The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1864:

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of proprietors
arm held at 1 o'clock, at the London Tavern ; Mr.
BRODERICK fa the chair.

The report congratulates the proprietors upon the
continued improvement in the trade of the North
Staffordshire district, and the consequent increase of
traffic on their system, which enables them to recom-
mend a dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. against 34
per cent. for the oorreepondlng half of 1862. The
goods and cattle traffic for the half-year ending Slat Do-
' comber amounted to 104,572/. against 99,307/. for the oor-
meponding half of 1862, showing an increase of 5.265/.;
the passeoger, parcels, &c., traffic amounted to 52,9911.
against 49,2651: for the mine half of the preceding year,
showing an increase of 3,7261. The tolls on the canal
amounted, including those of the Newcastle Oral. to
46,9001. against 46,2341., showing an increase of 666/. Thom
results are the more encouraging as the tonnages on the
canal show • great diminution on the export to America se
compared with those of 1860, the year before the war. The
continued activity in the manufactures of the district:viz
occasioned pressing demand, on the company for in
means of conveyance, the board has felt it Decerary to meet
them, and to be prepared for the expiration of their con-
tract for the hire of waggons, by ordering 400 goods wag- '
gone and a eortespouding proportion of break vans. Some
addition to the stock of locomotive goods engines will be
also required. The directors have applied for the require
parliamentary powers to enable them to extend their system
from Silverdale to Market Drayton ; and for constructing
' branches for the development of the mineral field in the
neighbourhood of Chesterton, Talk, and Audley. They
hive also applied for short lines to afford further sccommo-
dation to the important towns of Bantam and Tunstall.
They have also concurred in the introduction of a bill for
carrying out the lease of the Newcastle Canal. In promoting
these lines the directors consider they are carrying oat
the true policy of the company in providing every extension
of their system that can be reasonably required for
accommodating the trade of the district around them,
end thus to remove all grenade for the introduction of
hostile schemes on the pretext of a want of accommodation.
All the result of the half-year's working, after providi oaf or all
ranges against revenue, including the unusually heavy items
of 4,000/. for law and manometry expenses. 1,149/. 15s.
compenietion for losses and sceideats, and 7.5001. carried to
the credit of the suspense account for renewal of perma-
nent way, beyond the ordinary charge for maintenance, the
accounts show a balance for the half-year of 64,043/., to
which is added the bronco on the 30th of Jens last, 3,726/.,
making a balance at disposal of 67,7691., out of which •
dividend for the half-year at the rate of 4 per cent. per
annum is recommended, leaving • balance to be carried for-
ward of 3,166/. The capital account to the 31st of Decem-
ber shows that 5,485,3591. had been expended, including
1,170,a101. for the arr. The railway revenue account
shows that 168.1781. had been received daring the past half-
year. and 81,8111. expended, leaving • balance of 86.367/.
The canal neer amounted to 67,619!.. and the expenses
to 29,9661., leaving • balance of 37,663/.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, remarked that they met under satisfactory
circumstaaces, and oongratulated the meeting on the
lammed proeperity in the staple trades of the
district, which' had enabled the directors to de-
clare an increased dividend. There had been some ex-
ceptional expenditure during the half year, which, together
with some reductions in the tolls and rates on pottery goods
had reduced the sum diviaible among the shareholders. At
the corresponding messing last year they divided
52,2001., equal to 34 per cent per mum, whereas
now they proposed to divide 64,0031., or at the
rats of 4 per cent., the increase being mainly owing to
the inspovement 13 the presager mffie. Be had also
to state that in consequence of the all having gone to
the reduction of the debenture debt, there was a reduction
of 3,030/. in the charge for interest. The addition for re-
lievers during the half year was only 3,363/.. and the direc-
toes had no doubt that the whole line would be ultimately
renewed out of revenue. After referring to the bills pro-
moted by the company is parliament daring the preart
mare, as explained ia the repast, he concluded by pro-
posing the usual fermi motion.
The motion was seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pranstox,
and after • short dimmer of a congratulatory character,
the report was adopted.

VICTORIA STATION AND PIMLICO RAILWAY
(THIS DAY.)

The 11th ordinary half-yearly meeting of share-
holders was held this foreseen et the oftice.l9, Duke-street,
Weetmineke.. Mr. W,LE.E. M.P., is the their.

The report bee already bens publiehed.
The CHAIRMAN, in ewe* the adoption of the report, re-
greeted that the marmot of the dividend wee less than they
bad expected, bat at the same time it wee en McNees
of j par cent. on that of the previous year. The direr-
ten were extremely desirous of cloaiog the capital
'mount, and the delay which had arisen had
been in consequence of their connexion with three
other companies, the London and North Weston.
the London. Chatham, and Dover, and the South
Western, but as soon as the engineer could make op his sc-
am* the capital amount should be closed. No mare
capital would be required, the amount in head being quite
sufficient for the purposes of the line. He was happy to
say that by the ate made by the board the pros-
pective dividends would be as follows : In 1864,5 j per mot.
per annum • 1865, 64 per neut. ; 1866, 74 pee mat. ; end
for 1867, sod is perpetuity, 9 per cent., with the probabi-
lity of a small bonus.
- _ _

The report was adopted, slier some objections by Mr. Bro-
derick ; and Mesas. Blyth and Paw, the retiring directors,
were reelected. with Mr. Ball as auditor.
A Bete of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceed-

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