The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-20 00:00:00

eirtirb 42bitton

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
SMALL TENEMENTS RATING BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition.)

Mr. BAINES did not agree with the Honourable
Gentleman who had just sat down. At present a
great many conages were let upon the supposition that
the tenant was to be exempt from the payment of the
rates, and, upon the faith of that representation, the
landlord always succeeded in getting higher rent. Now
the poor man did not benefit by it, but there was no
doubt that the general public did. What was proposed
to be done by this Bill had not yet been dis-
tinctly conveyed to the House. It was no compul-
sory measure rendering all owners liable to be rated,
but simply permissive, and in his opinion the Bill did
not go far enough. By Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act power
was given to vestries to exempt the tenants of small
occupations, varying from 201. down ti) 61. per annum,
from the rates, and imposing them upon the landlord,
and what this Bill proposed to do was to get rid
of the minimum. On looking at the Bill, however, he
saw that the power was confined to two-thirds of the
vestry—that was two-thirds of the vestry must consent
to the provisions of the Bill being put in force before
the mode of rating could be changed, but he thought
the matter ought simply to be left with
the majority. It hal been said this rating the owners
of small tenements in Liverpool had proved a failure.
Now, he did not know the circumstances of this parti-
cular case; but, since the local Act passed, many other
towns had applied for similar Bills, and in Kiddermin-
ster the experiment had been most successful.—(Hear.)
Sir J. PAKINGTON had heard, with great satisfac-
tion, what had been said by the Right Hon. Gentleman
who had just sat down, and it was decidedly his inten-
tion to give his support to the second reading of
this Bill. Ever since he had bean in Parliament
a Bill relating to small tenements, and a Bill
on the subject of the highways had been an-
nually introduced, but he hoped now both those ques-
tions were likely to be disposed of.—(Hear, hear.) With
regard to the rating of small tenements at present there
was a great inequality and great injustice, and he was
glad therefore that this Bill had been introduced, but it
ought to be made compulsory and not permissive.
The vestry was the last body to whom he would entrust
the carrying out of such a measure as this, and as Par-
liament was now convinced of the necessity of a change
in law, why not make the Bill compulsory at once?—
(Hear, bear.) Another suggestion he would make
for its improvement was that the compounding
clause which had been found to work well should be in-
troduced into it, but all these things were matters of
detail which could be disposed of in Committee.—(Hear.)
Sir GEORGE PECHELL had always voted against
a measure of this description, but now.he thought there
was good reason for giving his support to the Hon.
Gentleman opposite, who certainly deserved great credit
for having introduced it.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. ROBERT PALMER said it was the desire of
every landed proprietor to provide comfortable dwellings
for the poor, and to a certain extent the provisions of
this Bill were tow in operation. He could see no
reason therefore for opposing it. (Hear, hear.)
He did not mean to offer any further opposition to the
measure; but he must say when the Bill went into Come
minee, it would be his endeavour to insert a clause to
provide that a man shad not pay rates upon any greater
sum than he peel rent. There was a growing
opinion in the country in favour of this mea-
sure, though he could not help considering
that it was intended to operate as an ex post facto mea-
sure, to bring a certain class of I ersons within the obli-
gation to pay rates who had hitherto e•caeeti.
Mr. SHAFT() ADAIR., supported the Bill. He
thought tha: the proposition of the Hon. Gentleman
with ',gar,' to tse making the receiver of the rent
chargeable with the rate was a reasonable one. Passing
over the difficulties which existed in the country in regard
to property of this description, he would refer to a case
which had come within his knowledge, showing the ex-
ei eding 1 ardseip tl at arose to the poor in these cases.
Be held in his han f a statement having reference to the
county of Cambridge, showing that in the year
ending Micheelmes, 1846, a sum of about
4501. was in arrear from the occupiers of certain
small tenements. They were summoned for the'
rates before the magistrates, distress warrants were
issued against them, and the consequence was, that the
occupiers were put to about 781. for expenses, or about
17/. per eerie on the amount of the rates. Now, a ease
of that hard,Lip would not have occurred had the rates
been levied on the landowners inste ad of the occupiers.
Mr. DEEDES supported the Bill. His experience
was, that it very c. is n happened that it was not the
poor industrious man who was exempted by the over-
seers ; but it commonly turned out that the people so
exempted were m-en of idle and irregular habits ; and
further, when the cases came bi fore the petty sessions
to be confi -meet as the law required, they should be with
the concurrence i f the ovtr:e rs, upon inveatigstion it
frequently turgid out that the reason that they could
rot pay the rates was, that they paid so exorbitant a rent
for Inc very honses fur which they were assessed.
Mr. SLANEY said, instead of the Bill being likely
to be rejetticeal to the working classes, 11,.?
thought it would b highly beneficial to them. It
frequently eccurred in places where the working
