The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 21, 1861.

METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL
BANK (Limited).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, That no application for
Shares in this Company will be received after To-morrow
(TUESDAY), the 22d instant.
By order of the Board.
J. POPE Mx, Secretary.
Temporary Offices,
27, Gresham-street, E.C.

. -
BANK OF DEPOSIT.
(Est ablished A.D. 1844.)
• 'No. 3, PALL MALL EAST. LONDON.
Prospectuses and Forms.. for Opening ,:ccounts sent free
on application.
PETER MORRISON, Managing Director.

Office of the Gas Light and Coke Company,
Horseferry-road, Westminster,
lOth October, IS6I.
DO HEREBY GIVE NOTICE, That, pur-
suant to the sth By-Law of this Company,
JOHN WILLIAM SIMPER, Esq.,
JOHN SALE BARKER, Esq., and The present Auditors,
WILLIAM HOPWOOD, Esq.,
have severally given"me not'cc in writinT of their intention
to stand for the Office of Auditor at the Election, which will
take place at the Company's Gas Works, Horseferry-road,
Westminstef, on FRIDAY, the Ist day of November next.

has been saying, he will perceive at once that they
are mere agricultural speeches made at agricultural
dinners, which have been dignified and honoured
by being treated 'in the way I have described.
Now, though flattering and complimentary to the
speakers, I am bound to say that a reflection of that
sort is anything but agreeable *hen one rises tore=turn thanks. (Cheers.) At the present moment, there
is, most fortunately, a decided lull in everything
approaching party politics and party agitation, and
I suppose it is in consequence of this complete and
decided lull that we have these copious references
to the unfortunate speeches of unfortunate agricul-
tural members. (Laughter and cheers.) Politics,
as we have already been told in the course of the
evening, are most properly and rigorously excluded
from your meetings, and, a person like myself being
totally incompetent to address a meeting like this
with any effect upon purely agricultural matters,
the unpleasant question occurs to my mind, "What
am I to say in return for the compliment you have
been pleased to pay me ?" (Laughter.) With
cautious tread I must retrace the dull path which
Mr: Hartopp and myself trod during the last session
of Parliament, arid carefully and gingerly avoiding
any reference which may savour of pure party
politics, I must endeavour to discover, if I can, if
there was anything done or attempted to be done
in Parliament last session which was calculated to
influence in any material degree the agricultural
interests of the country,
Following that course, in
the first place I must congratulate our worthy and
excellent chairman that no Agricultural Statistics
Bill was proposed. (L'aughter, and cheers.) Well,
gentlemen, it is true we had a Highway Bill, which
I suppose would ha' e interested,and influenced the
fortunes of English •fainiers considerably ; but that'
bill was dropped. Therefore I can say nothing
about it. (Laughter.) -Then we had a bill for facili-
tating the erection of agricultural-cottages—a most
admirable,9ad laudable object—but, as that bill
didn't pass. into alaw, perhaps I may be excused
from saying anything about it. Then we had a
bill which did become law a bill, I have no
doubt, directed to 'the best possible, object, and
an object which-'r sincerely trust will be attained
by it—l mean the bill called the Irremovable
Poor Bill. (Hear, hear.) The object of that bill,
no doubt, was to increase the value of the labour
of the poor man, 'and to raise him in the social,
condition which he , occupies. I sincerely trust
that, whatever differences of opinion were expressed
during the progress of that bill through Parliament,
these great- and laudable ends will be 'carried
into effect, and that we shall see year after year the
social condition of the English peasant raised and
improved. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I have said
that the Agricultural Statistics Bill was not heard'
of during the -past session of Parliament, but al-
though that was the ease, and althoUgh great clif,
ferences of opinion undoubtedly existed as to the
best means for procuring agricultural statistics, 1
think every one in this. room will admit that it is
of the greatest importance to farmers,' no less than
to other classes of the community—but principally
to farmers—that they should, if possible, know in
time the recourse which' may be obliged to be had
for the necessary supply of corn. .(Hear, hear.)
Last year we are told on the highest authority that
not less than 49 millions of money were sent out of
this country, in order to purchase corn for the con-
sumption of the people. (Hear, hear.) We are
witnessing at the present montent the terribly evil
`results which follow from a dependence on foreign
countries for a supply of the raw material for any
one of our great industries. (Hear, hear.) And if,
in addition to that slackness of labour and that di-
minution, if not cessation, of wages in the cotton
districts which I fear we must regard as too pro-
bable during the ensuing winter, we should have to
