The Express. — London, England, 1849-08-29 00:00:00

THE CHOLERA. Baton of MN of s e matted to the General Da. rd ei NW* ritorday, A wl s s e: Attacks. Moths. L Loads and vicinity, via.: l...uactb 57 30 Dimond's, 8 labium* Both/othlis Betbnalimes t embellish fiborediteh l9 3 SE 111 Chelsea Webt Loudon Union Greenwich Lim cholas Pvplat tington St. ranasa ii;ViDgtoll cJT of I.srarill tale kik Londaa Maisie Oilaria4h►FMMa le7ir localities &gland and Wakie: Liverpool blertnvr Tydfil Dowkis eel*, inmost% Cilto, Cab= 111 istal li ; vteastl•-ander-Lym Lads North Shields Bratifutd, TIM Fot tinaudi Poem Muelske Croydon AW•yromith D-rby . 0:1!tr pimp, 01. - Diktats fe;ith liawiek Wilton by limikk Crail Arbroath Aardess Total eat 11/I[lo 01, 10/00/A MON COMMA 01 m TILLS MOO MOOR 11. 13, APO 23. VI tit thrtaktm greet Dietrich , Districts Perth Pig Heti OMNI Dietrich, —. Poe& I.4:n.te West Chehei GoIP, 112110MAllire Et. 11..tt:r. is the Medi, Et.Jeutce, Weetattuter North U.impuead a - ,i~:..~..._.._..._.... Cents! Distzieft— Pt. 4t1?• ............. - Waal Hawn' ..... Cerienyetl I. LA., tut LonZue taull Zakkm, tlty Eat PlAtiete.— Elturfttltel firths:Al Green Wltlttchtp. I Et. Gals* la literati fouth lk.lour's R OLin lineeril. Pl. Gomm Saaalnivrt .. Newingtas ..... Larch ..... Rotherhlths 31,027 19,140 MON 48.71$ 11.1,91113 116.072 17,9H0 111,121 30,919 13,031 lairlibeis ..... DAl77olll).—Cholera is prevaleat in Water-lane, in tbf. =t . canting off Its victims in • very few hours. In one re, • whole family, consisting of • man, his wife and heir children, fell o iCtillll to the fatal malady in four dap. lint-voc.—The returns for the ancient city are scarcely so favourable as for the last two or three days, being es follows: Diarrhu.s, 18; approaching to cholera, 13; cholera, 8; deatLs, 5. There are no returns yet issued for the out perish of Bt. Phillip and Jacob ; and it is difficult to state west is its cis* condition, bat there have been some , deaths there. The epidemic would seem to be fast disap pearing morn Bedminster, the returns from which parish are of a cheering chsracter Disretau, 23 ; cramp 4 ; cholera, 1; deaths. U. The medical aloe, of the committee of health is:presets his opinion that the district is in a much more satis factory state than at any time since the establishment of the ODIAWtteIP. MIIMITIL—The retorts from the Merthyr district, although still presenting evidences or a decline cf the ep'.. demic, ars not quite so favourable as as Saturday and Sun day. Oa the latter day then were only 14 mew seizures, while yesterday the numbers were as 61kws :—Merthyr, 14; Dowille, 11: total, 25. The deaths on Sunday amounted ts only 6, bat yesterday to 8, being as follows:—Merchyr, 6; Penydarran, 1; Doubts, 1. MAntunam.—The elselera doss not appear to abate in Marehester, bat in some of the out-townships it has not hem to prevalent. ltrarnzw.—Cholera has 'gain appeared amonr us, and has asettead within the last few days a more vintlent Lad fatal character. EbtrilitllGH.—Considtrahle uneasiness is felt here in re gard to the inereating prevalence of that most fatal of all dimmer, cholera, which is known to hayo reappeared in various parts of the city. SPEEDY RITCRY OF MI I SENT LETTERS.—By Mat regulation any letter haring the writer's tame and residence engraved on the eel, or written on the outside, which e..nnot find the party to whom the same is ividrrawd, will be returned to the writer through the post-dike Im mediately, and not through the Dead Letter.‘ffice, by which regulation considerable anxiety and lose of time will be pre • snots'!. • THE fIEACIEFLL CIILItCII OP POYNINGS MU ninth damaged during the late thunder-storm. The electric fluid settee to ham 'sieved the south window of the chancel, al luvia' the apex of the arch, and in its downward mane separtitially miring the minims of the tracery. end then wreschirg oat a portion of the flint-work at the ham. Curiouel enough, three other windows are injured in pre• eimly the same manner. The panel work of a pew lining the wall immediately; under one of them windows is completely shivered. The tower sustained the greaten in jury. to the western side, immediately over the ridge of thetraneept, there is • breach four feet square superficially, and ten inches deep; and in the corresponding position bole the injured part is not lees than eight feet in length ar.d eighteen inches in width. The flint work is shaken and (I.arranged to the depth of eighteen inches; and, to SW the words of a bricklayer employed in repaving the demure, " It looks as if torn oat by • pick-axe." Several Mh.r s of the tower arm damaged, but not to the same extent. 'foe porch was also struck; and it exhibits proof of • nmerser escape from eleatraction. It would appear, from the ',oddest of the parts affected, that the lightning came from the south-west, and being attracted by the whg dows, proteided from one side of the church to the other, realm, i.e egress through the windows on the op to side. The pews and floor were completely covered with mortar, Shakes olf from the militia end walls. Thu neat pareousge. bum saitained great damage, and four of the rector's Ail drea had a PIMP 1111/1 providential mospe, a portion of 'he Peat lavas/ been Wm elf Immediately over the room when they were weeping.—DrigAtoot Omar*. Mativlattaf AND CONTINENTAL STEAM-PACKET Cow .—An extraordinary general meeting of this tota lity was held yesterday, at London-bridge station, for the rawl:of essalirsio• the resolution of the meeting of the st., whisk authorised! 'he dissolution of the company, lad el kb this meeting (consisting of Captain Botha* who was Ice the aka* and a very scanty number of proprietors), agreed to without oppeeition.—The Mainers (in reply to la inquiry hem a shareholder as to whether them were any ample. rand.), mid that there would remain a balsam which. after the few oetstan.'ir g debts were paid, would be disile,! ,monger the sharehollers in regular proportionsupos their es-eutiug • deed to release the trustees from all reepon eihilits H. unwed the sneetiort that no time would be lost In wing , up the affairs of the company.—A Shareholder, in erni^e • vote of thanks to the chairman, significantly hoped tl t if he eve again feted as chairmen, it woal4 be in a arse presperous .untiortakfog—• murk, and the only sae, which elicited a cheer. The motion having been agreed * the meeting broke up. Mr. 'Mikity, Jun. (by adjourn meet at the Yorkshire Grey, Humbled, toschinft the death cl Maria Stone, the wife el • wheelwright, re 'dint -11 Church-lane, who died Sow Asiatic cholera. It was proved, on the first meetMg of the jury, dtte e Accessed was attaked with cholera , aft A r %dare I.sr sister, who died from the prevailing epidemic. A Inotlo r and sister of the deceased were else at. lethal with cholera, after they had left their dead elbteei huse, and died soon afterwards. Two nieces of the &Maud weft also attacked about the mass time, and they died wit. in a few hours of each other. Two other relearns Ware attacked with cholera, and were not expected to The deceased was the last who died, anal it was • linear tact, that these were the only cases of cholera, with the uterine of the Rev. Mr. haggises, a Wesleyan minis ter, who died from cholera In Jack Illtraw's Castle Tavern, that had occurred in Hampstead . The jury recorded Verdict of death from Asiatic cholera. 1,11.10133 101,1$11 376,563 W 4.190 SANT 1603,316 74,596 44243 562 23,152 $;,437 IsA,XA3 140.03 6 \ 179 11,321 1,376 41.64 44,539 bG,; 99 40,901 KV 1 29.183 bt,049 61061 74,26 71,1579 41,411 1111,1131 31,171 THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 29, 1849. THE KIDDERMINSTER ELECTION. 