The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON,

ing period in 1846 to 118,1871. 3s. 7d. Of the in-
creased expenditure about i,OOO/. consisted of an
increase in the payments for taxes. The income had
exceeded the expenditure by the sum of 96,272/.95. 11d.
but of which sum the directors recommended to the
Court the payment to the proprietors of a dividend of
2i per cant. on the company's stock, amounting to
90,9571. 15s. 2d. The balance standing to the credit
of profit and loss was 300,2381. 105. 9d., from which
snm was to be deducted the amount of dividend,
90,9571. 15s. 2d., leaving a balance in favour of the
company of 209,2801. 15s. 7d. Of the balance thus
remaining at the credit of profit and loss the sum of
187,0941. 9s. 2d., consisted of the amount of outstand-
ing charges due to the company. on goods in the
warehouses. The stock of goods in the warehouses
on the 30th of Nov.last was 113,885 tons. At the same
period last year the quantity of goods was 112,205 tons.
The amount standing at the debit of new works was
96,811/. ss. 11d. The report concluded by the
directors recommending to the proprietors that the
sum of 75,0001. should be transferred from the
account to the credit of new works, whereby the
balance of the latter would be reduced to 21,811/.55.
11d. The new warehouses were at present all occu-
pied, and had been the means of materially increas-
ing the revenue of the company. The directors had
every reason to be satisfied with the portion of the
trade of London which found its way to the London
Docks, and they trusted that by a continuance of the
accommodation and security which they had so
largely provided, that the Docks would continue to
enjoy the confidence and favour of the commercial
community.
The CHAIRMAN then said that he should be happy
to give any explanations that any Hon. Proprietor
might wish to have.
W. WARD, Esq., wished to know whether the
directors had any objection to have a legal opinion
taken as to the legality of the proposed transfer of the
property of the annuitants to the capital stock of the
company ?
The CHAIRMAN said that he and his brother direc-
tors would be sorry to see the money of the com-
pany wasted in taking legal opinions upon subjects
which were better understood by the directors and
proprietors than they could possibly be by any pro-
fessional advisers The directors were anxious only
to adopt such measures as would tend to improve the
condition of the whole body of proprietors. The
present favourable state of the affairs of the company
could not by possibility have been brought about ex-
cept by the adoption of the measures which had been
recommended in past years by the directors.
MATTHEW CLARKE, Esq., thought that the ques-
tion before the court was to be treated in two points
of view—the expediency of So appropriating the
money, and the legality of so acting. With respect
to the legality of the course, he thought that there
was no doubt but that it was prefectly legal : with
regard to the expediency of the measure, the increased
business of the company and rate of dividend were
sufficient to answer every objection upon that score.
W. WARD, Esq., said that he had not the slightest
notion of derogating from the success of the dock
company, but he thought that the same success would
have been obtained from the increased accommodation
afforded by the company, if the means of obtaining that
accommodation had been obtained from other sources
than the property of the life annuitants.
J. \Vinson, Esq., did not see what beneficial result
could be obtained from having a legal opinion on the
subject; it would only have the effect of throwing a
firebrand among the proprietors. Ile thought that
as the company was now in a prosperous condition, it
would be the best policy to act upon the old maxim of
" leaving well alone."
The subject then dropped, and
The CHAIRMAN proposed that a dividend of 2i per
cent. should be paid, subject to the payment of the
income-tax.

M. CLARKE, Esq., wished to know whether the
income-tax was paid by the directors out of their
allowances.

The CHAIRMAN said that it was.

M. CLARKE, Esq., then moved, and J. WILSON,
Esq., seconded a motion, that the income-tax on the
salaries of the directors should be paid by the com-
pany.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for this additional
mark of respect towards the directors on the part of
the proprietors.
A resolution, authorising the transfer of 7.5,000/. for
the purpose of new works was agreed to, NV. Ward,
Esq., being the only dissentient.
In answer to a question put by a Shareholder,
The CHAIRMAN stated that the dividends would be
ready for payment on Wednesday next.
An HON. PROPRIETOR moved, "That for the future
the salary of the chairman should be increased to
300/. per annum, and that of the deputy-chairman
and treasurer to 280/. per annum."
After a short discussion on the ground that no
notice of the motion had been given, the resolution
was carried unanimously.
Mr. Julietti was then unanimously elected a direc-
tor of the company, in the room of Mr. J. Stuart,
who had resigned.
A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, awl
the meeting broke up.

ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE
FIRES AT LIVERPOOL.
(From the Liverpool Mercury of this day.)
Yesterday afternoon, about half-past three o'clock,
smoke was observed to issue, in dense quantities,
from the top story of Mr. Robertson Gladstone's
warehouse, in Union-court, nearest to Castle-street,
and immediately fronting the opening to Cook- street.
The alarm was, of course, immediately given, and,
being within a short distance of the fire police station,
Alr. Hewitt, with a body of the fire brigade, were in
a few minutes on the spot. Engines, water-carts,
&c., belonging to the fire police, and the West of
England fire-engine, were also speedily on the
ground.
The first efforts of Mr. Hewitt were, of course,
directed to raising a hose up the winding staircase to
the top of the warehouse, and this accomplished, the
water from the Green-lane Works was turned on
with full force, and poured a great stream into the
room. Could this have been directed at once to
the centre of the room, the seat of the fire, little
injury would have been done ; but as the warehouse
was closely packed with bags of East India sugar,
drums of figs, and boxes of raisins, the firemen
could not penetrate into theroom, and a dense suffo-
cating smoke prevented their remaining in one posi •
tion more than a few minutes. Although continuous
streams of water, from three of the stand pipes, were
thrown into thS room, it was evident, from the smoke,
that little effect was produced upon the fire ; and, after
an hour and a half of ineffectual labour, the flames burst
forth from the story beneath. This seemed to clear
the way for the operations of the tire brigade, and
a well directed branch appeared, for a time, to subdue
the raging element. In a short space of time, how
ever, the flames burst forth with renewed vigour, but
the position of the fire being exactly ascertained, little
time was lost in taking the necessary steps for its
speedy extinction. The firemen ascended the roof of
the building adjoining, which is a couple of stories
lower than the warehouse, and three large apertures
having been made in the wall on the left side, the
branches were introduced, and in a very few minutes
succeeded in subduing the flames. The efforts of the
firemen on the west were ably seconded by those on
the east, an opening having also been made in the
party wall (22 inches thick), which separated the
warehouse in which the fire originated from the one
adjoining. The fire was got under about half past
six o'clock.

We never witnessed a fire which so long defied the
united efforts of the fire police, aided as they were
from the beginning by a plenteous supply of water.
Any quantity of water could have been obtained,
and thousands of tuns were wasted from the inability
to ascertain the precise position of the flames. The
firemen to their credit risked life and limb, we do not
k now whether we ought to say in the most praise-
worthy manner. They bore up against the most dis-
agreeable fumes proceeding from the consuming fruit,
&c., until some of them, drenched to the skin, sank
on the ground, or reeled into the streets in a state of
insensibility.
Mr. Hewitt and Ms brother, George Hewitt, al-
ways present in danger, withstood the smoke until
they were compelled to lie down, and rallying again
renewed their efforts till they were crowned with
success.

Mr. Robertson Gladstone was on the ground during
the progress of the fire ; and amongst the gentlemen
who were present, and, to the best of their ability, as-
sisting the efforts of the police, were Mr. Rushton,
Mr. Henry Denson, Mr. Cooper, Mr. George Grant,
Mr. Bennett, and several other members of the Town
Council. Mr. Boult and Mr. Stone, of the Liverpool
Fire•offiee ; Mr. Dove, of the Royal Fire Insurance ;
aalnsdo Mra.t t
Whitehouse,aane;
a s of
was,the
also, Nest
Aoifr.
.EAnigalxa n 4,1
theere
inspector of salvages.
Mr. Quick, superintendent of the southern divi-
sion, who, in the absence of Mr. Dowling, from
indisposition, took charge of the police, deserves
especial notice for his exertions. Mr. Superin-
tendent Brown rendered essential service, as did
also Inspector Biddy and others of the police,
who deserve handsome rewards for their praise-
worthy efforts. In the absence of Mr. M'Donald who
is in London on the arbitration business, Mr. Macgill,
from the llarrington Waterworks, was in attendance,
directing the efforts of the turnkeys, the West of Eng.
land engine being en tirely supplied from the mains of the
Harrington Company. We have already stated that
the top story of the warehouse was filled with sugar,
raisins, and figs. The second story was occupied by
coffee, pepper, and other articles. The contents have
not been entirely destroyed ; but we are afraid they
are hopelessly damaged. The root tell in, but beyond
the two top stories, the flames did not extend down to

