shares quoted at 2001. ;
Trefusi, 191. 10s. For Keswick shares there has been a
great demand at 8/. 91. and 101. per share ; but few
sellers to be found. A. few weeks since, Herods-
foot shares were selling at 3/., or about the value
of the plant on the mine, when we called attention
to its real condition, and showed that, whilst large pre-
miums were being obtained for spurious speculations,
many boa fide and legitimate mines were at a heavy
discount.

In the Bullion Market,—Mexican and South American
dollars, 4s. 111 d. per oz. Bar silver containing gold,
all gold above 5 grains' in the pound, to be paid for,
ss. 11d. per oz. standard. Bar silver without gold,
ss. Igd. per oz. stand. Bar gold 775. 9d. per oz. stand.
Fine silver, ss. sid. per oz.
In the Metal Market, Scotch pig-iron has been more
active, and an advance of 3s. 6d. to 4s. per ton has been
realised on last week's prices ; there are strong buyers
at 535., cash—sellers at 535. 6d. to 545., with a decided
tendency upwards. Rails and other descriptions of
manufactured iron continue without alteration : the
works remain full of orders.—ln Spelter, there has been
more business this week ; about 1,000 tons have been
taken, prices about 221. ss. and 221. 10s. on the spot.
—Copper without alteration.—ln Lead, there are large
orders on hand, but the price in some instances is about
10s. per ton lower.—Tin has been less firm, and a slight
tendency downward is observable. In Tin plates, no
alteration.

THE SOUTH-EASTERN AND CONTINENTAL
STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.

The general half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the Bridge-house Hotel ; James Mac-
gregor, Esq., MY., in the chair.
The advertisement convening the meeting having been
read,

of Fraice-Railways, this company receiving a subvention 6
for the service of 10/. per diem, which is paid by the St.
Northern of France Railway Company.
The substance of the report of the committee of pro- St.
nrietors appointed by this company and the South-
Eastern Railway Company to be associated with the direc-
tors, for the purpose of proposing a plan for the consolida- 64
tion of the interests of the two companies, is appended t 3
the report of the directors of the railway company, and 60
the directors of the steam-packet company report that thou
will, at the proper time, recommend the principle !aid St.
down for the adoption of the proprietors. If acted upon
now, and the arrangement carried out, the effect would be, 16
that the proprietors of the steam-packet company would St.
receive upwards of 121. per share, with the advantage of St:
the options detailed in the report. The directors have
insured the steam-ships against tea-risk for six months St.
from the 28th December last, pending the settlement with 50
the South-Eastern Railway Company.
The directors recommend that a dividend, at the rate of S.
5 per cent. free of income tax, be declared, and made pay- 50
able on the 6th April next, which will absorb 2,898/.
3s. 3d., and leave 1,136/. 2s. 2d. at the credit of revenue 12i
account. _

The CHAIRMAN concluded by moving the adoption of . 12
the report and accounts, which having been duly seconded,
A len,gthened conversation took place, in which the 25
CHAIRMAN, Mr. POLLARD, Mr. WRIGHT, and other gen-
tlemen took part, in reference to the proposed terms of 10
amalgamation, in the course of which the peculiar relation 6
of the steam-packet and railway companies to each 11]
other was fully discussed. Whilst it was frankly 126
admitted that a great deal of weight was due to the 121
arguments of those gentlemen who maintained the binding- St.
ness of the.moral guarantee of the railway company to se- St.
cure 5 per cent. to the packet company, yet it was urged
that the expediency of a settlement by amalgamation be. 16i
came more apparent as the obligation was not expected to 20
be esteemed more sacred by those who might succeed in a S
proprietory continually changing. 2
The CHAIRMAN particularly drew the attention of the
proprietors to the consideration that the clauses of the bill St.
were not binding, and that even, when passed, it would be 20
merely a permissive bill. St.