6 1 1 49 401 103 114 1113 304 41$ KIDDERMINSTER, MONDVI. The dingy red-brink town of Kidderminster exhi bits, I assure you, an unwonted gaiety. As I descended into it this afternoon, the sun slunir g cheerily for the first time these three weeks, brightened up flap and banners of every variety of form and dimension, which were flying from the summits of tall chimneys and the roofs of giant factories, with all the glory of the newest calico. It did not take long to discover that the tory colours were blue, and the liberal pink and white. The latter beat the for mer hollow, not only numerically, but in gaiety of appearance. If I may draw inferences from httle mat ters, I would observe that the inscriptions on the pink and white flags, went to show the advanced principles and feelings of reformers. From one small house in the outskirts of the town ; the occunicr —probably a t non-elector—displayed a banner with the legend, " Oisborre and the Suflrager "lie who has tot • vote is a slave." From the roof of a very large carpet factory, employing I understand several hun dred hands, there are two emmmous flags bearing very remarkable insignia. Ono expresses both the loyalty and the liberal feeling of the firm, for on one aide is the crown with her Majesty'. initials, on the other the inscription "For Gisborne and the rights of the people." The second banner has on one aide a wreath entwining a globe, with the motto "Free trade with all the world;" on the re verse a scriptural quotation—" The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." Upon the blue Minas there arc few icyriptions. Tue only observable one I have seen has on It " Bele ' and the land, boys, we live in"— a tout which the hon. candidate seems to have mai, popular. Kidderminster, ss you are doubtless aware, has heretofore been most corrupt. I have seen here re spectable men of every see ion of every, rArty, and not one of them but has avowed and deplored the fact. Still more singular, I baronet found thateitherside isinclined to blame the opposite party more than they blame their own for participaturg in these disgraceful e'ec tioneering practices. It appears to be admitted here on all hands that corruption commenced with the party who origirally supported Mr. God son. That gentleman was introduced to the town under verr peculiar circumstarc , s. Mr. Godson was the son of a solicitor at Tenbury, in this county, and after being called to the bar he went the Oxford cir cuit. He entered parliament in 1831 as member for the notorious borough of St. Alban's, where he bought himself a seat sea radical, under circumstances which, I believe, the Daily News some Cane since narrated. It happened a short time before the passing of the Mom Bill that there was a serious riot at Kidderminster, originating in a dis pute respecting wages. A number of operatives were arrested, and scat for trial at Worcester mixes. Mr. Godson, then one of the loudest spoken stuff msmen on the circuit, was retained to defend He was fortunate in the judge and in the jury. For many of them he got an acquittal, for the rest lighter punishments than they at all anti cipated. When the borough was enfranchised by the Reform Act, the minufnetuers of the town selected as a candidate the present Sir George Phillips, himself a member of a ma nufacturing family at Manchester. Many of those voters, however, who were opposed to the masters about the riots, determined on bringing forward Mr. Godson, who Lad so ably defended the indicted rioters. That gentleman, relying on the extreme class of voters, would have stood but a peer chance of success had there not been jealousies and differences in the other camp. A party of persons, who after wards celled themselves conservatives, went over, is consequence of those diffesences, from the whig can didate to the radical. Mr. Godson's party, thus' strengther el, was still in a minority. But an expenditure of some three thousand pounds enabled him to secure the teat by a make ity of 12; and by peculiar management beheld it for his life, with the exception of a atingle parliament. I should state that bribery and treating, which have been practised so generally in Kidderminster, have net been the only bad means resorted to, to influence the voters. Mr. Godson, on account of the Worcester trials, was the popular can didate for the borough in le:12. His friends oommenced a system of intimidation, which it is to be hoped is unknown in any other constituency. This system has obtained the name of " blocking.' Mobs of men from the mat distticts, armed with bludgeons, were in the habit of surrounding the shop doors of the voters known to be opposed to Mr. God son, end of threatening, hustling, and ill-troa•lng any persons who attempted to enter in order to make purchases. The canvasses at Kidderminster have at every election been remarkab:e ter their duraion, and this system carried on for sere ral weeks both before and atter the poll has been known to be the ruin of many a poorer voter. Not only hes Kidderminster been succkingly de moralised by its election system, but I am assured that there are few towns in England where so much ill-blood has beau engendered by the exercise of the franchise. For this also Mr. Godson was to a very great extent responsible. Nothing could exceed the coarseness of the late member's hustings speeches, whether in matter or in manner. lie cared not whom he personally assailed, and as a natural consequence he mate a host of the most bitter personal enemies. A paper which wan published here some years since, under tory auspices, but which is now happily defunct, fostered all these local and private animoeties. Of this print, which was called the Ten Tuiena Messenger, it is not too much to say that it woe a disgrace to the British press. Its parallel for virulence and disgusting slang was not to be found in the pro vinces, and if the Satirist, wiai which it alone was comparable, was a nuisance to London, it may easily be imagined what a pest inch a publication as the Ten Towns Messenger must have been in so small a society as that of Kidderminster. There is, however, always retribution in the affairs of this life. The paper during its existence nearly ruined two or three proprietors in pocket, and certsioly it cannot have tailed to have ruined certain of them in character and reptilian. The attempt which is now teing made to introduce a purer and better electioneering system into Kidder minster can scarcely fail to excite a rublio interest. What may be the upshot of that attempt I will not in this letter venture to predict. Mr. Thes.Gisborne has told the electors frankly . that "if they expect to receive from him a single shilling eater in money or in money's worth, they will be woefully disappointed." I have very little doubt of this gen tleman keeping to his word. He has a public repea -1 Con to lose, and he would be a much weaker minded man than he is known tobe to hazard that reputation for the sake of representing Kiddetminster. The other candidate has not spoken out in quite such strong language, sod i•, possibly, not precisely in such good hands. But there is a securi.y in regard to this gentleman's neoceedinga arising from the ca.- cumstance that neither he nor his family can spare much money. To this it is replied that thekCarlton Club perhaps may send the needful down. "I do not know what the finances of the Carlton are, but I should think it extremely unlikely, even if they have any funds to spare, that they would assist &perfectly unknown candidate, and one who cannot possibly do their party any good, even should his election be ob tained. 31eanwhile the town hue been canvassed, and as far as can be ascertained the contest will be very close. Both parties at present boast of having a imajerity of " expressed" votes. The word "expressed" is Mr. Gieberne'r. I dare say you will understand its mport. If I construe the experstien tightly, it means this : There ere some 30 or 40 iudividuels, mostly publicans, hanging . back for bribes. 35!. and 40/. a piece hes been flaw usual price though stories are afloat of men who received 100/. and 1201. at the election here in 1841. That any one may have these men who pays them is quite certain ; whether any one will pay them is another question. That they will vote with out being paid is not very likely. They have never done so yet, and there are no signs at present that their old rule will be infringed. Taff Pot cz rrt rm iII(PLAWBS.