The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-10 00:00:00

The above returns, compared with those of the previous
year, show only a decrease in the total number of share:.
of 111, and of 1,7981. 14; 3d in the cash receipts, but
compared with those of 1855, the increase in the shares
this year is 113, and the cash receipts to the extent
of 3,9361. le 81. The increase under the head of
withdrawals this year, over that of 1856, reaches the
small amount of 4481. 7s 2d. In the item of income
the decrease in fees and interest is 4721. 123 Bd.
against an increase of 4321. 33 413, also in interest and
fees, so that the actual diminution is 401. 9a 4d. On the
other hand, under the various items in the expenditure,
the decrease is as much as 779/. 12s, against which
must be placed 110/. 16e, for expenses for two years of
registration on behalf of the allottees, 331. Oa 5d increase
of outlay for meetings, and increase of 8411. 43 5d in
bonus and interest paid to the shareholders, so that,
exclusive of the last item, the reductions in the expendi
tore amount to 635/. 15s 7d. The total amount of land
offered to the members for the year ending the 29th
September, 1857, was 34,744/. 17s6d ; the total amount
of unsold plots on various estates at Michaelmas, 1856,
24,732 10s ; total, 59,477/. 7s 6d. The total sale on
the allotment of 1857 was 17,0891. 17; 6d ; the total
sale of the stock Oa hand, inclusive of the St. Margaret's
Mansion and unallotted land, during the past year was
10,650/. ; total land sold in 1857, 27,7391. 17s 6d.
Grand totals of land sold, to September 30th,
1557, 211,2381. 183 1 ld. The return; for the
business during the present quarter, which will
end December 25, extend only to the Bth instant.
total cash receipts to 30th Sept, 1857, 312,5571 8s 5d ;
receipts from 30th Sept. to Bth Dec. 1857, 7,152113 e 8d; li
total cash from all sources, 319,7101. 2e ld ; with -
drawals from Sept. 30th to Deo. Bth, 1857, 3,988/. 10,
ld. The total shares, in progress or uncompleted; taken
up the Bth Dec. 1857, were, 11,112 ; completed shares
to same date, were 2,606 ; total shares to Dec. Bth,
1857, 13,718. The returns of the register of order of
rights are as follow; :—Completed, 2 606 ; drawn,2,Bo7;
seniority, 1,457 ; total, 6,870 ; deduct rights exercised
on estates, building advances, &c., 4,198 ; unexercised
rights, 2,672. The last share on the register by seniority
aftsr the drawing of Dec. 10th (this day), will be about No.
7,834, a id the last share issued to Dec. 8, was No. 13,718.
During the past five years the society has alloted no less
than 32 estates. The St. Margaret's mansion and land,
and the Marshfield estate, Stamford-hill, are not in
eluded in that number, as their .ale was effected by
private contract. With the return of peace, and with a
diminution of the monetary pressure, the committee
entertain the confident expectation that building opera-
tions will be actively renewed, after such a long stag-
nation. AiLttees on each estate may then be in a
better position tb consider whether, by a combination
amongst themselves, a scheme for the erection of villas
and houses can be profitably carried out, at a compara-
tively small outlay on the part of each holder of a plot.
The society at present possesses five unallotted estates—
viz„ Manchester, Winchester, Tunbridge Wells, Brigh-
ton, and St. Margaret's. The only addition to the board
during the past year has been the election of Lieutenant-
Colonel Augustus Meyrick, in place of Lord Alfred.
Churchill, who resigned. The list of patrons and gene-
ral committee has been increased by the names of Vis-
count Pevensey, M.P., Hon. Ralph Dutton, M.P.,
W. B. Beach, Esq., M.P., E. M. Archdall, Esq , M.P.,
and M. Scott, Esq. The following members of the
executive committee retire fromeoffice by rotation, bat
are eligible for re-election, namely :—Viscount Ranelagh
(chairman), Colonel Brownlow Knox, M.P. (vice-chair-
man), J. C. Cobbold, E.q., M.P., Hon. W. E. Dun-
combo, Robert Steven, Esq., and Rev. J. W. Worthing-
ton, D.D., who offer themslves for re-election. During
the last year there were two contests in East Sussex and
West Kent, in which the members who obtained votes
in those counties through the society were enabled to
exercise the franchise. The general election alter the
dissolution of Parliament last March tested the politicAl
opinions' of the general body of allottees on the society's
estates. The executive committee, in their reports
of March and June, had the gratification to reser 1
the good faith with which nearly all the allottees
' bal acted. At the Registration Court; in the au-
tumn, the claims ,of the members for various coun-
ties were generally successful, although contradictory
decisions of some of the revising barristers, as to the
value of the land which -will give a 40; freehold, have
been again given. On the Forest Hill Estate the 501
plots, declared two years ago to be insufficient by one
barrister, have been pronounced by his successor this
