The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-12 00:00:00

NOR FOLK.

A special meeting of this company was held yesterday
at the office, Lombard-street, to consider a bill, in coin.
pliance with the standing orders of the House of Lords—
Mr. Till in the chair.
The sfdicitor read the heads of the bill to authorise the
Norfolk Railway Company to subscribe 30,0001. to the
Wells and Fakenhatu Railway, and in respect of that sub-
scription to hold 1,500 shares in the latter company, with
all the rights and privileges attached thereto.
Sir S. M. PETO explained that the cost of the line would
not exceed 8,0001. per mile, including land and works, and
when it was considered that the railway would pass through
one of the richest agricultural districts in the kingdom he
was sure they would not think the Norfolk Company was
incurring any serious responsibility in subscribing 30,0001.
towards the construction of the line.

The resolution approving the bill was unanimously
adopted.

ROYAL SWEDISH RAILWAY.—It is under,tood the di-
rectors of this company have resolved that, unless a
sufficient amour t of preference stock be subscribed to
insure the completion of the 45 miles which constitute
the first portion of the line and the discharge of the lia-
bilities of the company, a meeting will be called with the
view of returning the money already partially deposited.
WELLS AND FAKENHAM RAlLWAY.—Yesterday an
extraordinary general meeting of the proprietors of this
railway was held at the officeP, 69, Lombard-street, to
consider aLd approve a bill now before Parliament for
giving such powers to the Norfolk Railway Company as
are mentioned in the report of the meeting of that com-
pany. Sir. S. 111. Peto in the chair. The bill was una-
nimously sanctioned.
MUSIC AT THE ANTIPODES.—Mrs. Anna Bishop was
still the vocal star in the ascendant at the Prince of
Wales Theatre, Sydney, in the beginning of March.
She bad met with success scarcely second to that of
Catherine Hayes, who bad the advantage of priority in
her visit to Sydney. The fair Anna, it is alleged,
seemed to bear the loss of her "musical director," Mr.
Bochsa, with composure. Strange that the great
harpist should have ended his days in that out-of the-way
part of the globe. Mrs. Bishop was well supported by
a Mr. Spagnoletti, who claims to be the son of the
once celebrated leader at her Majesty's Theatre, Hay-
market. _ _ _

- -
ROBBERY OF GOLD.—It has been discovered that
some of the boxes brought by the la,t West India
steamer, purporting to be filled with gold, contain
only lead and shot. The amount of the deficiency at
present ascertained is about 9,0001. A portion having
been sent to Pdris, the result was communicated to
this side, and an examination on behalf of the consignees
to-day at the Bank of England demonstrated the extent
of the fraud. The boxes came from the interior of New
Granada, and were shipped at Carthagena.
MADAME TUSSAIJD'S EXHIBITION.—Among the many
criminals here exhibited few have caused such intense
interest and curiosity as the portrait model of William
Palmer, during the few days which it has been sub-
mitted to public inspection. The very lengthened trial,
and the position held by the criminal, as well as the
number of supposed victims, has excited a most unusual
interest. The figure is most life-like, and admirably ex.
ecuted.

HEREDITARY PENSIONS.—An important document has
just been printed by order of the House of Lords, show-
ing the expenditure of 213,1771. ls. 2d. for the purchase
of hereditary pensions. The present Duke of Grafton
had a pension on the Excise revenues of 7,191/. 12s. net,
granted by letters patent of Charles 11. in 1673 to the
Earl of Southampton, the Earl of Euston, and tke Earl of
Northumberland, with cross remainders. The gross pen-
sion was. 9,000/. a year, and the government has redeemed
it from the Duke of Grafton for 190,777/.135. 2d. Another
pension of 1,000/., reduced t.) 720/., to the Duke of Schom-
berg on the Post Office, payable to C. Eyre, E,q., has
been purchased by the government for 19,399/. Bs. 10J.
granted by letters patent of 1 Geo. I. comprising letters
patent of William and Mary. The pension was 40001.,
with a right of redemption for 100,0001., so that Mr.
Eyre's share would have been 25,0001., but it was ob-
tained for 19,3991. Bs., or 5,600/. 12s. less. The redemp-
tion money in the first pensio❑ was calculated at 26,945
years' purchase, that being the rate at which Earl Cow-
per's pension on the Excise revenue was purchased in
1853.
THE INDIAN DEPARTMENT OF CANADA.—There have
just been published copies of recent correspondence on the
alterations of the organisation of the Indian Department
in Canada. These letters refer to a report from Mr. Oli-
phant, relative to the surrender of certain Indian lands
on Lake Huron, with remarks on the prospects of the
Indians i❑ Canada, and to a report from Viscount Bury
on the state and prospects of the Indians, and the
measures for the withdrawal of the aid hitherto granted
by the Imperial Parliament. It appears that the yearly
average of the sums voted for defraying the expense of
the Indian Department in Canada during the seven
years from 1849 to 1855 was 12,8831., and the average
of the sum actualiy expended 11,061/. a-year. It has long
been settled that the general " presents" to the tribes, in
progress of annual reduction, shall cease in 1857, and
this decision the Colonial-office declines to alter, seeing
that a continuance of the presents was not required by
good faith, and that it in nowise conduced to the wel-
fare or civilisation of the Indians. The Indian Depart-
ment will still be maintained, and the Colonial Secretary
thinks it probable that Parliament will not object to an
application for a sum not exceeding 3,000/. a-year in
aid of the department, and for the purchase of provisions
and gunpowder during a period of two or three years
subsequent to the cessation of the presents.

CAMDEN-TOWN FREE RAGGED SCHOOL.—Last even-
ing the eighth annual meeting of the friends and sup-
porters of this institution was held in the Vestry•hall,
King's-road, Camden-town ; F. T. S:reeten, Esq., senior
churchwarden, occupied the chair. The report stated
that in the infant and juvenile day schools there were
455 on the books ; the average attendance being 360.
The Sunday schools were usually attended by 180 ;
there were 60 boys in the evening school, 45 being the
average attendance. In the girls evening school there were
152 ; average attendance, 78. In the boys' industrial
classes tailoring and shoemaking were taught. During
the year penny lectui es had been established, and were
attended by 1,502 —of whom 1,094 paid one penny
each. A penny bank bad been established, and 541. bad
been deposited during the year, of the money of the
boys who bad obtained employment. Some had been
promoted in the militia because they could read and
write. The expenditure exceeded the revenue by 31. The
report having having been unanimously adopted, Mr. J.
M. Clabon and Mr. T. Payne addressed the meeting ;
after which the Rev. W. J. Langdale proposed a vote of
thanks to the chairman, and the meeting separated,