—HaIf a dozen metropolitan policemen have ben conveyed to Balmoral, and me dirributed &boat the ;die - with instructions to war] off intruder•. The fares certelaly is nee a great one, but it is more than sufficient for the purpose. Their duty, though not arduous, is deplorably wearisome. It consists in ching nothing. l:nitss the knowledge that they are tbere of itself operates as a restraint on the inquisitive ;lemons against whom they are to guard, their presence is ►ltogether super fluous. They may remain on the lookout the whole day, " from morn till dewy em"—they sot unfrefluently do so remain—without decrying a solitary individual. RAILWAY MEETINGS. LONDON AND BLACKWALL. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company took place; .1. N. Demme, E.q., in the chair. The SECRETARY read the following report:— 'The directors have to report that the works connected with the alteration of gauge, and the adaptation of the rail way to the locomotive system, were so far completed on the 2nd of April last, as to admit of the line being re-opened throughout on that day ; and it has since been worked by locomotive power. The traffic accounts for the past half-yew embrace the charges wader the locomotive and stationary I engine systems, end do not, therefore, enable the eroprietem to judge of the comparative costs of working unlcr each. The expenses, as contrasted with those of the correspondit. period of last year, however, exhibit a reduction of 3,2071: nearly the whole of which may be attributed to the change in the mode of traction. On the other hand, there has been a diminution In the receipt,. Bat it mot got be forgotten that diking the first three months et the. pit, ee,y sue Mt Tie In eptenEon, *taking Laml hour time; end it was only alter some experience with the locomotive power that it was found practicable I to resume working the trains every 16 minutes; to which circumstance a considerable portion of the falling off in the traffic must be ascribed. The following is the comparative statement of the passenger traffic during the fiat lex months of this and last year : —lB4B : Panengen, 1,273,969; amount, 22,0221. 17s. 10e. 1849: Passengers, 996,137 amount, 17,5.181. 12e. 61. The advantages of the extension line to Bow end the Eastern Counties Railway have not yet been developed, by reason of no satisfactory arrangement having . been effeetee with the Eutern Counties Compaq, for thepent working of the lines ' • nor has any benefit been derived from the East and West India Dock and Birming ham Junction Railway, from which coerces the directors reasonably look for a large anmentation of the passenger traffic. The directors have to make the following remarks upon the accounts, which ere already in the hands of , the shareholder . The revenue account shows a balance of 2,1621. 174. 2d., which amount is placed at the disposal of the , repletion. Baring the half-year a sum of 1,9881. has been paid, ander a decree of the Court of Chancery, for tythee in dispute, being 4671. less then the amount claimed, and the di rectors have, with the approbation of the auditon, charged 5251. in the present revenue account, leaving the balance to be spread over the three succeeding half years, in equal amounts. In accardance with the promise made in the last report, the directors have caused to be prepared eep irate statements of the accounts for the extension-1m: and for the adaptation of the main-line to locomotive power. The ex. tension account, therefore, now includes only such charges es appertain to the cost of that line, the payments on account of which amount to 236 WI. To this sum must be folded the amount due for works, 18,376 e, and from the total there must be deducted the value of the surplus property, esti mated at 39 0081, showing that the actual test of the line will be 216,9541. This amount includes 10,0001. for the substitution of a brick for a wooden viaduct, 17,6231. for interest on paid-up capitol and loans, and 6,3001. for rolling stock, none of which were included in the eriginsl estimate of 200,K el. The mat of the alteration of gauge and the adaptation of the main-line to the locomotive system of work ing, after deducing the old materials still, has been 43,7841., and the sum of 1,6001. Is still doe in respect thereof, but upon the value of the stationary engnes sure other ma chinery, estimated at 12,1001., being deducted, the amount will be reduced to 33,254/. This sum includes 2,C-eO/. for parapet wall, 1,7571. for reefing and eaters, 2,671/. for new goods warehouses, 1,1751. for alterations of platform., and other items amounting to 2,1331., which were not included in Mr. Locke's estimate of 26,0101., lard before the proprk ton in February, 1517; end it must be observed that the expense of altering the carriages has been increased to 6,7521. by the substitution of entirely new under-frames and wheel., for the mere alteration of the gauge of the wheel,. With the desire to afford the shareholders every possible informa tion as to the flannels' position of the company, the directors have appended to the accounts, as audited, a statement of assets and liabilities, which shows that 61,945/. will be the preinble sum reouirtd beyond the (resent share capita , ' of 1,266,000/. to provide for the coat of changing the system of working, the parliamentary charges, and the excess cf the oast of the extension-line beyond the estimate. The ditec ' tore recommend that thi , sum should be raised by the issue of debentures, which will ultimately be the only mortgage upon the undertaeing.—J. N. DANISLL, Chairman." The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the directors were most anxious to give every in formation which any proprietor might seek, in addition to or in explanation of the detailed account, which wee in the hands of the shareholders. He need hardly tell them that during the past twelve months the condition of railway traffic generally had been greatly depressed ; in this deprer- Mon the Blackwell Riilwayhad fully participated; and be sides that cause of deterioration, bad for a considerable period of the year laboured under the great disadvantages attendant upon the process of introducing locomotive power upon the line. Fee three mor.ths they had been only work ing half-hours, and this with, at cll events, the appearance of danger from the open condition of the bridges and para pets ; as soon, however, as it could he done with safety, the convenience of the public was coxsulted by running the trains every twenty minutes, et:11 thinking fifteen-mimeo trains impracticable. Mr. GOLDSMID eta that no one present mull have any other feeling than that of a full confident. in the honesty end ehcellent intentions of their directors—Our, hearlr— in which important respect that company had a gratifying superiority over so many other communes, the corruption of whose management hai created swh a mischievous reaction in the public estimation of railway property (hear, hest); eut still it was clear from the &ea before them that the management of the Blackwell Railway had not been sech as to effect sateen, making every allowance for thee eepresaiou of trade which had affected the recipts of all railways. (Hear, hear.) That their directors were in them selves honest and able men, was a fact which showed that the non-success of the concern was owing to some inherent de fect in the system of management in the present machinery. (Hear, hear.) It appeared to him that some expression of opinion on the pan of the proprietary on the subject was most essential. (Hear, hear.) After some conversation, Mr. GOLDSMID moved that a committee of five pro prietors he appointed to consider whether any and what measures can be adopted to increase the company's J 111.311114 to decrease its expenditure, and generally to improve the administration of