cla-ses were receiving good wages, a spa cola-
five csme anti ran up a Lumber
of miserable smad cf rages, and thus brought
in a fresh inund stein tf paupers, who became competi-
tors in the !aeour market with the independent 'abourers,
and brought down their wage-. Such a system as
that, ins!e el of beiges a benefit to the lab suring classes,
was a positive evil to them. He did not say he
wished to interfere with such building specula-
ti ins, but he asked the House not to give
a bonus to them. The owner of small tenements in large
towns and their suburbs was iavariasly the man who
re-ised all sanitaryerneasuree, or such as tended to ame-
liorste the condition of the poor. This Bill would ten
to put a stop t the selfishness of the landlord class, and
therefore it had his cordial support.
Mr. AGLIONBY thought that unless they supported
this Bill they would be making a great mistake. lie
had always had the greatest confidence in the Hon.
Metnbi r for Hull, who gave his assistance to this Bill,
and unless they carried it through they would be, in his
opinion, taking a great step towards reducing the fran-
chise. —(hear.)
. Mr. BAINES said thst the question cf the franchise
ought in such a mater as this to be lef. totally untouched,
and 'pad an extract from the Reform Act to show that
the franchise was not affected by a refusal of the Bill.
lie should, therefore, vote against the Bill.—(llear.)
• Mr. REYNOLDS said that there was evidently a mis-
apprehension respecting this Bill. It proposedto exempt
certain buildings from the poor-rate, and the principle
adopted seemed to be t i c x nipt such buildings as were used
for the purpose of gettit.g a living. He had taken the
opinion of eminent counsel upon the effect of the Bill,
an I that was entirely against its working utility.—
ar, hear.) lle had himself been rated for a counting-
hous-e, and yet his vote had teen impeached simply be-
cause it did not lot k like a counting-house. lle had in-
quiri d, on t..k,rig the place, whether any rates were due,
and vs as told there were not; and he was shown the books,
by which such appeared to be the case. But, after all, it
turn-d t u- that this acknowledgment was only what they
d in Ireland a paper receipt—(Laughter)—and cot:-
sequently his vote was irapeached.—(Hear, hear.) It
might seem somewli t insperdnerst in him to speak upon
a Bel which wily affected England and Wales, but Hor.
Members on both sides of the House, who were only
English Members. had continually interfered in the af-
fairs of Ireland, and had spoken as if they meaet
o neine.t r to all their social dis-a,es ou tne other
side of the ewater.—(" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
He did a 4 complain of such quack doctoring. On the
contrary, he felt much obliged to them fur it, and was
only anxious that they should not, by the adoption of
this reduce the fran ,hise. It might not affect the
rural di tricts, but by taking the small tenements in cor-
porate to Nris oLt of the rate-book they would be cutting
off a large and very useful class from their political pri-
Hear, hi ar," and cries of " D.vide, divide.")
Mr. IeItIGEIT said that he had received a long a d
very valuable communication from a body of persons
who were deeply interested in the security and extension
cf the f aechisse and from that it appeared that the
throwing the pa) went of the rates int) the hands
of the landlords would have the effect of greatly
reducing the number of persons at present en-
titled to vote for Members of Parliament.—(Hear.)
As for as it was connected with rates this Bill would
give great facility to the collectors, but that was no rea-
son why this measure should be hurried through the
Hoes e which would lead to such *rest extent of dis-
franch sement. He should wish to know from the Go-
vernment whether, if the House consented to the secor.el
reading of the Bill, and if any suggestions for the ob-
viating of this obj,ction should be proposed in Com-
mittee, the Government would oppose those amend-
t ?
Sir G. GREY would be very sorry to give counte-
nance to any measure which would have the effect of de-
priving any man unjustly of his franchise.—(Hear.)
Mr, HENLEY would support the second reading of
the Bill, if it were persevered in, on the principle that
thin Bill would allow each neighbourhood to adept
the measure to its ewn energies. He certainly
agreed with the Lion. Member for Berkshire, that the
Hesse was beginning to alter the incidents of taxation
in a way that wculd affect the poor.
Mr. HASTIE having replied,
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and a division
took place, when there appeared—
For the second reading
Against it
Majority ---180
Tho Bill was then read a second time and ordered to
be committed.
BENEFICES IN PLURALITY BILL.
Mr.-FRE in moving the second reading of this
Bill, said he should not btain the House at any length, since
a return which wasobteined last year by the Hon. Member
for Montrose made out a strong case in its favour.
Tbeeereturn showed that subsequently to the passing
Ofelhelast Act on this subject no less than 189 clergy-
meet had been presented to two livings, and he there-
fore called upon the House to affirm the principle
of this Bill, and declare the existing law was
not sufficiently stringent. He had no objection
to teclerrgyman enjoying two livings that adjoined each
other,-and where the populations were small. This Bill
he introduced lete sessicn, but theie was no time for
passing it, and he .d taken the earliest opportunity of re-
viving it this year. Since it had been brought in he had
received many communications from different parts of
the oouutrj pointing out the abuses that existed under

