THAMES GAS COMPANY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5602, 31 August 1875, Page 3

THAMES GAS COMPANY.

TllK annunl meeting of the shareholders in this Company was helil yesterday afternoon in the office* of the company, Shortlnnd I 'reticent; Sir. C. J. Stone iu the chair. The proceedings commenced by the secretary rending the advertitieinent cdhng the meeting, and the minutes of lust meeting, which were duly confirmed. - The director* report and balance-sheet for the your omling 31*t July, 1875, weie then submitted to the meeting, as follows : - Tito Directors again congratulate the sli.tie-holdei-H on their being able to lay before them a satisfactory balance-sheet and profit and Ions account. From tlie statement of aocountH now submitted, it will bo Men that the turn of £1,275 17*. Oil. in available for distribution, out of winch the directors recommend the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent, for the half-year ending .'list July ultimo, leaving a balance of i'.t til Is. (id. to be earned forward to the next account. At the lust hdf-yenrly meeting tho diidctora stated they anticipated the profits of the then eunuing hulf-yeaf would be sufficient to enable thorn to recommend payment of a dividend of 0 per cent. ; this profit has been realised, but, after re-comidtring the matter, and, with a viow to equalise futuro dividend*, the directors would only reoommend a dividend of 5 por cent, for the half-year. The business of the company is of a satisfactory character, and, with the substantial balance earned forward, your director* anticipate no difficulty in maintaining regular dividends in future of 5 per cent, per half-year, equal to 10 per cent. Kt annum, on the amount of onpital called up. essrs. 0. J. Stone and Owen Jones, who retire from the directory by rotation, and, being eligible for re-election, offer themaelveM accordingly. It is alw necessary to elect un auditor for tho eiuuingyear.— For the directorn, O. J. Stonk, Chairman. DALANCEHHKBT, 31»T JULY, 1875. Dr. : Capital, viz.— Amount of calU on 9,982 share*, »t 38a,, 119,905 10*. ; creditor*, for unpaid account*, £20 10*. lid. ; creditors, unclaimed dividends, £72 5». 3d. ; profit nndiloss account, £1,275 17s. Od. ; total, «J»,334 l.w. lid. Cr. : Freehold land, £887 10s 10<L ; buildingH, £3,738 8s, (id. ; plant, including mains, meter*, ■•rvicei, and sundry nurpli» «tock, £13,47» 12a. 8.1. ; stock of ooaU and sbaU, £&S2 12«. -Id. ; stock of residual products,£453s. 4d. Debtsdueto company, vix.-liills reotivable, £3U 7s. 5d. ; nooounU for gas, coal, and produota, £258 tin. 8(1 ; gas consumed since 17th July, and m holder estimated at £317. - ; office furniture, £lffllOn. 5d. jcash at Iknk of New Zealand, £D2<! ; cosh . in band, £2 10s. 9d. ; total, £20,334 If*, lid. 1'iioht ani> Lt>H8 Account.— Dr. s Dividend declared 31st August, 1874, £1,133 10s. M. ; divideud «leclored 25th February, 1875, £748 13s.; coals and shalo, £1,606 3s. Cd.} stokers' wages, £454 Is.; wear and tear, £27 10s.; Salario», £413 0s. 8d. General Expenses : Direotoni' honoruriutn and auditor, £130 3s. «d.; Govermnont lioense, £13 10s.; rent and Ujtes, £52 Is. 3d.; insuranoe, £0 17s. &L| printinj, atlvertising, sUtionenr, stamiw, and sundries, £112 14* 0d. ; bad dobts, £33 3s. 3d.s balance cunied to new account, £1,275 17*. Od. ; toUl, £0,088 Is. 8d.— Or. : Balance, 81st July, 1874, £1,143 2s. 7d.; gas aooounts, £3,851 Is.; residual products, £303 01. IO1I5 coals iiold, £780 0*.; sundries, £0 10s. 3d.; total, £0,088 Is. 84. The Chairman thought there wasjno necessity for him to add anything to the report. Some might be of opinion that the directors should hnve recommended a dividend of 6 j>er cent. ; but, as explained in the report, it was deemed advisable to make it only 5 per cent,, as tliat Mwnount, it was confidently anticipated, could be regularly assured half-yearly to shareholders. Ho moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet. — Mr. Atkinson seconded the motion.— After a few remarks from Mr. A. Boardman, the meeting unanimously agreed to tho motion.— Mr. J. Howard then moved, and Mr. W. 0. Wilson seconded, the re-election of tho retiring directors, which was carried.— The Chairman briefly returned thanks.— Mr. Uowurd moved,, and Mr. Owen Jones seconded, the le-eluution of Mr. George Frftser m auditor. Carried. — Mr. ttoardman proposed, and Mr. Thomas Macffarlano seconded, a vote of thank-) to tho directors for their management during the past year, whioh was agreed to. tThe Chairman stated that the dividend would he payiblo on and after tho Oth September.-* The niotting then separated,