The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-28 00:00:00

HEREFORD, ROSS, AND GLOCESTER.

---
Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company was
held at Hereford, Lieut.-Colonel Vaughan in the chair.
The SECRETARY read the directors' report, which re-
commended a dividend at the rate of 51. per cent, per
annum, less income-tax, on the amount paid on preference
shares, and also a dividend of 54. per share upon the
ordinary paid-up shares of the company, free of income-tax.
The report was adopted. '

EDINBURGH, PERTH, AND DUNDEE.
The report of the directors of this company states that
the revenue for the half-year ending the 31st of January
last arsounted to 89,533, ,land the expenditure to 46,4891 ,
leaving a balance of 43,044/. The directors recommta 1
dividend of 2s. 6d. per 251. share free of income-tax on the
ordinary stock, leAving a. surplus of 5,8031., which, to-
gether with a former balance of 2,6231. to meet contingen-
cies, makes 8,426/.

The London and North.We3tern, Midland, Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, and Great Northern Railway
Companies have issued a joint notice, intimating that th•
reduced fares between London and the various towns in
the Midland and Yorkshire districts will be withdrawn on
and after the let of March.

The directors of the Great Lnxernbenrg Company will re•
ceiva tenors until the 15th March fur the construction of
the portion of die line between a point near Sarinno and
Ciney, a distance of about 8 English miles.

LONDON LIFE ASSOCIATION.