the present system, and the necessity there was for a
more stringent law upon the subject.
Mr. SLANEY asked if the Bill was prospective or
retrospective.
Mr. FREWEN said it was prospective.
Sir G. GREY was understood to say it was his , ish
that before the Bill went into Committee some little
time should elapse, in order to enable him to consider and
mature certain alterations which he intended to suggest
in Committee.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS said, with respect to the desi-
rableness of having a resident clergyman in all cases,
he hoped and believed that there could be
no difference of opinion. He knew a case where six
different benefices were held by the same individual, and
the aggregate income of the whole did not amount to
3501., the sum which the Hon. Member for Montrose had
estimated should be the minimum stipend of a clergyman
to enable him efficiently to discharge his duties. He
wished to know how far her Majesty's Government
would hold them: elves prepared to adopt the principle of
this Bill before allowing it to go to a Committee.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said it was desirable to make
further restrictions on the holding of pluralities. He
had it in contemplation himself to introduce a Bill on
the subject, and therefore it was that a postponement of
the present Bill going into Committee was asked.
Mr. HORSMAN said the principle of our constitu-
tion was opposed to all pluralities and sinecures in the
State ; still more did he conceii eit necessary to apply
that rule to the Church. As regards the measure be-
fore the House, although he considered it a great im-
provement on the law as it now existed, he should like
to see the principle carried to its full extent, that they
should allow no sinecure in the Church, and should give
to every parish its resident teacher. He should recom-
i mend, where there were two contiguous parishes ex-
tremely small, they should be united into one, so as not to
maintain more than one incumbent, and so as to preclude
the possibility of there being only one service on Sundays
in each parish.
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY thought, if the Government
had it in contemplation to introduce a measure on this
subject, it was but an idle waste of time to go on dis-
cussing the present Bill, and he should recommend the
Hon. Gentleman who had it in charge to withdraw or
Fo,tpone it.
Captain JONES was of opinion that the Bill would
not be answerable to Ireland at all.

Mr. FREWEN thought the Bill should be made more
stringent than it was.
The Bill was then read a second time without a divi-
sion. _ __

