The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 28, 1849.

MS ESTIMATES.

The miscellaneous estimates for tie year 1849.50
were laid on the table of the Hones of Commons on
Friday, just before the adjournment of the hones.
The estimates are, as usual, presented in seven de-
tached portions. They are, however, accompanied on
this occasion by •• general abstract," in which is
presented at a glawe the account foe the present year,
an contrast with the similar items of charge for 1847
and 1848.
It emirs front this general abstract, that the total
expenditure for 1849-50 is estimated at 3,925,7311.
The estimates for the preceling years were as
follow :-
1848 £3,920,539
1849 3,946,231
There is, therefore, a total saviag of 20,5001. upon
the estimate for 1848, but an increase of nearly
5,2001. up:n that of the year preceding!
le the fleet claw of obargio—these for " Poblio
Wake and Buildings "—a great improvement is pee-
oaptible in the mode of publishing the estimate. Hi-
therto a general charge has been made of one
large sum to cover the year's expenditure upon all the
Palaces and Public Institutions of the metropolis. This,
dear, in compliance with the recommendations of the
of Commons' committee en mircetlaneone
napenditure, a distinct sum has been charged on
aseouut of each building, and the items are givis
with much more particularity than en former ma.
does. The total estimated expenditure under this head
le 462,0001. being within 700/. of ti e expenditure of
lest year. There are considerable reductions in the I
charges for works at the Royal Palaces and the Houses
of Parliament; but, on the other band, the mainte-
nance of the Holyhead roads entails an increased ex-
pense of 33,0001., and the Harbours of Refuge and
the Caledonian Canal each of 10,0001. more. With
regard to the limner of Parliament, the framers of
the estimate.' promise " to lay on the table in a sepa-
rate paper a statement of the whole sum expended
and to he expended."
In class 2—the Salariea, tic., of Public Depart-
ments—credit appcan to be taken for certain ravings.
These, however, nre less sabstactial than the estimate
makers would de-ire toe public to believe. The total
amount of the estimate for 1849 is 1,083,2311.; the
amount last year was 1,165,537/. Claim is accord-
ingly made for a paving cf 82,3061. on the
year. Bat, on examining tte items, it appears
that of this amount no less than 22,0001. is
fir the " Peninsalar medal, " and 31,600/.
for " printing and stationery." A sum than
54,0001. is, therefore, at once struck off the 82,0001.
as no raving in " salaries." 28,0001. remains, and
that amount is the apparent saving. But, on turn-
ing to the account of " retiring pensions and allow-
ance' for the year," an increase is observable of no
less than 26,0001, the whole of which appears to be
applied in payments to the officers of the public
departments who have been placed upon the shelf.
Instead of 83,0001., therefore, the real saving effected
in salaries is only about 2,000/. out of a total
expenditure cf upwards of a million.
The departments which take credit for the greatest
apparent savings. are those of the Treasury
and the Secretaries of State for the Foreign and
Horne departments. In the Treasury two principal
clerks have been got rid of, each of whom had a se-
lary of I,ooo'. per annum. Some smaller reductions
have been made, effecting a to'al apparent saving
of 3,6001. In the office of the H me Secretary,
one clerkship of 9001. a year has been abolished ; the
office of
.precis writer is also done away with,
an ' the." is a saving of 7001. a year effected in con-
tingent expenses. The total apparent saving here is
3,80.0. In the Foreign-office 5001 is struck off " con-
ting-neirs," and no less than 4,0001. off the bills c f
the " Queen's messengers and couriers"—a proof of
tte saving which may be cffeeted in the enormous
cioxges of these functionaries. There is also a credit
of nearly 7001. for moneys received and unexpended
last year,ao that altcgether between 5,000/. and 6,0001.
will be saved.
On the other hand, the expenses of the Board of
Trade have increased this year 3,2001., and those cf
the Poor-law Commission, 4,000/. The charge for
the "salaries of officers in the two houses of pat lilt-
ment " is increased 1,6501., despite an attempt to
carry out the rep-rt of the recent committee.
In clan 3. ander the head of " law and justice,"
there is an increase npan the year of 67,0001. Of
this amount 17,0001. accrues in the shape of '• law
charges paid to the Solicitor of the Treasury:" 10,0001.
for ad Minna' "criminal prosecutions. &c., in Scot-
land," and 18.000/. in the " general estimate for pri-
son and convict services." The items in this class
are given in a much improved form, although the
result is anything but satisfactory.
Class 4 compel a the charges for " Education,
Science, and Art." There is nothing observable under
this head except a decrease of about 18,000/. for the
" Salaries, Buildings, Purchases, and Expenses of the
British Marcum." For the "Museum of Pract:cal
Geology ° 18,0001. is stated to bar required, being an in-
crease of 7,0001. cn the vote of last year. Of this amount,
6,0001. is proposed to be spent in " warming and
ventilating the new building," Sze.—another job, no
doubt, for Dr. Reid. 2,800!. is proposed to be voted
to eomple! e the Nelson Memorial ; and the nation
will scarcely begrudge that payment if the object is
effected.
In class 5, " Consular and Colonial Services," there
is a decrease of 10,1001. upon the year. The estimate
for Prince Edward's Island has been reduced from
3,070/. to 2,0001., by striking off salaries and fees
formerly paid to the Chief Justice and other island
officers, which are now thrown, we pregame, on the

