The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

LONDON AND SUBURBAN FREEHOLD LAND
AND BUILDING SOCIETY.

Last night a numerously attended meeting of the
shareholders in the London and Suburban Freehold
Land and Building Society, was held at the British
School Rooms, Denmark-street, Islington, for the pur-
pose of balloting for 30 rights of choice on the estates
possessed by this successful society.
Shortly after eight, on the motion of the Rev. Dr.
HEWLETT, the chair was taken by John Teulon, Esq.
The usual routine business having been transacted,
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings of the
evening, said he felt a pleasure in being called upon to
preside over them that evening; they had met for a good
purpose, and one calcluated to enlist their best feelings.
The object of their meeting to-night was simply to re-
cord that which had been done, and to solicit the patron.
age of those whom he had the honour to address. This
society, the London and Suburban Freehold Land
and Building Society, as most eir you are aware,
embraced three distinct objects, one of which was the
placing within the reach of all the obtaining of a piece
of land whereby you become entitled to participate in
the great constitutional privilege-the exercise of the
electoral franchise in conformity with the act passed in
the reign of Henry IV. At that time forty shillings
was considered to be a large sum, the law still existed,
aed every person possessed of a piece of land of that
annual value was entitled to a county vote. Very
few persons, till lately, cared much about becoming
voters, and it remained for freehold land societies, by
combination, to alter that state of things, and now
it has become easy for the majority of the people to
avail themselves of the privilege. This society possessed
between 700 and 800 shareholders, 200 had already ob-
tained allotments ; they possessed five estates situated
respectively at Farnham, Kingston, North Woolwich,
Barking-road, and Plaistow. all of which, except the last,
\
have been balloted for, and for the purpose of doing so
for the last one was the object of their meeting here to-
night. Beyond this was the building portion of the
society, which enabled a man either to build a house on
the land he had purchased, or to deposit his savings safely
and securely at 5 per cent. till he joined either depart-
ments of the society, or until he should wish to receive
back his deposits with interest. He (the chairman)
considered that habits of carefulness and frugality on the
part of labouring men should be fostered to the utmost
extent. (Cheers.) Every man expected twelve pence
for his shilling, and twenty shillings for his sovereign,
' and he would consider it an insult to offer him less.
Yet it was sorrowful to see how much of that hard-
earned money was squandered away in waste. (Hear,
hear.) The encouragement of saving on the part of
the industrious was a very important principle--
when that feeling once commenced, he (the chairman)
scarcely ever knew it to be departed from, and, while
the industrious man is striving to provide for a rainy day,
he at length finds he has become possessed of a house
and land. Of course, yon_ all know that to arrive at
such an end must be a work of time, but, by the aid of
the ballot of this society, a man may get his land, and
by its aid build his house, instead of paying rent to his
landlord. Societies of this description did
idegrereaatetdgaood-
they raised men to a higher standard, a
feel-
ing not of vanity and pride, but the proper and better
feeling of independence. (Cheers.) .Every man so
raised becomes a. better member of society. The chair-
man, in concluding his observations, which had been lis-
tened to with much attention, urged upon those present
to speak to their neighbours, and induce them to follow
a good example. Such a proceeding would eventually
tend to good results to the community at large, and they
would have something to call their own, which they never
could have had had it not been for these societies.
(Cheers.) He had great pleasure in calling upon Dr.
Hewlett to address them. (Cheers.)
The Rev. Dr. HEWLETT, in rising to address the meet-
ing, was received very cordially. He said it gave him
great pleasure in participating in anything calculated to
improve the condition of the industrious classes. (Cheers.)
Ile was passing through the Strand the other day, near
the Lyceum Theatre, when he saw some bills with the
words, "How to make Home Happy," but he considered
that these societies would do more to do that than
anything they could see on the boards of' a
theatre. The, aristocracy, till very lately, had been
looked upon as the only people who possessed land,
but the prudent man, by habits of frugality and
industry, and by the help of societies like this, ob-
tained a portion of the land, received his quid pro
quo, and at once became a freeholder. (Cheers.) An
instance of the benefits conferred by a society of this
description had come within his own knowledge. A
working man, having taken a share, began to think
how he should best be able to pay up his share. He
told his wife, and she immediately told him to g o back
to the society and obtain another share for her,
and as
he strove to pay his from the curtailment of some of his
little luxuries, so would she endeavour to do so out of
her household expenses. The conferring of the franchise
was among the many great benefits conferred by
freehold laud societies. The act relative to the
franchise was passed in the reign of Henry IV. The
preamble of the bill was to the following effect, that,
owing to the great disturbances at elections, no one
should vote who was nut possessed of land of the annual
value of forty shillings ; therefore, said the rev. gentle.
man, you see the act was meant as a restriction, not
boon, as had been so largely talked of. At the time of
the enactment forty shillings was about equal to forty
pounds now, and therefore the benefits conferred by these
societies only brought men back to their original posi-
tion ; that was, that every man should have a vote.
(Loud cheers.) Two hundred members had received
their allotments, so he (Dr. Hewlett) did not think that
this society could be classed among those called do-nothing
societies. The directors had taken care to purchase land
in that part most easily accessible, therefore the most
likely to benefit the shareholders. The Barking-road
estate had been allotted, and each allotment conferred
the title to a free ticket to pass as often as he pleased,
backward and forward, by railway every day in the year
for 255. (Cheers.) The building department of the
society was an appendage to the original part, but it
was a highly advantageous one. It enabled the indus-
trious man to build his house in a manner the most
consonant with his feelings. He rejoiced that the time
was approaching when every man's house would be his
own castle. (Cheers.) But at present, you all know
what sort of castle it is-(laughter)-a castle that he can
very soon be deprived of. But when the land and the
bricks and mortar are paid for, then indeed is an Eng-
lishman's house his castle. (Cheers.) He rejoiced heartily
that such a time was coming, aye, and quickly. Tho
rev. gentleman resumed his seat amidst much applause.
Mr. TAYLOR, the manager of the society, then ad-
dressed the meeting, and said the building department
had been added to that of the freehold land, for the pur-
pose of enabling those members who may become en-
titled to allotments of land to have their houses built
for them by the society on their own land, and to repay
the sum so laid out by weekly instalments, and it was
thought that the extension of this principle was calcu-
lated to confer very great advantages on the industrial
and other classes of the community, as it enabled all
members soon to become possessed of house property ;
and, instead of renting a house for years, or perhaps for
life, a man may become his own landlord by taking up
shares in this society. For a five-roomed house he
must hold one share in the building department ; a six-
roomed house he must hold two shares ; to a seven-
roomed house, three shares ; and to an eight-roomed
house, four shares ; the payments to be spread over 6,
9, 12, or 15 years. Thus a working man may obtain
his freehold house and land, and consequently his vote
for the county by paying Bs. a week for fifteen years, or
9s. 3d. for twelve years, or by paying a larger sum for
a less number of years to the builddinigndfnusntdrioefus man
would The sober, intelligent, and
would readily see the great advantages afforded by this
department, and he trusted he would readily, eagerly,
embrace them. (Cheers.)
The ballot for the thirty rights of choice then took
place, Mr. Burke having been selected to take charge of
the wheel.
The following were the successful numbers :-282, 659,
237, 562, 22, 703, 637, 581, 74, 24, 270, 747, 725, 216,
361, 210, 366, 203, 265, 330, 356, 554, 363, 671, 641,
178, 241, 137, 565, and 342. In addition to which ten
numbers are to be added to the seniority list.
Dr. HEWLETT then, in a very neat speech,
vote of thanks to the chairman. It having been carried
unanimously,
moved
da
The
itCwHeirith CHAIRMAN
proceedingsNreturne of thedtlmnks, veanedsnaiindg.he felt highly
pleased
The meeting then terminated.

