The Express.
London, England, 1852-02-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETINI

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN.
Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company
was held at the Nine-elne station, Vauxhall ; the Earl of
Noway la the their.

The report of the direetoto and the accounts were taken
as read. An abstract of these has already appeared in the
ass
egifiRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report
and accounts, said the details were given so fully in them
that he used ant= their time by going over the va-
rious items. He prefer answering any questions
with regard to the matters referred to in these documents
than to go throe* them at the present moment. He eon-
, gratulatod the proprietors on the success of their under-
taking during the pet sin months, and in doing so stated
that, although they may attribute a vast portion of the
increase of their treat, to the attractions of the Exhibi-
tion, he thought they may congratulate themselves that
what might be considered as their permanent traffic had
made cousidendele program; particularly as they had
nut experienced any of that reaction which was
expected to take place in the traffic when the Exhibition
wax closed, but on the contrary a very satisfactory increase
iu the traffic had since taken place on the line. There was
also an increase of buildings in the neighbourhood of the
line, which would, of course, add to their penuaitenttraffic;
and when they looked at the position of their station at the
Waterloo-road, they would see that it was the meet central
station of any railway haying its terminus in London. He
thought, on that account, that persons having business in
London, and wishing to reside out of the erne/dell streets of
the metropolis, would ',refer their line to any other. (Hear)
In conducting the additional truffle ailing from the Exhi-
bition, they were assisted, from the porters upwards, is
carrying it on successfully ; and it was ovemg o iitirely to
tho judicious arrangements, and active co-operations/1 the
officers of the company, that they were tabled to convey
thousands and thousands of passengers without materially
interfering with the ordinary tritficuf the line. Th,v would
perceive by the report, that she directors hail given the
servants a gratuity in acknowledgment of their praise-
worthy exertions. The gratuity was accompanied by a
letter to the officers and servants of the cuml ally giving
them the twat thanks of the directors ter the able manner
in which they carried nn the hunint as of the company during
a time of great pressure. (Hear, hear.) he directors
Saving borne in mind the expressed wish of the share-
holders at former meetings to have the capital account
closed, oho y have aceordnigly determined to charge all ad-
ditions to plant, stations, and sidings to revenue Matted of
to capital. Tiro would facilitate the okegt they had in
view, of closing the capital account altogether. (Hoar,
hear.) He hoped the propro ton would conduct the
proceedings with good traipse, and avoid those personal
discussions which too frequent:y characterised the meetings
of the company. In case of a pull being dentinded on the
question of re-electing she directors, it woo proposed to tithe
the votes imme flatly, for the accommodation of those who
were anxious to go out of town, unit to opeu the poll at
their °nicest, Yore.-road, on Friday, Saturday, and Monday,
from 10 in the morning until a iu the of emeen. The
mratineers would eamtrine the vote. on Tuassl.ty, and on
Wedneeday, at 2 p.m., the result of the poll would ho de-
clared. Ile conclued by moving the iidoptioa of the
report.
Mr. UPCHOFT seconded the motion.

Mr. KAY wished to know-
what was the cost of the &A-
min and Waslebridge line to the company, and what re-
turn they had from it ? It wit, quite iinpuedble to ascer-
tain the cost of the hue from the account.. lie believed it
had cost the company 40,0001., and that it returned
nothing. It also appeared to him from the accounts that
there was a lets to the company from the steamboats of
8,0001. per annum. Ile did nut say it MSS to, but he
wished icor ezplauation.
The CIIAIItMAN said that instead of there being a
loos from the steanilsoutsthcre was a large profit.
After some discussion the report was nominally adopted,
and a dividend fur the hall-year, at the rate of 5, per cent.
per annum on the capital stock of the company, was de-
ciarad.

The election of the directors was then proceeded with.
The candidates for the office of director were the Hon. F.
beat, M.P., Mr. 11. C. Lacy, M.P., and Mr. W.
Heed, the retiring directors ; and also Mr. Serjeant
°wive, Mr. T. W. Helps. and Mr. Mortimer. Conside-
rable time was occupied by the pro;msers acid seconders of
those six geatlemen, in stating the fittlell and abilities of
the several candidates for the office of director.
On a show of bends the chairman declared that the lion.
Mr. Scott, Mr. Lacy, and Mr. Reed, the retiring directors,
were re-elected.
A poll was demanded and immediately proceeded with.
Mr. Alexander Hoye., the ntiring auditor, was re.eleaed.
Captain MOItISON then brought forward the question
of the coast scheme, and argued at considerable length so to
the benefits It would confer on the South Western line.
He stated that it would bring an additional traffic to it of
34,0001. per annum, end all the promoters wanted was one,
third of the traffic they would bring on the line.
Mr. LOCKE was glad to perceive that the coast line
could not do without similar assistance to that required by
the promoters of the central line. Ile concluded by sug.
gelding that the new rrope•iCot,e of the promoters of both
the lines should be referred to the directors for their censi-
deration.
A very long diecussion ensued, in the course of which
various objections were raised as to the propositions advo-
cated by the promoters of the coast and central schemes at
length it was agreed to leave any further proposals on the
subject to the directors for their further consideration, on
the understanding that they would report the result to the
proprietors.
The proceedings concluded with a cordial vote of thanks
to the chairman.

BOOTH-WESTEIN STEAM-PACKET COMPANY.—A
meeting of this company was held immediately after the
conclusion of the general meeting, at which the usual divi-
dend at tba rate of 61. per cent. per annum, leas income tax,
was declared in respect of the hulf•year ending December
31, to be payable on and after the 28th February*