The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-21 00:00:00

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY.

-
The proprietors of this railway re-assembled, i t
special meeting, on Saturday, at 12 o'clock, at Hewkstone-
bell, Waterloo-road, pursuant to adjournment from Tura-
dal test, to receive the report of tee scrutineers, on the
result of the poll, stoma the question of extending the line
from Dorchester to Bitter.
The Hon. F. Scorn, M.P., the chairman of the company,
pre-ided, end previous to the commencement of the business
of the meeting he read a resolution of the board, come to
that mo-sing, denying a statement which he said had been
put fur ward in the press, and at the speeial meeting on
Tuesday, that Mr. Birchen, the solicitor, had unduly in-
fluenced the directors.
Mr. Macneill was proceeding to address the meeting in
vindication of his conduct, but the demaada for the declara-
tion of the " poll" rendered the attempt abortive.
Mr. SNELL insisted that the meeting was assembled for •
special purpose—that of receiving the report of the result
of the poll, upon the question of the Dorchester extension
line ; and it was not competent for them to discuss either
personal matters or any other except those for which they
had been called together. (Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN would then call upon the auditor to
declare the return of the amount of stock for and against
the extension. (Loud cries of " No, no."—" The votes,
the votes.")
Mr. SNELL again interfered, and with considerable
warmth contended that their business was simply to re-
ceive a report of the number of votes polled. (" Hear,
hear.," and " Oh, oh.")
The CHAIRM•N—Very well, gentlemen, as you please.
(Hear, hear.) Then I have to report that the number of
votes polled in favour of Mr. Henderson's amendment is
13,914, including personal votes and proxies, and that the
Another polled in favour of the proposition of the directors
for authorising the extension is 13,911, giving a majority
of 3 in favour of the amendment.
This announcement was received with the nest uproarious
delight by the majority, who gave cheer after cheer, in
minter volleys, for their success, three cheers for the mi-
nority in the direction, and three cheers also for the Times
newspaper, which it appeared had published an article in
their favour ; these demonstrations being enforced by jump-
ing upon the seats, waving of hate, and a lengthened tattoo
of umbrellas and sticks upon the floor.
The CUAIRMAN being at length enabled to make himself
heard, said—Now, gentlemen, to give you an opportunity
of having • good Kentish fire, with three times three and
nine times nine, I think it right to inform you, that I be,
here there are some disputed votes in the return which,
when corrected, will I believe give still a fraction more to
the majority. (Cheers.) I am in no hurry, gentlemen, I
will wait until you have had pour cheer. (" Hear, hear," and
a laugh.) Atter a moment', delay, the hon.gentleman con-
tinued—lr. announcing this result the directors desire to
state that they are precluded from proceeding further with
the extension line from Dorchester to Exeter, inasmuch as
it appears that the present opinioa of a large proportion of
the proprietors is at valance with their generally expressed
sesthmuts at the meeting in May last, when tnere were
20,646 votes for, and 3,441 against, the extension, giving a
majority of 17,206 votes in favour—(hear, hear)—which
majority represented 3,774,0001. of stock, while the mino-
rity represented only 67,5001, the preponderance of stock
represented being thus abut 3,200,0001. in favour of the
extension. (Cheers, and cries of "oh.") Reirembering
this, and remembering also the unanimous, or all but
unanimous, vote to which the proprietors came in August
last authorising your directors to proceed with the neces-
sary steps for carrying cut the extension line, seeing that
your dir .ctorehave, in RCM? dance with the instructions given
by you, pledged the company to parliament to carry out the
measure, and that the company themselves adopted that
Logy at the meeting in August last—we (the directors)
demmes us carefully to consider the position in which
the isompany has been placed, and in which they have been
I placed, byte change of opinion that has arisen amongst
the sharehelders—(ebeere, and cries of " resign")—and I
have to state that your directors will take en opportunity,
between now and the general meeting in Fe-
bruary next, of considering this matter and of
hamming the proprietors of what they consider is
their position, and the steps they ought to take in conse-
quence. I will only add, that in whatever steps may be
taken, the greatest caution will be necessary for the pro-
tection of the iaterests of the company. I have now to
declare the amendment carried—(more cheering)—and, if
you please, I will put it as a substantive motion.
