The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-14 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 14, 1862.

(Before Mr. Baron Martin sod a Special Jury.)
MIMI V. lITITLZ AND ANOTIIIIIL

This cause was eirain resumed r.g of the court
at 9 o'clock.
Serjeant Sbee and Mr. J. Brown appeared for the plain
tiffs; soil Mr. Bovill, Q.C., and Mr. White for the de-
feridanta
This parish squabble occupied the eourt for several hot"
but, as was stated yestenlay, the only question involved in
the inquiry was whether, upon the subject of the making
of a church rate fur building a burial-ground, a demand for
a poll on the part of the dissenting portion of the
parishioners bad been made. Evidence was yesterday gone
into on behalf of the defendants, who were the churchwar-
dens of Plumsteed parish at that time, and the Rev. Mr.
Ackworth, the vicar, Sir R. Perrott, one of the church-
wardens, and a number of other gentlemen, were examined,
and their testimony tended to show that there was no
formal demand of a poll upon the question before the vestry
as to the rate, although it was admitted that such a pro*.
sition was made upon the question of adjournment.
Baron Martin, in summing up the case, said that it had
been already decided that, upon a question like that in-
volved in the present inquiry, which was the validity of
• parish rate, when a poll was demanded the vicar
was bound to comply with the demand, mid if he did
not, the rate was not a legal one, and could not be enforced.
He then called the attention of the jury to all the material
points in the evidence that bail been adduced on both sides,
and said that really the only question for them to decide
was whether a poll had been demanded or not.
The jury retired to deliberate upon their verdict, and in
about an hour they returned into court.
His Lordship then asked them whether they were of
opinion that • poll was demanded?
To this question they unanimously answered in the
affirmative.

They were thou asked whether they were of opinion
upon the evidence that the vicar, who presided, heard
the demand nude'

To this gumption the jury replied that they were not
unanimous as to this point, and wished his lordship to read
a portion of the evidence.

Mr. Baron Martin dad so, and the jury then s►id they were
agreed that the vicar must have heard that a poll was
demanded.

Hie lordship upon this directed a verdict for the plaintiff,
with 40s. as nominal damages ; but he gave him kale to
move to have the verdict entered for 90(., which was the
amount of the costa he had incurred in contesting the
question in the Ecclesiastical Court.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT. —LAxcAsTER, Auo usTl3.

willing to tali Mt. Van der Heyde's word ; they would not
doubt it for a ininnte. They were quite willing to metre
his explanation.
There were several other summonses of a similar descrip-
tion taken out by Captain Eweos, all of which, together
with Mr. Van der Hyde's, were adjourned, that some
arrangement might be mode between the parties.

.yORAILWAY-INTELLIGENCE.

wiz& tIZSTEXII.

