The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-28 00:00:00

TIIE GE

,AIPA

ANNUAL • MEETING.-THIS DAY.

The ordinary general meeting of the proprietors and
directors of the Great Ship Company was held this day, at
the London Tavern.

Samuel Baker, Esq., occupied the chair.
The report, which has already appeared in The Sum,
having been taken as read,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption by the meeting
said—he had great pleasure in meeting the shareholders that
day, because they considered the affairs of the company were
highly satisfactory, and another matter of great congratulation.
was, that the Great Eastern had proved herself, notwith-
standing what had Leen said in her depreciation, one of tha
stoutest ships in the world. (Hear, hear.) The trial trip
to America had been accomplished with unprecedented suc-
cess so far as the proprietors were concerned, and at a loss
only of £344 7s. 9d. The ship had been greatly improved
since they had last met, a new deck had b3en laid down, and
everything done that could conduce to the comfort of the
passengers and the safety of the cargo she might carry in
future. The chairman then alluded to the other points
mentioned in the report, and concluded by saying that he
considered that the ship would prove herself a successful
source of profit by being engaged in the American trade.
Mr. TAYLOR said it would be necessary to make the
passage money less if they wished to make the Great
Eastern pay, and afford accommodation for steerage pas-
sengers. He wished to know whether Captain Hall was
again to be commander of the vessel. He was a highly
popular captain, and a man of great nerve and nautical
skill. _ .

Mr. WEBBER wished to know, in the event of the next
trip made to America not being a paying speculation, if the
directors would consider the expediency of sending the
Great Eastern to the East.

The CHAIRMAN said it was intended to provide for
steerage passengers. The directors could nct at the present
moment commit themselves to the nomination of a captain.
It would be unwise and impossible to say where the ship
would be sent to after her return from America, but no
time would be lost in sending her elsewhere if the American
trade did not prove remunerative.

Mr. BAUdIGARTNER thought the failure of the ship had
hitherto been owing to the misty.= -.gement of the directors.
Much was lost in the ship not being properly advertised.
He thought that having once placed confidence in the direc -
tors, and they not having managed twitters at all satis-
factorily, they should have further assistance as to
what was to be done for the future. He moved as
an amendment the appointment of a committee of
six practical shipowners to confer and advise with
the directors as to the future management of the ship.

Mr. CHANTER seconded the amendment.
Mr. HAWKES opposed the amendment. He thought the
directors had done their duty well to the shareholders.
Mr. PYFINCH thought it would prove highly remunera-
tive if the ship was again brought to the Thames and
opened as " a show ship." That circumstance would in-
crease the confidence the public had in the ship.
Mr. PARRY thought a voyage to America would not pay.
A voyage to Australia could not fail to turn out remunera-
tive, besides it would only take a month's more stores to
perform the journey.

• -
Mr. TAYLOR was of opinion that a few short pasiages
ought to be made before she took a long one, and that pro-
per public notice should be given of what were the inten-
tions of the directors with regard to the ship. He thought
that the ship should be sent to America, and on her return
go down the Mediterranean, and then go to America in
August or September. She then would get the cream of
the American passenger traffic, and also get a number
of passengers who were desirous of going up the Medi-
terranean in the interval between her trips to America.
After that he thought the ship might be very .advan-
tageously sent to either India or Australia, say on the Ist
of January. If the passage money was put down at 80
guineas for first-class, 50 guineas for the second, and,
supposing they succeeded in securing two hundred first
and:two hundred second-class, about 1,000 tons of cargo,
the voyage would pay.

Mr. CADBY agreed with the last speaker as to where the
ship was to go, but it was also important whore she went
from. He was in favour of Liverpool.
After some further discussion, the amendment was re-
jected and the report adopted.

SOUTE-EASTERN RAILWAY.

HALF-YEARLY MEETING.-THIS DAY.

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the directors was
held this day at the Bridge House Hotel.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report
(which has already appeared in The Sun), said the receipts
for the year ending Jan. 31, show an increase compared
with that of the previous year, which was, of itself, highly
encouraging. After providing for the fixed charges, for rents
of branch lines, interest on loans, &c., on guaranteed stock
and preference shares, there remained a balance 0fX225,066
4s. 9d. available for the dividend on the ordinary consoli-
dated stock of the company. A dividend of 18s. per £3O
stock, or at the rate of £6 per cent. per annum, would
absorb a sum of £223,011, leaving a balance to be
carried forward to the next half-year of £2,055 4s. 9d.,
and that dividend the directors recommended should be
paid ma Thursday, the 7th day of March next. Of course,
like other railways, they had experienced the bad effects
of the weather during the last autumn ; but, all things
considered, the year had been a satisfactory one. The
directors looked forward with great interest to the increased
facilities which had been given to trade, and having alluded
to the company's applications to Parliament, he concluded
by moving the adoption of the report.
After a short discussion the report was agreed to.
The retiring directors were re-elected and the auditors
re-elected, and the meeting was closed by a vote of thanks
to the chairman and directors.

SPURTING INTELLIGENCE.

BIRMINGHAM GRAND STEEPLECHASES.

WEDNESDAY.

