The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-29 00:00:00

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY.

Yesterday the 21st half-yearly meeting of pro-
prietors was held at the Grosvenor Hotel, Lord SONDLS in
the chair.

The directors reyort, which was taken as read, has been
already published is our journal. _ _

The CHAIRMAN, in moving that the report be received
end adopted, said that it was certainly satisfactory that the
traffic reoeipts had increased in the past six months, but
on the other hand the expenses had been very gnat, and in
fact bad during the first three or four months of the half.
year exceeded the receipts. That, however, was easily ao-
counted for, because it was absolutely necessary to incur a
certain amount of expenditure in order to get traffic. They
had also been put to great expense from having no City ter-
minus and having to pay large sures of money to the
Brighton Company for running over their Weet-esd line.
They had no goods terminus except at Batter ea, when they
had to pay so much for cartage and other charges that all
profit wee absorbed. They would, however, very
nom ban their owe terminus at Blackflies, when it
would be so longer necessary for them to travel over the
Brighton Company's line except to the station at Victoria.
The receipts on the Metropolitan Extenaion, which was
only partially opened, viz, between Victoria and the
Elephant and Castle, were satisfactory, bevies avenged
during the six months 9CI. a mile per week. (Hear, hear.)
Rime the opening to Beckenham, on the let of July, the
receipts had averaged above 1334 a mile a week, and in the
week previous to the date of the report they rose to 1501. a
mile. The station at Blackfriars was not yet finished, but
he hoped it would be in a little time, when they might
expect that the tntfic would be greatly increased. The
second line of rails from Faversham to Herne Bay, led the
double line from Hone Bay to Margate, they ex-
posted would be open on the Rod September, and
shortly afterward, the line to Reengage, from which
a large accession of traffic might be anticipated.
Arrangements were in progress for commencing without
delay the junction between their line at FAA-street, Black-
friars, and the Farriegdon station of the Metropolitan Rail-
way, which he also hoped soon to see carried out. The bill
for improving the approaches to the Victoria station, and
for eoustructun a litre to Greenwich, had received the royal
asset re the pest session. The Brigitte* Company had
agreed to subscribe 120,000/., or half the cost, towards
constructing two additional lines from the Victoria station
to the south side of the river, including a new bridge across
the Thames ; and upon their completion the existing lines
would be handed over to the Brighton Compiny, and the
new lines appropriated exclusively to the Lon&n, Chatham,
and Dover acid Great Western Railways, the Greet
Western undertaking to contribute in the shape of rent to
the cost of construction in proportion to their me of them.
Arrangements had likewise been made with the South Eastern
by which the board had secured running powers over that
oompany's line to Blackheath and Woolwich, so that a large
traffic from those places, as well as from Greenwich and
Lewisham, would be brought over their railways to the
Victoria and Blackfriars stations. They had a bill in par-
liament last session for making a line from the Metropolitan
Extension at Herne•liM by Streatham to Suttee and Epsom;
but by agreement with the Brighton Company, who were
wonioting a hoe in the same directicm that bill was with-
drawn, the Brighton connoting to make arrangement& for
through booking without change of carriage for the tnfiie
of the London, Chatham, and Dover Company from Epsom
and intermediate places. He believed he had ea further
remarks to make epos the report, but should be happy to
afford any explanations that might be required. Before he
sat down, however, he might be allowed to express the
regret which he and his colleagues at the board felt at the
loss of their late secretary, Mr. Holroyd, who bad inde-
fatigably exerted himself in the se wries of the company
shies lie first establishment, eleven years ego. He did not
wonder that after iiii many years of heed drudgery
Mr. Holroyd should, considering his position is life,
desire to embark In a higher sphere, and ha Oise chairman)
had to congratulate the shareholders that, although they
had lost that gentleman's services as secretary, the directors
hoped to secure his assistance as one of Uniroyal body. A
resolution would be submitted for electing Mr. Holroyd to
the viicantecot at the board, which he hoped would be easel-
reoualy carried. (Hoar, hear.) They had appended /h.

Johnson, who hail long beep connected with the como.‘ny
as their accouutaot, to the secretaryship, and had no doubt
that he wield fulfil the duties of (bet ethos as edicieutly as
be had done those of the one be Lail ju.t left.
Lord HAMM seconded the motion, which, after much
discnation, was pat sad carried unanimous)y.
The CHAIRMAN then moved, and Lord HARM seconded,
the election of Mr. Bolroyd (the late secretary) to the vacant
seat at the hoard ; which was carried namihnonaly.
A salary at the rate of 50(g. a year wee voted to Mr.
Johnson, the secretary, it being explained that Mr. Holroed
had Lad duties the last three years 8001. a year, he baring
had, however, not only the duties of secretary to perform,
bat to carry cantle parliamentary business of the company,
which was exceedingly Many.
A SSARRHOLD/Lll bad beard something about an alnico
meet with the Great Northern to carry coals over the see
Illeakfriars.bridge, and suggested that the east of the
Blackfrian end of the hue ins so great that coal traffic
would not pay.
Mr. Foams replied that the Great Noethsrq who contri-
buted largely towards completing the Bak bKween the
Metropolitan and Blackfriuv, bad in return obtained fatili•
lies for carrying their coal over that link to the south side of
the river, but paying a very heavy toll to the London,
Chatham, and Dover line.
. .

A Tot;.ot thanks to the chairman end directors concluded
the proceedings.