The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-31 00:00:00

By order,
HENRY KNIGHT, Secretary.

14, Chatham-place, Blacifrlara.

HOME COUNTIES AND METROPOLITAN
FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.

A meeting of the shareholders and friends of the Home
Counties and Metropolitan Freehold Land Society was
held on Wednesday evening, at Badley's Hotel, Bridge-
street, Blackfriars, for the purpose of balloting for forty
rights to choose land on the estates of the society, at Wood
Green, Tottenham and Wimbledon Park.
There are two special advantages in this society, viz..:--
Members are not required to pay down any part of the
price of land prior to choosing. the plots. The full amount
of the shares drawn in the ballot is advanced ; and more
shares aro not drawn in the ballot than can be supplied
with land, so that the members may have the advantage
of selling their drawn shares at a premium. Two estates
have been purchased for the society during the past year.
That at Wood Green had been very satisfactory and pro-
fitable, both to the allottees and the society at large. The
other estate (not yet allotted) promised to be a more suc-
cessful purchase than the first, there being a greater de-
mand for plots upon it. It was situated in imbledon
Park, in the midst bf gentlemen's seats, and was well adapt-
ed for first-class villas. A bonus of 51.85. 4d. per cent. has
been added to the past year's subscription, and in future
interest at the rate of Si. B.s. 4d. per Cent. per annum would
be given on all subscriptions, with such additional bonus
to the end of the year as the profits of the society would
allow.
Shortly after eight o'clock the chair was taken by W.
Eykelbosch, Esq.
The usual routine business having been transacted,
The CHAIRMAN said, in opening the proceedings of the
evening, his observations would be addressed generally to
those persons who had not yet availed themselves of the
inducements held out by freehold land societies. At this
time there could be no question of the many advantages
put forth by land societies, and especially by theirs, the
Home Counties and Metropolitan. They at the present
time had two very attractive estates, and the rights for
choice on each already commanded a handsome premium.
One of these estates was situate close to the best part of
Wimbledon Park; it was on the summit of the hill, was
naturally drained, and was surrounded by exceedingly
valuable property, consisting of houses built in a most
costly style, and occupying a large space of ground, three
or four to the acre, and valued at between 1,0001. and 3,0001.
each. This fact of itself would be quite sufficient to
prove the value of the land for building purposes.
He was not going to say that the humble man could
build his house of the value of 2001. on that estate ; they
would have none such there, but the rights to choose ob-
• tained from the ballot would enable the possessor of a right
to dispose of it at a premium, as no person would be al-
lowed to build there without obtaining the poor man's
right, and that could not be procured without paying him
the premium for it. (Cheers.) The estate was not large,
yet the prices paid at present for rights, averaged between
12/. and 131. premium, and by the time it was allotted,
that sum would be greatly increased, and the humble
holder would get a premium for that which he obtained
through the ballot, greater than that which could be got
from any other society. It was intended by the exe-
cutive committee, he was happy to inform them, to
purchase another estate, suitable for the erection
of houses of a similar description, for the seller of the right
to the Wimbledon estates would naturally wis h to expend
the premium he had obtained inbuilding a house. It would
,be the duty as well as to the interest of the society that an
estate of that description should be obtained, and that as
speedily as possible. He had previously said the Wimble-
don estate was not a large ono ; it was five acres in extent,
and had been divided into 99 lots, and although it held out
such inducements to the rich portion of the community and
the speculative builder, the society had so arranged the or-
der of things that no one man would reap an advantage at
the expense of his fellow. (Cheers.) The principle of free-
hold land societies, he was happy to inform them, had ex-
tended to the British colonies, and in Australia a very
large number of people were obtaining land through
their instrumentality which, otherwise, they would not
have had the slighest hope of obtaining. He had the plea-
sure to inform the meeting that the executive committee
had two or three estates in view, all in excellent situations,
and the position of the property would leave it open for
any one to build whatever kind of house he pleased—
houses of the value of 1501. or 2001. He was sure that
whatever estate it was decided on to purchase, when it was
placed before the shareholders, it would please them all.
He had now to call their attention to the immediate ob-
ject of the meeting this evening ; it was to ballot for forty
rights of choice. The committee would now be glad to
answer any question or hear any inquiries, or if there was
doubt on any subject, it was right that subject should be
ventilated, for it was these things which formed the basis
of success in all societies. Few freehold land societies could
boast of greater success in the estates purchased, or the
cordial unanimity that existed between the committee and
its shareholders. (Cheers.) He trusted that next year he
should have as great pleasure in dilating on the success
they would leave had attained as he had had this year on
the past transactions of the society. (Cheers.)
A SHAREHOLDER wished to know whether the land tax
was redeemed on the Wood Green estate?
Mr. KNIGHT (the secretary) said the estate was pur-
chased free of land tax.

A conversation here ensued with respect to the measure-
ment of the land on the Wood Green estate differing from
that stated in the plans of the society.
Mr. GOULD gave notice that on the occasion of the next
meeting he should move the following resolution :-" That
an office copy of the plan be furnished by the surveyor,
stating the exact quantity of frontage, in feet and inches,
on the plots of the Wood Green estate."
The CHAIRMAN then asked if any other gentleman had
any question to put ; if not, he would at once call upon
the secretary to proceed with the ballot.
The ballotting then commenced, and the following were
the numbers drawn :-GT, 3, 181, 162, 294, 236, 314, 331,
468, 410, 557, 589, 699, 695, 746, 730, 881, 817, 950, 953,
1014, 1021, 1103, 1173,1264, 1237, 1313, 1314,1461, 1478,
1528, 1541, 1641, 1607, 1763, 1705, 1812, 1840, 59, 1407.
Mr. E. Dixox said, as the business of the evening had
terminated as far as the ballotting was concerned, he begged
to move the following resolution-namely, " That the best
thanks of this meeting be given to the Chairman for his
courteous, conduct that evening."
The motion having been seconded,
Mr. KNIGHT put it to the meeting, and declared it car-
ried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN having returned thanks for the compli-
ment, the proceedings terminated.

A BRILLIANT COMET.—Observatory, Regent's-park,
March 29.—Mr. Hind, in a letter to a contemporary,
says--,--" We have observed here this evening a very bril-
liant comet, near the western horizon, in the constella-
tion Pisces. Its nucleus, which is of a fine gold colour,
must be nearly as bright as stars of the first magnitude,
since it was traced in a hazy sky until a few minutes
before setting. The tail is several degrees long, and runs
off from the nucleus in a single stream. This comet re-
sembles-the one which attracted general attention last
August. A mere glance at the western .heavens, if -the
sky be clear,_ will suffice diseover the comet."
ROYAL HIGHLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY.—Mr. Mario
Mackie, secretary of this charity, is at present engaged
in getting up an attractive festival for May next... His
Grace the Duke of Montrose, K..T., will take the chair
at thatestiial,.and.-the Lord Archbishop'Of gariterbuty'
.most kindly consented- to-preach-the afiliiivrsary
'oeiniou for the Highland Schools,