Summary Of News For February.

JOINT STOCK COMPANIES . The Railway Companies have been holding their meetings during the past month ; ant it would be impossible for us to enter into anything like a detail of the proceedings . The dividend of the Great Western has been confirmed at the rate of 3 per cent ., and the Directors have been authorized to raise £ 1 , 325 , 000 by the issue of 5 per cent , preference shares . The revenue has been unfavourably affected by the -war . The South-Western dividend is at the rate of 5 per cent ., and the revenue shews an increase through the military and naval movements at the port of Southampton ; but it is stated that oven under other circumstances a favourable result would have been manifested . The dividend of the London and North-Western has

oeen confirmed at the rate of 5 per cent , per annum , leaving a balance of £ 71 , 270 to be carried forward . The Great Northern dividend is at the rate of 5 f per cent ., and an agreement with the Ambergate Company has been arranged . The traffic of the North and South-Western Junction presents a steady increase , and the dividend is at the rate of 4 per cent , per annum . Tlie dividend of tho Eastern Counties Company - < vili bo 7 * . per share , carrying over £ 5080 , which , with the former amount , constitutes a total of £ 11 , 642 . Tho Directors of the London and Black wall Company

recommended a dividend of 4 s . 6 f ? . per share , leaving a balance of £ 385 ; the receipts exhibit an increase , and the widening of the railway to Stepney is proceeding as rapidly as circumstances will admit . The dividend of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company will be at tho rate of 4 per cent . In the case of the North-Eastern . Company , the proportion of dividend on tho York and Berwick shares will be at tho rate of 4 per cent , per annum , and on the York and North-Midland at 2 | -, while on the Leeds it will be at tho rate of C per centon the first and second preference

, shares . The traffic on the Oxford , Worcester , and Wolverhampton line is improving , and the Directors have at length been enabled to declare the full dividend at the rate of 6 per cent , on the preference shares . At the meeting of the Midland Company , the dividend is equal to 3 f- per cent , on the consolidated stock , and in proportion on other descriptions . The line , it is stated , is worked in a satisfactory manner , and She arrangements with the London and North-AA estern and Midland Railway will , it is expected , prove advantageous . The dividend of the East Lancashire Company is

at the rate of 4 per cent ., and the Directors have been authorized to raise additional capital . At the meeting of the Bristol and Exeter Company the dividend of 4 | per cent , was agreed to , the report being received as satisfactory . A ' arious guaranteed dividends have also been declared during the month , A new project , for which the Bill has been already obtained , is before the public under the name of the Metropolitan Railway , to unite the Great Western , the Great Northern , and the London and North-Western Railways with the Post-Office . There will

¦ be half-mile stations throughout the centre of the Metropolis , and the line has already received most influential support . The Royal British Bank has declared a dividend for the past year , at the rate of 6 per cent , per annum . The reserved fund now amounts to £ 15 , 006 . The dividend and bonus declared at the half-year meeting of the London and County Bank , on the 1 st February , made the return for the year 12 per cent , free of Income Tax . TJie Guarantee Fund now amounts to £ 69 , 000 , and will be limited to

£ 100 , 000 . The Crystal Palace Company held their half-yearly meeting on the 8 th , when a dividend at the rate of 5 per Cent , per annum was declared , notwithstanding the Directors only recommended 4 per Cent . It was also resolved to raise £ 150 , 000 an preference shares bearing 7 per cent , interest , to complete the water and other srorks—the whole of which are expected to be ready for opening early in June . BENEVOLENT .

The Committee of the Middlesex Hospital have placed 40 beds at-the disposal of 3 he Government , for the use of the sick and wounded from the seat of war . The Royal General Annuity Societ y held its Anniversary Festival on the 14 th , when aearly £ 400 was received as donations in aid of its funds , which are unduly depressed . The Annual Dinner of the Stationeis' Mutual Benefit Society took place on the