The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 9, 1852

PREFERENCE SHARES.

COURT OF ALDEMEN.

THE CITY CORPORATION COMMISSION.

'Aberdeen ... .....

Do., No. 2, 7 p.
Blyth & Tyne 10 per
ct. pref. (iss. at4so)
Bristol & Exeter 4 pr
cent., stock

A Court was held yesterday upon the occasion of the
swearing in of the new Lord Mayor.
Alderman WILSON said,—This bong the first Court
since her Majesty's Commissioners have met to com-
mence the inquiry into the matter of corporation reform,
I think if no allusion be made to the subject the public
may naturally consider that the allegations and asser-
tions made before the Commission nay be true. Ido
not wish to produce or occasion am discussion on the
question, for I do not think that thie is the time or this
the place for noticing it. (Hear, Ivan) I merely ask
the public to wait as to their decision until both sides
have been heard. A time will come when the Court of
Aldermen will have their turn to be beard, and I have
no doubt that they will be able to give a most satisfac-
tory answer. Many of the statements are so absurd
and preposterous, that very few persons can believe
them, or indeed pay any attention tc them.
The LORD MAYOR took leave of the Court. He had
told his brethren at the commencemmt of his mayoralty
that he should look to them for their active assistance,
and he must acknowledge that he hi.d received that as-
sistance in the most effective and gratifying manner all
through his year of office.