its affairs. Thu committee to report there upon to the proprietors at least one week before any special general meeting to lee summoned thereupon. The report was then adopted, and Mr. Ooldsmid's propo sition carried unanimoualy. Messrs. Goldemid, Colman, and Carlisle were nominated of the committee, with power to add two to their number. The CHAIRMAN moved that the balance of 3.1621 be dietributeil among the ebarehelders u dividend. In reply to a Proprietor, he added that the number of shares was 111.000. On the amendment of a Peornteroo, however, it was carted that the balance should, instead, be carried to the next half-yearly account, and the meeting then separated. EAST INDIAN. Yesterday the Rend half-yearly meeting of this comrany was held at the London Tavern; HENRY AOLIONDY, E:q., the chairman, presidium The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business, remarked that the business which would be brought before them to day was of more importance then that which had hitherto been submitted to the ordinary half-yearly meetings of the company, insomuch as it included the report of the con trast into which the directors had entered with the East India Company. He trusted that report, which bad already been circulated, and which he would now call upon the secretary to read, had been considered by the shareholders generally, and that they were prepared to decide upon it. The SECRETARY then read the repert, a copy of which appeared in the Express of yesterday. The CHAIRMAN would now propane a resolution which would bring the question of the terms of the contract before the meeting, leaving it to them to make any remarks upon the course the directors had adopted—to offer any sugges tions they might wish, or to ask questions upon any points they might deem of impoetsnoe to their interests to have explanations upon, believing it desirable to have the matter altogether in their hands, without offering, on the part of the directors, any comment upon the terms of the contract, or on the act of parliament, which they were aware had been pawed in the last session, in consequence of the arrange ments which bad been entered into. He should have been glad if the proprietors had had the contract in their hands some dap earlier; but that had been found to be impossible, as the directon were not permitted to circulate it until it could be put forward in the formal shape of an executed deed, end in coneequendi of the necessary delays which had occurred in the government offices, it had been found impos sible that the formal execution could take place until the der previoue. The resolution he bad to propose was, that Or report be adopted, and circulated amongst the pre prieton. Mr. TUTORS/4S, a proprietor, seconded that resolution with much plume. A discussion ensued, and the resolution was then put and carried unanimously. The CHAIRMAN then proposed a resolution reducing the number of directors from 18 to 9, and that 3 of such re &teed number be a quorum. Ender the original deed of settlement the maximum number of director was find at 21, and the minimum at 12. For a long time past the actual number had been 13. The set of parlia ment reducel the maximum number to 18, and the minimum to 6, and the board thought they could net do better than to adopt the medium number of nine, as that of which the board should in future consist. It had been de ciled by ballot who should go out, and the four gentlemen on whom the let had fallen to retire, were Means. Bird, Brace, Kelm% and Stewart, who, if the reeolution met with the approbation of t"e meeting, would henceforth cease to he members of the direction. He could sot, however, pat the question without expressing the pain that he felt in part ing with four gentlemen who had been most active and effi cient members of the beard. (Hear.) The resolution was carried. Mr. R. BAYNES ARMSTRONG moved "That such a sum per annum ihould henceforth be set aside for the remu neration of the directors es might be agreed upon between them and the East India Company," wffich having been seconded, was carried neanimouely, as was one proposed by Mr. Beaumont, to the eff, , l that in consideration of the rs ?vices rendered by Mr. hl'Donald Stephenson, the exit ions made, and the risks incurred by him in introducing the railroad system into Inch, it is the feeling of the meeting that an allowance should he made for himself and for his family after his decease, by means of a per centavo on the dividends or net profits received by the shareholders shore 6 p.r cent., end that the directors be requested to consider what should be the rate of each per engage, and report their opinion at the next general meeting. A vote of thanks was next proposed to the chairman and directors for their able end ratoeseful management of the affairs of the company, which having been mewled by accla mation, and briefly acknowledged by the chairman, the badness concluded. EAST AND WEST INDIA DOCKS AND LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM JUNCTION. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company was held at the cflices in Old Broad-street.—JOHN Scorr, Esq., presided, wh, n The SECRETARY read the following report: " The directon, during the past half year, have been steadily pressing forward the works of the line; and in order to afford full information to the proprietors with re gard to the progress made, they have requested the en gineer to prepare a report, which will be submitted to the meeting. It has been the endeavour of the directors to carry out the object referred to in their report of February last, of opening a communication into the city, in order that such portion of the line aa may be completed might be proll:ably need, whilst the works south of the Lea Cut Canal, which afford the direct communication to the docks and shipping, were being peeceeded with. Difficulties have, however, mite to the land required for the brBnth fins, and the directors have been compelled to defer this work ; but arrangements are in progress for contracting for the completion of the main line to the East and West India Docks and Macke - ell, thus so far effecting the object in view. Since the meeting in February last, the directors have found it necessary, in carrying on the works, to make further cells upon the proprietors, and they have intimated the probable periods at which the remainder of the capital will be re quired. Loins have as yet been effected to a limited amount only, but they will be extended by the payment of land purchues, and in the mean time the progress of the work, has not been impeded, the necessary funds having bean ob tainted from payments in advance of calls, on the portiere of capital held ley the London and North Western Railway Company sod the East and Went India Dock Company. The directors, since the last meeting, have taken the tines• say preliminary measures for the recency of cells which the propristers had tieglaed to pay ; and it will be seen by the accounts that the sum of 3,6051. hoe been in consequence received; the directors trust that further payments will shortly be made on this account, eo as to prevent the necessity of more rigorous steps being resorted to. The negoAation with the London and North Western ROl way company fx. leasing the line, referred to in the last half-year's report, has not yet led to any agreement for that purpose ; but that company has expressed its readiness to anange for the working of the line; end ak the construc tion of the railway approaches completion, the directors will have to give their attention to this subject, and they doubt not that an arrangement may be effected on mutually advantageous terms. The increased engagements of Mr. George Carr Glyn having compelled him JO March lest to express a wish to retire from the direction, the board have elected Mr. Ilicks-d Creed to &I nn the vacancy, being happy to Wail themselves of the valuable assistance of so experienced a coadju'or. The accounts of receipt and expenditure to the 80th June last, duly audited, roe appended as usual. From then it appeared that the total receirs o' the company were 473,6651. Bs. 4d., end the expenditure was 469,4391. 