Railway Passengers' Assurance Company.

Avas an entirely abnormal rate of loss , and was not to be looked for in ordinary years . Again , the increase of single journey tickets was slight , as compared with previous half years . He did not attach much value to this , because it Avas found that the more prudent portion , mankind preferred a more permanent mode of insurance , and that the comparative falling off in the journey tickets was more than compensated by the increase in the number of annual and life policies against all accidents

. Upon the whole , therefore , he thought they had every reason to anticipate a continuous and still more satisfactory progress . The alteration in the terms of the policies , making the liability more clear and defined , was likewise operating to the advantage of the company , and the cases disputed were now becoming so few in number as largely to reduce the emoluments of the solicitor—a subject of congratulation to the andhe

comnany , , Avas satisfied , of no regret to tbe solicitor himself . ( A laugh . ) The statistics of the company were becoming annually more valuable , supplying them with far more reliable data than iu the early years of their existence they possessed . As an instance of the fallacy of the ordinary statistics , he might mention that the President of tbe Board of Trade , who \ v _\ s supposed to be the impersonation of statistics—( a laugh)—stated in a recent

speech that railway accidents occurred iu the proportion of one passenger killed to every 10 , 000 , 000 carried ; and that one out of every 315 , 000 odd was injured . Now he should be sorry to suppose that those who insured with this company were more

liable to accidents than the rest of the travelling community , but their experience during the fifteen years they had been established gave the proportion as one passenger injured in every 10 , 700 who travelled . Without charging the Board of Trads Avith putting forth incorrect statistics , there were many reasons for accounting for the discrepancy . The Board of Trade did not generally hear of those accidents whicli were not felt at the timeand the effects of which were not immediatelvisible

, y . They heard nothing of accidents which from the shock they inflicted upon the system were as much entitled to compensation as would a broken leg or a broken arm . These , however , came under tbe notice of the company in tho claims made bv the parties injured , and accounted in a great measure for the high rate their returns showed . Anything abnormal , either in tho weather or the health of the country , affected the demands

upon this office , and , as a matter of curiosity , he might state that the accidents which had occurred to persons insured with them resulting from the late severe weather , when the streets were so slippery from snow and frost , had cost them over ; £ 2 , 000 . He concluded by moving the adoption of the report . The motion having been seconded by Mr . M . Farquhar , u director , was carried . Interest at the rate of ¦ _ per cent , par annum , Avith a bonus of 2 s . per share was then declared . 'The directors retiring by rotation and the auditors were re-elected , and a vote of thank ' s to the chairman concluded the business .

TESTIMONIAL TO BRO . STEHOTNG , PRESIDENT OE THE SOUTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE . —The long and valuable services rendered to his fellow-townsmen by J . R . Stebbing , Esq ., J . P ., F . R . A . S ., whereby the commercial interests of the port have been repeatedly and materially benefitted , received a graceful recognition on the 22 nd ult ., by tbe presentation to that gentleman of a very handsome testimonial , to which there were about 400 subscribers . The presentation was made in the

presence of a large number of persons , by George Dunlop , Esq ., Vice-President of tho Chamber of Commerce . The testimonial consisted of a purse of 600 sovereigns , a massive silver salver , and an illuminated volume containing a suitable address , and the names of all the subscribers written on vellum . The following inscription is engraved on the salver : — "This salver , with a purse containing LEOOO , was presented to Joseph Rankin

Stebbing , Esq ., Justice of tbe Peace , and President of the Chamber of Commerce , by his friends and fellow-townsmen , in testimony of their high appreciation of the valuable services he has , during a long period of years , rendered to the town of Southampton and its neighbourhood ; of tiie great ability and intelligence he has displayed in his efforts to develope tbe capabilities of its port , and of tho exertions and personal sacrifices he has made for the extension of its trade and commerce . — Southampton , February 22 , 1865 . " In the evening Bro . Stebbing was entertained at dinner at the Dolphin Hotel . The proceedings throughout were of the most gratifj ing character .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

CRYSTAL PALACE . Just as we were going to press we received the programme for the approaching season . We have not the space at present to do more than to say that tbe following will be the leading features : — The Great Flower Show , Saturday , 20 th May , 1865 . The Great Rose Show will be held on Saturday , 24 th June . Royal Dramatic College Fetes , Saturday , loth July , and

Monday , 17 th July . Crystal Palace Opera Concerts and Saturday afternoon Promenades , on Saturdays in May , June , and July . Crystal Palace Archery Meeting , Thursday , 6 th , and Friday , 7 th July . Crystal Palace—Triennial Handel Festival , 1865 . Rehearsal Friday , 23 rd June . Messiah Monday , 26 th June . Selection AVedncsday , 28 th June . Israel in Egypt Friday , 30 th June .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

TIIE COURT . —The Queen , attended by the youthful members of her family now residing with her at Windsor , came to town on Tuesday and held a Court , which was attended by the Ambassadors and Ministers of the different Powers with their suites , and by other eminent and distinguished persons who had the honour of receiving invitations . After holding tbe Court the Queen returned to Windsor in the course of the

afternoon . AA ' e are glad to be able to state that her Majesty appeared to be in excellent health . The Prince and Princess of Wales are still resident in the metropolis . The Owl states that the Dublin International Exhibition will be opened by the Prince of AA ales , and that the Empress of the French has addressed a letter to the Queen and all the Sovereigns of

Europe , requesting their co-operation in restoring the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem . Prince Arthur has proceeded on : i tour to the East . IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . —In the HOUSE OF LORDS on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., Lord Granville , in reply to a question from Lord Fortescue , said that Mr . Farnall ' s services in the cotton manufacturing districts had been of " great value , " but he bad performed the duties of special commissioner in Lancashire and inspector in London , without any addition having been

made to his salary . At Lady-day , however , bis duties in the cotton districts would cease . Lord Derby bore testimony to the services of Mr . Fnrnall , and also to the assistance rendered by the Poor-law Board , during the cotton famine . —In reply to a question from Lord Wharncliffe , Lord Granville said , that in the present state of the negotiations for the confederation of the British North American provinces , it would be

injudicious to come to any decision upon the proposal to erect the Red River settlement into an independent colony . On Friday the Lord Chancellor introduced a Bill for the amendment of the law relating to the remuneration of attorneys . On Monday a short conversation took place on the subject of transportation to Australia . Lord Granville intimated that in three

years transportation to AVestern Australia would entirely cease , and Lord Taunton—an ex-secretary for the colonies —rejoiced at it decision which , he believed , would produce a feeling ofthe deepest satisfaction among the colonists . On Tuesday the Irish Law Reform Bill was read a second time . In the HOUSE OS COMMONS on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., Mr .

Whalley gave notice of a Bill to assimilate the law of Scotland to that of-England with respect tot-be election of knights of the shire ; Avhich means , we presume , the extension of the franchise