The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-21 00:00:00

fasten' d ith a go'd pin, which he took possession of, and,
on showing it to /dim billiard, it turned out that the pin had
been stolen, but int missed until that moment. In eons,-
quern:* of the owner of the watch having to attend to his
official duties in France, it was found impracticable to make
..vat the case against the prisoner. The second charge for
stealing the gold pin was then gene into, and, as the evi-
dence was complete, the prisoner, who appeared to have re-
covered from the effects of her fan, was fully committed for
triaL
RICHMOND.
Tan Ro AT Kaw Cittawn.—George TiThey, John
Stawden, W. Hatt, and James Wye, who stood charged
with stealing a chest, containing the parish rewords, in the
year 1845, were again placed at the bar, and additiossi evi-
dence having been given, Mr. Panty., the magistrate, de-
cided upon committing Standen he trial. Wye and Hart
were discharged, and Tilbey was ordered to find bail in 1001.
to answer for his appearance at the trial, and to remain in
custody until bail was found.

RAILWAY MEETINGS.
BIRKENHEAD, LANCACTI ONSHIRE, AND CHESHIRE
JUN.
Oa Saturday, at 1 o'clock, a special meeting of the share-
holders in this company was held at the Town. hall, Birken-
head, Alderman lasers BAN caorr, the head of the direction,
is the chair. There would, according to the advertisement,
be submitted to the meeting two bills ; first, • bill for autho-
rising the Biikenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction
Railway Company to abandon part of their line, to form a
new line to join the London and North Western Railway,
to altar the mode of constructing part of their works, and to
alter their tolls, and for other purposes ; and, secondly, a bid
to enable the Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junc-
tion Railway Company to sell or lease their undertaking to
the London and North Western, the Cheater and Holyhead,
or the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Companies. There
was by no means so large an attendance of proprietors as
we have seen on previous occasions. The meeting having
been opened with the usual formalities,
Mr. J. B. LLOYD, solicitor, read the marginal explana-
tions of the clauses of the first bill. Powers were taken to
abandon the proposed line to Stockport ; to altar the levels of
a portion of the Chester brat ch ; for reducing the capital
from 2,550,0001. to 1,902,0001.; and for making a line from
Heaton to Webby.
Tee CHAIRMAN would move that the meeting,
after a full conversation on the various matters should
be adjourned for a fortnight, to afford the board and
other parties time to review their position and de-
eds upon the course which ought to be taken under
the altered circumstances of the company. The present
arrangement in the bill was that the works should be limited
to Walton, two and • half miles farther on than had been
before proposed end there form a junction with the
London and Noith Western line ; and he might state that
the board had on the table an agreement with the London
and North Western Company for running of their own traffic
on that line to Manchester on terms which he thought the
proprietors would consider advantageous. (Applause.) He
would now say a word se to the abandonment of the line
from Walton to Stockport. The ground taken by their or-
ponents to this portion of the scheme was, that the amal-
gamated company having taken powers to make a line from
Birkenhead and Chester to Stockport, was bound, having
entered into a contract with the public, and especially that
portion having large interests at Birkenhead, to complete
the whole scheme, although it might involve a mortar) of
their property, and although there might not be the prospect
of a single penny in the shape of dividend (Hear, hear.)
The Birkenhead Dock trustees had secured the in-
sertion of • clause, that if at the end of two yews the
line was not completed from Hooton to Helsby the company
should be required to carry goods from Manchester beyond
lielsby.without charging more tell upon them (although
they might be carried seven or eight miles further round),
than if the line lad been completed from Chester as originally
proposed. The Chairman concluded by moving that (after
discussion on the various points) the meeting should be
adjourned to Saturday, the 2nd June next.
Mr. BROWN. banker, of Olasg re, seconded the motion.
Mr. H. WINCH moved as an amendment, "That,
inasmuch as the bill as at present framed would
operate most unjustly, and would seriously injure and
prejudice the rights of one class of shareholders in the
company, and would also materially affect and be preju
denial to the' undertaking of the company, this bill be not
approved of, and that there be introduced into it clauses for
reducing the nominal amount of the 311. shares ; for the
adequate representation of the proprietors of the 311. shares
at the board ; and to prevent the application of money
raised from 311. shares to the purposes of the Cheater and
Birkenhead Acts."
Mr. WEBSTER, barrister, seconded the amendment.
Mr. EVERILL moved • recommendation to the directors
to make the 101. call in four instalments. This was seconded
by a shareholder from Warrington; but Mr. Townsend said
that the meeting being special, such a motion could not be
entertained.
Mr. WEBSTER thought that by reducing the 311. shares
to 201. the board would obtain more money from the call.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that amidst the varied sug-
gestions made, the proposition he had thrown out for an
equitable reduction of the capital had met with no objection.
He thought, in respect to original allottees, who bad paid
up to the present time, but could pay no longer, that a
discrethen to release them should be lodged in the board, and
he would be glad if they could be allowed to go out on such
terms as were originally proposed. A clause to this effect
was put in the bill, but struck out on the opposition of the
learned counsel present (Mr. Webster). _
In answer to a question, the CHAIRMAN remarked that,
with the adjustment of estpital he proposed theshares
would be reduced to 241. 16s. ; the 271. 10s. shares to
and the 221. shares to 171. 10s.
The motion for adjournment was then put as an amend-
must to Mr. Winch's motion, and carried by a large majority,
seven hands only being held up against it.

MONMOUTH/MRS.—The Half-yearly Meeting of the pro-
prietors was held at Newport on Wednesday, Mr. R. Bloke-
more, M.P., in the chair. The report stated that the ►lte.
rations and improvements in the Western Valley line, would
be completed by August next, estimable the company to
perform with efficiency the carrying service of the district.
Daring the last half year there had been a satisfactory in-
crease in mune:ion with the merchandise revenue. There
had been marled during this period 111,705 tons of iron, and
25,679 tons of coal and general merchandise. The total re-
venue had been 21,0001., sad the expenditure for the half
year, to 31st March last, was 6,2661. The chairman, in
moving the adoption of the report, said that sells, amounting
to a large sum, had been made, and that 5,0001. due on them
only remained in arrow. A. dividend of 21. 10s. per share
was declared for the halt year, and resolutions were patted,
empowering the directors to raise 112,0001. by the creation of
new shares.