The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-22 00:00:00

BANK OF AUSTRALASIA.
Yesterday the 1 alf-yearly meeting of this company
was held at the establishment in Austin Friars, and was
largely attended. Oliver Ferrer, Esq., presided.
Mr. MILLIKEN, the secretary, read the advertisement
calling the meeting.
The Cuarrtme;kr;said they were aware this meeting was
called in consequence of a resolution passed, and for en-
abling the directors to communicate anything of im-
portance to the shareholders as to the progress of the
bank. In this case the directors had nothing particular
to communicate ; it would therefore be his duty to give
a general outline of their progress since June. At
Sydney the affairs on the whole were in a satisfactory
state, and any loss there would be on the old transactions.
As to Launceston the directors were still in a state of
anxiety, and were sorry to say that one considerable
failure had taken place which might involve the bank in
a loss they did not anticipate. At Melbourne the busi-
ness had considerably improved, and if the other branches
had progressed in the same way, he should have had
to congratulate them on their prosperity. At Adelaide
there had also been a great improvement. The
branch at Hobart Town had done more business than in
the year before, neither was there a fear of any increased
loss in that quarter. He again repeated that the great
source of anxiety for the directors was the unfortunate
state of things in Launceston, but he hoped that, by the
attention of the directors, and a little more forbearance
on the part of the shareholders, affairs would right them
selves in that quarter, as well as elsewhere. There
was one fact of importance he would mention in respect
to the Bank of Australia, which was, that the papers
sent for had now arrived, and he hoped there was no
obstacle to their proceeding rapidly with the appeal be-
fore. the Privy Council, in which case he had no doubt
of the judgment being favourable to the shareholders.—
(Hear, hear.) Should this be the case, and they only
got over the affair of Launceston, there would be the
commencement of the prosperity of this company.
Mr. NEwsoac said a report was going about that their
loss just mentioned was about 60,000/.—(No, no.)
The CHAIRMAN replied, that the debts of the firm
were about 26,0001,, the loss upon which might be
10,0001.

Mr. NEWSOM said he understood the Bank of Aus-
tralia had made an offer to compromise the claim of this
establishment; if so, would it not be better than going
to law?—(Hear, hear, and " No, no.")
The CHAIRMAN observed that it would be very unwire
to stop now they were on the very threshold of a favour-
able judgment.—(Hear, hear.)
A SHAREHOLDER asked what guarantee they would
obtain for any compromise with the Bank of Australia?
He thought they should leave the matter to lie discre-
tionof the directors.

r Mr. J. WILSON was for leaving things in the• hands
of the directors, in whom he had every confidence—
(Hear, hear)—or he was willing to break up the cora-
pany.—(No, no.)
After some observations from Mr. BROWNRIGG, Mr.
NEWSOM, and other gentlemen,
Mr. WOOTTON moved a vote of thanks to the chairman
and directors, which was seconded, and passed without
opposition, when the meeting adjourned.
•

DEATH OF THE LANDGRAVE OF HEssE.—The
Frankfort Journal, under the date of Carlsruhe, Dec. 10,
announces the death of the Landgrave of Hesse that
evening. He was born in 1779. He is succeeded by his
younger brother, Gustavus Adolphus Frederick, born in
1781.

• CAUTION TO COUNTRY INNKEEPERS.--Innkeepers
in the country will do well to be on their guard against
the proceedings of a gang of fellows, members of the
London swell mob, who are supposed to be travelling
about the country committing plunder in all directions.
Various cases have come to the knowledge of the police,
and on Friday they succeeded in committing another
robbery of the same character at Esher, and to a very
considerable amount. Between four and five o'clock in
the evening of that day four well-dressed men drove up
with a horse and cart to the Three Mariners public-
house in that village, kept by Mr. Shorter, and called for
some gin and water at the bar, and after a short time
two of the fellows said they had some business to trans-
act in the neighbourhood, and wished the others to await
their return, and then left the house. The two who
remained contrived to divert the attention of the land-
lady while the other two were no doubt engaged in
committing the robbery, and, having effected their
object, they rejoined their companions, and all four got
into the cart and drove off towards town. The landlady,
upon going up stairs a few minutes afterwards, disco-
vered that the bedroom had been forced open, and the
drawers ransacked, and 451. in gold and silver and a
quantity of jewellery and plate had been stolen. A
mounted messenger was dispatched in pursuit of the
cart, and he traced it to Kingston, when, finding there
was no chance of his overtaking the men from the dis-
tance they had got in advance, he returned to Esher, and
the fellows consequently escaped with their booty.
COAL WANTED AT NEWCASTLE.--One of the many
difficulties which have beset us since the storm set in is
a want of coal for the consumption of the town. The
Manors depot, at the railway terminus, was beseiged on
Monday with claimants for this necessary article ; but
such was the state of the line from whence the supply
should come, that no waggon could travel, and it was not
until four o'clock, that any could be procured, and
then only a small quantity arrived. it is understood,
however, that the colleries have plenty on hand,—
Local Paper.