The following is the report of the directors of
thin company to be submitted to the proprietors, at the half-
yearly general meeting to-morrow :
" The tint duty incumbent upon the directors, and which
they are naturally anxious to fulfil, is to place before the pro-
pnetois, asaiatinctlyas posable, au explanetion of the circum.
stanceas fleeting the accounts of the Great Western Company
for the past half-year—circumstances which have led, in a
peculiar degree, to the diminished balsoce now dis-
posable fur • dividend upon the consolidated stock. The '
result of those accounts is clearly traceable to the fol-
lowing causes, which deserve the careful and de-
liberate attention of all 000nected with the company,
in order to provide, as far as possible, agstnst the re-
currence of • amilar disappointment in future years.
L The disproportionate amount of net revenue brought
into account within the half-years as now fixed by par-
ment, ending respectively in Julie and December, as con-
treated with the paymenta of heavy fixed charges, such as
rents for other lines, annuities, and preference divkleods
which become chargeable equally in each half-year. For
example—the fixed rent of 176,500 i. per annum payable to
the South Wales Company, under the new lease of that line,
commenced at the same period of the year during which the
traffic was inadequate, after defraying the disbursements, to
cover at the same time the fixed rent for that half-year.
2. The partial and intermediate operation of the recent
agreement for uniting the Great Western and West Mid-
land Companies, the latter company having opened, within •
few months, about 70 miles of new railway in the Worcester
' and Hereford and Severn Valley districts, on which the
traffic is as yet very imperfectly developed. This has un-
avoidably increased the working expenses of that company,
and involved heavy rent-charges, is addition to those work-
ing expenses. without • corresponding increase in the es-
teem the use of those lines during the least produc-
tive season of the year. In addition to these causes, as
spatially and primarily affecting the disposable balance of
this company, the general stagnation of trade, unquestion-
ably to be ascribed to the war in America, has unavoidably
decreased the sources of dividend to the proprietors. The
same cause has sensibly affected almost every railway com-
pany, but it may be justly regarded as temporary only in
its effects upon railway property. Reverting to the dis-
proportion alluded to between the amount of net traffic
revenues within the separate periods assigned to each half-
year, an analysis has been made from the accounts
of the railways now in alliance, which proves that
in 1861 the net revenues yielded nearly 20 per
cent. more io the last than in the first half of the year.
The experience obtained from the accounts appears to
the directors to suggest the propriety, as well as the expo-
&Hwy, of adopting measures at once for the nearer equali-
sation of the disposable balance for dividend in each half-
peer. The directors did not feel justified, in the absence of
any prior authority from the proprietors, in disturbing the
practice which has hitherto prevailed of bringing into ac-
count in each half-year the full amount of every known
liability. They- preferred to submit to the inconvenience
and apparent prejudice of showing the actual result in
account, and afterwards to found upon the experience a
the past a recommendation to the proprietors to sanction by
resolution the setting aside by anticipation in each December
half-year • sum equal to one-fifth of the fixed rental and
other charges payable fur railways, in relief of the suc-
ceeding half-year. The very large increase of passenger
traffic since the Ist of July last for the International Exhi-
bition (which may reasonably be hoped still to continue to
a considerable extent) will enable the necessary amount to
be carried forward, without pressing too severely upon the
current half-year. With respect to the working expenses
of the united companies, it must be obvious that until par-
liamentary sanction of the permanent amalgamation can be
obtained, it will be quite impracticable, with justice to all
the interests affected, to introduce that economy and simpli-
city of management which are material ingredients of prospe-
rity to an united undertaking. In order, however, to make
sure that, as far as possible, every measure of retrenchment
or improvement in carrying on the business of the railways,
without eventuall injustice to either, is adopted, it is in-
tended to appoint at once a sub-oommittee, with fall powers
for examining minutely the disbursements and establish.
meats of all the companies, and to require the utmost re-
trenchment of expense compatible with the safety of the
public, and consistent with efficiency and the good mange-
meut of the undertakings. The final settlement of amounts
with the South Wales Railway Company to the Mat
December last, as provided for under the new agreement,
is in programa ; and, tnasmuch as • portion of certain reserved
receipts in former accounts will belong to this company,
as interested in one-third of their anterior revenues,
it has been considered unnecessary to make any further
provision for any losses under the original agreement.
The auditors have signified their amourrenos in this
opinion, and have approved the general revenue would.
It will be observed that (including the original accident
fund) a portion of the separate reserves which were made
for outstanding liabilities prior to the agreement made in
May, 1861, with the West Midland Company is comprised
in that account. The auditors have approved a credit of
12,0001. being taken for a part of those reserves in the pre-
sent half year, and it is anticipated, after realising some
outstanding claims in final settlement with other com-
panies, that there will be • further sum available to
be carried to credit of the company in • future account.
The general revenue account, after charging all pay-
ments and liabilities to the 30th of June, leaves • balance
of 23,4201. Is. 6d., of which the directors recom-
mend a sum to be applied to the payment of a dividend
at the rate of half per cent. per annum, carrying forward
the balance of 2,826/. 17s. ltd. to the current half year.
The Metropolitan Railway and the West London
Extension Railway will be completed and opened for traffic
within a short time, and those lines will furnish the long-
desired means of a continuous railway connexion both with
the city and Westminster. A n arrangement has been made
with the Metropolitan Company for working their trains
throughout from the Paddington station, supplying the
locomotive power and carriages upon payment of 45 per
cant from the gross receipta of that railway. In order to
secure the working ermines being adequately covered by
that payment, it has been agreed that • mean of the per
eentage and of the amount of 2a. 4?,(1. per trsin mile shall
be payable to the company for such services as the Metropo-
litan Company may require. The terminal station of the
Metropolitan line at Paddington is under construction
within the premises of this company, for which • fixed rent
is to be received by them, computed at five
per cent. per annum upon the cost • the Greek
Western Company reserving to themselves at the
same time the use of such station for any purpose, of their
own in connexion with the Metropolitan Railway. In order
to give effect to certain provisions contained in the Great
Western Railway (Capital) Act, 1861, and in conformity
thereto, it will be necessary to submit to this general meet-
ing for approval • resolution authorising the directors to
use the powers conferred by that act for borrowing on
mortgage the sums specified tin, as well as to pay off
any mortgagee, and for that purpose to re-borrow from
time to time, upon similar securities, not exceeding the
amount so authorised. The notice of a special general
meeting has been duly given both by this company
and by the West Midland Company, in com-
pliance with the requirements of the Shrewsbury and
Hereford Leasing Act 1862, in order to give considera-
tion by the proprietors of both companies to the pro-
posal for a joint lease with the London and North-West-
ern Railway Company of the Shrewsbury and Hereford
Railway. The act itself, with the agreements scheduled
therein, will be submitted for approval, having received
the royal assent on the 29th ult. lt is necessary to add in
explanation that a bill for an exclusive lease to themselves
was applied for by the London and North-Western Com-
pany to the last session, which would have operated to the
serious loss and detriment, both of the Great Western and
West Midland interests, by diverting a very important
traffic connected with that district from their
respective lines, as well at Hereford as at Shrews-
bury, under the provisional arrangement made by the
London and North-Western Company in alliance with
the Shrewsbury and Hereford Company, that loss had been
already partially sustained ; but in the course of opposition
given to the bill, an opportunity offered itself of obtaining
as interest in the lease, the London and North-Western
Company retaining one moiety of it—the other being held
by the Great Western and West Midland Companies uni-
tedly, thus securing to themselves in a permanent shape and
in an unobjectionable form the advantages of the connexion
with the Shrewsbury and Hereford line. The rent to be
paid for the line was fixed at 6 per cent. per annum upon
the ordinary share capital, after liquidating the interest on
all debentures and preference stock, and it will be satis-
factory to the meeting to know that the traffic of the
Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway was already adequate
• to pay • dividend at that rate to their ordinary share-
holders. The free and independent use of the line is now
secured to each and all of the companies, as lessees, for the
conveyance of through traffic • and other provisioos, very
similar to those contained in the Birkenhead joint lease, are
sanctioned by the act of parliament. The directors recom-
mend the agreement for the joint lease referred to for ap-
proval by the special general meeting so convened. The
directors have to record the lamented death of Mr. Samuel
Baker, one of their colleagues, which has occurred since the
last half-yearly meeting. It was arranged, in contempla-
tion of the union with the West Midland Compatiy, that'
the number of directors should be diminished in case of any
vacancy by death or resignation in either of the two boards,
and it is, therefore, not proposed to elect any successor to '
Mr. Baker."