The commissioners met yesterday, at the offices of the
Privy Council, Downing-street, and resumed their in-
quiry. Commissioners present—Mr. Labouchere (chair-
man), Sir John Patteson, and Mr. Cornewall Lewis.
Mr. Acland, the secretary of the City of London
Municipal Reform Association, who has been under ?
exa-
mination ever since the commissioners opened their
investigation, again attended to give further evidence.
The Chairman said—Mr. Acland, is there anything
which you have omitted in your former examination that
y
Mr. A cland—l wish, sir, to make a few observations
relativeou n owt
to he Irishoad Society committee of the corpora-
tion. The Irish Society is a body in the interest of the
12 principal guilds or livery companies of the City of
London, and until 1832 its governing body was com-
posed of delegations from those 12 guilds. Some diffi-
culty arose with reference to one of the companies—l
think the Salters' Company. The charter required a
certain number appointed from each company to con-
stitute the society. The Salters' Company, having very
few members, were obliged to appoint an alderman in-
stead of a Salter, and the inconvenience at length be-
came so great that the corporation undertook the
management of the society by a deputy-governor and
24 common councilmen.
The Chairman—Was an act of Parliament passed to
facilitate that change ?
Mr. Acland—l am not aware that the change was so
legalised—so to speak.
The Chairman—ls the property vested in the corpora-
tion or in the companies?
Mr. Acland----It is still vested in the companies. The
change has had this effect, that it gave the corporation an
additional amount of patronage. The late secretary of the
society was a common councilman, his assistant-clerk was
the son of a common councilman, the present secretary is a
common councilman, the late agent in Ireland (who held
a very lucrative and responsible situation) was a com-
mon councilman, and his successor, the present agent,
was lately the deputy of the ward of Aldgate, the same
ward of which Mr. Alderman Humphery (the governor
of the society) is alderman. Thus Alderman Humphery
being alderman of the ward of Aldgate, and governor of
the Irish Society, procures the appointment of his de-
puty for Aldgate to the situation of agent to the society
on its estates in Ireland. At the last contest for the office
of secretary there were twelve candidates. The number
was reduced from twelve to three, two of the three being
common councilmen, and the third the son of a common
councilman, and I need not add that a common council.
man was elected.
The Chairman—l see that in their report the last com-
missioners state it as their opinion that the corporation
manages its property in Ireland with great liberality,
and to the benefit of its tenants. Have you any reason
to doubt the truth of that ?
Mr. Acland—l do strongly doubt it. I am aware that
the Derry papers frequently complain of the maladmi-
nistration of the corporation of London's Irish estates ;
they complain that no inducement is held out to the
tenants to effect improvements.
The Chairman—gave you any personal knowledge of
their management of these estates ?
Mr. Acland—l have not.
The Chairman—ls there any other point on which
you wish to address the commissioners ?
Mr. Acland—l am anxious to make a few observations
on a point involving a very important principle. I
allude to the practice of the corporation of London,
through their recognised agent, the Remembrancer,
to interfere needlessly and mischievously with the
progress of bills through Parliament, in order to obtain
the introduction of clauses designed to exempt the city
of London from the operation of beneficial acts of Par-
liament, and so to prejudice the community over which
they preside. I alluded on a previous occasion to their
resistance to the application of the County Courts Act
to the City, the consequence of which was, that after-
wards, when public opinion became too strong for the
corporation, they were obliged to obtain a special act
extending the county-courts principle to the City, at an
expense of between 7001. and 8001., the citizens being
no longer willing to be denied a participation in a sys-
tem which worked so advantageously for the rest of the
country. But I would now more particularly call atten-
tion to the interference of the corporation last session
with the Charitable Trusts Act, the object of which was
to give a prompt and economical remedy in all cases of
the abuse of charitable trusts. In the city of London
there are 691 charities held in trust by the livery com-
panies, and 740 held in trust by the parochial officers,
giving a total of 1,431. The annual income derived
from trusts held by the livery companies amounts to
60,478/. 16s. 2d., and the amount derived from the
trusts held by the parochial officers is 47,5911. is. 9d.,
giving a total annual income from both classes of
charities within the City, as far back as 1832, of
108,0691. 17s. lid. ; and in all probability the annual
revenue of these charities has since that period greatly
augmented. Of the whole 1,431 charities belonging to
the City, upwards of 1,000 yield an annual income under
301.. and only about 350 of them yield an annual in-
come exceeding that sum. Under these circumstances,
when the Charitable Trust Bill was before Parliament,
the City Remembrancer succeeded in inserting a clause,
the effect of which was to have charities under 301. a-
year in the city of London, unlike charities else-
where, considered and treated as charities over 301. a-
year, thus taking away the appeal to the county
courts in the case of alleged abuse of the trust funds as
provided by that act, and transferring the appeal to
the superior and, consequently, more costly courts
of law. On examining the charity trust accounts of
the corporation, I find that there is a misapplication of
the livery companies' charity trust funds to the extent
of 21,0001. of the principal sum, and an annual sum of
9,0101. ; and that there is a misapplication of the parochial
charity trust funds to the extent of 10,800/. of principal
moneys, and 4,5641. of annual moneys. This shows a
total misapplication of 31,9381. of principal moneys, and
of 13,6591. of annual moneys. These annual payments,
if calculated at 4 per per cent. per annum, would repre-
sent a principal sum of 318,7831. The subject of the
coal tax interests the inhabitants of the metropolis and
all persons residing within twenty miles of the city. The
history of the coal dues exacted by the city lies in a nut-
shell. In former times the corporation of London lent
moneys to the Sovereign, which moneys were lost, and
the coal dues were given to the corporation in order that
they might be repaid the amount they had advanced.
That amount was repaid by the coal dues, and being re-
paid one would have thought that there was an end of
the matter ; but not so. From time to time the corpo-
ration have procured what might be called a renewal of
their Parliamentary lease, and the lease now existing
will expire in 1862. They levy a toll on all the coal
consumed by the citizens, and also on all the coal con-
sumed by every inhabitant of the metropolis within
twenty miles of the city. Surely, the inhabitants of the
metropolis have a right to complain that the corporation
of the city should tax them on this necessary of life, and
spend the proceeds of the tax on objects in which they
have no more interest than the inhabitants of Yorkshire
or Lancashire.

Do. Do., shares .
Caledonian £lO .

98 -- 1001

Chester & Holyhead
Guar. 5. per cent 1
Cork &Bandon 5i p. c
Dundee Perth&Aber-
deen Junction
EastA nglian (£3los)
6 per cent
Do. (25) 7 per cent
Do. (1;7178) 7 p. et
Eastern Counties Ex-
tension, 5 p. c. No.l
Do., No. 2.
Do., New 6 p. c. St
Eastern Union, Scrip
Guar. 6 per cent
Do. £lO Deben. Sh
EastLancash. 6 p. cts
East & West Yorksh
Junction Fifths