for manufactures was rather
nmorreceas.
RouEN.—The letters from Rouen statenttihvae,t
butthe mar-
kettbat
no great alteration had occur_l•!lii:iinp
the last few days
THE SLIDE NUlSANtvevvi
occurred in the metropolis
many serious accidents have have occurred in the metropolis
tin ough the practice of ,lide-mag on the footpaths.
practice have been issued, but
t r
Noticesougli l 0 pu rnanci
ntigcde.tboe
In one locality, and in the course
less than three falls, attended with
Cirencester-place,
ounfrdo mfrtaheitsucraeuosfe .
theA
thee
of
aevil
Nivs übnnsuursh,d unen
fractured limbs, took place larr.mJ:
from
Fitzroy-
square, of
stepping on
-street, a fracture of the leg ; and a •
Grafton-street, poor girl,
sTubaerret, Robertson,
residingi
sustained edn nawcaloytm-Nmp oa.d
the daughter of a laundress whilst carrying home a
basket of linen, dislocated her allele, and received othe
severe injuries.
NEW CHURCHES AT BAYS\VATER.--TWO new churches
are in course of erection at Bayswater, and are fast ad-
vancing towards completion. One of these is situated
on the south side of Craven Hill and. Westbourne-ter-
race, and the other farther westward of Notting-hill.
The erection of these new churches has been found to be
necessary, in consequence of the additional accommoda-
tion required to meet the great increase of inhabitants
in this improved and fashionable locality.
COLLISION ON THE RIVER, AND SINKING OF THE
GRAVESEND STEAMER. —On Sunday evening the Meteor,
Gravesend steamer, after leaving Brunswick pier at
Blackwall, was run into by the Dublin screw steam-ship
Sylph, near the Halfway Reach, and, from the violence
of the collision, the Meteor was divided almost down to
the keel. Great confusion and alarm arose amongst the
passengers, who saw that the vessel must soon go down,
and they rushed in a body upon the deck of the Sylph.
Some who were in the cabin very narrowly escaped
drowning, and, but for the assistance of the captain and
crew of the Dublin steamer, would in all probability
have met with certain death. The Meteor went down
shortly after the passengers were rescued. The wreck
lies midway between the Halfway House and the Pow-
der Magazine, on the Kent shore. At low water her
stern wheel is just visible. Arrangements were made
yesterday for raising the vessel, the Admiralty having
granted the use of some of the dockyard chain lighters
for the purpose of making the attempt. It is feared,
however, that she is so much damaged that she will
break in two from the weight of her engines, &c. She
is insured, but we understand not to the extent that b
Will COM her