The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-23 00:00:00

EASTERN COUNT'S .

The report of the directors to the fifty-second
half.yearly meeting, to be held on Wednesday next, has
been issued. The
an increase of 11,9801. 18e. 4d. ; the receipts being 650,710/.
16e. 3d., as apioat 638,729/. 17s. lid. for the corresponding
period of 1861. The directors deem it right to point to the
small addition which has been made during the met ball-
year to the capital account, in respect to the new works
under the amalgamation agreement. which amounts to
only 7,263/. 12s. 9d. The sum of 9.728!. 26. Id., in respect
of new plant, is for additional vehicles required for the
service. The result of the undertaking as regards the
Eastern Counties Company is, that there is a net sum (after
deducting the working expenses, which amount to 340,1441.
16e. 11d.) of 59,0551. 19,. 3d. available for dividend, out of
which the directors have declared • dividend of 11. per
cent. for the half-year, being after the rate
of 21. per cent. per annum on the ordinary
share capital of the company, which will absorb
58,3361. 145., leaving a balance of 7191. 15s. 3d.
The working expenses for the half-year are 491. 19s. 4d. per
cent., as against 491. 18e. per cent., for the correspooding
period of 1861. The expenditure on the permanent way
account has during the past half-year bees 68,3431. 171.94.,
it compared with 47,185!. 2s. Ili. for the correspond-
leg half-year, the whole of which has been charged to
the revenue account ; sod the directors have the satisfac-
tion of statiog that the line is maintained in the most
efficient order. The rolling stock continues to be main-
tained in a state of efficiency. The shereboldere register
and the dividend account, for the past half-year, have
been carefully examined and found to be correct. The
act for the ►malgamation of this company with the Norfolk,
Eastern Union, Feat Anglian, and Newmarket Companies
has at length, after • protruded mutest, been carried
through both houses of parliament, and received the royal
absent. As finally pared, it ie substantially to the effect
of the bill submitted to the proprietors io the month of
June last, when it received their sanction. As the
meetings about to be held will be the last of the Eastern
Counties Railway proprietors, and as • new board will be
elected by the shareholders of the Great Eastern Railway
Company, the directors have only to express their fervent
hope arid expectation that by the union of interest which
will now preva•l, by the entire removal of any cordial
with regard to working expenses, there will be bat am
object in view, namely, that of obtaining the largest amount
of receipts with the least possible expenditure, ha,* doe
regard to the efficient working of the lines, and the moo-
, mieal conduct of the service.

STOCKPORT, DIIILLY, AND WHALZYBRIDOR RAIL-
WAY.—The half-yearly meeting was held at the offices,
2, Leadenhall-street, yesterday; Mr. J. Chapman in the
chair. The secretary having read the report, the chairman,
in moving Be adoption, said the shareholders would observe
there was a net balance for the half-year ending June 30,
1862, of 1,1011. 13a., out of which it was recommended to
declare a dividend of 4i per cent per annum on the pre-
ference capital called up, and on the ordinary share capital,
at the rate of 11. 7.. 6d. per cent. per annum, leaving a
balance of 641. 6s. 3d. to be carried to credit of next half-
year's account. The dividends would be malls
on and after the 27th instant. With respect to
the traffic be bed to announce an increase in mineral of
89/. 10a. 2d., and cattle 221. Oa. 6d., while he regretted that
the decrease in the traffic amounted to 248/.
Bs. 6d., and in goods . .17a. St. The decrease he attributed
to the deprvased state of trade, affecting all railways, sapr
cially those connected with the manufacturing districts. It
was with great regret he bad to annouece the death of the
late engineer of the line. Mr. Errington, by which the corn.
pony was deprived of the valuable professional services of
one for whom a most sincere regard was very generally en-
tertained. It was also with regret that he had to inform
them, that notwithstanding their determined opposition an
act of parliament bad been obtained by the Midland Com-
pany to enable them to extend their railway from Buxton
to New Mills. The motion having been carved unanimously
the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

SALISBURY AND YEOVIL RAILWAY.—TiIe half-
yearly meeting took place yesterday, at the offices, 2,
Leadenhalbstreet ; Mr. John Chapman in dm chair. The
chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, called the
attention of the shareholders to thu earnings of the half-
year ending 30th June, 1842, which showed an increase of
2,3261. ss. over the correspondiug period of the previous
year. The traffic far the twelve months ending June,
1681, amounted to 40,3661. 75., while that for the corre-
sponding period of 1882 reached the sum of 45,8741.8 e
swing an increase of 5,5071. 16s. Id. After deducting
working expenses, interest, arid all other charges, there
remained a balance of 7,4661. 14s. 9d., to which is to be
added the balance of revenue account from last half-year of
2,069/. 15e, making in all available for dividends, 9.535/.
Its. 9c1., of which sum 2,3951. 141. ld. would be appropriated
for the payment of 5 per cent to the preference share-
holders, and 6,4401. 4s. 10d. to be divided amongst
the ordinary shareholders, at the rate of 4 per cent. per an-
num, leaving a balance of 6991. 10s. 10d. to be earned for-
ward to the credit of the current half-year's account. The
dividends would be payable on and after the 27th instant.
The shareholders were aware that by an agreement with the
London and South Western Company the debentures inroad
by the company, to the extent of 130,000/., were guaranteed
tinder the common seals of both companies. The Loadors
and South Western Company have now intimated that on
the expiry of the debentures their seal will not be available
for those required to replace them. This had necessitated
an increase of one-half per cent. in the interest agreed to be
paid on those debentures which fell doe during the last half-
year. He also had to inform them that tho directors had
given orders to the contractor to proceed to double an ad-
ditional leogtb of railway, and the works for that purposee
were then in active progress between Wilton and
The !notion was carried unaciumealy.

FIRE IN ST. Lors'a.—Yesterday morning, be-
tween time end four o'clock, a fire broke out on the Premien
of Mr. Charles Fasnachi, chair and couch menufacturer,
No. 20, Old-street, and 16, Memel-street, St. Luke's. The
discovery was made by the inmates, who were nearly auf-
fantod with smoke. They raised an alarm, when firs
escapee were procured, and they were aueooesafo ly rescued.
The fire, however, had obtained so fierce • bold upon the
building that in spite of the fire engines, which were promptly
ea the spot, it was nearly burnt out, The cause of the fire
has not been ascertained.

FATAL Gun ACCIIMST.—On Monday evening
several children were playing in the kitchen of • farmhouse
at the village of Littleham, and a youth of 16, who works
on the farm, came in and took: down the gun from the bacon
rack, where it was usually kept, and asked which he should
shoot. The little girl that was shot, who ii only five years of
age, replied, "Shoot her," pointing to a younger child' In a
moment he discharged the gun at the little girl who had
spoken, and the content' went into her mouth, came oat at
her neck, and lodged in her shoulder. The father, who is
a gardener at Orleigh Court, hearing the szreame of the
children and the report of the gun, ran to the spot and maw
his child bathed in blood. The youth, on being asked who
did it, acknowledged his guilt. The child expired after ,
seven hours of agony. Two others of the children narrowly
tamped, se part of the charge struck the hamlet of a bigger
girl, who was holding a baby at the time. —Waters Mom
imp News. _ _

An orphan home for Coolie children has been
established in Trieidad, cod about 60 Coolie orphens are
now being weintelned and eilneated there.