The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-02 00:00:00

VALE OF HEATH RAILWAY.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
here ou Tug day afternoon: Lord V musing in the chair.
The report, which was :sad by the secretary, Mr. Wil-
liams. set forth the proceedings of the directors since the
last meeting. A large amount had been received moon
share capital. The branch constructed by the Briton Ferry
Dock Company across Bugles Bay to the tidal sitcom:no.
dation secured by this company, was opened in the end of
April, and coal traffic from Aberdeen had been commenced
thereupon. There hail been an accumulation of silt and
sand at the shipping stage at Swansea, which bad interfered
with the shipping of coal, but this would be
removed by powerful dredging machines. The re-
ceipts from goods traffic had increased threefold
tine* tl.e opening of the branch at Bugler& Bay,
and the weekly total receipts from all traffic were now cent.
per cent. above the amount at the last meeting. Although
these receipts were not au !a rg o as some had sntieipated, yet
taking the incompleteness of the line into consideration the
result must be cobsidered as satisfactory. There had been
a considerable increase in the passenger traffic since the
last report, and this improvement led to confirm the belief
that a large traffic would he obtained when the line shall
have been opened into Merthyr, and communication more
readily obtained with the populous districts in that neigh-
bourhooi. The arrangements with the South Wain com-
pany enable this company to work their mineral trifle be-
tween the ports of Neath and Briton Ferry and Swansea in
a very satisfactory manner. The completion of the branch
to the Aberdare Canal head is being pressed forward as ra-
pidly as possible. It was also desirable to com-
plete both the main line and branches, as ra-
pidly as possible. The direct communication which
the completion of the suspension bridge over the
Wye at Chepstow has estahlished between this country and
the entire railway system of Eineland, and still more, the
opening now near at hand of a further portion of the South
Wales Railway from Swansea to Carmarthen offer the
prospect of au immediate increase both in gnoiis and pas-
senger traffic. As the completion also of the South Wales
line to Milford Haven is approaching, the attention of the
steam navigation companies will be more closely directed to
the advanteges offered by that splendid harbour, and there
can bo so longer any doubt that that port will be frequented
by a numerous fleet ut ocean steamers, whose supplies of
fuel will indubitably be drawn trom the coal fields of Ater-
dare at a considerable reduction on its present cost when
used by this class of steamers, this saving arising from the
advantage of direct communication between the collieries
and the ship. No doubt, therefore, the trade in this fuel
will form an important item in the mineral traffic of this
railway.
After some conversation,
The report was adopted, and • number of shares for-
feited, after which the meeting broke up.

HEREFORD, ROSS, AND GLOUCESTER
RAILWAY.

The half-yearly meeting of this company ern held
here on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. VAVOltaal, in the unavoid-
able absence of Mr. Booker, M.l'. in the chair.
The directors' report stated that two thirds of the re-
quired land for the railway was already obtained, and the
greater part was in the hands of the contractors. From the
Orange to the Lea tunnel the works were expected to be
completed by the end of October next. There were (our
tunnels, vie.: the Lea, 800; Fawley, near Ito-s, 530; Hui-
lingham, 1,177; and Druidor' 110 yards. The directors pro•
liaised that the works should be presto d forward with all
despatch. The contract with Meseta. l'eto, Betts, and
Bracey, was for the execution of the works for 230,0001.,
to be paid us follows, viz., nil, 61,8751. • debentures,
74,000/. ; and calls on shares taken by them, 103,1251. The
' debentures arc to pay interest at 4 per cent., hut if
the compass y Can borrow at a less interest, then they may
pay cash io lieu of debenture. The directors hoped to be
able to borrow money at a lower rate than 41 I er cent. The
calls had on the whole been satisfactorily paid up, but in
respect of some defaulters it would be necessary to jinni-
tote legal proceedings to compel payment of arrears.
The report of Mr. Brand, the engineer, was appended.
It described the exact state of the works which are pro-
gressing et eight diferent poiats, besides the Lea tunnel.
The statement of accounts showed receipts to the amount
of 26,2751., witha balance in hand of 10,6021. Is. 7d.
The report was adopted nem. con., and a discussion arose
on the importance of establubiag a antral terminus for all
the railways meeting at Hereford, either projected or in
course of construction. At length it was resolved with re-
ference to this question as follows:
" That in the opinion of this meeting it is essential to the
public convenience that the several railways into Hereford
should centre in one common station, and that our directors
be instructed to communicate with the boards of the other
c marmite in order to carry out this object."
The meeting was directed to stand adjourned to the
10th October, to receive the directors' report thereon. It
war also resolved

" That if any disposition should exist among the inhabi-
li and others interested in the welfare of the town of
Monmouth, to form a junction with the Hereford, Ross,
land Gloucester Railway at Ross, this company would give
every facility is their power to enable them to am mnplish
that object."
Other resolutions were passed authorising the raising of
91,G001. on loan, and granting 4001. • year to the di-
rectorate.

