The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-05-13 00:00:00

ABBOTBBURY RAILWAY COMPANY.

The ordinary hall-yearly meeting of the shareholders in
the above railway—too construction of which line has been
already commenced under very satisfactory circumstances
—was held on Friday afternoon in the easemblytootu of
Vie Royal Hotel, Weymouth. There were present Mr. R.
Rdwards (Bath) in the chair. Mr. John Walker
(Uroylon), Mr. IL Burnett (Dorchester), Mr. W. Manifold
(of Portesham House, secretary), Mr. R. Thomas, Mr. T.
B. Groves, Mr. JOMIO4, Mr. Clarke' Mr. J. Co Mr.
Rollaway. Mr. & R. Harris (1) wellester). Mr. R. asel
(Dorchester), Kr. Hopson, Mr. Dodswell, Mr. R. &eels
(Dorchester), and many others.
The CLUIRIAII, in opening the proceeding:s, said they
would not wait any longer for their friends, who would no
doubt id meant at the evening meeting, when he dared
say the company would receive • very earned and warm-
hearted support Although the present was called • half-
yearly meeting, yet he might remark it was intended to be
.:imperatively of • very informal character. Al most of
them were aware, the company had not programed very
for in the construction •of UM line, and therefore the
directors are not prepared to go into any detail,, which,
however, would be presented to the shareholders before
long. All a matter of mums, it might be expected they
would call the shareholders together twice in the year, and
the 'pedal object at the present meeting was to report the
.ohetantial progreas mad,, and to ire especially to stimulate
til 'it friends to help forward the c unpany and bring the
line to • satisfactory completion. 13 MIN persona had been
rather impatient, and imagined that because the railway
had not been made oral least commuced long before now,
that the directors were not 'Widen with the undertaking.
Other. however, had taken &different view of the matter,
and they seemed to think the directors had done very well in
the period which had elapsed, particularly considering the
. bedtimes on which they bad fallen. He forme was exceed-
umly pleased, considering the circumstance., at the
progress that had been made ; be did not think anyone
,ould fairly expect anything more could have been done
us the time which bad passed. He would remark, in the
rirst place, that it bad taken an enormous time to get the
BBL and then, again, it had also occopied • considerable
;Tided to induce peolle to subscribe capital. 01 course,
if capital had been subscribed earlier tbe directors would
have been only too glad to commence spending the money,
and to show results in the ehispe of the construction of
the railway. The promote-s had already been successful
in gifting a sufficient amount of money subscribed to
j natty them in entering Into • contract for the formation i
of the line, and, for himself, he was exoeedingly gratified,
us he had already said, at the present position of affairs,
oud he considered it augured well for the future. He
might remark, with regard to the contract, they had made
better terms than had been anticipated. These at the
present were bad times for trade, and the contract had
(men made at much lose cost, inconsequence ol labour and
materiala being cheaper. The secretary was prepared to
oitunit • very brief report, which would now he read to
the meeting- and he hoped the result would be that those
,resent would be inspired with greater mai:diem to
,onas forward and mist in carrying the scheme to •
successful termination. (Applauee.)
The SlClrrillT, who was very cordially received, said
as be had teen betore the shareholders a great many times
he would now only say • few words. He had done the
hest he possibly could for their interests from the first to
the last, and he trusted they would all work together.
and, putting their shoulders to the wheel, subscribe the
necessary capital freely and liberally, so 1114 to enable the
directors to construct the railway to Abbotsbury. He
hoped that before many months were passed there would
he seen visitors filching to the Weymouth station in order
to have a day's jolliflcetioe—a good day'a outing at
thbotabury. Mr. Manfield then read the following report
of the directors :