ofthe action ofthe Committee. Addresses vehemently denouncing the unauthorized alienation of a fund contributed for a special purpose were delivered by the Chairman, Messrs. John Hodgson, John Hood, N. Guthridge, J. S. Johnston, J. P. Fayvkner, and AV. R. Belcher. A personal encounter took place between J. P. Fawkner and N. L. Kentish, which was prevented from ending in a pugilistic "set to" only by the strong personal interposition of some of the parties present. Mr. Guthridge stated that M'Lelland, who had lost, wife, family, and all he had in the world by the conflagration, all he received yvas £ 4 0 . Resolutions were passed (a) strongly censuring the Central Relief Committee for alienating to other purposes funds collected for the relief of the sufferers by the bushfires; (b) declaring that a gross breach of faith had been committed; and (c) appointing Messrs. R. Grice, N. Guthridge, T. M'Combie, W . K. Bull, J. Hood, J. R. Pascoe, S. Croad, E. Sayce, AV. R. Belcher, M . Cantlon, R. Duff, J. Bennett, and R. Kerr, a Committee to carry out the intention of the subscribers, and to apply to the several Charitable Institutions specified to refund the money wrongfully paid over to them. As might be supposed the several applications so made met yvith refusals, and not a farthing yvas paid back, for which the several Charities yvere not to be blamed ; for, so far as they yvere concerned, the cash reached them in a regular yvay, and they did right to stick to it. The next course adopted was the presentation of a requisition to the Mayor to convene another indignation meeting, which he declined to do. It was held, hoyvever, yvithout his co-operation on the 27th May, when the proceedings were stormy, recriminatory, and very unedifying. A resolution yvas, however, affirmed insisting in strong terms that the Fire Relief Committee should make restitution of the £ 6 5 8 ios. 4d. so misapplied, and a Committee yvas appointed to urge the demand accordingly. The demand yvas made, and treated yvith contemptuous silence. N o one anticipated any other result, and this yvas the last publicly heard of a transaction, the undoubted irregularity and injustice of which could not be defended on any honest or rational grounds. INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND THE FIRST FIRE BRIGADE. INSURANCE.
The delay and uncertainty entailed in effecting insurances through Sydney and Van Diemonian agencies, suggested the formation of a local Company; and accordingly at a public meeting in the Lamb Lnn, on the 6th April, the project was started and the folloyving prospectus adopted : — FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY.
Directors : R. H. Browne, Esq, S. J. Browne, Esq, Rev. J. Cloyv, John Gardiner, Esq, Arthur Hogue, Esq, Charles Hoyvard, Esq, D. C. McArthur, Esq, AV. F. A. Rucker, Esq, James Simpson, Esq, R. S. Webb, Esq, P. AV. AVelsh, Esq, AV. H. Yaldwyn, Esq.; Auditors : Skene Craig Esq, and William Highett, Esq.; Surveyor: Robert Russell, Esq.; Solicitor: AVilliam Meek, Esq.; Secretary: J. Smith, Esq. Capital, £50,000 in 1000 £ 5 0 shares. The shares were in tolerably good demand, and another meeting yvas held on the 2nd August, yvhen thefirstAnnual Board of Management yvas elected; the difference betyveen it and the Provisional Directory being the substitution of Messrs. G. B. Smyth, F. A. Powlett, Alex. Thomson, R. Jamieson, J. O. Denny, and C. Williams, for Messrs. S. J. Browne, John Gardiner, AV. F. Rucker, J. Simpson, P. AV. AVelsh, and W . H . Yaldwyn. Further changes in the personnel were subsequently made. The manager was the same Mr. James Smith yvho so assiduously yvatched over the infant destinies ofthe Savings Bank. AVhatever he undertook he stuck to with a zeal and perseverance not to be excelled. Though sloyv, he yvas sure, and honest as the sun, and any project with yvhich he was responsibly associated, if it did not rise to an absolute success, never descended to a dead failure. The Insurance Company yvas conducted in the same offices as the Savings Bank, in Collins Street AVest; and, though it never did a large share of business, it contrived to pay a dividend. It yvas not fated to enjoy a long life ; but when it died it gave up the ghost with a clear conscience, for it had not much to answer for. There had been feyv fires, and the working expenses of the concern were very small, for outside the managerial expenses no outlay was