6 -- 61
-- 4
4. -- 5i
-- 1
lf
-14 p 141)
13i -- 14
2D -- 22

Edinb.Prth.&Dundee
4 per cent.
Glasgow & S.Western
guar. 5 per cent
Great Northr 5 P.C
Do. sp. c., Redeem.,
at 10 p. c. prom
Do. 4A percent. Scrip
Gt.N. of Scot. ,lst Pref
Gt. Southn. &Westn.
(Ireland) Eighths
Do. 4 per et. pref. St
Gt. Westn. (Becks &
Hants Ex. 5 p. c.)
Do. con. & red. 4z p.cl
Do. do. 4 per cent
Do. irredeem. 4 p. c
Lan. & York. F. £2O,
Do., 6 p. c., Stock
Leeds Nn. 6p. c. No. 1
Do. Quarters,lB4B
London andlßrighton
Guaranteed 5 p. c
Do. Pref., 5 p. c. St
Do. Convertible, 5 p
c., 1852......
Do. New Guar. 6 p.c.
Loud. & N. W., Cov.
& Nun., 5 per cent.
London & S. Western,
Con. Thirds

3 - 3,i

Alderman FAREBRoTHER, as senior alderman present
and other aldermen expressed the warm feelings of the
Court amid loud applause, and the Court immediately
adjourned.

118 -- 120

THE CHOLERA.

108 - 110
a a P

... ..

(From the General Board of Health.)
PORTOBELLO.

8 - B.}

Since the last report from Duddingstone there has
been only one other, the case at Joppa. It is stated that
all the cases are now convalescent, and the promptitude
in removing the family where the cases occurred from an
over-crowded apartment was the means of arresting and
preventing the further extension of the disease. Cases
of diarrhoea continued to occur, but not, however, con-
fined to any locality—more among the better class of
people than among the poor, and not more prevalent
than usual at this season of the year.

7
99 101.
95 100
95 100
id par
1139 141

DUNDEE.
Nov. s.—Cholera (deaths)...
Nov. 6.—Cholera (deaths)..
MORPETH.
Nov. s.—Cholera (death) ...
FAVERSHAM.
Nov. s.—Cholera (death)
GATESHEAD
Nov. s.—Cholera (death)
Nov. 6.—Cholera (death)
GATESHEAD (HEWORTH).
NOV. s.—Cholera (death)
Diarrhoea (death)
SOUTH SHIELDS UNION
Oct. 30 to Nov. 6.—Cholera (deaths) 5
Diarrhoea (death)
LUTON.
Nov. 7.—Cholera (deaths)..
STROOD.
Nov. 6.—Cholera (deaths)
NORTH AYLESFORD, S'EROOD.

1

2 - 3 p

Londonderry& Coler.
Shares .. .
Londy. & Ennis. Sh
Manch. ,Shef., & Lin.,l
Shares, No. 1
Do. Now, £lO
Do., £6 ...... • • •• •
Marypt.&o.lrl. 4 p. c.
IDo. ‘4 per cent.
IDo .

121 - 131
61 - 74
94 - 94
I P

Mid. Consol. 6 p.c. St.
Do. Consol. Bristol &
Birm. 6 per cent
Do. Pref. 40 per cent
Norfolk Debent. Sh
Norfolk Extension
Do. Pref. 5i per ct
Do. Way. Val. 5 p c
North British
North Staffordshire
Oxford Worcester &
Wolverh. £15,6p. e
Do

2

139 141
i id

.. 2

. - ~.

Four fresh cases of cholera have occurred since the
last report in the Cuxton brickfields, in an adjoining
cottage to the one from which the previous cases were
reported. The subjects are two children. One died in
ten hours from the commencement of the attack, and
the other is since dead.

22 -- 24

104 - 106
- 1p
-
16 - 174-H
91 - 101 '
13 - 15
Par- p
23i - 244
1 19 - 20

Scot. Cen., New P::ef.
Shrews& Birm. N. G.
Shrewsby. & Chester
(Nor. W. Min),B p. c.
Do. 5 per cent
South Devon
Do. New

The cottages in which all these cases of cholera have
occurred consist of two rooms only on the ground floor,
paved with bricks, badly ventilated, and exceedingly
damp. The family consists of eight persons, eat-
ing, drinking, sleeping, &c., in two rooms. On mea-
suring the rooms, one was found to be lift. by lift., a
few inches more or less, the height about 7 feet. The
cottagers themselves, as also the cottages, are remark-
ably clean.