LARCENY SUMMARY JURISDICTION BILL.
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON moved the second reading
of this Bill. One object of the Bill was to extend the
provisions of the Juvenile Offenders' Act. It would be
in the recollection cf the House that, when he first in-
troduced that Bill, he drew the distinction at 16 years
of age, but in the Select Committee on the Bill the Com-
mittee though he was carrying the distinction too far.
All who were acquainted with the working of this criminal
portion of the law, were aware that all offenoes committed
by persons under 16 years were always lightly dealt with.
The only change, then, which he desired to effect, was
t.) reduce the age from 16 to 14. The only other part of
the Bill in which he was particularly interested was
one to which he begged to call the particular attention
of his Hon. and Learned Friend the Solicitor-General.
His Hon. and Learned Friend would recollect that at
the beginning of last session the subject of punishment
f a small offences had been largely discussed, and that it
was then agreed that—without interfering with the
sacred trust of preserving the trial by jury—it would
be better to reduce these offences by immediate punish-
ment. It was acknowledged on all hands that the
course of prosecution which is now followed was in
every way detrinaeatal to the public interests.—(Hear.)
He would deprecate the opposition proposed by the Hon.
and Learned:l/Gentleman opposite (Mr. M'Cullagh),
believing that if he looked into the reports he would find
that the objections which he entertained were all ob-
viated in the details of the measure.—(Hear, hear.) He
trusted also that the Government would offer no opposi-
tion to the Bill; for they should recollect that this Bill
was simply in accordance with the Juvenile Offenders'
Bill, and merely carried out that Bill to a further extent.
They ought not to punish the counties in the way of
expense for the prosecution of small offences. He
had himself had great experience in the
investigation of small offences in the coal districts, and
he had found that, in the neighbourhood of Dudley, the
criminality of coal-heavers frequently went unpunished
from the expenses likely to be incurred by a prosecu-
tion. He did not hesitat3 to say that the coal owners
frequently lost several tons a-week, whereae, had there
been ;a summary means of conviction, some of those
offences would not have passed unpunished, and the evil
would soon have been concluded. It had been ascer-
tained that although the counties were allowed 40/. for
each prosecution, the real expenses were only 20s. for
each case. On these grounds he trusted that there
would be no opposition to the second reading.
Mr. M'CULLAGH said that he should withdraw
his opposition for the present, but should certainly take
the sense of the House upon the Bill when it was sent
down f,r Committee. He had a great objection to the
extension of th© jurisdiction of the magistrates in crimi-
nal case?.

- -
After a few words from Sir J. PAKINGTON,

Mr.:NSILNES said he could not understand the reasons
on which :he Hon. Gentleman (lr. WCullagh) opposed
this Bill. H, could not find from his experience that
they could draw any line between criminals of the ages
fl 4 and 16, and be thought the extension which was
proposed in this Bill would be ♦ery salutory. his only
objection to this Bill was that it was not summary
enough, and his experience went to show that the more
summary the punishment for such juvenile offenders,
the bitter it would be.
Mr. NAPIER had received communications from Ire-
land which showed that such a measure as this was ab-
solutely necessary. In many cases he relieved the
imprisonment which many criminals underwent before
their trial occurred was a much greatar punishment
than the offence deserved. The Learned Gentleman
read some extracts from returns, which he had received
from Ireland, in which it was stated that many persons
commit •d fur petty offences, stealing articles of the
value cf a few pence, were often discharged a: 30 and 50
miles from home.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL fully agreed with
the principle of this Bill. The only difficulty he
saw in it was to fix the sum. Ile had received
as many recommendations to fix the sum at
51, or at one shilling. This Bill would put
an end to many anomalies which it was intolerable
should remain on the statute book. For instance, a boy
who stole an apple from a tree could be summarily
punished, but if another boy stele an apple from under
t',e tree he was obliged to be committed. He should
support the Bill.
Mr. PACKE thought there was no objection to ex-
tending the jurisdiction to 16 instead of 14 years of age.
He quite agreed with the Learned Attorne)-General as
to the anomalies of the law relating t) petty larceny, but
he did not think this Bill met the difficulty. The Bill,
therefore, ought to be reiffred to a Select Committee,
Offences ought to be placed upon a clear and detir el level,
and until that was done they were only doing mischief
by le4islating on the matter. The difficulty in the way of
;his Bill would arise in this way:—lt gave the imagis-
t ates power to adjudicate summarily in the case of petty
offence) committed by adults and old offenders, who, in
some districts unknown, might often be dealt with under
the provisions of this Bill, when if they were tried by a
jury, transportation would bo their punishment. While,
therefore, he approved of the Bill as Lr as it related to
children, he doubted the expediency cf opening the door
to the escape of offenders by extending it t) adults.
Mr. ROBERT PALMER supported the measure,
knowing from experience that many trumpery cases
were sent to trial under the existing law which ought to
he summarily disposed of. He trusted, too, that it
would be extended to Ireland. It appeared to him that,
with respect to that part of the Bill which extended sum-
mary jurisdiction over persons( f sixteen instead of four-
teen years of age, he saw no objection to that. He be-
lieved that many petty offences were overlooked in con-
sequence of the expense and trouble of going before a
more formidable tribunal than two magistrates. That
was an evil which this Bill would tend to correct.