An adjourned special general court was held yesterday
at the offices of the Association. King William-street, City,
for the purpose of taking a ballot on the question that, the
proceedinga and acts of the half-yearly general court on
the 23d January hest be confirmed. Mr Franks, the
chairman of the board of directoree presided.
The following ate the resolutions which stood for con.
firruetion :-
1. That the present series of members be closed ; and
that a second series of members be 'commenced, consisting
of such persons as shell make, or shall have made, any
pnposal for assurance on and after the first January, 1856.
That every member of the second series shall be considered
ou the same footing and be eotitle.i to the same privileges
as the members of the first Belies, according to the rules of
the society, except as relates to the reduction of prcrninm
to which such member shall be entitled after payment of
seven whole years' premiums, which-reduction shall be so
regulated, as that the rate thereof ehell in every year be
less by 10 per cent. of the premium, than the rate of re-
duction or abatement which shall be made in the saute
year to each member of the first series, •
2.' That this being the jubilee year of the association,
and the'off.iinatheraof_ Laing-in n
_very prosperous and sa-
tisfactory condition, a gratuity be given to the secretary
"WI clerks of finch an amount, audit' such proportions, as
the directors shell think fit.
Messrs Jones and Brotletick were apptiinted scrutineers.
During the time the ballot was proceeding, a 'yodel
court was held for the purp tsts stated in the following re-
quisition
" To the Directors of the Loudon Life Association.
" Ist February, 1856.
" We, the undersigned; being members of the London Life
Association, desire you will call a special meeting to con-
sider the propriety of dividing a part of the surplus funds
of the association among the pies 'nt Members by way of
bonus; and if' thought desirable, to pass any resolution's
accordingly—there appearing to be upwards of 200,0001.
unappropriated surplus funds, beyond our engagements,
according to the calculations of our actuary."
Mr. BAXTER said the first question for the consideration
of the meeting was, whether the association had any sur-
plus funds, and that was satisfactorily answered by the
resolutions passed by the directors, who proposed to make
a distinction between old and new assurers to the extent
"of 10hper cent. The value of that distinction had been
'stated by the actuary to amount to 930,000!. The balance- •
eheet showed a surplus of 215,000/. in addition to the sur-
plus admitted by the directors: He considered it right to
leave the 215,0001. as a reserve fund to meet the eventu-
alities of insurance, and induce new insurers to come in ;
but in his opinion the 230,000/. ought to he divided
amongst the old insurers. (Hear.) The directors recom-
mend.) this mole of division that the old insures. should
have 10 per cent. additional reduction on their premiums.
Now he contended that the money ought to go back into
the pockets of the members of the` eciety in the proportion
in wide's they had contributed. ith that view he pro-
posed a resolution. modifying some of the clauses of the
deed of settlement, and directed the 130.(:00/. to be divided
amongst the several assurers who wore memosrs of the
society on the 31st ll,cernber last, iu proportion to the
them
oLptrheenirriuoinv
to the policy, or in reduction of their premiums, or in cash.
tqiPonaielilt)hretrble-tymvereer :ft 7nl °.inndadhectiptiaoidn
Mr. ALLNUTT seconded the resolution.
•
amount
thuen
The CFIAIRMAN said the directors believed their recom-
mendations to be the best one for the interests of the
society. They did not agree with those gentlemen who
contended for the exist-nce of a surplus. On the contrary,
they maintained tle,t there was no surplus. But err=
supposirg the existence of a surplus, the directors main-
tained that the course proposed for its division was op- •
posed to the law and practice which had prevailed in the
association from its commenctment. (Hear, hear.,
there was any one thing wi ich had been the basis of every
contract made with the members, it was this—that there
should be an annual account takn of the position of the
society—that if there was a surplus it should be dividel
in shatenSent of premiums, and during the lives of the
members' entitled to participate, and that the legality of
declaring a bonus was altogether excluded. (Hear, hear.)
a» an amendment, that the
Mr. Wet. GARRETT moved,
words " according to the amount of policy" be substituted.
for the words "amount of premiums paid," in Mr. Bax-
WI 'a resolution,
The amendment was not seconded, 643c1 therefore fell to
the ground.
Mr. JOHN YOUNG opposel the resolution, and expressed
Ms approval of &the coarse proposed to be taken by
directors.
Mr. FIELD entertained considerable doubt as to the
he
tuartes not in
went, that it be referred to two eminent, ec
connection with any office end in conjunction with the
actual y of the ass, ciation to advise what plan of action it
would be just and equitable
for the association to pursue
course which ought to be taken, and moved, as an amen 4.
under present circumstances.
Mr. TI MPLII seconded the amendment, which was sup,
ported by professor KEY.
Mr. Alderman WIRE addressed the meeting in favour of
Mr. Baxter's motion.
Mr. CORRIE defended the course which had been taken
by the directors. •
Mr. Buneileat suggested that it would be better to re-
fer the whole question back to the directors, with a request
that they would, at a future meeting, lay some further in-
formation before the members on the subject ; the actuary
of the society being associated with two eminent actuaries ;
and also that the directors should consider whether in
point of law it was competent for the members of the asso-
ciation to act in the manner suggested by Mr. Baxter.
After some further discussion the amendment was put
and negatived. The original motion was then put,, and
the numbers were declared to be
For .Baxter's motion 95
Against it 7B
Majority in favour of the motion —l7
The proceedings terminated with the usual vote of
thanks to the chairman.
At the close of the ballot the members were--
-
Forthe confirmation of the directors re-
183
solutions
Against
confirm the
lisjol
beheld
rity
moAtitoonthcearnsipeedcibay

itllhiaem Carter,
coroner, held Red Cap
Tavern, Camberwell, on the body of James Speng,
aged
33. a carmen. It appeared that on Saturday last the de.
ceased was engaged in delivering some coals at Messrs.
SINGULARCABanEinOtiFuCeAT
All
Young's, of Denmark•hill, and %%bile going down the
ErlliTe.--sdaMv,r•Wat
area steps he suddenly fe'l, apparently not receiving the
slightest injury. He nas carried into the house, where
he expired shortly afterwards. Mr. Gaselee, surgeon,
who was called in, said that be found the deceased per.
fectly sensible, but evidently incapable of the slightest
motion and totally devoid of feeling ; the death had no
doubt been caused by the nnfortuaate man falling upon
hie head with only, perimps, a slight degree of violence.
but having at the time a heavy weight on his back. The
spinal marrow from some injury became compressed, and
rendered the living man a mere statue. Verdict—acel-
t dotal death.