S. Eadern (Reading
Ann.,) of £1 Os. 6d.
S.Yorksll.4p.c.Gna,r.
Waterf(l.&Kilk.6p.c.
York Newcastle and
Borwick,4 p.c.Pref
Do

96 - 99
41 -4;

I York & N. Midland H.l
& S. Porch

id JP

The Chairman—ls it not the fact that part of the pro-
ceeds is spent on improvemenls in other parts of the
metropolis besides the city ?
Mr. Acland—Yes, but that does not affect the argu-
ment. Westminster pays a tax of is. Id., and there is
only expended on improvements for the metropolis at
large Bd. The city authorities claim 4d. of the tax
as being absolutely a part of their own property, with
which they can do as they please. The 4d. tax on coals
received by the city in 1852 amounted to 62,4401. ; the
ld. tax received by the city (for the expenses of carry-
ing out the act of Parliament) amounted to 15,6071.; the
Bd. tax, received and expended by the Board of Works,
amounted to 124,8801.—making a total of 202,9271.
levied on coal.

The Chairman—We have ample information already
on the subject of the coal dues in the reports of the com-
mittees of the House of Commons.

Mr. Acland—Yes, sir, but this is a subject-on which
the inhabitants of the metropolis naturally feel very
strongly.
The Chairman—Have you anything to say respecting
the finances of the corporation ?
Mr. Acland—l hold in my hand the statement of the
produce and expenditure of the City estates for 1852.
It contains among others the accounts of the chamber-
lain of the City, with the accounts of the comptroller,
in which the latter functionary debits the chamberlain
with the City income. Of the thirteen items of which
it is composed, only one of the items agrees in both ac-
counts. Mr. Acland then pointed out various items in
the accounts, showing a total difference between the
accounts of the chamberlain and those of the comptroller
of 9,000/. Tte discrepancies in the accounts ought to
be accounted for to the commissioners, for as the ac-
counts now, stand the commissioners cannot possibly
findersttuid them.
-Mr. C. Lewis—What are the relations between the
comptroller and the chamberlain ?
• .'Mr. Acland—The chamberlain makes the payments,
- and the comptroller tells the corporation what sums the
chamberlain ought to debit and credit himself with.
C, Lewis—ls the comptroller an auditor of the
corporation ?
Mr. Acland—No, his office is rather that of a preli-
minary check. The comptroller receives nothing ; he
only acts as a check upon the chamberlain. The audi-
tor is appointed to detect errors and point them out.
By the system of accounts kept, a great number of items
are grouped together, which renders it more difficult to
understand the accounts. For instance, at page 17 of
the statement, there is the sum of 7,1511. charged for the
office of Lord Mayor, and for compensation to persons
who lost their offices connected with the metage of
sea coals. It does not, however, state what part
of that sum of 7,151/. was paid for the office of Lord
Mayor. At page 42, again, it will be found that the
Lord Mayor had a "violet gown" supplied to him, but
it does not say what the gown cost. The gown is
grouped with two gowns for the sheriff's yeomen, cost-
ing 70/. 10s. for the two, which would leave a charge
of 151. for the violet silk gown. There is also a charge
of 721. paid to Mr. William Price for a crimson velvet
gown for the Lord Mayor to wear at the Duke of Wel-
lington's funeral. At page 42 it will be foundtr each
tacthh
but the
sword-bearer and the common crier had
o
t
allowed them for gowns, because they had ronec3eii ing
ioolvedno
gowns for the three years preceding •
officers had gowns wit
further back into the ahcicno utnhtes
pi terwi
oi ldl hien s egenne
stthi
oant 1 eanscef
t ho ef
tohpee nni
on
rg.
also additional gowns for the
of the new Coal Exchange.
73/ • this amount
I)7ecclaaswi o ncoostfs
ofthe action • t the firm
of costs
in-
cluding 5601. for t
poration in 1852 amounted to 3,9 . , in-
• barge for four years, from 1849 to
of Combe' and Co., the eminent brewers. The expenses
of the corporation
1852, inclusive, amounted to 2,411/., or upwards of
6001. a year. I referred on a former occasion to the
allowance of the committees of the corporation, and I
find that I have understated the sum, although I can-
not discover any mention in the accounts of the sum of
3001, allowed to the Improvement Committee. I find

