The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-25 00:00:00

THE PEEL STATUE.

Mr. TITE, the architect, appeared on behalf of the
sub-committee for erecting the statue of the late Sir R.
Peel in the City, for the purpose of requesting the com-
mission to grant them leave to erect a model of a pedestal
in the centre of the roadway nearly fronting the Man-
sion-house temporarily. The surveyor to the commis-
sion had suggested that if the proposed situation were
to be determined upon, it would be the best of the pro-
jected sites in the neighbourhood. The great committee
for the Peel statue had, in 1851, resolved that the situa-
tion between the Royal Exchange and the Mansion-
house was, in their judgment, the right place for the
statue, and upon this hypothesis they had proceeded, but
the question of the pedestal had been left in some mea-
sure to the sculptor and himself, the sculptor consulting
him (Mr. Tite) upon the pedestal, and he suggesting the
rough model. This discussion had led to a great deal of
further discussion in the sub-committee, who had re-
solved that the surveyor of the commission, Mr. P. Cun-
ningham, and himself (Mr. Tite) should take the neces-
sary steps to have a full-sized model of the pedestal
itself put in a situation which seemed to commend itself
to the committee in order that so important a subject
might receive all the consideration it deserved. The
model of the pedestal which the committee thought
architecturally tolerably well adapted for the statue and
the situation was nearly completed, and they now wanted
the sanction to fix it so that they themselves, as well as
the commission and the public, might be enabled to
judge of the probable effect of it. It was a temporary
expedient for the purpose of trying, with the assistance
of the surveyor to the commission, the effect of the
monument in the projected position.
Deputy HOLT mentioned that Sir P. Laurie had seve-
ral years since pointed out the western end of Cheapside,
nearly facing St. Paul's Cathedral, a locality which was
in process of becoming one of the grandest openings in
the City, as the best site for the statue.
Mr. TITE observed that the two sites were distinctly
adverted to in 1851, but the great committee, consisting
of all the chief merchants and bankers, said that the
proposed situation near the Royal Exchange was the
more favourable, upon the ground that they fancied that
the statue of Sir R. Peel should be near the commerce
of the city which that statesman had so greatly promoted.
Mr. PHILLIPS (a member of the Peel Statue Corn.
mittee) could not help thinking that the most public, as
well as the most beautiful, position in the City on which
to erect the statue was the western end of Cheapside, and
he sincerely trusted that the commission would pause
before it assented to the application of Mr. Tite. (Hear.)
If it were the desire of the committee that there should
be a temporary erection in front of the Mansion-house,
fur the purpose of testing the appearance of the statue,
lie (Mr. Phillips) earnestly hoped that that committee
would also ask the court to allow the temporary erection
of the same nature to be placed at the western end of
Cheapside, in order that its effect might be likewise seen
in that locality. (Hear, hear.) He was quite sure that
the committee would readily aqsent to such a proposi-
tion, and felt perfectly satisfied, that looking at the
statues already in the immediate vicinity of the Royal
Exchange, and at the thronged thoroughfares, the pro-
jected ereeti,in would not only be a very great eyesore
to the piblie, but also a very great inconvenience.
Dcpuiy HALE hoped the commission would never con-
sent to the statue of Sir Robert Peel being placed before
that of tie Duke (if Wellington. lie, however, had no
objection to its being placed opposite the Globe Insur-
anee Office.

Deputy HARRISON said it was very well for the gen-
tlemen who composed the statue committee to discuss
where the statue in question oun;lit to be placed, but the
real question before the court was whether the applica-
tion 'for an erection for a temporary purpose should.
be granted. He moved that the request of Mr. Tite be
complied with, the erection being made under the di-
rection of the surveyor to the commission.
Deputy GODSON seconded the motion.
After some further discussion the original motion was
put and agreed to, and the Court adjourned.

BRITISH AUSTRALIAN GOLD COMPANY.—A meeting
of the British Australian Gold Company took place yes-
terday, when the statement presented by the directors
was agreed to. The chairman (Mr. W. Prinsep) men-
tioned that the refusal to render accounts to the com-
mittee lately appointed arose from an impression that it
would be illegal, the company itself being not alto-
gether perfectly constituted, having yet to comply
with certain colonial forms. The directors were in
possession of a property which they considered valu-
able, and their mining operations would, it was
hoped, be attended with success. The company had
in the first instance suffered from a deception prac-
tised by the promoters, which had led to great inconve-
nience, through an issue of free shares. The board were
not prepared to recommend any definite course of action
until further accounts be received from Australia, and
they trusted that the shareholders would therefore allow
an adjournment. The amount paid upon shares was
61,0311., of which there remains in this country about
10,4001., and in Australia, 15,0001., exclusive of ma-
chinery, stores, &c., the other portion of the capital
having been expended in ordinary outlay. After some
discussion an adjournment was arranged, to give the
directors the opportunity of obtaining full information
before ultimately deciding whether the undertaking
shall be further prosecuted or abandoned.
AUSTRALASIAN GOLD MINING COMPANT.—A special
meeting of this company was held yesterday to receive
a report from the directors, and to determine upon the
course of future operations. It was explained by the
chairman (Mr. Brookes), that the board, from the state-
ments of Mr. W. Harding, whom they had sent out to
New South Wales to explore the country, had come to
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shareholders, and detailed the various explorations
made, Mr. Harding, in all cases, arriving at the convic-
tion that the difficulties attending a supply of labour, and
the absence of the requisite abundance of wood and
water,
would render any attempts at quartz mining abortive.
With regard to alluvial working, he was also discouraged,
the experience he encountered of the desertion of parties
employed in this description of labour being sufficient to
show that it would in the end become unprofitable. Un-
der these circumstances the directors considered that
the prudent plan would be to recommend that the com-
pany should be wound up, and that a division of the
assets should be effected. The original number of shares
was 10,000 of 101. each, 21. having been paid as the first
instalment ; of these 8,000 were allotted in this country,
and 2,000 were reserved for the colony ; but the whole of
the latter were not taken up, so that the sum actually
subscribed was 19,2201. The assets, exclusive of all pay-
ments, were 12,8001., which would allow a return of
about 265. per share, leaving the expenditure at the mode-
rate amount of 6,0001., for procuring a charter, despatch-
ing commissioners and machinery, and making other
parliamentary arrangements. Of the assets, 9,3401.
were in Sydney, and 3,4901. in London, and orders had
been sent to remit the larger amount with all possible
expedition, It remained with the shareholders to decide
what course should be adopted ; but the directors de-
sired to discharge their duty by laying before them
their true position. A unanimous feeling was then ex-
pressed in favour of winding up, especially after Mr.
Harding, who was present, had reiterated his opinion
respecting the loss that would accrue from prolonged
operations ; and a resolution was passed authorising the
directors to take the necessary steps to effect that object.
Votes of thanks were passed to the directors, they
having acted without remuneration, and also to Mr.
Harding.
CORPORAL NEWTON, IST LIFE GUARDS.—This eel°.
brased swordsman, whose dexterousexploitof chopping
a sheep in half at one cut with his sword was witnessed
by her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
and the members of the Court, at the Cavalry Barracks,
Windsor, died on Saturday last, and was yesterday
buried at Clever with military honours, the fine band of
the regiment playing the " Dead ga.rch iu Saul" as the
funeral cortege proceeded from the barracks to th,e grave.
Deceased was much respected in the regiment.
,SALTPETRE.—The prospects of war have led to in-
creased transactions in saltpetre, and within these two
days a rise of 2s. per cwt. has occurred upon the ad-
yo,ucecl prices of last week,