goveroment will be able to estisfy the country with
respect to them.

YORK, NEWCASTLE, AND
BERWICK RAILWAY COMPANY.

FIRST REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF
INVESTIGATION.
This report Wan printed on Saturday for the infor-
mation of the sbareholdem, preparatory to their meeting by
adjournment on Friday next.
The first transaction to which attention is directed, is the
leasing of the Newcastle and Carlisle, and of the Maryport
and Carlisle Railways to the York, Newcastle, and Berwick.
" It will be in the recollection of the shareholders that at
the last half-yearly meeting, the question of leasing the
Newcastle and Carlisle, and Maryport and Carlisle Railways,
was one of the subjects for consideration. Mr. Hudson, pur-
porting to act as edairman, and on behalf of this company,
ed en'ered into an agreement on the Bth 7ulre 1130,
in due neon Nary pewees should be obtained under the au-
thority of parliament, this company should take a perpetual
lease of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, on terms of pay-
ment, by this company, of an annual rental of 6 per cent on the I
share capital of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway Com-
pany, amounting to 1,550,0001. for 34 years from the Ist Jan-
-1848, and 7 per cent. on such share capital from the expiration
of that period dating the continuance of such lease; and, that
this company thettld pay off all existing debts and liabilities,
and take all property of the Newcastle and Carlisle Com-
pany. Mr. Hudson, purporting to act as chairman, and on
behalf of this company, had also entered into an agreement
with the Maryport and Carlisle Railway Company, for a
perpetual !eau of the latter company's line, from the Ist of
October, Pl4B, on terms of paying 4 per cent. interest oa the
share capital 01 the Maryport and Carlisle Company, amount-
ing to 170,1251., and the payment, by this company, of all
the debts and liabilities of the Maryport and Carlisle Com-
pany, not exceeding in the whole (including the share
capital) the sum of 450,00 W. Such interest of 4 per cent. on
the share capital to be increased 1 per cent. in the event of I
this company paying 9 per cent on its capital stock, or, at
the option of this company, to pay off the shareholders of
the Mthyport and Culiele Company at par, and in such
at-lreemeut it was stipulated that both the lessors and levees
should use their best endeavours to obtain, at the expense of
the lessees, in the present session of parliament, the r.eces-
sary powers to any sorb agreement into effect, and should,
If necessary, renew such powers in any subsequent session or
missions of parliament.
Pcsonsion of the Newcastle and Carlisle, sad the Mary-
port and Carlisle Railways, was taken under the agreements,
and the lines have since been worked by the servants of this
company, a charge being made for the same against the Car-
hole Railways; but this has been done without any sancti-n
of the shareholders of this company, and the funds of the
Carlisle Companies have not been mixed with the funds of
this company. Upon the directors giving notice of their in-
tention to bring !nth leases before the last half-yeerly meet-
ing, a very strong opinion was expressed by the shareholders
against the terms of agreements which had been entered into.
" The bills, however, for laming these railways, having
been introduced into parliament, Mr. Hudson sought and
obtained, at that meeting, the sanction of the shareholders to
such bills being proceeded with, on the understanding that
the same should be permissive only, and not to b 3 exercised
until the authority of the shareholders was first obtained ;
swine. Hudson then stated that ho did not complain at
all that the arrangement fell through, as the shareholders