add an enormous drain of something like 30 or 40
.millions of -money for the purchase of corn, I say
'our prospects would indeed be most gloomy and
alarming. (Hear, hear.) But, as the chairman has
justly and righteously said; thanks to Almighty God
we arettot threatened with that second and greatest
of dangers, and, owing to the harveit having been
secured, we may hope to be spared that enormous
drain on our resources for foreign corn. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) I -see in Ireland—where agricultural
statistics are obtained—l see there, with some sur-
prise, that during the last ten years the breadth of
land under wheat cultivation has very greatly di-
minished, and there are those who arc good autho-
rities in that country who take rather a gloomy view
of the state of things there in consequence of the
great diminution of the breadth of land under
wheat cultivation. (Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen;
ee I have•said, our harvest in these islands has been
on the whole a good harvest, though not equal
to an average, and I trust we may' look fervvard.
with hope and confidence as to the future. (Cheers.)
I have said that this is the first timel have been
able to attend a Loughborough agricultural ;meeting;
but I can assure you that it was with the greatest
pleasure and interest that I walked through:the
show-ground to-day, remembering that it was in
the district of Loughborough that one of the great-
est improvements in one of the most material
branches of farming operations sprung up. Using
"alliteration's artificial aid," it was hero that you
made mutton available for the million ; and I was
glad to 'see in your show-yard to-day the beautiful
specimen of a sheep of the old Leicestershire breed
to which a prize was awarded. (Cheers.) It is
impossible for me, as I have:already said, to presume
to speak to you upon agricultural matters in an
assembly such as that which I have the honour of
addressing: I Can only say that whenever any
measure is introduced into Parliament affecting the
interests of the agriculturists of the northern divi-
sion of Leicestershire it will be my pride and
pleasure, so long as health is given to me, to attend
to that measure, and do what I believe, to be my
duty to My 'constituents. (Cheers.) Solong as an.
English memb6r of Parliament endeavours to do
his duty to his constituents' their; kindness Will, in-
duce them to overlook "any trifling shortcomings.
Allow me to thank you again for the manner in
which you have received the mention of my name
this evening, but I cannot sit down without ex-
pressing my confidence, derived from the past—that
is, in past struggles and in past difficulties—that it
is the good feeling, the sympathy one for another,
and the mutual forbearance which have been dis-
played among all classes that have carried the agri-
culturists of Leicestershire safely through their
difficulties. (Cheers.) As for the future should
dangers arise, then hand in hand and heart in heart
the different classes who comprise the agricultural
interest of this country will manfully face and sur-
mount them, and I sincerely trust that under the
good Providence of God we may all look forward
to the prosperous and happy condition of the
farming of what I must, speaking in his room, term
the district of Loughboroughshire. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. HARTOrM.P., also acknowledged the
toast. He said he could not expect from them that
credit for the active performance of his Parliamen-
tary duties which his noble colleague could so
justly claim. It was not, however, every member
of Parliament who possessed the abilities of his
noble friend, or who could use them so eminently
to the advantage of those who had honoured him
with their confidence and the country at large. The
only claim he could lay credit to was that he had
endeavoured honestly to fulfil his duty. (Cheers.)
He had attended regularly in his place in Parlia-
ment, and he had never given a vote upon any im-
portant measure without the fullest and most careful
consideration. The number of nights which Par-
liament now sat during the session, and the length
of the sittings, necessarily prevented a member
from being-among his constituents as frequently as
he desired, and he knew there were many who
thought they did not see their members as often as
they had a right to expect. (Hear, hear.) He
had attended the present meeting with the great-
est satisfaction, and he congratulated them on
the excellence of their show. He also congratu-
lated them on the harvest with which it had
pleased Providence to bless the midland counties.
He agreed with his noble friend that the harvest
though good was not an average one, as in Scotland
and Ireland there had been much rain, and it had
been difficult to house the corn in proper order. In
the western part of Ireland the wheat crop would
not be an average, and in Kerry he hardly thought
.the hay was yettot in, but, at the same time, there
was at present no ground for very great dissatis-
faction.
Several other toasts were subsequently given,
and the proceedings terminated.
'ed I

