The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-30 00:00:00

,SURREY GALDENS.

Yesterday an extraordinary meeting of tho share-
holders of this company was held in the refreshment
room of the Music Hall, for the purpose of receiving the
report of the direct )rs, relative to their proceedings up
to the 10th of October last, and to submit tkeir plan fir
future arrangements ; and also the deciaratii)Th of o
dividend. Mr. Thomas Knox Holmes occupied the
chair.

This meeting created considerable interest, i❑ conse-
quence of the recent calamity at these gardens, and the
propriety of the directors permitting their use for pur-
poses for which they were not intended.
The balustrades have been repaired, but the recom•
mendation of the jury has not been fully complied with,
though the new iron railings arc fast locked in iron an
chors cemented with lead to the stone work, which pre-
caution was stated on inspection by competent survey-
ors t be sufficient, the entire stability of the building,
from the tests it has received, being free from all doubt.
Tt e CHAIRMAN said that a few days ago the report of
the directors had been circulated amongst the sharehold-
ers, and he thought that it bad given them general satis-
faction. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the accounts,
it had been thought desirable to abstract only so much
as really affected the income of the company. Gentle-
men who were conversant with works of this character
were aware that the expenditure of capital was confined
to the purchase of property, to building, and charges of
that description, and that such capital was represented
by what was commonly called stock. The principal
question to deal with at a meeting with reference to
dividend was the amount received from those sources of
revenue which the company always hoped to maintain,
and for that reason the accounts now presented were not
in the form of a balance sheet, which would be laid be-
fore the proprietor at the annual meeting, but merely
referred to the income of the company. The amount
paid for music, vocalists, salaries, and all the current
expenses connected with the gardens was 10,4681. ss.
3d., and there was due to the company the sum of 9681.
7s. 9d. On the other hand, the receipts had amounted
to 12,6381. 18s. sd. for admissio❑ to the various perfor-
mances, and the amount received on the sale of cham-
pagne, cigars, and refreshments generally, was 7121. 15s.
Bd., leaving a balance in favour of the company of 1,9161
is. 4d. He trusted that the simple statement would
be most gratifying. (Hear.) It was impossible to
00ok an account of that sort. There was no abstract
question of premises, or buildings, or additions there-
to. It was a simple account of the moneys received
at the gates and the galleries, and the number of
admissions would appear in the balance-sheet at the end
of the year. It should be recollected that the whole of
the amount received had been taken during a period of
the year when London, to a certain extent, had emp-
tied itself, and that class of society from whom the direc-
tors always anticipated great support, and who, as far
as they had remained in town, had accorded that sup
port. The amount received from that class had far ex-
ceeded his anticipations. (Hear.) He would now
make a few remarks with reference to the course which
the directors had pursued during the ten weeks which
the gardens had been opened. The directors thought it
advisible in a❑ establishment of this nature—possessing
the finest music hall in Europe, not only in form and
convenience, but for the conveyance of sound —to open
the gardens with a festival which in magnitude had never
been excelled and seldom equalled in this country. They
did not consider whether they should derive a benefit
from that festival ; they had two objects in vie ee. The
one was to bring from the musical cities of the world par-
ties who would be able to speak of the success of the
undertaking in their own country ; the other was to in-
duce the great singers who had hithertho held them-
selves too lofty to sing to the million to come forward and
take part in the selections of M ..Jullien. (Hear, hear.)
He had been informed, and he believed quite correctly,
that previously to the erection of this hall Madame
Alboni had never sung at a concert where the
price of admission was less than a guinea.
The experiment had established the fact, that
the greatest professional singers did not object
to sing to those who were willing to pay for hearing
them. (Hear.) He did not wish to hold out the pro-
spect of an enormous dividend, but the dividend which
they were about to declare that day would be paid out
of the bona fide receipts of ten weeks, after paying all
the enormous expenses of the festival week. (Hear.) It
was unnecessary for him to descant on the pleasures of
music or the benefits which society would derive fie m in-
stitutions of this nature, for there were many gentlemen
present who were more able to do so than himself. He
would simply confine his observations to the finances of
the company, and the unfortunate calamity which had
occurred last Sunday week. On hearing of the accident
he immediately came down to the building, and on the
next day, with the very able assistance of Mr. Jones,
ascertained the superficial contents of the galleries, of
the body of the hall, and of the different exits. He had
also felt it his duty to attend the inquest from its com-
mencement to its close, and felt bound to state that
the more he looked into the provisions against such an
accident, the more was he convinced of the super-
excellence of the building. (Hear.) He had obtained
measurements of most of the principal theatres and
other places of public entertainment in London. It
would be unjust towards those who had afforded him
facilities for acquiring this information to specify
it in detail. He would treat them as a whole, and
felt bound to say that this building, in proportion to
the number of persons it would contain, could deliver
them in one tenth of the time that would be occupied
in any other budding. (Hear, hear.) This was a
very simple proposition. There were exits from the body
of the hall on the ground floor to the extent of 145 feet.
Now, assuming that the hall was completely filled, and
that the persons divided themselves so as to flow out
equally at each exit, the building could be emptied in 40
seconds. There was no comparison between the facilities
of egress afforded by this hall and Exeter Hall ; and he
mentioned the latter because it had been occupied by Mr.
Spurgeon for a similar purpose. He believed the danger
arising from a panic would be as great if the whole of
one side of the building could be thrown open as in a
more confined space, and that was distinctly proved by
the evidence before the jury ; for the whole of the per-
sons who met their death were withi❑ six feet of the

