The Express.
London, England, 1863-02-14 00:00:00

GREAT NORTHERN.

The half-yearly report of the directors states
that the capital account has been charged with 39,690/.
Bs. Id. for works and machinery necessary for the &poem-
modation of the company's traffic ; and 42,0001. has also
been paid on account of the Canton and Liverpool line.
The capital account now stands as follows :-Received to
31st December, 1862, 1%545.879/. 3s. 6d. • expended,
12,322,5021. Is. 4d. ; balance, 223,3771. Ox 2d. Thasum.
payable annually as guaranteed fixed charges amount to
about 117,0881., which, capitalised, recommits 2,345,9001.
The total capital is, therefore, 14,891,7791. The substitu-
tion of the company's debenture stock for the mortgage
debt is steadily proceeding-234,5271. having been reoeived
on that amount during the past half-year. The total
amount received to the 3lat December, 1862, was 2,323,769/.
The average interest on the debt is now 4/. Oa. 7d. per cent.
The revenue account presents the following remelts for the
half-year ending December, 1862 :-Gross receipts, 828,547/.
flo. 9d.; gross expenditure, 410.6E01. 18x. ld.; excess of re-
ceipts over expenditure, 417,8631. lls. 81.; balance from
previous half-year, and amount due from Great Eastern
Railway Company, 9,863/. 4s. lid.; net revenue habeas,
427.7261. 16s. 7d.; fixed charges, including Mortises and
Debenture Stock interest and Preference dividends, 223,7391.
19a. Bd.; balance available far dividend on original and A
and B Stocks. 203,9861. 16s. 11d.; net increase in 1862
over 1861, 17,6891. 17s. 3d. The net balance, 201,986/.
16a. 11d., will enable the proprietors to declare dividend
at the following rates, which the directors recommend, viz.,
-On the original stock at the rate of 81.10& per cent. per '
estrum ; giving for the half-year :-41. lis. per cent. to the
original stock ,• 31. ditto to the B stook, and 5!. 10s. ditto
to the A mkt* ; leering • balanced 1251. 10s. Id. The
dividends for 1862 will thee lave been-Original stook;
61. 10s. per amt. ; B stock, 61. ditto ; A stock. 71. ditto.
The increase in the passenger traffic was due to the attrac-
tions of the Inteenatiosal Exhibition ; but many additional
trains became necessary, and, in consequence of the lowness of
the fares charged, the working expenses were comparatively
high. In recognition of theextre labour performed by the staff
on the line during the Exhibition, the directors deemed it but
an act of justice to accord to the station clerks, guards,
porters, eosins drivers, and firemen a gratuity for the
heavy extra work which they cheerfully and carefully per.
formed for several weeks, by night as well as by day ; and
the directors doubt not that the proprietors will cordially
•of this act. The whole gratuity amounted to
4,0001.,M.v disbursed among 1,923 men. The superior officers,
however, in all departments, very highly to their credit,
! although their work was much increased, unanimously de-
eland to participate in the &mount so appropriated by the
directors. Notwithstanding the depression of trade is the
lesesabire district the merchandise traffic has continued to
Morose, to the extent of 18,6071. during the half-year. But
the carriage of coal has produced a lees remunerative re-
turn than in the corresponding period, although a large ad.
ditional weight has been conveyed. Several parts of the
permanent way have been renewed by heavier rails, and
25,000/. has been charged to revenue on that account, which
is more by 4,0001. than in the last half of 1861. The oast
of the locomotive department is also greater, in coosequence
of the increased mileage run. On the assets and liabilities
on capital account the company have a balance of 475/. only
remaining. The directors have therefore deemed it expe-
dient to apply to parliament for powers to raise further ca-
pital, to the amount of 500,0001., with the usual borrowing
powers, for the general purposes of the company, and
clauses for this purpose have been included in the bill to
authorise agreements with several railway companies in
Cheshire. The consent of the prop istars to this
application will be asked at a special meeting
to be convened, with due notice of the object.
The proprietors may possibly remember that a line
from March to Askerne was projected last year, under
the auspices of the Great Eastern Company sad which
was intended to pass betwesa the Great Nclihern Loop
and main lime. The bill for that line was withdrawn, but
this year the Great Festers Company have deposited a bill
to authorise the construction of a line from March, on the
Great Eastern system, to Spalding, on the Great Northern
Loop Line, and to obtain running powers over the Great
Northern line from Spading to Askerne, • distance of 821
mile& The directors regret that they have felt it in.
cumbent on them, in protection of the interests of the
proprietors, to present to parliament three bills for new
lines, which they will be too happy to abandon if mutually
beneficial arrangements can be made with other companies.
The directors are also prosecuting a bill in parliament to
enable them to become joint proprietors with the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Liooolnehire Company in the Stock-
port and Woodlty. Stockport and Timperley, Cheshire
Midland, and West Cheshire Railways. no subscription
proposed to be made to these companies by the Great
Northern Company 'mount. in the aggregate to 2200001.,
in addition to 115,0001. already authorised. A bill is also de-
posited to empower theGrest Northern Mammy to work the
Norwich and Spalding line, and to subscribe 22,000/. to that
undertaking. The extension of the Norwich and Spalding
line to Wisbeach will be included in this arrangement. A
bill has been deposited by the Midland Company for a line
from Bedford to London, with a sew possessor Urethane
daftly adjoining that of the Great Northern Compasy at
King's.cross. The Midland Company have now full and un-
restricted running powers over the Great Northers Lim
from Ilitchin to Loader), with the use of the pessimistic
station at King 'a-cross. and somas to their own goods
station, nuder an agreement between the two companies,
terminable by a notice of seven years from either party.
The directors were willing to secure to the Midland
neet Can-
th's. powers in perpetuity, and proposals for that °b-
were submitted to. but declined by, the directors of the
od Company. There are several other bills promoted
by sew. and by existing companies, which in the opinion of
the directors it will be necessary to watch to protect the in-
terests of the Great Northern Company. The Metropolitan
Railw which is connected by junction hem with the
Great Northern Railway at King's
-cross, having been lately
opened, arrangements are in progress by which facilities may
be afforded for the exchange of traffic to and from the City,
and also to and from the London, Chatham, and Dover
Company's Railway, between which and the Metropolitan
Line a Mort 000eecting link remains to be formed. ID this
coanexies it may be expedient for the Great Northern
Company to lake a pecuniary interest,.

THZ EDMUND'. MALI CALLTERY CATASTROPHL
-Oo Monday the pump wee est to work at Edmund's
Nolo Colliery to drew oat Use water with which the miss
hem bees Bonded. The tale will be a laborious nos, and
many weeks will yet elepes hiders the bodies of the autono-
mists mon who perished is the explosion oa the Bth Deosm-
her will be recovered. _ _

ALACZ.--0112 SHILLING DAY.—Fltl-
DAT, FID. 12.—A4111111163•6 GB maw* 521; dill. by
mar= task,t.. 715 ; Wok 1.235
importing te• without oolour oa the leaf pre-
waft as plr~
rpMb al talestar brows 15.,., as to lb.
anal kis& Nwst s. s Twa la sussoloaria. thanks. always
mud Whs. NY la packela by L seats—(Adveralissaust I

Yrisitsd awe MeMoll by WILLIAM KM it Mis 11.
Lombard-street. is an lathe se Ills
nes ... Iji Lnsi hard-strost, l= Se Wllliblies
UMW" liabosza 14. IeIL