would thus have a longer time to consider whethcr they
would enter into the arrangement or not, sad he would en
deavonr to bring forward hereafter a scheme which would
be perhaps less objectionable to the shareholders of th:a
company, and perhaps. equally satisfactory to thei directors
of the Carlisle cempanan.
" Your committee have, therefore, directed their attention
to these bills, with a view to incertein that the powers
thereby sought to be conferred are permissive only, and not
to be exercised, but by the authority of a general meeting
of shareholders. As the bill originally stood, three-fitthe
of the Newcastle and Carlisle shareholders were required
to assent, whilo the assent of a majority only of the share-
, holders in this company was required to the lease. Your
committee, therefore, required the wording of the leasing
clause to be amended, before the same passed the third
reading in the House of Commons so as to render the assent
of three-fifths of the proprietors oethia company necessary to
the exercise of the leasing powers. Alterations to the seine
effect have been made in the Maryport and Carikle Bill.
" Your committee have not yet had the epportuaity of
acquiring into the policy of this company's leasing these
two lines of railway, either upon the terms contained in the
agreements, or upon any modification thereof, and they,
therefore, refrain from expressing any opinion at present
thereon; but, as the bills, ia their amended state, cannot
be operative until three-fifths of the shareholders present at
a meeting specially convened for the purpose shall deter-
mine to snake them so—and the bills also leave the terms
open to future agreement—your committee see no reason
to interfere further with the progress of those bills in
Parliament "
" Respecting the Bar Moor Branches Bill now before par.
liement for the formation of various branches, the committee
are of opinion that the powers sought may be advantageous
to the company, and they therefore do rot recommend any
interference with the further progress of the bill in parlia-
ment. Your committee have deemed it their duty, how-
ever, to require a material alteration to be made in the
clause of the bill, authorising the subscript on to the Sun-
derland L-ek, before they permitted the bill to pass the
third reading in the House of Commons. The alteration
required by your committee being one, the introduction of
which, in the House of Lords, would, looking to the standing
orders of that house, have been at least doubtful, your com-
mittee have assumed the responsibility, without waiting for
the present meeting, of requiring such al-eration to be made
in the House of Commons, under the circumstances which
I they now proceed to bring under the notice of the share-
holders.
" The Sunderland Dock was projected in the year 1845.
As early as the month of March in that year, a scheme for the
formation of docks at Sunderland was commenced by parties
connected with opposing intereste. The prospectus of the
present Sunderland Dock Company was issued on the 13th
Ofteber in that yeer, with the name of Mr. Hudson u chair-
man. The c Tits' was stated in the prospectus to be 225,000 a
but appears to have been afterwards increased to 300,0001,
The first occasion on which the subject of a subscription on
the part of this company, was brought before the share-
holders, was at a special meeting, held on the 16th January,
1846, when Mr. Hudson give the fallowing explanation :
Vide Yorkshire Gazelle of Jan. 17, 1846.
" In the scheme which he had to bring before the share-
holders, they had no leis than three docks tavolved ; another
dock was the dock at Sunderland. (Applause.) He hoped
that they would not think him guilty of a job in that matter,
(Laughter and applause.) If it were a job he had taken a
-er large •