The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-07-06 00:00:00

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE

SHAREHOLDERS OF THE BRIDPORT
RAILWAY.

The shareholders of this railway have been look.
leg forward with some anxiety for Tuesday last, it
being understood that T. A. Mitchell and K. D.
Hodgson, Esq., Ml's. for the borough, would be
present —those gentlemen being also the principal
shareholders in the undertaking. Some short time
since a deputation of the committee, with Mr.
Hodgson at its head, had • conference with the
directors of the Greet Western Railway (which
Company work the 9i miles to Maiden Newton),
with the view to enter on a fresh arrangement, the
present being all to the advantage of the Great
Western, and none to that of the Bridport Railway
shareholder, as not a farthing dividend has been
declared. T. A. Mitchell and K. 1). Hodgson,
&qrs., were present; and Mr. Mathiesun, the c.in.
tractor, and many of the principal shareholders.

_
Mr. THOS. LeGG opened the proceedings by sta.
ting that since their last meeting Mr. J. Gundry had
resigned his post as Chairman, and that he (Mr.
Legg) had been pressed to accept the vacancy, and
he did so with some reluctance. However, the
meeting might rest assured they had the good wishes
of Mr. Gundry still, who would do his utmost
to ensure its prosperity.
Mr. E. G. FLIGHT (Secretary)—having read the
notice convening the meeting, which was to con-
sider the result of the Committee's negotiations on
the resolutions passed at a meeting on the 30th March
last—read the following :-
- _

BRIOPORT, June 29, 1858.
To the shareholders of the Bridport Railway Company.
GINTLEIIIAN,—Your Committee in pursuance of •
resolution framed on the 30th March last, have had
various conferences with the Directors of the Great
Western and Bridport Railway Companies, with the
view of effecting a new working arrangement with the
former Company.
Your Committee regret that up to this time, the pro.
pooch made through Mr. Hodpon have not been ac-
cepted by the Great Western Company, and that Com-
pany have offered no scheme which can be recommended
for your adoption.
Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Hodgson having offered still
further ,o continue their negociations with the Great
Western Director', having for thei robj eaten arrange nent
based upon • payment of • fixed proportion of reoeidte,
in name of working and other expenses : your ma-
inittroe suggests that your import be given to those
gentlemen, in their future endeavours to procure this
desirable result.
K. D. HODGSON, Esq., M.P. assured the meeting
that in conference with the Directors of the Great
Western Railway nothing unpleasant bad occurred.
Hie exertions had been to obtain terms to the advan•
tage of the shareholders of the Bridpsort Railway, and
if three or four weeks were to transpire by an ad-
journment of the present meeting, he trusted that,
with the assistance of Mr. Mitchell, who would
assure them as he (Mr. H.) would, that no exertion
should be spared on their behalf, at its expiration he
trusted to present them with a more favourable
report than the one now offered.
Mr. J. WILLIAMS proposed that T. A. Mitchell,
and K. D. Hodgson, Ewes., continue as before to
negoolate with the Directors of the Great Western
Railway Company; which, having been seconded by
Nioholetts, Fey., was carried nem. con.
T. A. Minium., Rag., M.P., returned thanks
for the confidence reposed in him, and trusted that
by the united endeavours of himself and colleague,
with such a cheering prospect before them, a dividend
would be obtained for the shareholders by a better
working arrangement being entered into, and, inthe
oourse of a year or two, they would be able to inset
under more favourable circumstances than the pre-
sent.

Mr. MATHIZZON would not disguise the fact of
their being in great difficulties; but he wee certain
the Great Western Company would admit our line
was a great benefit to them.
Mr. GROVELS felt much dissatisfied with the
charges made by the Great Western Company, which
were ss. per ton more than by the South Western
Company, and he could not see how the expense
could be met. Here was a line of only 9i miles.
He could see no prospect of its being remunerative.
They had better stop the line altogether.
For himself he would not advance any more, and
would take the whole of his tntlfic oil the line.

Mr. J. Pon: begged his friend and neighbour, Mr.
Groves, to suspend his decision on both those points.
Mr. READER observed that when he came to the
meeting, his mind was wade up to advocate the line
being closed, to bring the Great Western Directors
to reasonable terms. -

The CHAIRKAN stated there was a further claim of
£3,500 due to Mr. Mathieson, upon the award of
the
_arbitrator.

Mr. READRR wished to know if there were to be
anE more claims?
The CHAIRMAN hoped there would not.
Mr. MATHIRSON, in reply, observed that the award
was in the hands of the committee—and as to the
matter more directly before the meeting, now that
they had the assistance of Mr. Hodgson and Mr.
Mitchell, no doubt if the line was worked for a
portion of the reoeipte it would be better; and now
that the Great Western Directors perceived the
shareholders ot this line had an eye to business, and
intended to look after their own interesta, matters
would result in an accommodation satisfactory on
both sides.

The Sactirmtv stated that • revision of the rates
of traffic was now in progress, the result of which he
trusted would be satisfactory to Mr. Groves.
Mr. T. CuLrox moved, and Mr. J. POPE seconded,
a vote of thanks to Messrs. Hodgson, Mitchell, and
the Committee; which was duly responded to.
A vote of thanks having been proposed for the
Chairman by Mr. T. A. klivrturxt., and seconded by
Mr. CHICK, the CHAIRMAN acknowledged the oom•
pliment,and the meeting separated.

POOLL Election Town Counoillor.—On Tue s
day Mr. Rickman was elected without opposition a
member of the Town Council for this borough, to fill
the swamis occasioned by the death of the late Mr.
Durant. So little interest was taken in the election
that the officials were almost the only persons pre.
sent.

---EvsesuoT. —On Thursday last the children and
teachers connected with the Church School, partook
of the annual treat provided for them by the
liberdiity of M-. and Mrs. A. Martin. on after
o'clock they assembled in the school-room, whence
they primeeded to a fleld, adjacent to Summer
Lodge, the raildeno• of Mr. A. Martini when they
soon commenced various games and rural sport"
which wore kept up with vigour until 6 o'ol'4,
when they partook of a liberal supply of tea and
osks,—having dune ample patios to the liberal
dire provided for them, the field sports were re.
eumed aesd oontinced until the oboe of the evening
oompelled the youthful party to retire, During the
evening several part soup were given by some elem.
bars of Ike glair, who were went, the patetismo
of with* weft a plowing adltiust to the autueemeate
el the day.