The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-21 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE

GREAT WESTERN AND BRENTPORD.

The balf-jimely of this company was bald
yeeterdaytat the 17" Great George-street, West-
minster; Mr. Ps= DavaT;igillie chair.
Mr. C. ELCY, juo. eeseetary), read the report. It
stated that during the half year ending the 30th June last
the tonnage ea which the specified rates of tolls bad been
charged wa5154,126 of guteral goods, and 14,617 of oral,
coke, and stow—together, 68,743 tons ; being an Merton
of 373 tons of general goods, and of 2,132 tons of coal, he.,
on the corresponding period of 1861. The direeeme felt
confident that on the asseation of the unfavourable in-
fluences which continued so seriously to affect the trade of
the country, a great improvement upon this traffic anght be
anticipated • and they trusted that the ordinary share-
holders would then obtain a more remunerative
swot for
their capital than they had hitherto riceired, as, with-
standing the depressed slats of trade, there had been a
gradual improvement in the traffic since the beginning of
the year. and the gross tonnage of the mouths of May and
June amounted to upwards of 26,000 tons: They believed
that this improvement would continue, especially as the
arrangements of the Great Western with the West Midland
and South Wales Railways were becoming fully developed.
Since the last meeting all claims respecting Mews. Trod-
well's contract for works had been discharged. which had
necessitated the withdrawal of a sum on deposit account at
the beakers, sod also the use of debenture bonds for 5,0001.
which were in hand at the clam of the last financial Mil
year. The revenue account showed a net profit of 2,6641.,
out of which the directors recommended dividends of 5 per
amt. per Minim on ends Mies of referees, &hares, sad of
2 per cent. per annum oil the ordinary shame, leaving a
balance of 241. to be carried to next year's accounts.
The CHAIRMAN, IN moving the adoption of the report, ex.
premed his regret that although the tonnage lad increased
somewhat during the MK six months, it bad not increased
to the extent which they Might fairly have anticipated. The
fact was, that they were almost entirely dependent upon
the heavy goods traffic brought by the Great Western
Railway Company, in connection with the West Midland
and South Wales Railways ; sod he need scarcely ea , that
the Great Western Company had suffered toe • mitigot
by the dappmeion arising out of the American Thiry
had also had to contend with the extremely low freights
which bad prevailed of late from Swansea, Cardiff, and the
other porM of South Walm. The directors still confidently
look forward, however, to better tiM6i, and already there
were indications of progress *limb were highly satisfeetory.
For exempla, in Janneztlaet. the total tonnage tarried wag
8,880, and, in February, 10,114, whereas in mob Of the IMO
three .months of May, .1411.4., and Jay, M had
13,00 Q tam (Rear, hew.) Their line wee the natural outlet
for the whole of the traffic of the Wan of England, and
there couldte no doubt that More gratifying remits would
accrue whoa the present crisis should be ended. (lieu.)
Mr. H. D. DAT seconded the make, which, after • short
discussion, was agreed to