14s. 71, leaving a cosh balance of 6,205/. 13.. Pl." The CHAIRMAN moved tho adoption of the report end accounts. The report having been adopted, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and dire ctors, when the meeting ad journed. COLCHESTER, STOUR VALLEY, AND HALSTEAD. Yesterday the half-yearly mewing errs held at Cole:ester. Mr. Ewer presided. Tr.e report stated that the traffic on the line had fir au.- passed the expectations of the esmpany, but the works were not now sufficiently advanced to enable the eirectots at the present time to give so entitled , ry a report ,s they wished to do. The general statement which they had been able to make showed that the deposits end calls which had been re ceived on 9,681 shares Iron Nov. 2nd, 1847, to June 23rd, 1543, amounted to 191,270/. 10.. Bcl. ; urears on ditto, 32,3601. Ds. 41. The statement of receipts and expenditure to June 30i.h, 1.549, amounted to 196,7601. Is. bd. receipts ; payments (including a Wenn of 4,5411. 151. Bd.), 196,7601. le. sd. The report further showed that the com pany hod wanted to borrow the sum of 83.0001., rf which sum they had only been able to obtain 32,3601., including all the money received from the shareholders, through the peremptory rol made by the directors upon ell persons in screen. With regard to this a resolution had been passed by the directors that the bcoks must be closed on the 13th jufv, and all shareholders not psying up within two raonthe of te-tt date would be considered as having forfeited ell claims upon t:tc eompcny. Alecr some d:sultory conversation, a vote of thicks having been Riven to the chairman and the directors, the meeting separ,ted. MANCHESTER AND SOLIMPORT. I.l.thr TRABLY MEErnso.---Palatine Hotel, Manchester, Aueust 23.—Mr. ?Cane H ALL in the chair. The report stated, "At the last holt-yearly meeting it was stated that three miles of the railway at Wigan, connecting the eastern and western portions of the Liverpool and Bury Railraq, had been cperad for passenger traffic ,• since that period there has bon a further outlay cf 33.8381. 7s. 4d. in completing this portion of the line, and connecting it with the North Union Railway; end in constructing the ha ilge under the Bast Lancashire Railway, near Ormakirk. The directors have not commenced any new works on the line. Under the provisions of the deed constituting the company, and of the act of parliamet.t, the shareholders are entitled to dividends in respect of tho rreductive capital, at the rate of I two per cent, for the first year and ore per cant. for the second year, lees than the disldeade paid on the Lancashire and Yorkshire steel:: for the corresponding period'. Your direc tor& have entered into an arranctemer.t with the Lane iehire end Yorkshire Company tur the working by them of the Mousa 3 esta and Southport lire until the emilsomation is cant, leted, eutject to the payment of the dividend thus me aning to the ehareholdere. As announced in the directors' lass report, the arecunt of capital entitled to dividends for the half year ending the 31st of June last is Cl. per share. The coact rate of dividend will depend upon the dividend tat be declared at the half-yrarly meeting of the Lace uhire and Yorkshire Railway Company on the sth of September next. The following member. , of the board—viz , Messrs. Henry Hooldsworth, Ocorge \Tilton, and William Marshall, retire ty rotation, and are recommended for re election. From the statement of accounts to •he 30th June the amount realmd on account of calls appeared to he 26.1,4101. Ifts. 'The amount in arrears of cells was 36.0301. Amount ex pended en completed line up to 31st December, 1848, 125,0141. Is. ltd. ; to 30th June, 1849. 33,0391. 7e. Si.; total, 1.58,0531.9 x. 4d. The amount expended on that portion of the line which has not been commenced was, up to December, 1848, 86,3101. 11%. 9d. ; to June, 1319, t4Bl. 194„ 11d. ; total, 67,1891. Ila. 81. Total amount ex-ended on the line, un t December, 1848, 191,355 1 . 1 3 .. Sd. ; up to June 30, 1849, 33,p•is1 7s. ; making a total of '225,2131. 11. ; leasing a Walla ol 59,1761. 14s. to the credit of the company. A rcoulutien was passed &doting a dividend contingent upon the amount &clot , a IA the forthcoming meeting of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Comtiany, and the meeting was formally nalj mined to the following 'day: BOLTON, BLACKI377RN, CLITHEROE, AND WEST YORKSHIRE. The hole yearly meeting of the shareholders in this railway was held at 131ack ,. .urn on bleindey. W. 11. MUNDT, E.SI , chairman of the board of directors, in the cher. The report congratulated the proprietors on the itierense of 'raffle between Bolton and Waltham. The proposal em bodied in the fourth reeolution limed at the last general meetMg to the effect—that any shareholder who should have previously paid up 151. per there on the A shares, and ' should be willing to advance 'he remaining 10/. per share, should be entieled ty retain thereont 201. per cent. of the amount, to be considered an interest on such advance until the llOth of June, 18.53, hos been embraced by proprietors holding more that one fourth of the A stock, thereby placing at the disposal of the directors about 38,000/. In the month of June lest the chairman cf the board of directors addressed a circular letter to the holders of pre ference shares, suggesting to them the expediency of their advancing, by way of loan, a sum equal to twenty five per tent. on the amount of their stock. Many proprietoes responded to this proposal ; but the number replying favourably. and the amount to be received, were comparatively so smell that the directors did not think themselves justified in the adoption of this course, and is was therefore deemed more advisable to obtain money on loan in the usual way, upon debentures, under t h e h er . rowing powers in the compaee'e acts, until the present half• yearly meeting. The revenue account shows that alter de ducting 311 the workire expenses paying the interest on the borrowed money, there is a balance to the credit of re venue of 3,0991. lis. 111. up to the 30th of June last. On eapi , al account there bad been received in calls and on loins. 857,3191. 18s. Bd.; added to which are the somptances and debts owing by the company, amounting to 78,4631. lie 34. ; reeking an segregate capitol of 935.7531. 9s. lid. The di.- bursements amounted to 914,521/. 161.8 d., keying a balance on capital account of 21,2611. 13s. 3d. The revenue account I sht.wed that the receipts for the ha'f year on that portion of the line opened (13 miles) amounted to 10,27°!, 19s. 83.; and the disbursements to 5,6531. 10s. 61. ; leaving a balance of 4.6251.9 a. 2d. The CHAIRMAN having moved the adoption of the re port, considerable discussion arose. After which the report was adopted, and the retiring di : rectors end auditors were re-appointed. After some further routine linemen, a vote of thanks wee paset.el to the directors, and the chairman having a-know ;edged ft, the meeting broke up after a sitting of three f hours. SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER. yesterday the half yearly general meeting of the share holders in the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company was held at Chester ; Waitorar., Esq., in the chair. The SECRETARY read the report; from which it ap peared that the directors, is melting the shareholders at the end of the first six months after the opening of the lute throughout, although unable to show a satisfactory result of the working of the line, had, nevertheless, the satisfaction of 12yir7 before the shareholders a balance-sheet, from which it wonld be seen that, alter charging against revs nue account in addition to the full working 01De1:13425, &c., there remained a balance to the credit of the company fUftl tient to pay a dividend at the rate of 21 per cent., on the whole called up capital of the company, including a bonus of 90,0001. on the North Wales Mineral shares, leaving a surplus of 3,013/. 