The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 18, 1852.

at the disposal of the shareholders. Now, had that promise I
beta performed ? He would net say to the letter, for he
should be the last man in the world to hold any one to the
mere letter of his promise. But had It been kept in the
spirit? (Rear. bear.)
The CHAIRMAN—Mr. Aikin retired for the very
purpose.
Mr. HELPS was aware of that. Bat had the directors
substantially performed their undertaking ? He main-
tained that they had not ; for the vacancy mussed
by the death of General Reid was one that was
entirely eat of their power to Sit up. It was true
that in the original act the power to fill up the occasional
vacancies caused by death, resignation, or the like, was
placed is the hands of the board ; but In a subsequent act'
that was repealed, and the power was conferred on the
shareholders at large, to be exercised by them at a time
prescribed by law, namely, at the first half-yearly or spe-
cial general meeting held afterwards—that was, in the
present case, at this very meeting. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Helps then proceeded to criticise the passage
relating to the resignation of the Earl of Morley, and after
some conversation as to the date at which it had been re-
ceived, be concluded by urging upon the meeting either to
insist upon having another seat plan d at their disposal, or in
some other manner taking the matter into their own hands.
Mr. SMITH admitted the truth of Mr. Helpe's statement
of what he (Mr. Smith) had promised to • body of the
shareholders at the last eseetiog, in deference to a wish they
had expressed to have an infusion of new blood, as it was
termed, into the board; but at that time none of them
could have anticipated the death of General Reid, who was
then as likely to live as any of them. By the gallant Gene-
rare lamented decease, one vacancy was created, and they
had made another. Surely that was asubstantial fulfilment
of their promise. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Serjeant GAZ ELBE regretted the eouree which the
board had taken, for ho did not think that they had fully
carried out their promise. This was evident, for how
could General Reid offer himself for re-election ? (A laugh.)
The CHAIRMAN really did not see who had been da-
maged by the course taken by the board. They had given
the shareholders a promise that they should have an oppor-
tunity of electing two directors. That opportunity they
hail, and he hoped they would be content with it. If they
wanted the board to be reduced, which was a very popular
idea—(near)—the directors would not object; but if they
determined to elect a new member, he was sure the board
would do their hest to make him comfortable and happy.
(Laughter.) With respect to Lord Morley's retirement, he
had that morning received a letter, in which his lordship
intimated that his determination had been confirmed by the
ill health under which he had since been suffering. His
(the chairman's) advice to the meeting was that they
should not elect a substitute for the noble earl at present.
Let them wait a little and tee how the "new blood"
worked. (Laughter.) Besides, there were several large
steam navigation companies settling at Southampton, and
there was also the deck company. It might hsppen that a
good mercantile man might be found to represent these at
the board who would be able to unite and advance their
mutual interests. (Hear, hear.) At the same time it was
proper to assure them that at present they had no such •
colleague is their mind's eye. (Hear, haul
. After a few explanations upon items in the accounts, '
Mr. HEItEL'ATH proposed that the report be received,
with the exception of the paragraph relating to the Mitcham
line. _ _

Mr. HOBCROFT seconded the motion.
After some discumion, the paragraph was struck out and
the report adopted.
After some discussion on a resolution of an unimportant
and unanimously-condemned character, proposed by Capt.
Moorsom, a resolution was carried declaring a dividend at
the rate of 31 per cent. per annum, payable on and after
the lot September.
A discussion then ensued in respect to the defalcations of
the former traffic manager, in the bourse of which it was
stated that they amounted to 2,90 W., and the security given
by him amounted to 5001. About 6,0001. was due for com-
mission to certain agents, which ought to have been settled
by the manager, and the amount deducted from the gross
traffic. The dividend warrants would be issued on the let
of September.
Mr. HERAPATH said it was not often he had occasion
to compliment the Brighton management, but he could tell
them that the next morning after the last meeting he re-
ceived his dividend warrant, and he saw no reason why they
could not do the same in this company.
Mr. BAKER proposed the election of Mr. C. S. Morti-
mer to a seat at the board.

Mr. RERAPATH seconded the motion.
Mr. HutcluNs said. u there were only two vacancies
to be filled up, ho would retiro in favour of Mr. Mortimer
es he had a prior right.
The motion wu put and carriid.
Sir R. JERVIS said, he would withdraw his name u a
candidate for a seat at the board, and that on a future coca-
lion be would come forward.