that, including the sums paid for the Irish Society Com-
mittee, and for "swan-hopping," that the total amount
paid in one year to the committees amounts to 4,0501.
With respect to "benevolences," I find in the accounts
for 1852 a sum of 501. paid for feasts during the
mayoralty of Alderman Hunter, and 501. paid to Sheriffs
Cotterell and Swift for the same purpose. There is also
under the same head of "benevolences, in very large
characters, the sum of 51. to one of the hospitals, and
21. 17s. to the parishes of St. Thomas and St. Olave.
And here I must express my conviction of the existence
of a secret service fund held in the hands of an officer
of the corporation : and to my knowledge there is an
expenditure of many hundreds of pounds, not one far-
thing of which appears in the accounts.
The Chairman—Do you mean that this money is not
included in the accounts, or that the details of its expen-
diture are not given in the accounts ?
Mr. Aclaud—l cannot say that it is not included in
the accounts. I cannot say, for instance, that an item
of " law charges, 1001." may not mean other things than
what are stated.
Mr. C. Lewis—Do you say you have any knowledge
of the fund which you call a secret service fund ?
Mr. Acland--NQ.
The Chairman—You say of your own knowledge that
part of the funds is misapplied to these purposes, which
you call secret service, and is not accounted for—are
you able to produce any evidence in support of your
statement ?
Mr. Aclaud—l am not able to do so now, but I am
prepared to say that this commission shall have evidence
of what I have stated before this inquiry closes.
Mr. C. Lewis—After carefully examining the accounts
of the corporation, do you think they bear evidence of
having been drawn up in the form most likely to render
them intelligible ?
- Mr. Acland—l would rather say, in a form the least
likely to be intelligible.
Mr. C. Lewis—You mean to say that the form
adopted for the accounts is chosen with the design of
preventing persons from accurately understanding them?
Mr. Acland—l believe that the officers of the corpo-
ration are very far from being fools, and assuming that
the officer who prepared the account I have exhibited
has any talent in him, and assuming that he had a mo-
tive, from the fact that it is an intelligible account I am
led to the conclusion that such must have been the in-
tention.
Mr. C. Lewis—Are you aware of any complaint being
made with regard to the form in which the accounts are
presented ?
Mr. Acland—No, sir.
The Chairman—You have now stated to us at great.
length, Mr. Acland, the defects which you suppose exist
in the system of the corporation, and in the manner in
which that system is conducted. Will you now have the
goodness to state to us any opinions which you may
have formed of what would be the nature of the system
which you would propose to substitute for that which
now exists, for the municipal government of the city of
London ? •
Mr. Acland—l have, sir, given the subject some
attention, and I have prepared what I consider a scheme,
by way of suggestion, for the reform of the corporation.
I would rather that the commissioners had arrived at
their own conclusions, although, at the same time, I can-
not object to state my views, only I wish it to be under-
stood that I would rather not be tied down to every one
of the details of my scheme.
The Chairman—Do not understand the commissioners
as pressing you to state your opinions contrary to your
own wish. Any statement you may make will be given
entirely voluntarily on your part.
Mr. Acland then proceeded to lay before the commis-
sioners the leading features of a scheme which he had
prepared for remedying the evils and abuses connected
with the corporation. It was as follows :
SCHEME.

1. That the principle of the Encumbered Estates Court
for Ireland be applied to the estates of the corporation,
with the exception of the Mansion-house, Guildhall, the
markets, public offices, and courts of law and criminal
judicature.
2. That the proceeds of the sale of such property be
paid into the Bank of England to the credit of the presi-
dent, councillors, and burgesses of the city of London.
3. That all mortgages, debts, bonds, and other lia-
bilities be paid off and discharged.
4. That the balance be invested in one description of
stock in the public funds, and that the dividends thereof
be paid to the aforesaid account in the Bank of England.
5. That the parliamentary register for the city of
London be the burgess-roll of the corporation of the said
city.

ii. That each burgess be required to sign the electoral
check-book at the Guildhall prior to the exercise of his
electoral functions.

7. That no addition be hereafter made to the list of
liverymen forming a portion of such register.
8. That the existing ward' system as regards parlia-
mentary and civic registration and elections be disconti-
nued, in favour of one strictly alphabetical list of the
entire constituency.
9. That the council of the city of London consist of
thirty members, burgesses of the said city, to be ap-
pointed annually.
10. That twelve of the members of the first council be
nominated by the Crown, four retiring at the end of the
second, and four at the end of the third year.
11. That eighteen of the members of the first council,
twenty-two of the second, twenty-six of the third, and
subsequently the whole of the members of the council,
be elected by the burgesses by voting Esti, duly signed
and delivered at the Guildhall, in order to the authenti-
cation of each signature by the proper officer.
12. That the councillor having the greatest number
of votes be the president of the council and chief ma-

gistrate of the corporation for the ensuing year. with the
Mansion-house for his residence, and an allowance of
5,0001. a year (that is the salary of a Cabinet Minister)
for the proper support and dignity of his office.
13. That the councillors whose names stand second
and third on the return be sheriffs of the city of Lon-
don, with an allowance of 1,5001. each.
14. That the recorder, town clerk (who shall be a so-
licitor), steward, and accountsnt, be the chief officers of
the corporation. _ _

