The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-17 00:00:00

THE INDEPENDENT FREEHOLD LAND
SOCIETY.

Last night a public meeting was held at the Commer-
cial Hall, King's-road, Chelsea, for the purpose of hear-
ing an explanation from a deputation of the board of
directors of the new and peculiar features of this society.
The chair was taken shortly after eight o'clock by W.
Eykelbosch, Esq.
The CHAnnIAN, in opening the proceedings of the

evening, said in all the world's history such a thing has

never been told of before as the perfect mastery our

land and building societies have gained over paltry selfish-
ness and any bad feeling that would maintain distrust
and disunion amongst working men. The plan of these
societies is so simple and so sure, that the least taught
man sees his way clear and easy to winning for himself
and family a large step towards comfort and the world's
respect. Bad and wasteful habits give way to the manly
virtues of foresight wherever men can become owners of
1 wholesome and pretty cottages with good gardens, at
the same cost as they used to pay for their wretched
single rooms. Every man who can claim to be right in
head and in heart glories in the sight of our labourers
thus becoming better men and better off by means of
their own small savings managed by their native sense
of justice and fair play. The Independent Land
and Permanent Building Society has no other ob-
ject than to extend the benefits already won by
so many of our mechanics and labourers to the large
class who have not as yet had them placed within reach.
The way this society goes about its work is soon told.
A large piece of ground is bought by uniting the shil-
lings of many hundreds of members, the hedges and
ditches are removed, roads and drains are made, the
whole cost is reckoned up, and proper-sized lots are sold
to the members at a fair share only of that told cost.
Thus it sells to the poor man a small plot at the same
price that large estates are bought by the rich man ; be-
sides, this society saves its members from all law ex-
penses and difficulties, which would most likely amount
to four times the price of any one lot bought by itself.
Good drains and roads are made, and just so many rules
are laid down as to the use of the plots as are enough to
protect such owner against nuisances or injuries from his
neighbours. Every one who wants a plot has his
name entered, and the number of his shares goes
into the ballot-box, to decide who shall have
best choice. All the expenses of making a perfect
title were paid by the society, and the price may be paid
by small weekly and monthly sums, spread over any
length of time, between five and fifteen years. To suit
such as required it, part of the plots will have cottages
built on them by the society, and be balloted for and
sold on the same terms, and at a far cheaper rate than
any single member could build for himself. The way
the society contrives to raise money sufficient to supply
a large number of members wanting plots without delay
is also easy to show. The mortgages to this ,society
have four per cent, interest added to the money ad-
vanced, and secure a constant inflow of portions of the
money laid out, and the interest thereon. This money
being used again as fast as it comes in, gives an increase
which allows of good interest being paid to members
who subscribe for interest only. Thus, the mortgages
of one set 'of members lying at the society's bankers are
made to serve as securities to that large class called
investing members, who are glad to get at least double
savings bank interest, without risk, and the society is
enabled to meet the wishes of any number of pur-
chasers without laying them under obligation.
(Hear, hear.) Investing members may withdraw the
whole or any part of their money at any time by giving
one month's notice, and have five per cent interest, and
all shares left until realised will take equal portion of
the profits, and be entitled to the benefits now first
offered to holders of realised shares. (Cheers.) Holders
of realised shares will have the right to claim from the
society the purchase of an estate of their own choice, to
be held for their lives at a rent equal to 5 per cent, on
the puchase money, may expend money upon it, and
regard it with all the interest of ownership, and bequeath
it to their families by assigning a policy of assurance to
the society of a sum equivalent to the purchase money.
This society is enabled by the act of Parliament under
which it is enrolled, to offer to its members advantages
superior in kind and degree to those conferred on com-
panies or incorporations by either act of Parliament or
Royal charter • viz., members on their property acquired
by means of this society cannot become liable in any case
beyond the subscriptions from time to time due upon their
shares, and if a member is not a mortgagor to the
society, no claim can be made even for continuance of
subscription. The rules are certified by authority to
contain nothing illegal or contradictory ; that its tables
are safe, and may be fairly adopted. Th affairs of the
society are under the entire control of the members, and
an annual report must be made of its accounts for their
use. Members are not compelled to take allotments on
any estate which does not suit them ; all rights may be
reserved or sold, and members wishing to sell their rights
have only to take them to the governors of Bethlehem
Hospital, where they will readily receive 1001. for every
31. of secured ground rent, and providing a house is not
wanted, a builder will be found who will be glad to pur-
chase the allotment at a premium. An exclusive feature
in this society is, that any member may choose a plot
for himself in any locality suiting him, and have an ad-
vance of the purchase money and the means of erecting
a dwelling thereon—(cheers)--upon terms certain and
most advantageous. The full amount of each share is
advanced, their being no charge for premium or com-
mission. If, unfortunately, a member should fall into
temporary difficulties, time will be allowed him by the
directors. The chairman then entered at length upon
the benefits to be derived from encouraging habits of
saving and frugality, and after thanking this meeting for
the patience with which they heard him, and stating he
should have great pleasure in answering any questions
that might be put to him, resumed his seat amid ap-
plause.
Mr. RITCHIE, after the very able statement that had
just fallen from the chairman, thought it would be a
work of supererogation for him to occupy the time of
the meeting at any length. He (Mr. Richie) then drew
an interesting comparison between two men in the
employ of Mr. Brassey, the great railroad contractor—
the one a careful Belgian, who ultimately became a land-
owner, the other an Englishman, who did not exercise
so much prudence, and still remained a workman. He
concluded by moving " That this meeting views with
peculiar satisfaction the new features of the Independent
Land and Permanent Building Society in providing a
machinery whereby the middle and humbler classes in
and around London, as also the manufacturing and rural
districts in the provinces are provided with neat, whole-
some, and well regulated habitations, at a cost of less
than one half of the rent they now pay for their present
miserable hovels, and in due course of time become pro-
prietors of their own house and gi ound."
Mr. DOUBELL had great pleasure in seconding the
resolution.
The CHAIRMAN then put it to the meeting, and de-
clared it carried unanimously.
Mr. WHEELLER then moved the second resolution as
follows—" That this meeting expresses its entire ap-
proval of the constitution and operation of the Inde-
pendent Freehold Land and Permanent Building
Society, and pledges itself, as far as possible to aid its
progress."
The resolution having been seconded by Mr. CIITMORE,
was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
Various questions having been put, and satisfactorily
answered,
Mr. NEWMAN moved, and Mr. HILLS seconded, a
vote of thanks to the chairman.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowleding the compliment,
said he thanked them heartily, and he hoped that the
proceedings of that evening would have the effect of
placing him upon intimate terms with the most of them.
A large number of shares having been taken, tbe pro-
ceedings terminated, having been of the most satisfactory
character.