5s 2d. to be e-sried to the next ace Amis. The grass working expenses et the line for the six months were heavy, amounting to 20,715/. 16s. 7d. They included* however, the whole expenses of the flibrewebury genera station, the company's proportion of the Chester general station, the tsll payable to the Chester and Holyhead Com pany of 70 per cent. on the portion of that company's line between Saltney and Chester station, rates, taxes, &c. The fixed charges aenst the employ were alto heavy, but after these items were met, a alight change in revenue, either from reduction of expenditure o: increase of traffic, would tell to a remarkable extent upon the amount of dividend payable to the ordinary shareholder. On the present share capital drawing dividend amounting to 739,8501, an increase of 1431. per week, after the fixed charges end working expenses were met, would add 1 per cent. to the die:demi. The engineer reported that the ma'n lice cf railway from Shrewsbury to Chester had been completed at a double line since the month of May last ; that it was not nem smy at present to make a double line from Gobewen to Oswestry, which was now only worked as a tingle ;Me, and that the whole of the Cation works were completed. The consent of the Admiralty had been given for additionel works at Saltney, which would give three times the present accommodation, end greatly diminish the coat of working the wharf and station. Tho line of railway was in excellent order throughout, and entrely free from any danger in the slipping of the embankments or cuttings. The capital account of the compa ny thews that shares have been created to the extent including leans, &e.) of 1,191,6761, of which 1,161,8401. been expended, leaving a balance of 29,8361. From the revenue -meant for the ;ball-year ;adlag the 30:h Of Ante, it appears that ed had Leen received, and 27,3351. expended, leaving a balance of 18,6051. applicable ter dividends, &e. The report was unanimously agreed to. The CIIAIIIMAN then proposed that a dividend due on the preference shares of 7s. 3d. per share, lees property tax, being at the rate of 8 per cent. for the period from the 16th January to the 30th June, and a dividend on the other sharu at the rate of 21 per cent., without abatement of property tax, be declared, and that the same he Lipid on the 14th Sep timber next. The resolution wen carried. The CHAIRMAN then moved that the directors be authorised to borrow additional sums, on mortgage, to the extent of 24,4631., which was agreed to. The retiring directors were then re-elected ; and, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. TAW VALh RAILWAY AND DOCK. Yesterday the halt-yearly meeting of this etempany ores held at the London Tavern. J. ELkIILAIiD, Req., took the chair. _ _ _ A report wee handed to the proprietors, which stated : " Your directors have forwarded the financial statement for the past belf year to cut proprietor, and have confined their operations since the lr't meeting to enforcing ca'll, and paying off various claims on the company; having suspended the construction ot works in March last, with the exception of such as they were comps led to proceed with. Your director* regret the decision of the connuimlonen of rail ways, in opposition to the all but unanimous prayer of the shareholders, and of aimost every lendostaer and occupier on the line, as to the gauge, has operated so ruinously on the shareholders, that many have transferred their interests, end other., cannot be italuced to pay the calls ; your directors, however, en not without hope that parliament may yet relieve them, by sanctioning a change of gauge at no very distant period, particularly es the Bristol and Exeter Railway Com pany, who, before the Commissioners of Railways end the parliament:Ty committee, expressed their readiness to take the line, have now declined to do so on any terms. Your directors are under the painful necessity ot submitting for your confirmation the forfeiture of 4.640 shores upon which calls are in emu-, the required notices of the forfeiture of which have been given to the 'tsp.:et:ye proprietors ; a reso lution for such purpose will be submitted to you. The directors propose to put themselves icto immediate commu nication with the prineipsl landowners end others locally Interested, and, if satisfactory atmegements can be provi sionally made they will, in the course of the autuma, call an extraordinary meeting of proprietors, and at the same time they will propcse a plan for the issue of forfeited shares, and for the prosecution of the undert 'king, with a deviation of the line to avoid expentire works and to cemplote its con struction stu cost 'e'en less than that which has been hi- therto anticipated." In the printed copies of the report whiea Lad been fur nished to :mist of the shareholders present, there was, in place the last sentence of lite above report, a long passage, containing a plan Cr re-issuing the forfeited shares es 201. snip preference shrges. • " From the statement of accounts it appeared that the sum spent on 9; niiles, dodo, shed and cottages, &c , wi• Is all preliminary expensra interest, end ell other chum to 30th June was £157,000 paid. Debts to di-charge—viz , contractori2o,s2l solieitcrs, engineers, laud, ma sundries 13,C00 35,821 to pay. To make the remainhig 25 milts complce for opining, with two statics 255,000 to pay. Or 12,795/. per mile, including docks snd everything "The moms of the company were thus etattd : Old Taw Vale sh.t.ree, peld up in for Itccelvel on extension Eheses (to 30th June, and 1,6951. sines) 145,419 Arrears likely to come in en the same account It is presumed that as many as 7,040 201. shares may be forfeited in ell ' • to be iesucd ks prefsr enee shares, on whir. 16/. wol have to be paid 112,640 L275,b00 15,001 ez!.ting 201. flint—EQ. paid; to pay t► further c.r. of 2/. treak'ng IW. in . 30,C00 Total 306,b00 }Ulf of eutlr thcd etpital IR Bourowing powers one th;rd of 182,600 £488,400 Or surp!ue of 40,679/. to we tontior , Aneire of Interest, until the ;4 open (or mono : And there then rearing 4,610 201 shares unitised, znaluar 02,200 And further cvle of 101. on 15,600 shares Total ctpttal not paid up, is reset re .... £2 i 2,000" The CHAIRMAN explained. that the orix'nol term wet agreed to at a thin tuestiost of the board held that day week, but that at a feller meeting, held just before this meeting atsemble i, it had been thonklit by a majority of the directors pres^nt, that it would to better na to submit the plan for re-issuing the forfeited shares in the mointimo, but is tyke more time for the eovvidqmt;on of their future proceedings. M he emsid.vtd the report then in the hands of the proprie tors had not tre anc•ion of ell tho directors, he tuposted fiat it should be rejected. Mr. WARREN seconded the motion, which was adopted. A committee of seven proprietors wet then appoint^d to confer with the directors on the condi , ion end pr.:Pleats of the company, who would report to another meeting. The business then concluded. EXETER AND CREDITON. The meeting ofExete and diediticsc iitirehaders then 1 toak place, but as note rufflcient number were pres.nt, the meeting adjourned, a balsam sheet having beau previously exhibited to the shareholders. By the document it appeared that the receipts had bees 9.5 9811. 12a. 64., of which awn only 2781.3 a. 841. remained in hand, the balance basing been expended as follows :—Exper eta in °Main* ad of inoorpc ration, 2,566/.1 So. 104.; 'nai-Gering expersee, 2,4151.21.114.; land and compc motion, including ii juiyto rood. 14.8811. 12e. 741.• earthworks, masonry, and fencing, 18,9351: 10e. 84.; iron rails, 13,3831. 18e. 64. ; permanent way, tuteAsibles and pump*. 21.2031 9s. 911. ; timber bridges sod Cowie; station, 10,7291. lls. 104.; Craditon station, 4,0151. 