Mr. HENLEY had very considerable doubt with
respect to the Bill t fLer what had fallen from the At-
torney-General. It was quite clear that a very adroit
distinction had been adopted by the Hon. Member for
Droitwich between grand and petty larceny. It was quite
clear they were commencing a system of doing away with
trial by jury. That was a very grave matter, but
it was one which might be discussed hereafter, and the
Hon. Gentleman opposite would act prudently if he did
now divide the House. With regard to the age of the
children that was a very different question. The reason
for the introduction of the Juvenile Offenders' Bill was
to prevent the contamination of young persons in gaol
hefore they were tried. So fir as that went he entirely con-
curred. He thought sixteen was a very proper age to
which to extend the summary jurisdiction. He thought
there would be some possible inconvenience in the work-
ing of other parts of the Bill. As to the inconvenience
of turning a man out of gaol, as was suggested by the
Hon. Member for Dublin, that inconvenience would
exist just as much with respect to a man committed
summarily as if committed by a jury.
Mr. P. MILES was of opinion that a great necessity
existed for the adoption of some such measure as this.
He said, that from his experience as a chairman of a
quarter sessions, lasting over a period of sixteen years,
He was sorry that the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
would not take the division on the second reading of this
Bill, because they were all acquainted with the details,
and the longer it was delayed the greater would be the
injury to the country.
Mr. VIVIAN said that his name was at the back of
the Bill, and be only wished to:say:that the expenses which
had been found to press so heavily on the counties would
be gr( ally relieved by the operation of this Bill. That
which now cost 12L 10s. would be reduced to 21.
The Bill was then read a second time without a
division.
TENANTS RACK-RENT RELIEF BILL.
On the motion:teing put for the second reading of this
Bill,
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said that he did not wish t)
oppose the second reading, but ho hoped that measures
would be taken to prevent the expenses from falling
upon the counties.
After a few words from Mr. SOTHERON,
Sir H. HALFORD advised that the whole burden
should not be laid on landed property alone, an opinion
in which Mr. Spooner coincided, and suggesting
.that
the Bill should be deferred, but in the meantime the
expense should be thrown on the Consolidated Fund.
Mr. SPOONER agreed with his Hon. Friend in his
opinion of this Bill. He should, however, advise that
the Bill should be postponed. He did notAsee why the
landed interest should bear the expenses of lunatic asy-
lums. Ho thought that the evils which caused lunacy
were found much oftener in crowded towns than in the
agricultural districts.

After a few words from Sir G. GREY,
Mr. SLIME thought, that if the principle of the Son.

Gentleman opposite was carried out, that the poor-
rates and country-rates should be transferred to the
Consolidated Fund. Ho thought that no expenditure
ought to be thrown upon the Consolidated Fund
unless the Government had the sole superintendence of
it; the Consolidated Fund had quite sufficient to bear at
present. He protested against such doctrines being
broached in the House at this time.
Mr. HENLEY thought that the lion. Gentleman who
had just sat down, if he carried out his principle,
would vote for these charges being transferred to the
Consolidated Fund. Not a single farthing could be laid
out on asylums unless the sanction of the Secretary of
State had been previously obtained.
Mr. HI ME said that the Secretary of State had
nothing to do with the details of the plans, but only had
to see that they were adequate.
Mr. NEWDEGATE said the,Secretary of State had
power to control the plans and elevations of both
lunatic asylums and prisons.
Sir G. GREY said the approval of tie plans no doubt.
The Bill was then read a second time and ordered to
be committed.

EXPORTS.