door of the gallery at the time. They fell on the first
flight of stairs, and so falling were crushed. It was dis-
tinctly proved that no death had been caused by the
giving way of the balustrades. On the contrary, their
giving way eased the pressure, as was proved by one of
the witnesses who was on the fl ,or at the time. It did
not require either an immense number of persons or a
narrow space to cause death in the event of a panic; for,
in this case, the very persons who were not crowded
together were those who lost their lives, and his belief
was that, if a sudden panic seized a crowd at the top of
the steps leading to the Duke of York's Column, and
they hastened down those steps with peat rapidity, los'
of life would be the result. (Hear, hear) Comparatively
speaking the number of lives lost was small, fur a short
time previously, in a panic which occurred at a Jewish
synagogue in ,
5 Warsaw,oo.o
not( leeasrs.
) thanT The jury,
lives were lost in a
congregation of
i
their verdict at the inquest appended a recommendation
that an alteration should be made in the staircase. His
opinion was that no alteration and that no ihnudmealinvefroirneg-
sight could prevent an accident from unforeselk causes.
At the same time it was due to the jury, who iffd inves-
tigated the case with the greatest circumspection, with
an entire absence of hostility to any one, and without
reference to the preaching of Mr. Spurgeon, to say that
the directors felt bound to attend to that recomrnenda-
wastnhuo,rt
tohnbellyputhbelicdesireof
amusementtli
tion as far as it was in their power to do so. (Hear.)
views of theppuubileics,abfuettyi.t was their
Independently of that, ,t
ce:nts7clenrgthee directors bad requested
directors to meet the
tdhuetyy
wereto do
bsoot,mf
do r
to
(Hear.)
Mr.
Jones Entertaining
to
tmhaereoapsiunriovneys, of the four tower-, and make
a report in reference to any alterations which he might
think it desirable to suggest. A sketch has been pre-
pared by Mr. Jones and estimates were in preparation,
and he trusted that it would be satisfactory to the share,- '
holders to know that the expense of altering the staircases
would
would g
be mosttrifleit ridng— of the narrowness ab out 7noal.rteoawchn
J.
emovese,cthuotf
co M-
equal on 0 f
the
proposed
alteration
small
endnot
onlyo
of the
isdteerp,inanthd
the
themselves,
es would be,
from one end to the other—in other words, in their width
r words, there would
be a succession of square steps. (Hear,)
said, this could be done at a small As he had already
expense, and it was
the universal wish of the directors to carry out the im-
provement. (Hear.) Nothing
could exceed the stability
of the building, the
manner in which it had been
executed, and the accommodation which it afforded to
the public. It bad been
most minutely inspected by
Mr. Mullins, the district surveyor, and Mr. Tyler, who
felt the importance of having
a report from an impartial
m
person not connected with the building,•
having addressed
a letter to that gentleman on the subject, had received
the following reply :

" Brixton, Oct. 28, 1856.
"Dear Sir,—Absence from home has prevented me
from replying
to yours of the 25th earlier, but I have
much pleasure in bearing my testimony to the stability
of the Music.hall at the Surrey-gardens when I inspected
it in my official capacity of district surveyor after the
late melancholy accident. The building must have been
severely tested without showing the slightest sign of
failure in any part, if I except a few balustrades being
di-placed in the lower part of one of the staircases.—
I am, sir, yours truly, "JOHN MULLINS.
" W. Tyler, Eq., Manager."
He (the chairman) trusted that the shareholders and the
public would continuo to believe that it was the inten-
tion of the directors to carry out their professions.
Within 16 weeks from their becoming possessors of the
soil the building rose to its present grandeur, and not-
withstanding the hurry and difficulties which frequently
arose after contracts ware signed, he was happy to say
the directors never had a difference of opinion with the
architect or the builder. (Hear, hear.) He concluded
by moving a re,olution to the effect that the report be
received and adopted, and that a dividend of 5 per cent.
for the half-year ending January 1, 1857, being at the
rate of 10 per cent. per annum, be paid to the
shareholders upon the shares now issued and fully
paid up previous to the let January next, and that all
future dividends be payable on the let July and the Ist
January in each year. (Hear, hear.)
The motion having been seconded,
Dr. LEvEH inquired if the 5 per cent, was clear of the
income tax' _

The Cu tiameN replied in the negative.
A PROPRIETOR inquired the amount of shares paid up.
The CHAIRMAN replied that in round numbers the
amount paid up was 32,000/.