-14;.Se;'ntql;;el; Wasthen elected a director.
The CHAIRMAN then declared that Mr. Set csnt Gluc-
k* was elected a director in the room of Mr. Aiktn resigned,
and Mr. Mortimer a director to fill the vacancy clued by
the death of General Reid.

The meeting was then made special, and Mr. eant
Gazelee, in obedience to • call which was raised, took his
scat at the table amidst considerable applause. Mr. Helps
demanded a cheer for " the first shareholders' member that
ever eat there," but It was responded to with tries of" Oh,"
and some hisses.

The report prepared for the special meeting (and which
appeared in the Express of the 13th instant) was taken
as re..d.

The CHAIRMAN thought Ibm meting would give the
directors fall credit for at leant MO eldag, and that was for
having faithfully held to their premise, not to do anything
directly or indirectly with renpeeB be new works, without
having their concurrence. The ensitioa for their considera-
tion on the present occasion was, Aar expediency of making
a sew line from Basiegstoke threes\ Salisbury to Raster ;
and when they wen told that it Km district from Salisbury
to Exeter, which was 89 miles Ins sad in some pima
more than 63 wide, there wan so Greet nilway communi-
cation with London, they would readily imagine the anxiety
which was felt by dr inhabitants as to the fate of the pro-
position. The peplation was daily deeming, and the
spindrift, IMO ealreriag gnat! for the want of such
a assemenksties, so that they t well suppose that
bah the boded regrows an these engaged in
rode sad eimmerte seek*, liveliest Wrest is the esierae.
The array had datemnied es a hems, reesies he adopt
this very line, wide h they ell Mew we lagideriserly their
own. It was legitheately their as Astrid, Isamu& as
they had obtaind an set of pediment to make the rail-
way ; bet hem adverse eireassebasse it had bees post-
poned. Is the err place they had bed to ember with the
siessee ef sod • peer Is de esermardel Todd.
They hell seenlrst horse fides and the rest re-
spectable rendre% ruined. They bed also bid a famine
in the ementry, plare and ratileses at bans, sell mole-
tios abesed—all et which had Waded le neer the sem-
pieties et the pre they had serseigheal insparble. The
vales of the mesa was proved by the step vithit had
been tehes by their cempeStore, who had a Ise already
from Loges ',Bristol and Ebel.., eel who bed positively
gives their beard power as lehe the preliminary
rugs le mike a railway from Deedleder he Inter. When
top riser* that the Use they ligereed was 197 mils
Ise& whims the pies et this was eau 1t they
will no be
deer that the ought to be
gima to the card Ikea Maw, .) Ark, if they
seas seek the mast lies, there wed& be us seessity for
their tale, because se ens midi Man the esstes of the
canary le rto the see" lamer Ice wadi base SI miles
to tried to id he it. The pegulelir wash thieelbee pus
OM to the Greta Wrier Ire, end la meth ; se Set, by
that rem, they would have a Lege sum of messy
end that so sex end ererer. But tdid not
step bra If they mama Who resin, they weold
set sell less that which they sight delft rant le grain
Wars that width they already bed. Asa this was the
met peteertel argnment that they malt use. (Hear,
was
her. The repesed railway, whisk weld cooly oast
1, was presieely the same pro whisk we to have
esee . Meer, tsar.) Olgestimi hell boss made to
the line ou the grand diet dr mem* was pre-
med to be spent 'through the army of the engineer. But
there was a certainty about the erred system which
woad reduce their debility to a gives sensunt. If they
we.. to her the Yee ansed for 1,100,6161., and if the
SIIMII Weems wave to work it for 60 per mat., they would
know what they WWI lady is have to &vile mewl the
shareholder. Wears 4,03.) Allsißill gnat odiu=
which the pug seisms would emir ea them
be the trellis /high it would bring ups their line so Lon-
don. If the Dendrite? line, +bias was 63
womileeiststy, and
produced 63,2701.14a,i5g5",_ he sesin line 36 ~ the
central railway, MX•i. ewer, give them
63,0001. (Hear, hem) 111111116111111111, he thought that
they amid me her ..on iltamenble tame eared them,
and he Instal that they would eserage the Abiders to
make the Ire. (Neer, beer.)
A bog dlessmelem MIS ensued an the at the mea-
sure, ia whisk Kr. Mills, a director, Ma. Rerapath, Mr.
Rad, a direseer,ied lit. Dickinson bark w'
Captain 31001/11011 delivered • keg Ware, which he
demonstrated assousdous erre epos a map pined up to
the wirier-blind, upon the emit ahem whir he beest
tonne* but year. Be asseheded by reepialai a reishia
to the onset that the diners be retrailerio make ar-
rangements with the remelere of the cart line, by which,
under certain reetriotises, they might, at as outlay not
exceeding 200,0001., *scare a continuer de, hem Dorches-
ter to Exeter.
.