On the motion of—Mr. HASTIE an account was
ordered, of the declared value of the various articles of
British produce and manufactures exported to the
British West India Colonies, for the years ending the
sth day of January, 1840 and 1849, with the rate of
duty on each article in the colonies; and of the
quantities of the principal articles of the
growth and manufacture of the British West In-
dia Colonies imported into tLe United Kingdom ;
and of the quantities cleared for home consumption, and
the rate cf duty charged on each article, with the Gazette
average price of sugar for the year ending on the sth day,
of January, 1848; also, the number of ships, dis-
tinguishing British and foreign, with their
tonnage, that have entered and cleared for the
British West India Colonies from the United
Kingdom, during the same period ; Similar ac-
count fur the East India Company's territories and
Ceylon ; similar account for China ; similar account
for the Mauritius; similar account for the British North
American Colonies ; similar account for New South
\Vales and the Australian Colonies ; similar
account for the United States of America; simi-
lar account for Cuba; similar account for the Brazils;
and similar accounts for Mexico and the other ports of
South America. Returns of ports or creeks in the
United Kingdom approved of by the Hon. the Board of
Customs, for the warehousing in bond of tea, coffee,
sugar, wines, spirits, and tobacco. Of the amount of
the above-mentioned goods in pounds and gallons ware-
housed at each port, for the year ending the sth day of
April, 1849, distinguishing the quanities of those ware-
housed directly imported into such ports, with the
quantities removed under bond from the ports of
importation, together with the number of duty-paid
entries made at each port during the above period :
and, of the amount of Customs duty received in the
United Kingdom for the year ending the sth day of
April, 1849, showing the payments made for services
specially connected with the collection of the revenue,
together with payments made for services not specially
connected with the collection of the revenue.
The remaining orders of the day were then disposed
of, and the House adjourned.

YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND BER-

WICK RAILWAY.—(THIS DAY.)
A meeting of London shareholders of this company
was held this afternoon at the London Tavern, prelimi-
nary to the general meeting which will be held on the
7th of March next at York.

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY M.P., was unanimously elected
to take the chair. He thought he was a most improper
person to preside at the meeting, because he viewed the
plan which he understood was to be propounded
today with disfavour ; but if they wished him to
continue in the chair after this declaration he
would endeavour to discharge his duties fairly and im-
partially. He had no preference shares, but was a holder
cf original and of extension stock. He had been de-
puted, however, to attend on behalf c.,f his brother, who
had a large interest in the preference shares, the stock
to which the present meeting, he believed, had reference.
A short discussion then took place as to the propriety
of Mr. Sidney presiding, and it was ultimately agreed
that he should continue in the chair.
Mr. N. CLARK wished to know by what authority the
meeting had been convened. An advertisement had ap-
peared in the newspapers, signed by a Mr. Douglass, who
signed himself maLager, pro tem. ; and, without meaning
any discourtesy to that gentleman, he would also ask by
whose authority he had been nominated?
Mr. DOUGLASS said that he had been called upon by a
large body of shareholders in the 81. preference shares
to take up the matter with respect to which this meeting
had been called, and in conjunction with one or two
proprietors he had issued the advertisement simply to
enable the shareholders to have an opportunity of con-
sulting together. The committee, which was self-con-
stituted, represented about 300,000 shares, the greater
portion of which were preference shares; and the object
they had in view was to get the directors to appoint
a committee to take into consideration this pre-
ference stock, and to see if the million and a half
of money which they now had, and might employ in a
profitless undertaking, could not be employed for the
relief of one class of shareholders without injuring any
other class. The meeting was simply one for an ex-
change of feelings and sentiments among the London
shareholders on a matter of finance, by which it was
proposed that the preference shareholders might be re-
lieved.