A VALIANT MAYOR.—As the Mayor of Newport'
was proceeding to his residence at Maindoe, at a late hour,
after the funeral of the Lord Lieutenant at Pontypool, he
saw two fellows walking before him, one of whom, a tall
man of colour, came up boldly and said him, " Have you
any, money ?" " Yes, I have," Mr. Brown replied. " How
mush ?'! " More than you and your friend could take from
me," was the spirited rejoinder. " Oh, you are ax officer,
and are armed" (the mayor wearing his unform of an artil-
lery officer). "I am only armed by nature," said the
mayor ; " you are rather bold and dangerous fellows, and
had better take care you do not get into trouble." The
mayor then called upon a tradesman, and reconnoitred the
movements of the travellors, who ultimately proceeded to-
wards Chepstow,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

DEE SIDE.

traTmhee
rreeepeoi
prttsoffotrhtehed iyreecatroersn
asitragtes3ltshtatofthAeutgoutsatl
last amount to £15,102, to which is added £1,571
brought froth the accounts of last .year, making
£16,673. From this is deducted £7,042 for working
expenses and the rent of Aberdeen station, and
£2,036 for interest on loans, leaving a balance of
£7,595, out of which the directors recommend pay-
ment of a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent. per
annum, leaving a reserve of £1,657.
The Deesidi Railway Extension revenue account
showed that the receipts for the year amounted to
£5,327, to which is added £67 from the preceding
account, making £5,394. From this is deducted
£3,338 for working expenses, and £2,107 for inte-
rest on loans, together £5,445, leaving a balance
against the company of £5l. The revenue of the
Deeside Railway shows an increase of £533 over
that of the preceding year, the greater partpf Which
is derived from 'goods-traffic. The working ex-
penses are 341 per cent. of the gross receipts, as
compared with 35.1- per cent. last year. The increase
of revenue is principally absorbed by the additional
dividends payable on the balance of the share capi-
tal called up during the year, and by the additional
interest on loans from bankers caused by the high
rates prevalent. The result, however, enables the
directors to recommend a dividend of 6 per cent. on
the whole paid-up 'capital, arid to 'make a, further
addition to the 'reserve. The permanent way, works,
and rolling stock have been maintained in ,efficient
order. The total, expenditure on capital account to
the 31st of August last amounts to £i6N729, while
the powers -conferred by the company's act autho-
rise only £141,650, showing an excess of expendi-
ture beyond the powers to that date of £19,079.
This excess has been rendered necessary to provide
plant for the working of" both lines, for workshop
and other accommodation, and for capital sub-
scribed to the extension line. In last year's
accounts the extension line contributed part of
the plant frciin its capital, but it has. been 'found
inadequate for this purpose, and the whole has
now been transferred and Charged to the capital
account of the Deeside Railway. • In order to pro-
vide for the liquidation of this liability it is .pro-
posed to,apply to Parliament in the ensuing ses-
sion for power to increase the capital of the Deeside
Rail Way by the issue of preference shares' at a rate
of interest not exceeding 41 per cent., and at the
same time power will be taken to convert the de-
benture debt into debenture stock: The revenue
-acco#Viiiritte Deeside -Extension Railway -shows
abe iflX969 after paying, the working ,ex
L . ,
p • . . u duties, rates and taxes, passenger. duty,
aid denbenture interest, brat a kum Of £llB is re-'
quired in addition to this balance to meet the irate.
rest due to the bankers of the company for advances
obtained from them for the completion of line.
Deducting from this sum the £67 brought from last
year's accounts, there remains a balance of £5l to
the debit of next year's accounts. The traffic for
the last year has not realised the expectations which
were formed of it, but the deficient harvest has no
doubt materially interfered with its development,
and accounts in a great measure for this result.
The abundant harvest of the "year now current, and
the general tendency of the traffic of 'all new lines
to increase, afford good hope 'of more favourable
results in future;. and the directors look forward
with confidence fo considerable improvement in
' this respect. The cost of the line has exceeded
the original :estimates, but it was found necessary
to extend the line to Aboyne,in order to make the
terminus there more convenient. 'lt is proposed to
cancelethe Unissued shares of the'extension line, and
to apply to Parliament for power in , the Deeside
Bill to issue in lieu thereof preference shares bear-
ing a Eked rate -of -interest not exceedings4l per
cent. to pay off the liabilities of the extension line.