14e Gd. • law expense., 1,6011. 16e. 104.; Interest on loan, 2, 333 4 ss. 10d.; interest on calls paid ap, 7311. 18e. 7d direction, C 66/. 13,. 44.; auditors, 311. 10s.; ateretely t 4031. 6a.8•].; eutshliehatent, rent, travelling expenses, ; rutting, adver t'sing, /Lc., 7961. 14s. Sd. The report prepared for the meeting alluded to the advetee deeision of the railway conamiriooers as to the broad guar, ' which had postponed the construction of the Taw Vale to probably a very distant period. The liabilities of this com pany having exceeded the capital, application had been made to some of the more influential shseenolders, by which a rem of about 2,0001. had been toads to settle some of the more reviling liabilities. SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM. The report of the directors to ie. submitted to a general meeting of the shereholders, to be holden at Wolverhamp ton on the 30th instant, states that " The portion of the line from Shreetalntry to Oskengates, which is 131 miles in length, and includes 101 miles between Shrewsbury and Wellington, constructed jointly by thle company and the Shropshire Union Railways end Canal Company, was opened on the Ist of lane last, and it will be wen that the reminder of the "rake is suffidently advanced to leave no doubt that the whele line, from Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton, may he opened on the Ist of October next. The payment of interest out of capital will therefore estate from that date, and all future dividends will he mil out of revenue only, including th , se guaranteed on the preference share., now ferny secured by the company's amendment act. The recti:ste fir payerger traffic en the portion of the line opened up to Saturday !set, being a period of twelve weeks, amount to 1,5101.; but these form no guide for estimating the receipts of the whole line when completed; and, indeed, had it not been for the pur pose of preventing the legitimate tr: ffie of this line frrya goirg in other direetioes, and of affording at the Fairs time an opportunity of getting the company's set rants into .15- dent working order, t`te directors would rot have opened a portion of the line with a view to profit, involaing as It r'id the necessity cf also running coaches from Oakengstes to Birmingham. As soon as the rue is opened to Wolvet hanapton, a weekly statement of the receipts will be Behest, era as t%e triffie become: gradually developed, the directors believe it .01 be foend to wserant the hvoursh'e estimate which has always been formed of it by them who are best acquainted with the resources of the diarist through which the line Dams. The directors state that the best un dewtanding exist' with the directors of the Shrewebury and Chester and the Chs ger and Birkenhead railways, and they confidently anticipate, from the advantages which the litter port affords, end the expected improvements in the nav:va ton of the Dee, a large portion ci the Irish goods traffic to Wolverhampton and Birmingham. " The walk however can never be fully developed until ater e epeuieg of the Stour Valley line, from Wolver hampton to Birmingham, so as to eft ted an uninterrupted communication for the trains of this company hetwyn Shrewsbury and Birmingham. The weeks on this line me now progressing more eatis'ecterily. It is also absolutely weeny!, en the same agex.unt, to make the branch line to the Coalbr , ok I^% , lis!rict. The direct re are heppy to Ray that this will he done at a considerably less outlay than was originally contemplated. The act authorising the serletitu. Hon of one branch with two very short fork line!, forming a junction with the main line between Shansi and Welling ton, {intend of branch lines from cash of these placer to Cotlbrockdale, has received the royal assent. The reduction in the mileage authorised in from 10 miles to 71 milts. Tke directors, howev, r, do sot intend to construct the line father than Medeley and Coalbroukdale at pretent (which it is esti mated will cost 130,0001.), postponing to a future period the extension to Ironbridge and across the Severn, the works on which weuld be of a much greater mnenitude and cost. " The directors under this head (the Development of Traffic), regret that the Hoe of the letudon and North Wt stern Company, from Wolverhampton to Willenball, is included by the directors of that company in the schedule of lines intended to be postponed. This short branch (over which parliament gave this company running powers) hes always been considered by the directors important to this company, u a link In the belt chain of communication between Shroeshire and the East of England; they accord ingly had it surveyed in 1847, and only withdrew in favour of the prior claim of the London and North Western Com pany. Your directors still hope that the London and North Western Conway may be induced to construct this short and comparatively inexpensive branch. fhe printed balancwsheet shows that the expenditure on the main line to the 30th of June, 180, amounted to 5". 1 3,j4k4. di. is has bless increased by palrscuts since made Occluding the half-year's interest) to 818,9761 9.. 21.; and from as careful en estimate as can be made of all the lia bilities incurred, end the additional working stock required by the company, the capital account of the main line nil: be cloud by an expenditure not exceeding the perliamentory estimate, fa., 1,000,0001., as stated in the last st port. " The amendment act accordingly authorires the reduction of the capital contributed by Class A a‘d Chats B shares to that amount, exclusive of the sum contributed by the former to the Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Stour Valley com pany, reduced by egret ment to l90 : 0571. 10s. Class A shares will accordingly stand for the future at — £9 12 3 loins the awe nominal ontontt n• Cla« r. And 3 13 o contibuted to the Stour Valley Compat.,.. Together CIS 6 $ The directors had hoped to announce the separatim of these into their component parts, whin the share capital of the corcrany, se provided by the amendment act, would have stood u follows: . . 101,000 Shrewsbury and Birmingham shares, el. 12s. 3d each 81,000,000 0 0 1u.373 Hirmibuly and Bitminglam Bute forenee sh-res of Si. Ditto, ditto, 'London and North Western 011.1. laniard Stock' 190, 0 07 10 0 thus getting rid of the distinction which now exists between class A and elms B shares, and which it but imrefectly un derstood by the public. The committee cf the llciitc of Lords, however, made inch reparation deper dent troll the consent of the London and North Western and Stour Vevey Companies, and until this is obtained the two clams of aborts rand continuo to mist. _ . " The amount to be called np on both classes of thane le 263,5001., of which a further call of It. per share, tvether with the outstanding arrears, wilt be sufficient to meet the remaining claims connected with construction of the mein line end stations; but it will be necessary to call up the whole in the =urn of next veer, in order to make the Hinkley branch, unless it should he found that • rufficient amount can be raised on debentres for that purpose. The directors have thought it for the interest of the company not to items the 2,000 preference charts which remain on tend. If ultimately obliged to be disposed ot, they will, no doubt, realise a much higher premium when the line front Shrews but y to Wolverhampton is opened, and the preference &el dend is accroine, than at present. " With reference to the important question of deteriora tion of rolling stock (including locomotive engines, tenders, passenger end carrying stock) the direct trs of this com pany have been the first to conclude a clntraet for the whole of the repairs, sod whatever deterioration mey teke place in the market value of the stack. They have also con tracted with the same parties (Mame. Jrhnson aid Kinder, of the Brotorgrove Works) for working tl.e line at fi nd mileage per train. This measure must be