the half-year, compared with the corresponding period
of last year has been reduced 560,3r1 miles.
The directors hips to obtain inereased despatch-in the col.
Isotion and forwarding of parcels and ponds traffic, through
the means of the Pneumatic Despatch Company, which pro-
poses to lay tubes from the Camden and Easton Stations to
several points in Loaders. The number of paseenput and
tons of goods carried, and of kale miles run, during the
half-year, and the increase er decreaseas compared with the
corresponding period of 1861, is as follows :—Pusengers,
6,636,521, increase '24,677; goods sod minerala, 3,884,240
loon, decrease 250,757 tons; mileage of passenger trains,
3,798,183 mil. s, decrease 137,014 miles ; mileage of goods
and mineral trains. 3,506,872 miles, decreer, 423,3.57 milee.
The Sutton Coldfield Branch, five miles, was opened for
public traffic on the 2nd June. The line from Bedford to
Cambridge, SO miles, was opened for passenger traffic on the
7th of July, and for merchandise traffic on the Ist of
The
line from Denbigkto Ruthin, 61 miles, was
opened for public traffic on the Ist Mazola, 1861 The
West Loudon Railway, hitherto used ouly for mineral
traffic, has been completed as a double line, and was
opened on the 2nd June for passenger traffic from Wil-
-1 leaden to the new station at Kensington, where extensive
accommodation has been provided. It has already been
used with advantage by large numbers visiting the Interim-
tinsel Exhibition ; and your directors anticipate that, when
the through communication is opened by the West London
Extension over the Thames, the Kensington station will
become one of great importance." After referring to
the proceediogs in parliament, the report concluded
as follows: "The directors request votes of the
proprietors for the following new works :-Improve-
moot at Victoria Station, Manchester, 10,0004 engine
watering apparatus at oade, 2,750/. ; telegraph—Bed-
ford and Bletchley, and Crewe and Wolverton, 1,6001. ;
additional accommodation at Coalport, Camden, Crews,
Hnyton, Stockport, Wigan, and Tamworth, 3,0454 ; addi-
tional lands at Crewe, Alderlcy, and Stockport, 5,145/.
Chester and Holyhead Line :—lmpovement of North Wall
Station, Dublin, 5,0004 ; additional goods berths at Holy-
head, &c., 3,7601. lanes/ter and Carlisle Line :—Sidinp at
Preston Cattle Market, 1,0001.; total, 32,150/. N. 3d. A
statement of the half-year's accounts shows that the net
proceeds (including the balance carried from last account)
amount to 485,0671. 12s. 4d. as against 491,513/. 12t 2d. ;
dividend reconimended, 481,0091. Os. 4d. as against 479,614/.
14s. 4d. ; balance to be carried to next account, 4,0584 12s.
as against 11,8981.17 x. 10d. The directors recommend the
payment of a dividend for the past half-year after the rate
of
3i per
1. Icent. per annum, carrying forward a balsam of
,056