The Boldmere Plate of 5 sow each, with 30 added; winners
to carry 71b extra. Two miles and a half.
Mr. G. Stevens's riff Paff, 9at 91b
Mr. Barnett's Sunbeam, 9st 71b (in. 71b ex.) (G. Holman) 2
Mr. Groves's St. Mark, lOst 71b (Ni ghtingal 1) 3
Mr. Wood's Deception, 9st 61b (A. Sadler) 0
Betting-7 to 4 agst St. Mark, 3to 1 each agst Sun-
beam, Piff Paff, and Deception.

Sunbeam made the running to within a quarter of a mile
of home, when she was passed by St. Mark and Piff Paff.
At the last fence Piff Paff took up the running, and won a
good race by a length, St. Mark being caught and beaten
on the post by a length for second. Deception, who took
no part in the race, was stopped in the bottom, and walked
home. _ _

The Thirteen Stone Steeplechase of 5 sous each, with 50
added ; 13st each ; winners extra ; to be ridden by gen.
tlemen, farmers, or sons of farmers. Threerniles. 15 subs.
Mr. D. Hill's The Recorder, 13st Melverley) 1
Mr. Horley's Cannon Ball, 13st .. (Mr. Corbourn) 2
Mr. Davison, jun.'s, Fairy, lOst
The Unexpected, Red Eagle, Big Ben, Ileppo, The Gene-
ral, and Jacques also ran.
_

Betting-5 to
,2 agst Fairy, 4 to 1 agst The General, 4 to
1 agst Big Ben, 5 to 1 agst Beppo, 5 to 1 agst Jacques, 6 to
1 agst The Recorder, 8 to 1 agst any other.
The favourite, in company with Jacques, Big Ben, and
The Recorder, laidin front to the last fence, when they were
joined by Cannon Ball. Shortly after, Fairy gave way to
The Recorder and Cannon Ball. The throe finished an
excellent race home, The Recorder winning by half a
length, four lengths separating the second and third ; Big
Ben was fourth, Red Eagle fifth; the others, through re-
fusals, being a long way in the rear; The General and
Beppo fell.
The Birmingham Grand Annual Steeplechase of 10 sots
each, 3 ft, with 100 added ; the second to save his stake ;
a winner extra. About three miles and a half.
Mr. Thomas's Doubtful, 9st 101 b ........ (O. Hoiman) 1
Mr. Walker's Heads or Tails, 9st 3lb ........ (Kendall) 2
Mr. Lucy's Unknown, 9st 3lb ......... ... (W. White) 3
Wee Nell, Evelyn, Shyleck, Goldsmith, and Brine also

ran.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Brine, 9to 2 agst Doubtful, 6to 1
each agst Heads or Tails and Wee Nell, 8 to 1 each agst
Evelyn and Goldsmith.
bln, Gold.
Goldsmith rushed to the front directly the flag was
lowered and
made strong running, waited upon
upf the
ourth li yßrine,,
and with
Heads or Tails, Unknown, and Doubtful, the other lying
somes
rn ith
idistancenerease ind thehisd l rear.lead,
Doubtful
Proceeding
being
little or no alteration this order of running was observed to
the turning flag out of the park, rounding which Goldsmith
went to the wrong side, and had to return, and in collets_
quence was out of the race. The mishap gave the lead to
Brine, who, in company with Heads or Tails, Doubtful, and
Unknown, carried it on to the post and rails behind the
farmhouse, at which she blundered and fell, leaving Reads
or Tails in possession of the lead, closely waited upon by
Doubtful and Unknown. At the last fence Doubtful went
in front, was never after caught, and won cleverly by four
lengths. Unknown finished abed third, Evelyn walked in
next, then came Wee Nell, Goldsmith, and Shylock at ion
Handicap Steeplechase of 3 soya each, with 20
te
ersexitoraib.
i.
The intervals.
Scurryals
Air.Byardnd,esdT;:ipen:
lOst Two miles. 17 subs.
Mr. Baker
IBVaykaetrt:ss
eßoamnetuawma,y9,sot
87lb .. (G. (Kendall) 1
Holman) 2
13alzarine' Border Chie'f,t;idb m by Cothe(rsGionSeteavlseonsran) 3.
Betting-2 to 1 each-agat Bantam and Topsy, and 3to 1
agst Balzarine.
The Cotherstone mare made the running to the top of the
y, between
hill, where she was passed by Bantum and Tope y, •
which two a fine •
race ensued, Bantum, who ran unkindly,
caught on the post and beaten by a head ; the other;being
,nowhere. Balzanne fell and walked home some time after.

WEST BETTING ON THE COURSE,
LIVERPOOL STEEPLECHASE.
9 to 2 agst the French lot (taken)
7to 1 agst Franc Picard (taken to £100)
Bto 1 agst The Emperor (taken)
10 to 1 agst Ana.tis (taken)
10 to 1 agst Jealousy (taken)
20 to 1 agst Xanthus (taken)
22 to 1 agst Redwing (taken)
30 to 1 agst Doubtful (taken)

MARKET HARBORO' STEEPLECHASES.—We are re.
quested to state that 300 says, instead of 200, will be added
to the Grand National Hunt Steeplechase at Marka Hay-
boro', which closcs to-morrow (Friday), to Mr. T, Mar.
&hall, at Northampton.