THE BURNHAM MURDER.—AYLESBURY, SATURDAY.—
A report has very generally been spread in this neigh-
bourhood that Mose s Hatto, who is awaiting his trial
for the brutal murder of his fellow servant, Mary Anne
Sturgeon, at Burnham Abbey, near Maidenhead, in
November last, had made a full confession of his guilt
to one of the county magistrates, and that he had given
a detailed account of the manner in which he perpe-
trated the deed. Inquiries which have been made of
the officers of the gaol show that there is no foundation
whatever for the statement, and some anxiety has been
evinced as to the manner in which the reports obtained
such general circulation. It seems that Hatto, who is
a mild, unassuming young man, has been very attentive
to the instructions of the chaplain of the gaol in which
he is confined, but has never uttered a single word which
can be construed into an admission of the grave crime
with which he is charged. No further evidence than
that adduced before the coroner has been obtained, and
serious debts are entertained whether that which at pre-
sent is in the hands of the police will be able to procure
a conviction. It will be remembered that after the
murder Hatto rode out on his master's horse as far as
the Maidenhead station, a distance of two miles, and
that a shirt is missing, which is supposed to be the one
he wore on that night. Although no means have been
left untried to find this shirt, the police have hitherto
in
failed in their endeavours. An important link the
chain of evidence is therefore wanting. The prisoner
will be tried at the assizes which will be held at Ayles-
bury in March.
THE LATE SUSPECTED HOMICIDE -AT CARDIFF.—The
magisterial investigation touching the recent alleged
murder of a woman named Catherine M`Carty, in a low
part of Cardiff, known as Little Steam-mill-row, of
which some particulars have already appeared, has been
brought to a conclusion, and has resulted in the com-
mittal of the suspected person, Bridget Dempsey, to
take her trial at the next assizes for manslaughter.
CHAIRING-CROSS BRIDGE.—The directors report to
Parliament that the cost of the proposed widening and
conversion of the bridge into a horse and carriage bridge,
with new v bproaches, alteration of existinc, ones, works,
additional apital, and tolls, is to be repaid yearly by
means of funds, consisting of 180,0001., by shares, and
630,033/. by loan, which under their acts they are autho-
rised jto raise, and that after deducting the sums re-
quired for purposes authorised by their acts, there will
remain unexpended a surplus of 106,5)30/. applicable to
the proposed alteration and new works, and that so
much of the alterations and works as will not be made
by these means will be made out of money to be raised
on the credit of the present surplus revenue, which
amounts annually to upwards of 2,0001.
FIGHTING AND FIDDLING.—Nero, we are told, fiddled
while Rome burned, and a placard posted upon the walls
of several of our buildings, on Wednesday, indirectly
asserts that some humbler performer will contribute a
similar accompaniment to an annihilation of Sebastopol
c,r Cronstadt. The announcement referred to intimates
that" Her Majesty's 80. gun frigate Cressy, fitting out
at Sheerness, is in want of petty officers, able-bodied sea-
my us artificers, and a good fiddler.--Sunderland Herald.