The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 1, 1853.

GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA RAILWA E

The eighth half-yearly general meeting of share-
holders in the above company was held ytmerday at the
eent,pany's offices, 3, New Broad-etre. t, for the general
business of the company, and aubsequ.ntly an extraordi-
nary general melting was held for the purpose of °Meaning
the sanction of the shareholders to the terms of a contract
to be entered into with the Hon. E ut India Company for
the construction of the extension lines, and for raising the
capital necessary for the same. In the absence of Lord
\Vharneliffe, Mr. \V. J. UAMILTON, deputy chairman, took
the chair.

After the usual formal preliminaries, the Secretary pro-
ceeded to read the report, an abstract of which appeared
yesterday in the Espresso.
A statement of ',counts was than read, which showed
that the total amount received on shares in England up to
June 30, 1853, had been 386,1141. Os. 41., and at Bombay to
same period 114,0491. 14s. 3d , making a total of 500,1631.
14s. 7d.; while the expenditure had been in England
186,206/. 16.. 5d., and in Bombay 154,783:. Bs. 91, making
a total of 310,9901. ss. 2d.; and leaving the balance in
hand in England 158,9631. Is., in Bombay 2101.85. M. ;
total, 159,1731.95. sd. Of this last item, the sum spent on
engineering, permanent way and works, rolling stock, &c.,
subsequent to previous account, was 53,1941. 10s. 9d.
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report.
' A discussion ensued, in the course of which it appeared
that the general body of the shareholders were under the
impression that the guarantee of the company extended to
'million, and a hope was sap d that this view would
be pressed on the East India Company. At its termination
the report was unanimously received, and the statement of
accounts was adopted.
The meeting then resolved i'self into an extraordinary
general meeting for the object stated at the head of the

report.
The CHAIRMAS put a resolution authorising the directors
to enter into a contract with the Elet India Company for
making and maintaining extensive lines from Kalliaa,
Shahpoor, or otherwise, on terms to be set forth, and en-
thorisiog the raising of " extension capitol " to the extent
of one million in the first instance, and such further sums
as may be necessary, such sums to become one fund with
the experimental capital, subject, however, to the varying
rates of interest respectively. He explained that for this
extension capital the directors expected to get a guarantee
of 4i per cent.
Mr. J. Hasztrtwa objected to the extension of the capital
of the company beyond a million, or of their works beyond
Shshpoor. Ke, therefore, moved that the consideration of
this resolution be postponed to the next half yearly
meen
Hrti. Nthstothow opposed the amendment, urging that the
resolution clearly provided that the money should not he
raised until the state of monetary afftirs made the issue
of the extension capital an actual bonus to the share-
holders. _ . . .

Mr. ATILTOS read the original contract, and held that it
bound the But India Company to a flee per cent. guarantee
up to a million.
Mr. NICHOI.IIOI.I explained that, although it was true the
East India Company had buaranteed the second 600,0001.,
still it was on condition that they approved of the line.
But the Bbull Ohat had proved impracticable, and hence
the question at to the woad halt million had been re-
opened.
After a lengthened dimension,
Mr. FIILD staved an amendment, the effect of which
would he to limit the power of raising capital to a further
sum of a million. _ _

Mr. HESRLTIIIII haying withdrawn hie own amendment,
wended that of Kr. Field. . .

—.— —.......-.
The amendment was put and negatived ; and the origi-
nal resolution carried.
The usual vete of thanks to the directors followed, and
the proceedings terminated.

DINNER TO MR. CRAUFURD, M.P.

A complimentary dinner was given at Ayr, on the
25th instant, to Mr. Craufurd, thu member fur the Ayr
Burghs. Upwards of 200 of theAorincipal inhabitants of
the district were present; and Mr. A. WILLIAMSON oC-
oupied the chair. After the usual toasts,
The CHLIRMAN proposed, in a very flattering speech,
the health of their representative, and Mr. Craufurd's
name was received with all the honours and with several
additional rounds of cheering.
Mr. CILAUIPCID retuned thanks : in the course of his
speech he said—l most take the opportunity of &minting
from the view that the tisse has come when all party dis-
tinctions should be erased, and all men should join hand is
band. That is a view contrary to the bent of our natures,
and contrary to essential principles in the conducting of
constitutional government. As hinted in the popular Irish
song of " Rory O'More," things are kept in order by con-
tranes—Caughter and cheering); and if there is one thing
which makes me look with some anxiety to the state of
the political world at present, it is the weakness
of the opposition In parliament. (Hear, hear.)