The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-16 00:00:00

STAR PACKET COMPANY.

The annual general meeting of the proprietors of
this company was held yesterday in the large room
of the Clarendon Hotel, Gravesend.
JAMES HARMER. Esq., of Ingress Abbey, chairman
of the board of directors, having taken the chair,
called upon Mr. Dobson, secretary to the company,
to read the auditors' report, which, the chairman
added, would preclude the necessity of his making
any observations on the condition of the company
affairs for the season just terminated, as it would
speak for itself. _ _ _

The report of the auditors, as read by Mr. Dobson,
the secretary, was to the effect that the gross receipts
of the year ending the 30th September, 1851, to-
gether with a balance in hand from 1850, amounted
to 22,4241.13 x., the gross expenditure, 19,0011.133.2 d.,
leaving a balance in favour of the company of
3,422/.195. 10d. That out of that balance 1,4081.133.2 d.
had been paid to Messrs. Miller and Ravenshill in
liquidation of their claim ; and that a net balance of
2,014/. 63. Bd. remained to be applied to the pay-
ment of a dividend and the liquidation of the last in-
stalment of the cost of the Jupiter. This announce-
ment having been received with applause, the secre-
tary then read the directors' report, recommending
the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent., which would
leave a large balance, part of which they recom-
mended to be applied to the payment of the last in-
stalment for the cost of the Jupiter. It further
stated that the Star boats bad, in the five months of
May, June, July, August, and September, conveyed
873,000 passengers, exclusive of the season tickets
and of those to and from the piers between Blackwall
and Gravesend ; that but for the uncalled-for reduc-
tion of the fares from 9d. and Is. to 6d. and 91. there
would have been a much larger balance to the credit
of the company, but that still a large balance was ap-
plicable to the dividend proposed, and to other pur-
poses to be decided on by the proprietorA.—(Cheers.)
The reports were adopted by acclamation ; the
directors, auditors, and other officers of the past year
re-elected; thanks voted with equal acclamation to
the chairman; and the meeting separated in high
spirits at the prosperous condition of the company.

THE CHIEF MAGISTRACY OF EMNBURGH.—A very
warm contest is proceedinr in Edinburgh, for the distin-
guished post of the chief magistrate of the capital of Scot-
land. In addition to Mr. Macfarlan and Mr. M'Laren, who
have been before the town council as candidates for some
time, Mr. Grainger, civil engineer, and president of the
Royal Scot'ish Society of Arts, his been brought forward.
" We have thus," says the Cc. 7ed nr:soi Mercury, " three
gentlemen aspiring to the first municipal dignity, and all
highly respected citizen:, who have previously borne a part
in public affairs. Mr. Macfarlan and Mr. M‘Laren can each
point to a long career o; public service. Mr. Grainger, also,
is no exception in this resoect, for he has been in the town
council, and also for the long period of seventeen years in
the improvements commission, in the affairs of which body
he bore an active and very efficient share. Mr. Grainger
will be a formidable competitor for the office of Lord Pro-
vost, and we dare say, if he had started at. the outset, his
chances of success would have been all but certain. That
he is well qualified for the office
and the same may be said of Mr. Al,..cfarlan and Mr.
APLaren, for they are all veterans in our municipal annals,
having been each returned to the first town council that as-
sembled under the Burgh Reform Act in 1833. The three
candidates have been consistent in their Liberal opinions, and
they all take their stand in supporting the scheme of the
town council for the equitable adjustment of the annuity-tax.
This is an important fact, and proves, whatever may be the
issue of the present municipal contest, that the citizens are
singularly unanimous on the annuity-tax question. It is
possible, though not very probable, that a fourth candidate
for the chief magistracy may yet appear."

- - - -
SUITORS IN COUNTY COURTS,--An interesting re-
turn, and one of general importance, respecting the ex-
penses of actions in County Courts, was printed among the
papers ordered by the House of Lords.. It will be seen that
considerable fees can be saved by suitors agreeing without a
public hearing. The costs of an ordinary defended action,
for any amount between 201. and 1;01., are 3/ lls. Bd.; for
any action not exceeding 1/. the costs are 6s. 4d.; above 2/.
and not exceeding 20/., the expense is 3s 7d. in the pound.
About half only of the causes in which plaints are entered
are tried, and by that means the suitors in cases between
20/. and 50/. save the hearing fee of 21. 3s. 4d., and the
bailiff's fee of ls. Bd., together 21. bs., thereby reducing
the costs to 11. 6s. Sd. In any case where a counsel or an
attorney is employed, the above costs do not include the
coats of witnesses. In no case under Si. are the costs of coun-
sel or attorneys allowed. Thus it will be seen that parties,
by arranging as to terms, and profiting by the hint
can natezially lessen the expenses.