A confused discussion taking plan bele, moral reprie-
tors asked, " What is the gusellen sad it me tense-
=ly found that no gustiest bed teen pet front the
,I=d that consequently Captain Moonom's proposi-
tion was to be regarded strictly as a substantive motion.
Mr. HARDING, the secretary, was called on by the
Chairman to read the resolutions prepared by the directors.
They were as follows :
That the directors be authorised and requested to con-
clude an arrangement with the promoters of the Central
Line of Railway liztensien hem Salisbury to Eseter, upon'
tls Dub of Ike Mow unshod la the report this day sub-
mitted Is the spesial genteel meeting of proprietors, and to
take, and t• concur with any other parties in taking, all
such MIIIIMItte as in their before
may be necessary for
bringing the Central Line before parliament in the ensuing
session.

That the directors he also authorised to concur with any
other partite in promoting the formation of a line from
Bridport to join the proposed central line near Axminster,
to the extent of • subscription by this company, not ex-
eeeding 60,00 W.
That a meeting be summoned for the day of Septem-
ber next, at one o'clock, for the purpose of receiving and
considering a report from the directors on the arrangements
for raising the necessary capital to be contributed by this
company towards the before-mentioned lines, and for au-
thonsing all such steps in relation thereto, or to extensions
in the west generally, as may be considered most advisable.

The first resolution was then formally put, and discussion
was taken on that.

Mr. HEHAPATII entered into a statement to show that
the central line would not have anything like the amount of
traffic calculated by the directors. The Great Western
Company were not going into the district, and there was no
ueoessity to make the line.
Mr. LOCKE, M.P., said his great object in promoting
the central line was, ass landowner, to benefit his property.
He maintained that the estimated traffic and expenditure
would be folly borne out when the line wee made. Now we/
their time or never to decide on making the line, as they
would never again have the opportani:y to .1 kiln the ques-
tion. if they did not assist in making the line other parties
would. Ile contended that the central line would pay the
4 per cent. to the landowners and 6 per cent. to the railway
company for their subscription. With regard to the advan-
tages of the line, he would read the opinion of as goad an
authority ea Mr. Herapath himself, who thought that
there was no necessity to make the line. The opinion was
given in 1817; it defended the policy of the South-Western
in making the line, and advocated the necessity of uphold-
ing a wholesome compatition, and stated that it would be
an act of great injustice to deprive the South-Western
Company of the line. The authority he had just read was
no other than Ilerapath's Railway Journal. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HEHAPATH said he never wrote the article. Ile
was the proprietor, and not the editor of the paper. They
should also recollect it wes written in 1847, when railways
were not so well understood as at present.
Mr. LOCKE contended that broad-guege parties were at
work to get a footing in the district; their agents had elrezely
applied to landowners in the district for support and unless
the South-Western Company decided at ouce, the Groat
Western would have the district.

A discussion then ensued, in which Mr. Helps, Mr.
Dickenson, Mr. Reed (a director), Mr. Matins, the Chair-
man, and Mr. Hutchins took part, which resulted in a con-
sultation
among the directors, and it was suggested by the
chairman to appoint a committee of shareholders to consult
with the directors as to the best mode of dealing with the
question.
Mr. tierjeant G ASE LEE said he represented a large num-
ber of the Manchester shareholders, and they did not iook
unfavourably upon the central scheme per sc, but they did
not approve of the terms proposed.
Eventually a resolution was passed to the effect that
the meeting, considering the importance of the scheme for
the construction of a lino from Salisbury to Exeter, and
that if reasoneile terms can become to with the landowners,
that the matter be referred to a committee of directors and
shareholders to make the necessary arranizements sod to
report the result to a meeting to be held in Septemb,r neat.
Captain MOOItSOM pro-osed a resolution to the effect
that the continuous connexion between Dorchester and Ax-
minster form part of the business to be considered by the
committee.

The motion was negatived by 20 to 2, and
A vote of thanks having been given to the chairman,
the meeting, which had lasted upwards of ilia hours, broke
up.
A meeting of the proprietors of the New South Western
Steam Navigation Company was then held, but the business
was merely formal, and lasted only for a few minutes.