The report was then adopted, the dividend declared, and a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. J. 5
8

MILITARY COLLEGE AT SANDHURST.—Yesterday
a return to Parliament was printed, from which it appears
that there are 177 cadets at the Royal Military College, of
which 107 are sons of civilians, 49 sons of officers in the
army, 10 sons of officers in the navy, 10 orphans of officers
in the army, and 1 orphan of an officer in the navy. The
amount paid to the establishment last year was
17,566/. ss. by the gentleman cadets, and 464/. 12s. 6d. by
the officers of the senior department. Last year the total
cost of the establishment was 16,486/. E-'. 2(1.
RECEIPT AND BILL STAMPS.—The Chamber of
Commerce at Leeds have memorialised the Chancellor of
the Exchequer for an alteration in the scale of receipt and
bill stamps, with a view to an improvement of the reve-
nue, as well as to the convenience of the trading commu-
nity. After pointing out the decline in the revenue from
bill and receipt stamps which has taken place since 1847,
they suggest that a new Stamp Act should be passed,
establishing a universal receipt stamp of ld., and a scale of
bill stamps of is. per cent. on the amount • bills under
1001. to bear a uniform stamp of 6d. ; bills for 1001. and.
under 2001., ls. ; 2001. and under 3001., 3s. ; and so on up-
wards, without limitation as to amount."
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF A WHOLE HOUSEHOLD.
—Yesterday (Friday) morning, at an early hour, the inha-
bitantsl of Horsleydown were greatly alarmed, owing to the
outbreak of a fire in the premises of Mr. Slee, a fancy bis-
cuit baker, 13, Horsleydown, which was wellnigh attended
with a fearful sacrifice of life. It appears that at the time
to
of the outbreak a great number of persons w
beds asleep, and it took considerable time oae_rroe in'
their
them
from their slumbers. That, however, having at length been
accomplished, the parties endeavoured to escape down the
stairs, but the smoke was so dense that the inmates were
several times overcome and prostrated by the heat and the
suffocating effluvia arising from the 'lower part of the pre-
mises. The whole of tho inmates, however, succeeded,
with the exception of a female and two children, in gaining
the street, but the smoke and fire ascending so fiercely the
poor woman and her children were unable to get down the
stairs ; she therefore carried her offspring to one of the
upper rooms, and having knocked out the window, she
succeeded in getting upon the roof and passing to the next
house, where she and her children were safely rescued. The
engines of the London Brigade and West of England office
promptly attended, and a plentiful supply of water having
been procured from the fire mains in the neighbourhood,
the engines were set to work from a good supply of water,
and by dint of great exertion on the part of the firemen
the flames were subdued, but not until considerable
damage was done to the premises and their contents. The
origin of the fire is unknown. Fortunately Mr. Slee was
insured in the I heenix Fire-office, and the building was in-
sured in the Sun office.
THE OPERATIVES IN THE COTTON TRADE AT
STOCKPORT have got up a memorial to their employers,toa
stating that in 1848 they (the workpeople)
submitted
reduction of 10 per cent. in their wages because trade was
unremunerative, and requesting their employers, now that
trade is more prosperous, to return to full prices.

The CHAIRMAN proceeded to read the report, which was St.
5
as follows :
The accounts of the South-Eastern and Continental
Steam-packet Company, now submitted to the proprie-
tors,
tors show the gross earnings of the half-year to be St.
21,978/. Os. 3d. This amount, as compared with the 5
corresponding half of the previous year, shows a de- St.
crease of 3,206.7,. 4s. 7d. The comparison of passen- 20
gers conveyed shows a total decrease in tho half-year Si.
of 17,485 passengers. The working expenses have been 15
6,8531. 6s. Bd., against 7,3081. 12s. 101. for the cor-
responding period of the previous year ' • the cost of re- 64
pairs and renewals 3,8211. 14s. 3d., against 4,6271. 6s. sd. ; 64
and the port charges 1,8461. Bs. 10d., against 2,8231.55. 6d.
5,4221. ss. id. has been carfied to the credit of the reserve 32
fund, after which there remains a balance at the credit 5
of revenue of 4,0831. ss. sd. at the disposal of the pro- 71i
prietors. The number of miles navigated by the company's 63
steam-ships during the half-year is 23,056. The fixed ser-
vice between Dover and Calais, in coljunction with brans 6i
leaving London at 8.10 a.m. and Patis at 7.30 a.m. daily, 10
has been maintained throughout the half ;year, and will at 20
all events be continued till the Ist of July next, under the
existing agreement with the South-Ea-tern and Northern St.