15. That all present officers of the corporation, with
whose continued services the council may dispense, be
compensated upon a scale to be approved by the Lords
of her Majesty's Treasury ; such scale being prepared
with equitable regard to the length of the period during
which such services may have been performed.
16. That the corporate year be the ordinary year of
the calendar. _ _ _

17. That no fees of any description be paid to any
officer or servant of the corporation in addition to his
fixed salary.
18. That the police, sewers, paving, lighting, and
cleansing of the City, be transferred to metropolitan
commissioners.
19. That the City coal dues be abandoned.
20. That the City street tolls be abolished.
21. That the City metage upon corn, salt, fruit, and
oysters be no longer compulsory.
22. That the monopoly privileges of ticket porters,
free porters, fellowship porters, and all such be abro-
gated.
23. That the livery companies or guilds shall no
longer have power to compel membership.
24. That all the City judges and the City justices be
appointed by the Crown, at salaries to be fixed by the
council, and approved by the Lords of her Majesty's
Treasury.
25. That the affairs of the Irish Society be managed
by a committee elected by and from the several guilds
interested therein.

26. That the corporate conservancy of the River
Thames shall not extend westward beyond the City
boundary.

27. That Southwark be released from enforced con-
nection with the corporation of the city of London.
28. That the corporate dues within the port and har-
bour of London be restricted to a moderate fixed ton-
nage duty upon shipping.
29. That the Court of Hustings, the Lord Mayor's
Court, the Appeal Court of St. Martin-le-Grand, the
Court of Pie-Poudre, the Court-leet and Court Baron
of Finsbury, and the Court of the Manor of Duke's-
place, be abolished.

_
30. That the City dues on wine, oil, and all other
gaugeable articles, and the charges for groundage and
water bailage, be discontinued.
31. That all localities within the City, which are con-
sidered privileged places, or which claim to be under
other than civic jurisdiction, be henceforth under cor-
porate jurisdiction as portions of the city of London and
within the boundary of its parliamentary constituency.
32. That the Royal Commission of Conservancy be
recalled, and all the proceedings on account of impedi-
ments to the navigation of the Thames be instituted in
the ordinary City courts of magistracy.
33. That the appointment to all offices now in the
gift of the Lord Mayor, or either of the Courts of Alder-
men, Common Council, or Common Hall, be vested in
the council.
34. That no appointment by purchase be allowed.
member
35. That no appointment be bestowed upon a In
of the council, or any of his immediate relativestraowe.ityh.in
three years of his having been a member of thatt_
ebnoec
36. That the council be empowered to levy the essary rates in aid of the corporate funds, 3
•rs of the satisfy-
ingcorpora-
the assessments of the metropolitantcoommissioners,
for the expense of conducting the aff
tion, and for effecting the requisite_setniur.eet and other im-
provements within the city of Lon don.
37. That all proceedings of the
court. be held in open
court. wish to add that in the event
Mr. Acland continued—/
of similar local instit?.ttimhlnsk
being g a metropolitan board might
to the other me.
ht
by the delegation of oneg or
tropolitan boroughs, -L.
council, in whom might be
tihnet ecroeaslt.
dues
advantageously be fol meidi
more members from each
vested the charge of all matterspropose ofcommon
to abolish
The Chairman—You
—how would you deal with the mortgages secured upon
those dues ?
Mr. Acland—l propose that all mortgage bonds and
other existing debts should be paid off. My first sug-
gestion is that the principles of the Irish Encumbered
Estates Act should be applied to the estates of the cor-
poration.
The Chairman—You mean that you would sell the
coal mortgages
Mr. Acland—l mean that I would do so to pay all the
debts.

Mr. C. Lewis.-..:Do you believe the corporation to be
solvent or insolvent at present ?
Mr. Acland—l do not ?hink it can be insolvent • but
from the manner in which the accounts are kept, it' can-
not been seen how far it is from insolvency. Lookinfr at
the estates belonging to the corporation, to the exten't of
the mortgages, and the infinite variety of its property, 1
think that a 'general simplification of its affairs is the first
thing that is desirable.
The examination of Mr. Acland was at length brought
to a close, and the commissioners then adjourned their
inquiry till Thursday next.