the property in other stories, from the immense floods
of water which were poured into them.
The building and goods are fully insured; but the
precise amount we could not, at the late hour at
which we are writing, ascertain.
The origin of the fire is, of course, a mystery.
Sugar, figs, and raisins, are not very inflammable
materials ; and there will, no doubt, be a strict in-
quiry into all the circumstances. The warehouse is
very subtantially built, but having been erected be-
fore ithe system of fireproofing was so generally
adopted, the joists, beams, and flooring are of wood.
Iron outer doors, cat-heads, &c., were added, how-
ever, after the passing of the Fire Prevention Act.
Since writing the above we have ascertained that
Mr. Duncan, the assistant-engineer of the corpora-
tion, was present, and directed the men in charge of
the stand-pipe belonging to the Green-lane 'Water-
works.

FIEF ON BOARD A SHIP IN THE VICTORIA DOCK.
—About five o'clock, and in the midst of the bustle
consequent upon the fire inUnion-court, intimation was
given of a fire on board a vessel in the Victoria Dock.
Mr. Redin, head superintendent of the north division,
and Mr. Superintendent Anders, with five of the
fire brigade, fire engines, &c., started immediately for
the dock, and, on arriving there, discovered smoke
issuing in dense; volumes from the fore hold of a
barque lying on the east side of the dock. The
vessel proved to be the Clutha, Captain Fergus,
which had arrived only on Wednesday, from Charles-
ton, full to the beams with cotton, and the deck also
crowded with large bales of the same article. It
was deemed advisable at once to remove the vessel
to the west side of the dock, and there an ineffec-
tual effort was made to subdue the flames. By
the direction of Mr. Garniss, assistant harbour-master,
the barque was then taken into the lock of the
Waterloo Deck, the water in which was immediately
lowered for the purpose of grounding the vessel. This
being accomplished, the barque was scuttled, several
holes having been made in her bottom. Whilst
they were able, the firemen stood upon the deck with
branches from two fire engines, and poured water down
the fore hatchway, but the heat became so intolerable
that they were at length compelled to retire and stand
on the quay, where they continued their efforts to
subdue the flames. In order that no portion of the
water might be wasted, holes were made on the
deck so that it might run into the hold. The
fire appeared to be near the upper deck, and,
therefore, the water coming in at the scuttle holes
had little or no effect. It was only by the streams
from the engines that the flames were prevented
from bursting forth. The volumes of smoke
were immense. Mr. Mason, the secretary, was in
attendance ; but we did not see any members of the
Dock Committee on the ground. The efforts of the
firemen were directed in a very orderly manner by
Superintendents Redin and Anders, aided by Inspec-
tors Moore, Burton, &c. &c. At the time we write
the tide is rising, and the smoke is becoming less
dense ; but we fear a great portion of the cargo will
either be destroyed, or very much damaged.
Fortunately there was no wind, or the consequences
might have been very serious. The origin of the lire
is, of course, at present a mystery. With the ex-
ception of the lanterns used by the customs' officers in
rummaging the vessel, no fire has been on board since
the Clutha docked. It is rather remarkable that the
fire should have been first niscovered, as w e are told,
in the place where the lanterns were used by the cus-
tom,' officers.

ELEVEN P.M.—The fire has at length been got
under, but the engines are still playing. The cargo
(cotton) keeps the vessel afloat, although there must
be a considerable depth of water in the hold.