..... ._._.
A rota of thanks to the chairman concluded the business
of the meeting.

EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.
The twenty-ninth half-yearly meeting of the
shareholder in this company was held in Glasgow on
Tuesday ; PITZR BLAMLBUILX, Seq., chairman of the fern•
pang, in the chair. The report, of which the following
are entrusts, was held ea read :

The balanee-sheet for the half-year ending on 3lst
July, 1862, shows an increase of 1 7081. 134. Id. on the re-
ceipts for passengers, but a deems* of 3,6161. 13.. on those
foe goods, as compared with the corresponding period of
1861. The steady increase en the passenger Indic, the
receipts from which have risen nearly 10 per cent. sin,*
1848, is highly satisfactory. The decreased receipts from
goods, *c., is addition to the MMUS given in lest report,
' arse principally from very low rata having been charged
for these last six months. The working mimeses have ad-
mitted of farther reduction, without, however, taking from
the efficiency of the stock and plant, which are reported
upon by the crupnetr as being in fall and efficient order
and repair; these expellees little mimed 38 per cent. fur
the half-year. The Oct revenue, 34,4621. 12e. Id. wll
afford a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum,
leaving 1,111/. 19s. 7d. to be added to the reserve fund.
From this fund has been deducted sundry old claims,
amounting to 9951. 10s. Id., leaving 43,8371. 12e. 10d.
as the balsam now at the credit of this account.
The proprietors will keep in mind that the Edinburgh and
B.ithgate baring refused to fulfil its contract to amalga-
mate with the Edinburgh and Glasgow, your board re-
solved not to attempt to enforce this agreement, sad offered
to accept the lease of the Edinnurgh and lischgate
when reported as complete to the satisfaction of the arbiter
named in their Act of Incorporation ; that the Edinburgh
and Emboli. Company has refused this, and endeavoured
to force their line online company without my such report ,•
and that the judgment of the mart to which they appealed
has been so far spinet them, that they have appealed to
the Supreme Court ; and that now your committee have
offered most liberal terms of compromise, which have been
refused. Under these CITCUIIIStanOte, your board believe
the proprietors will agree in thinking, that the whole
responsibility of further litigation rests with the Itatligate
Company."
TM report was approved of, and a dividend at the rate of
3 per cent. per annum declared. Powers were also given to
the directors to adjust the dispute with the Bathgats Com-
pany as proposed; and at the special meeting held there-
after a resolution was adopted granting powers to find the
debt of tie company to the extent of 400,00 W. The meet-
ing than broke up.

WATERFORD AND LIMERICK RAILWAY.
The fourteenth half-yearly meeting of the share-
holders of thin company was held on Friday, in the Towe-
led], WMerfeed. and was ausserowily sad rerfreetably at-
tended. The chair was taken by Henry Denim, Fag.
John O'Connor, Esq., secretary, reed the helt•yearly
report, from which the following are 'streets : Since the
last belf.yearly melding the extended line of 26 miles from
Tipperary to aortae' ban been opened for publie track.'
The dimmers feel pleasure in Mating that the re-,
ceipte are progreesively Valeria' • end they hare no
doubt that when the line is extended to Waterford, and
its resources and capabilities mere clearly developed, a
still more sheering prospect will be the moult. The
accompanying report of the engieeer-in•chief will show
that at an early period the line will arrive at its anal
completion ; and the disaster,' expect to be able to
congnatilste the shareholders upon that most important
great early in the ensidag year. The balance of receipt
over eapediture continues to be applied to liquidation of
the geoming engagements of the company. All diMeeltks
of di mature are drawing to a Olmalesian and the com-
meneing • new carter under mere fammr•lik auspices than
mad sine line ago have been anticipated. Already the
Limaji=leretioe ofthe present gmeernment has been
towards railway eaelqwhe he this country, by
the radweekee of the intend en lee ben 6to 4 per cent.
—Zap eiketing an aligneake earrhig to the company of
I gee annum. The wedge of the &nth Wake /tail-
wayli"Nased ie. a Awl Shwa appears new certain, end
the Williford me Killioroy pogroms espial to the
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