regarded as impor tant, embracing es it does for a term of years so large a pro portion of the current expenditure. Your directors are con vinced, however, that it is a step in the eight direction, not only as it will secure a more accurate revenue ace unt, em bracing every possible outlay, actual and contingent, urder these heath, but as it is believed it will be found to reduce such current expenditure considerably below what could ave been hoped for under the mai system of maneee sent ; they ere confirmed in this opinion by the text that other companies have since adopted a similar ecurse, end a still larger number are at the present time entertaining the proposition. These contracts include ell damage to the stock of the company, arising from collisions and accidents of every description, which may be considered • sufficient guarantee that the safety of the passengers will not be len provided for under n tystem so entirely new in tits working. of railways, butwhich, so far as this company is conc,rrcd, s lik-ly to be earrit d out efficiently, without ditnirishing that control over the working of the line which tl e (lir -eters ought to retain. The =Antenatal of the perms tete way for twelve moot= from the comple tion of the works is included in the contracts for their corotruction, and con. in fact, hardly be orpatated therefrom, at tho work. will t: ke tint time to get properly c:meelideted. Your directors will, et the (spiral ion of tnat period, let this portion of the current expenditure, et as to include everything connected with the permanent wry, ex cept the deterioration of rid's, thereto, and filed plant, ell which mg h• prnvided for with considerable 'tenni:, by • separate fund ; by these means the whole expenditure, on revenue account, will lit freed from fluctoatim end nr^er tainty so far se is practicable." OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVERHAMPTON. The repast of the committee of shareholders appoiuterl to investigme the aff.dre of Ode eempv y has hem completed. This document Mates the.— _ . . 7 .1,006 shires were allotted among the directors when at a high premium, few of which were ever reeister,d by tha par ties t 3 wit= they were allotted. It then allude, to the eery lone manner Is which the ececnnts were kept, the large sums paid to landowners, and out of a sum of 122,3701. ex pended hi parliamentary expenses, 70,0001. is due to the encpany from the Greet Western Company. The coat of tile sine, in its integral state, Including all expenses, cannot fall short of 3,250,C0a1, A saving of 230,0001. may be elf eted by running over Stour Valley line from Tipton to Wrlverbatepton, as suggested by the di rectors of the Great Western Company; this would re duce the cost of the ;ice te, in round numbers, 3,000,0001. 1,500,0001. is then required to complete) the line, which, under present eircumstence, could not he raised a: less than 5 per cent. inter, st, amountiog to 76,000/. per annum. A forth. r seem will ho required as rent for the use of the S:iur Valley line, to be provided for to ter, the orieinal shareh3ldets could take a (Leiden& These are the sad results of the connexion of this company with the Greet Western Company, and of the want of foresiibt and policy on the par: of our directors. The fact that en unlimited guarente• had been elkstl and 'Proud her also been adre , Mcd egain and again by Mr. Raiford an -1 some of hie colleagues who had been present at cmgerences in relation to the guarantee. The board denies, therefore, explicitly, that it was an Onlitlien in the agreement : on the contrary, they aver that it was a distinct and definite condition between the two companies, made a•ter due cendZeratlen of the matter, and that it has invariably been referred to, SO well by the chairman of this company to the Great Weetetet proprietors as upon other oeerdone, as being a *senatee upon a limited amount of expenditure. The proapsetite of the company is sufficient attestation that is was to ; and, morenyer, that it was known to be so by the sharehelders. The report concludes by stating that the hope of cure irg out any arreneement with the Great Western Company heel , g failed, the committee now re sign the trues which has been bestowed on them into the hands of the shareholders; after loop and anxious oonsideration, they have determined on recommending the directors to proceed es s ;porously as roesible in the comple thm of the line between Worcester and Tiptoe, and iron Worcester to AbbooP wood. and to lay down the narrow gauge. In followicg tell course they will be strictly adhering to the provisious of the act of tr. ?Usenet, which tequirea that the narrow gauge shall he laid down on this part of the line. The means of completing this portion of the line are, they believe, within the power of the directors, as the rails are ell purelipecd, and the laud, with some trifling creep. Sons, is pealed fcr ; they have the power of iwuing deben tures to the amount of 350,000!., which they have reason to asset; would be readily accepted by the contractors in pay ment for their works; stipulation ehould be made that there debentu-es are not to bear interest till the epering of that part of the railway shall afford funds sufficient, at all events, to dieehsrge the interest on debentures." l a c money as w ig o b n e ev f legleurta. ree i overa ß b y le a w d o o ul r d ing aif t o h rd is s c u o c u h re the company would be pr reeling with the works, withott any new creation of capital, which, under the present circuit.- station' of the es repay, would, they thtek, be wholly 111- 1 practiesble. 96 124 13 17 U 17 80TH-DEVON. The following is an abstract of the ample and detailed ac counts appended by Mr. Mutton to his report on the afters of the South Devon Company :- From the balance sheet d reetiptg and payments to the 30th June, 1849, it appears on the debit side that the amount received from cells on sham was, 1,477,752/. 10 1 ; amount borrowed by the company, 474,9061. ; amount received on forfeited shares, 121. 10 , ; ditto registration feu, 2242..149.; belane. of .re..!10 eceount 4.°W 99.74 • mak Ir v total of 1,962,3111. 160. 7d. Tke credit aide shows that the amount paid for land and compeneatioo has been 226,0171. Is. ld. ; ditto parliamentary and legal chant's. 196,224/. 17s. 2d. ; ditto surveyor'. charges, 6,4761. 21. 61. ; am:unt of expenses co wok.. 727,6/31 19s. 2d. ; dit'o per- I manent way and rails, 222,3791. 194. 9d. ; ditto atmospheric plant, 3M,2011. 171. 43. ; ditto electric telegraph, 1,849!. Be. ; ditlo working plant, 46,083/. 11s. 74. ; ditto on direction, 18,9071. ld. ; amount paid for intsreit and eon mi, don, 13.5,2411. 21. 7d ; amount veld on shares in Ply ! month Great Western Dock., 4,7601: The item o' lo4s cemes 1 to the heavy 1 , 1 , 111t1t of 27,0561. 16s. 101. viz. :-lass on Cornwall Railway abandoned, 22,6001. ; Ashb u rton ditto, 2,000/. ; debt due from C. Stevens, 23,1661. 16s. 10d ; in vestments on murky, 1,387/. 1.. 7d. ; enginerricgespentes, 47,6621 11..85 AU these sums together with cash at bankers, 10 9711.71.61., make up the total to 1,968,3111. 16s. 74. The ITC atnal are: Balance of subscription to the Cornwall Railway, 127,5001 • ba'ance of inhumation to the Ashburton Ra il way, 18,00d1. • subscription to the Great Wedern Plymouth Dock: balance, 10,2501.; tote', 166,7601. The amount of &here capital petits 1,477,76 2 21.105., whilst the sum of 22,2471. 104. ie dna for arrears. The de benture bond debts amount to 474,9601 , the lest of which w'll beanie doe in Jsnuary, 1859. Tee total cost of direc tion has been 18,9071 ; vie, allowance peid t 4 director., 8,0291.; cos( of sillee establishment, 0,0962.195. 104.; tra m:Sing expel:Lacs, 4,6791. 16s. 64.; adverthing takenses, 1,1301.41. 10. LOSDONIYERET AND CoLeast:rm.—Tee bell yearly Ike counb toned Tr , qer3ay show a reeeirt on ably' capitol to the 31st of July of 212,9571., out of a total origina l share apital of t0C• 1 ,250/. The total expenditure to the same , 11