STIEVEYING NO JOKE.--PRESENTATION OF PISTOLS.
—A. somewhat ludicrous occurrence took place the other
day. at the fashionable town of Leamington, where, as is
usual in other places which have so rapidly progressed
in public estimation, the inhabitants look with njealous
eye on any projected innovation at all calculated to
destroy existing advantages. It so happened, however,
that a short time since a juvenile surveyor, employed on
the liugby and Leamington line, armed to the teeth
with the insignia of office—flags, chains, bill-heolis,
Stc.—had the temerity, with two or three subordinate
officers, to march through the nursery gardens of Mr.
Cullis, an old and respected tradesman of the 'place ;
of course the damage done was considerable, and the
captain of the cross-staff and his gallant band having,
unguardedly, left their weapons on the enemy's plan-
tations, immediate possession of them was taken by Mr.
Cuhis. Upon returning to the field of action the fact
was discovered by the aggressors, and an order to " stand
and deliver" was formally made to Mr. C., who, in his
turn, insisted upon " an interview" with the commander
of the men before he would consent to a surrender, and
ere long, having retired into his castle just by, he was
bearded by one of the group, who, with a regular
"North-Western " pufl; demanded restoration of the
property. After a war of words, Mr. Cullis invited his
assailant into his strong-hold, and selecting from his
armoury a brace of pistols, loaded ready for priming,
placed them before his antagonist, and requested him to
" prime, and take his choice," so that their differences
might be speedily adjusted. Such treatment as this had
not been anticipated, and it is scarcely necessary to say
the adventurers precipitately retreated, leaving behind
them the spoils, which were not given up until an ami-
cable treaty was " signed, sealed, and delivered," at the
head-quarters of the company.
EXTENSIVE FIRE IN TIIE STRAND.---ThiS morning
about one o'clock au extensive fire broke out.in the
shop of Crow and Co., woollen-drapers, coiner of
Bedford-t-treet, Strand.. For haltan, hour the ffremen
used their utmost exertions, and finally succeeded in
arresting the progress of the flames by
.two o'clock, but
the interior .of the house and a great deal of stock were
destroyed.

THE FORTIFICATIONS AT SHEERNESS.—DECEM-
BER 21.—Since we last reported progress these works
have continued to advance rapidly. Indeed, from the
nature of the works, being for the most part composed of
turf and clay, the winter months are quite favourable for
their construction, at least so long as such intense frosts
as we experienced during the last week, and which al-
most entirely put a stop to further progress for the
time; keep away. The large and formidable battery
opposite the dockyard gate, facing seaward, is now com-
plete, with the exception of the curtain or parapet wall,
which will shortly be proceeded with, after which beds
for the platforms of from 40 to 50 guns will be laid
down. The musketry walls connecting the battery on
the one hand to the old works at Garrison-point, and
the other to the land defences, are also complete, and
present an excellent specimen of substantial workman-
ship. These land defences, which extend continuously
from the Thames to the Medway, interrupted only by
the drawbridge to Mile-town, are in course of being re-
paired and heightened by the soil procured in the
deepening of the moat which protects them. The ex-
cavations
for the meat which surrounds the new bat-
tery, and which have been continued northward as far
the second angle of the old fortifications; and southward
into the moat surrounding the land defences, are very
nearly completed, and workmen are now engaged in some
parts banking it up with rubble stone. The greatest
number of men are, however, engaged in the construc-
tion of the ravelin on the Mile-town side of the draw-
bridge, round which the moat is to be conducted, thus
rendering a second drawbridge necessary. The excava-
tions for this extension of the moat intersect an old
convict burying-ground, in which, it is stated, reposo
the remains of the notorious Parker, the mutineer. The
ravelin iscalculated to be able to contain 3,000 men.
The repairs and alterations of the old works are com •
pleted, the beds for the traversing platforms of the guns
are all laid down, and nothing now remains to hinder
the immediate mounting of the guns. The magazines
are in course of being filled with powder, large quanti-
ties having been ordered to be kept in store. New bar-
racks, capable of containing 1,000 men, are to be erect( d
in the neighbourhood of the present. The plans and
specifications are out, and we mistake if by this time the
contract is not taken, . a party of Sappers and Miners
having been for some time employed over on the Isle of
Grain shore boring and sounding for a foundation for
three Martello towers intended to be erected there.

HAZARD OF WEARING A GOLD RING.—A young
man last week appeared before the magistrates of Hali-
fax, under an affiliation summons, and while admitting
his liability pleaded poverty; but unfortunately for him,
he happened to raise his hand to smooth down his hair
from before his eyes, when one of the magistrates
espied, on the little finger of the defendant, a gold ring,
and an order for 2s. a week was made soon after, appa-
rently in consequence of the presence of the ring.—
Manchester paper.

. .
REMARKABLE ARRIVAL.—A vessel arrived in the
West India Docks from Calcutta, had on board, in ad-
dition to an extensive cargo of East India produce, 71
cases of champagne, 53 cases of sherry, 15 cases of
claret, and 25 cases of red wine. It is well known to
be a constant practice to ship wines for the round, as it
is termed, that is, for a voyage to the East Indies and
back, which vastly improves the quality, and frequently
raises its value full 300 per cent., but this is generally
confined to sherries in casks. and wine the produce .of
the Cape of Good Hope, and we are not cognisant that
cased wines, especially of the valuable deucription men-
tioned; have beenhitherto subjQcted to a similar process
for the same purpose.