year to be ample. On the Reading estate the 501 plots
were passed formerly without opposition, but this year
the votes were struck off on objections which your corn-
! mitten believe to be untenable. Qualifications can now
be obtained through the instrumentality of the society
in the following counties :—Middlesex, Surrey, Essex,
Kent, Hurts, Sussex, Berkshire, Worcestershire, Lin-
colnshire, Nottinghamshire, Hampshire, Somersetshire,
Lancashire, Yorkshire. The executive committee have
to announce that, until further notice, the rate
of interest on completed shares and shares in
progress paid a year in advance and upwards will con-
tinue at 5 per cent., payable half•yearly one month after
Lady-day and Michaelmas. The total amount of profit
divided amongst the investors in the five years was
15,810/. 10s. 101, and this has enabled the permanent
members to realise 6 per cent. for the first, third,
fourth and fifth years, the bonus in the second year prior
to the Crimean war having been 7 per cent. The corn
mitten have now the high satisfaction to declare the
bonus fur the !year ending at Michaelmas, 1857, to be
6 per cent. per annum on all uncompleted shares, exist-
ing in the society on the 10th of December, in respect
of which shares lots on estates have not been taken, and
such banns of 6 per cent. will be added to the accounts
of the several member; in their pass-books, as provided
by the rules. The holders of completed shares and of all
shares on which subscriptions have been paid of a
year in advance and upwards will be entit'ed to
receive the additional 1 per cent. (over and above the
guaranteed 5 per cent. paid half-yearly), and the amounts
due to the members on this head will be included ae
usual in the interest warrants to be issued one teonth
after next Lady-day, 1858. In order to increase the
sphere of usefulness of the society the committee propose
certain alterations to be made in the existing rules at the
special meeting this day. It is not intended to interfere
in any manner with the former mode of investment,
whether for the purpose of holding shares for interest or
for obtaining land. The changes in the rules will there-
fore not depart from the system under which the society
has so prospered ; but the committee desire to avail
themselves, if they should deem it expedient, of the full
powers conferred by the law relating, to Friendly and
Benefit Building Societies. To develope still further
building operations, and to make advances on every
description of security sines, modifications and amend-
ment; in the rules are necessary. It is also expedient
t iat the committee should have a discretionary power as
to the receipt of monies on deposit accounts, allowing
thereon a fixed rate of interest, the depositors not par-
ticipating profits. Large sums of money
have tieen broughtinthe ntuoal
the office for investmentin this
nude; which committee coonmmacitetoeuenthaovfe htheieenrcuolemsp. ellleldlyteostodres-
chlainvien tog rderivedec much benefit from the total repeal of
fines( on unadvanced shares, the com-
mthiettreuele ingpirmoppoossean alteration in rule 43, in favour of
the allottees, by diminishing the accumulative effect of
the fines on advanced shares,. The Conservative
Land Society having become a prosperous reality,
and the effects of p ditical and commercial transitions
having been carefully watched and studied, the com•
!slitter) have come to the conclusion that they ought to
be ready for a state of things when it may be requisite
to contract business in; some directions, and to enlarge it
in other;. The committee, in conclusion, cannot but
express to the shareholders their sincere acknowledg-
' ments for the friendly tone of feeling which has bee.;
uniformly displayed. Mutual confidence and an unin-
terrupted continuance of harmonious relations, have
accomplished much for the prosperity of the society, and
no exertions will be wanting on the part of the execu-
tive committee to secure future success."

The report was agreed to unanirnow-ly, and the
retiring officers having boen re-elected, the pro-
ceedings terminated.

CRYSTAL PALACE COMPANY.--A meeting of about 40
priprietors in the Crystal Palace Company was held
yesterday, at the London Tavern—Mr. Sotheby in the
chair. The report of the shareholders' committee, an
abstract of which we published on Monday, having been
submitted to the meeting, the Chairman moved the
adoption of the report, and stated that the committe-
did not wish to interfere eith the directors, but rather
desired to assist them. He thought it was but fair to
give every gentleman credit for his proposition ; and the
directors having given notics of their iutentioa to issue
life admissions on the suerenohr of shares to reducs the
capital, it was but fair to i-,te that t%itt was a proposi
tion of Mr. Fuller two years since, and that it was
because he was opposed by the whole of the other
directors that he retired from the board. After some
o nversation, the report was adopted.