The resolution was then put and agreed to.
Dlr. CoPPOCK, on the part of the directors, wished
briefly to state their intention as to the luture. They
intended to make the building in its arrangements and
details much more complete than it was at present, and
to dive increased conveniences to the public visiting the
gardens. They intended to improve the means of accese
to the building, add to carry out those alterations to

y~ ~..,

which the chairman had alluded as' having been rendered
desirable in consequence of the late accident. (Hear,
near.) They trusted that during the winter the ball
I would not remain unproductive, but that it would be
turned to profitable ace,itint. That was one of the rea-
sons fc.r accepting the (der of Mr. Spurgeon, who was
to
,pay 151. for the use of the hall on each Sunday,
which was at a rate equal to a profit of about 2& per
cent. It was intended to let the hall throughout the
week for pure and legitimate purposes. A plan was
before the directors for the formation ;of a choral
society, and arrangements were in progress for the
Introduction of amusements into different parts of the
;ardens, which would attract visitors without the neces-
sity of their remaining so long. It was their intention
-o carry out the scheme honestly and fairly. There had
seen no cooking of the accounts and there would be none.
(Hear.) Although the labours of the directors had been
great, they had been repaid for their trouble in witness-
ing the success of the undertaking. There had never
been a more honest undertaking brought before the pub-
lic, and the directors had never attempted by any kind
if jobbing to press it forward by any unfair means.
Nearly the whole of the shares had been disposed of, and
he was convinced that they would soon be at a consider-
able premium, (Hear.) The undertaking would not only
produce a large revenue to the shareholders, but it would
afford the means of the most wholesome amusement to
the public at large. (Hear.) He could not sit down
without acknowledging the obligations of the directors to
the magistrates and the poiice of the district, and p
cularly to Superintendent Lund—(hear)—who, whenever
his other duties permitted, was continually on and about
the premises, seeing that his men were p.-operly placed,
and giving them such directions as enabled them to per'
form their duties in a most satisfactory manner. (Hear.)
The public had every confidence in the undertaking,
and he believed that on future occasions not only would
a dividend equal to the present be declared, i.i'ut that
that the directors would be able to present a Lonus,
which in the course of a very few years would repay
all the principal. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. FLEMING wished to know in what position the
directors stood with regard to Mr. Spurgeon, and wile;
ther he would be permitted to preach in the hall agt,ie
Mr. CoPPoCK replied that a contract had been entered
into for letting the hall, but they had heard nothin,C
since the accident. If the shareholders wished to eV
press any opinion OR the subject, they were at liberty
to do so, but he thought it would be better to suspend
any inquiry as to the state of the contract to which he
had alluded. (Hear, hear.) It would be mach better
to leave the matter in the hands of the directors.
Mr. FLEMING complained that the original intention
had been departed from, by letting the gardens to e
popular preacher.
Mr. WYLD, the late M.P. for Bodmin, defended the
conduct of the directors.
Mr. OAKES, formerly mayor, and still one of the me:
gistrates of Gravesend, approved of all the directors had
done, and cordially supported the resolution.
M. JULLIEN said no place of amusement for purely
vocal and musical performances, with which he had been
connected throughout Europe, was superior to the Surrey
Music Hall.
After some discussion,
Mr. WESTON, the auditor, said the accounts bad been
most accurately kept.
Mr. CorPocic said he was hound to say that the exa"
tions of Mr. Superintendent Lund and the police, on
the occasion of the late calamity, deserved their highest
approbation.
A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the
meeting separated.

NEW PASSPORT REGULATIONS FOB

RUSSIA.

The following ukase relative to the entry into
Russia of foreign foremen, workmen, dec., has ills",
been published at St. Petersburg :
" In virtue of the ukase of his Majesty the Enver°,
the senate has received the report of the Minister of the
Interior, of July 21, of this year, relative to the imperial
ordonnance published in a ukase of the senate, dated
Sept. 9, 1847, concerning the formalities to be observe
u
in regard to the entry within the limits of the emPire
of foreign workmen and apprentices engaged bct
Russian manufacturers and tradespeople. Acoor
ing to this ordonnance Russian manufacturers and
tradesmen are to be responsible for the persti/
engaged by them, and must present a sPec
police authorisation for the admission of these foreigner
into Russia.
" His Majesty has now been pleased to order as fel-
lows :—Henceforth the Russian embassies, legatioos,a
and consulates are authorised to deliver, as they ralv
deem necessary, and without demanding a prelimina%
permission of the Russian authorities, to all foreigner,
without distinction, certificates, and passports of entry
within the limits of the empire, with the following e",'
.
ceptions :
" 1. Persons whose entry into Russia is specially Pr°.
hibited by the Government.
" 2. Persons with regard to whom Russian etnbasstie.„6
legations, or consulates, possess denite information 0" ."
unsatisfactory character.
"3. Gipsies, organ players, hawkers of drugs a
statuettes, and vagrants generally.
"As in virtue of these new arrangements resPecti
ing passports, the measures of general safety require
by the ukase of the senate of Oct. 21, 1847, relative
to the entry of foreign foremen and workmen (by the
terms of which our manufacturers and tradesmen who
were to be answerable for the foreigners whom they em-
ploy, and were bound to present, in order to obtaio
their entry, a police certificate) become useless—the
Minister of the Interior refers the matter to the Senate,
in order that they may take the necessary steps t°
abolish the said measures."