The report of the commi;tl3 of shareholders was then
read. It stated that the question before the meeting
involved the interests of nearly half the proprietary of
the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway, and a ca-
pital amounting to nearly four millions, upon the raising
and applying of which the prosperity or otherwise of the
company would depend. The object which the com-
mittee had in view was to ascertain if some plan could
not be devised for giving a real value to the preference
shares instead of holding, as they did at present, a
value at the mercy of a call, and they sub-
mitted two propositions by which they considered
the company could, by exercising the whole of its avail-
able powers, be enabled to make this stock worth keep-
ing as an investment. The committee had obtained the
' co-operation of stock and extension shareholders, who
held 6,532 shares, and preference shareholders who held
as many as 18,822 shares, and thus supported they
wrote to the directors requesting their consent to the
appointment of a committee at the next general meeting,
to ascertain whether the holders of preference
shares could not be relieved from the present liability
without injury to any ether class of shareholders; but,
in reply, the directors had stated that it was too late to
make the meeting ox the 27th instant available for the
appoictment of such a committee. The report concluded
by soliciting the co-operation of the shareholders, and
expressing a hope that the directors would apply all
the available capital f)r so profitable a purpose as
paying off the Great North of England shareholders,
a❑d not expend it, to the ruin of the company, upon
unprofitable branches.
On the conclusion of reading the report, Mr. JAMES
DURHAM moved :—" That this meeting, after having
heard the report of the committee, considers it very
desirable that, at the next ha'f-yearly meeting of share-
holders, a committee should be elected, to consult with
the directors, and ascertain if any plan can be devised
f converting the preference shares into thirds, with-
out injury to the other class of shareholders."
Mr. ASTON seconded the motion.
Mr. CLARK opposed the motion, because it had origi-
nated with a sectional portion cf the proprietors, alias
the preference shareholders. The report, he thought,
was calculated to do the York, Newcastle, and Berwick
lt4ilway a great deal of mischief, and he should there-
fore give his decided vote against its reception. One
section of the shareholders had no right to release
themselves from liabilities at the expea: e of others, who
were more numerous and bad a greater stake in the com-
pany. By such a proceeding the proprietors at large
would be grenly injure I, and they should recollect that
they were just on the eve of receiving a report
from the directors after a most important and
elaborate inquiry int ) their affairs, and which,
no doubt, would put them in a better position to
know in what way the whole of the shareholders might
be benefited. He concluded by moving an amendment
to the effect the', as the present movement appeared to
emanate wholly from a sectional part of the shareholders,
and was designed fur the benefit of the preference share-
holders, the meeting declined to interfere in the matter,
and that the meeting should then adjourn.
The amendment was seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Howl/tip; and, after a brief discussion, was carried by
a majority of three—the numbers being for the amend-
ment 28, and for the original motion 25.
The business accordingly terminated, and, after a vote
of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)
MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The buyers continue to
stand resolutely aloof from business, expecting that the
want of demand will cause such a subsidence of prices as
shall render it safe, in their estimation, to renew their
operations in yarns and goods. Under these circumstances,
the sales of the day have been of very inconsiderable
amount; and, although the general absence of stocks,
of any consequence, enables both spinners and
manufacturers to maintain a degree et* firmness which
appears remarkable after a comparative suspension of
business for several weeks, yet those who are out of
contrast, or on the point of being so, are so desirous of
avoiding any accumulation of stock, as to become in-
creasingly disposed to meet the ideas of the buyers.
The latter have not attempted to test the market:
as a rule, however, they have succeeded in making
their very limited assortments somewhat under the
rates of the latter end of last week. There is a good
deal of difference in the views entertained by various
parties as to the course which prices may now take;
aoltrheeardsythtainkkeningplathcaet wsiulcl
hscpaenednoilty
some producers expecting that the decline which has
bsetimthuelactaesedwemitahnodUt—a
still farther giving way : the consequence is a very
marked irregularity in the quotations for almost all
descriptions of cloth and yarn. We stated in our last
that there was a movement among the makers of
coarse and of stout goods in this town, to relieve
themselves, in some degree, from lons, by diminishing
their production. A mooting was held yesterday, when,
with the exception of two firms, all those manufacturers
of this class, who purchase their yarns, came to a deter-
mination to work their establishment only forty hours
a-week. This resolution applies to 6,000 to 7,000 looms,
and will lessen the weekly consumption of cotton to the
extent of something like 120,000 lbs. The instant effect
has been a concession in the price of coarse yarns, and
an attempt at an agreement among the spinners of such
yarns to follow the course taken by the manufacturers.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—To-day we have had a very
good demand for kerseys and coarse goods, and the
business transacted if flannels has been mach the same

as that cf last week. The wool market continues firm at
former prices.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—Our market remains at
present much in the same state as we reported last
week; the deliveries to order have been on a large scale,
but the supply in the market has been very limited.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—There is more stillness just
now in the worsted trade, and the merchants are shy of
giving orders, appearing to be anxious to watch
the present position of the yarn market, which is
also more quiet than it has been. The spinners are
still full of old contracts ; but the export houses do not
give out new orders freely, and seem disposed to wait
till the commencement of the regular shipping season.
Wool is somewhat inactive ; and, if anything, rather
easier.
LEEDS, TUESDAY.—Although the market has been
rather quiet to-day, still a steady business continues to
be done to order, and prices are very firm. There is
rather mere doing in the warehouses for the home trade,
and the shipping houses are pretty brisk.