BRISTOL AND SOUTH WALES JUNCTION.
The haltyearly meeting of this company was an.
nouneed to I.)n held yieterday at Bristol, but at the time
appointed for commencing the proceedings there was not
a sufficient number of shareholders present to constitute a
meeting.
From the statement of accounts laid on the table it ap-
pean that the total receipts of the company amount to
38,6601., end the expenditure to 37,`1571., leaving a balance
of 8031.

The Rev. Mr. GREY inquired what was being done by
the directors.

The C AI ItMAN, b1r..1. Oibbs, said, they wished to wind
up the affairs of the company. In addition the balance of
8031., they had a certain quantity of land at St. Philip's,
to the value of 3,0001., and there was the New Passage
Ferry worth I,OOW. There was also a piese of land which
they had purchased of Colonel Werra'', and which no'
doubt he would be glad to get back, worth 1001. The real
baluice, if the affairs of the company were wound up, he
believed would be about 3,6001., but against this they had
liabilities amounting in the aggregate to 6001. The directors
had attempted to sell this land, and had put it up by public
auction, but there were no bidden. An offer bad now been
made to them of a tenant fur the New Piuoage house, at a
rental of MI. a year. At present this ferry brouBht them
in debt 1001. a year, and they thought of shutting it up,
only there were!mat difficulties in the way. They could
not wind up the affairs of the company until the property
was sold, and then the idea of the directors was to make a
pro rola distribution of the funds to those who had up the
last call. The directors would wind up the affairs as soon
as ithey could do so with satisfaction to the proprietors. 1
(lieu, hear.)
The shareholders then separated.

THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON

AND NORTH-WESTERN LINE.
The adjourned inquest on the body of Mr. John T.
Beddington, who was killed by the collision which occurred
near Dozker's-lane station on the morning of the 3rd inst.,
was resumed yesterday mornir, at 10 o'clock, before Mr.
W. 8. For)le, coroner for the Midland district of the county
of Warwick, and the jury empanelled en the 4th inst. Mr,
Bruyeres, the superintendent of the southern division, Mr.
M.Connell, the locomotive superintendent, and Mr. Bedford,
the chief of the police department, were in attendance. Mr,
Cluther, from the office of Messrs. Carter, of Birmingham.
watched the cue for the company; and Mr. Harding,
solicitor, of Birmingham, appeared for the friends of the
deceased, several of whom were present. The proceedings
commenced with the examination of Edward Jones, who
was guard of the train which left Birmingham at 9.15 a.m.
on the 3rd inst., sad who described the nature of the acci-
dent. The train was going at the rate of 3; miles an
hour, the ordinary speed being 38. He observed no shock
to the train before they met with the accident, and
could say nothing as to the state of the ash-pan. Mr.
T. Forsyth, chief foreman of the locomotive department
at Wolverton, stated that the last general repass. of
the engine 163 was completed on the 23rd of April, 1852,
and described from his book the mature of the repairs which
it then received. Among these were "two new haws and
ail stele Sited to ashpan—part new lagging and alweet-iron
combs m firebox." He also produced • certificate autho-
rities die )terne el msterMis far
constructing an entirely
new estenitjhe SNP which ashpan was Steil to the
engine en Ms 17th of espemebm, 1851. He also
his belief that it was cosy Improbable • driver's=
a loose screw or mat ht the erkpan jut before en seed&
From ell he had beard end seen he wee that one of
the stays was not smile Nand, and that sem et the bolts
were not screwed we Milt. He believed the accident to
have occurred from elbow. Several eeninems were called,
who gave it as their *den that the dens and bolts had
bite severed b sine estrum farce, and Sat the saddest
we. by the edges meeting with genie sheds&
den. Idiom le Mis Welt wee gives by Mr. Xeenedy,
date angleeer. =I. Mr. T. Pairbalrn of Xranhester,
and Mr:W. P. Mr. J. Maredale
esereesed hie opinion thatettiall=was comnieeed by
• ng
dir givi way on the meg Me of the admen with
the bodes day. lie was maimed the fresemed stay
W been broke* seam time bane the accident. Mr. G.
He*" ef HirraiaMenn. did net Ala a blew was nam-
es, is have came& the essident. Be somedired that the
eel& of the accident wee Is be Sued in the weakens of
theleft hand frost May. The preseedises were ultheetely
adjoureed for a week.