The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-01-27 00:00:00

ABBOTEIBURT.
ABBOTSBURY RAILWAY.
To the Ed,tor.

Sir,—My attention ha= teen drawn to ii. tt r of a share-
holder who has mit paid his calls, in your i.sue of the 15th.
It appears that the writer, as well as some of those s,.Nre-
holders who attended the opposition ineetiog •t D ,r-
-chaster, are under tbe impression that the cot vruction of
the line was not to be commenced until the whole of the
capital had been subscribed. Can either f those persons
name a railway that was ever commenced under such
favourable circumstances! 1 think not. What I remem-
ber to have heard stated was that the c•nstruction of the
line would not be oommenc3d until sufficient capital had
been subscribed, certainly not the whole. Neither can it
be piovect from the report of any of the meetings that such
was over stated. One-fourth of the capital bad been sub-
scribed before the commencement. and this was considered
by. persons competent ti judge sufficient to start 4 ith.
'A Shareholder "asks what is Mr. Winfield to be paid
for his land, and has he taken it all in shares/ This is •
very proper question, and • cooed-in I myself asked him
long ago. When I was informed be gyre his land for
share* the value of which per sere was 4.0 he fixed at the
average amount paid the other lani-iwners the line
throughout, I think anyone knowing his I,nd will consider
this • very fair arrangement indeed, as sores of it Is the
very best over which the lin3 will pan. I may here state
I have at various times bad many interviews with him on
the railway matters at his house, and have always found
him most open and willing to answer any question I nut,
and the books of the company laid open for my inspection.
What can any men do more
"A Shareholder's" remarks as to Llrd Ilcheater's
tenants at Abbotsbury are vary impertinent. It would
have been more to his credit if be had net written such
rubbish. Lord Ilchester is not one to influence his tenants
to vote in any particular way. I say this without fear of
contradiction. Neither is he entitled to or will he receive
one penny of the £3OO voted the directors for their pest
services. . . .

'"-A-fibareholder" presumes that most of those present
were Lord llchester's tenants. Possibly the place
suggested the idea ; but had he been present he would
have found two only. Being the shareholder who pro-
posed this remuneration. I would state It wee done with
the understanding stated by me at the time—that the
amount should not be taken until the funds of the com-
pany were in • condition to part with the money without
In any way delaying the construction of the line, and on
that understanding it was unanimmsly agreed to.
I cannot possibly understand what those shareholders
who wish to wind up the company think to get by It; one
thing for certain Ls they are fighting • land-swner's battle,
whereas if they pay up and um their influence there is a
fair prospect of getting • return for the money invested.
There is no doubt, I think, but that those who have not
paid up must sooner or latar do so. Then as to the
liability. A shareholder in Weymouth told in. yesterday
If there is no liability beyond the £lO per share we will
pay up, and I know where another hundred shares can be
Pleft& Mr. Syrnonds's opinion on this point is very
decided ; but, on the other hand, we have the opinion ef
several other solicitors against him, and more than that
counsel's opinion has been Laken. and that is against him.
I myself should certainly not have teken 'hares If I had
thought there was further Habil. ty.
I cannot conceive why the directors are to be celled to
account for going outsicil the limits of deviation marked
on the plans, when what has been done has been for the
sole benefit of the shareholders, and no one vet has or can
prove that they have gone beyond their Parliamentary
powers. Great credit is due to them for the patience and
persevetance they have shown, considering the backward
way in which some of the sharebolders have come for-
ward with their payments. They are deserving of more
confidence than is shown. and it may not be generally
knossn that one of the most active directors, Mr. lwards,
is at the present time Mayor of Bath. I wish • few of
those shareholders who are diseatisded would coins this
way, they would see almost • mile of the very heavieet
work in cuttings and embankments that would surprise
them. Arrangements have been made with laud-owners
for obtaining three-fourths of all the land that is required
as soon as wanted, so there is not that difficulty on this
point some would wish us to believe.
DURK HOPfX/N.
Abbotabury, 21st January. HMO.