Mr. &tent and others objected to this, and though the
chairman said he believed that he was suggesting tho course
which was the most consatent with regularity and order, it
was not 'messed.
Mr. HIRCHAM then, amid much interruption, ad-
dressed a few words to the meeting in justification of
his own conduct, and observed that he was perfectly satis-
fied, so long as he obtained the approval of those only who
were in a position tojodge whether he properly performed
his duties or not—vie., the directors. He pronounced the
accusation that had been brought against him of having for
his own personal advantage unduly influenced the direc-
tion, as unjust and unfounded, and declared that the parties
who made itknew it to be so. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Conan urged that personalities and reerlaimatioas
should cease, and that they should proceed to Molar&
Mr. Serjt OASELES, who, it appeared, was the pease
who had made the charge against the solicitor, indignant 4
repelled the insinuation that he had made statements which
he knew to be unjust and unfounded.
The CHAIRMAN then called upon the auditor to read the
return of the amount of stock represented by the votes
polled on either side. This demand, however, was the
signal for further interruption, Mr. Puncher, Mr. Snell,
and some ethers of the majority, being evidently deter-
mined, if possible, to prevent this part of the report being
read. After some time, however, a partial lull took place,
and
The AUDITOR succeeded in informing the meeting Mot
the number of votes was as the chairman had ana
and that the amount of stock represented by the 13,91
votes for the amendment was 2,060,6691., and the amount
represented by the minority of 13,911 votes was 2,673,8291.,
so that there was a majority of 623,2601. of stock in favour
of the extension. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN then rose for the purpose of dissolving
the meeting, the special business for which it had bees
summoned having been transacted, when
Mr. HENDERSON rose and insisted upon his right to snip
mit a resolution. (Cries of " No, no," Yes, yes," " Ad-
journ," " Go on," " Order," and other contradictory ex-
clamations.) His resolution was that this company haviag
last year, and again on the present occasion, decided
against the policy of making extension lines at the
company's espouse, and distrusting the present weak
and divided board of management, feels it expedient
to reconstruct the direction in the manner beet
calculated to give effect to such policy, end to prevent any
futare attempt to revive schemes so prejudicial to the inte-
rests of the company. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
The Cgaismag—Will you hand up the resolution, said
let us see it ?
The resolution was placed in the chairman's hands, sad
while he was reading it,
Mr. Bnarrtx rose se edge, hat was net allowed to spank.
Bolas of the shatelesiliess eels' gashlm, la Om nest
tone le ale dams ; odium MU up their Isis te
1 =.81711m#47 some 'lest to slam hie; others pis
epd al lie; bat being sapparisd by a few,
mss'
somala sass his lege eat maintained his right Owe
hilegr mime% six.bas was so annoyed at this.
Mat. altar ea ell lbe powers of his hugs, he sp.
rased by his to take arrassagy
ammo on Mr. sad only saes dint __
tiessa's crossing over to when he stood sad dhis
aims (which, however, he refused to give) that he
sad became to some extent quieted. Mr. Beattie at
made an appeal to Serjeant °melee, who appeared tit
die only person who had any weight with the interrapsme
en obtain him a hearing, he said, " I appeal to the learned
Tcant—use I not rise to • point of order?"
he Caatamme—Of course you can, and you shall be
beard. (Men interruption, in the course of which Mr. Ser-
joustallim amiss attempted, but with very little success, to ob-
its ah)
The Citataxsx—Oentlemen, I must say you are proving
rameelves eminently qualified to conduct a great concern
sash as this. (" Hear, hear " and " Oh, oh.") I call upon
Yr. Beattie te speak to oder.
111. llamas again sewed to 'peek, but with no better
MOM then beam
The CHAIRMAN, who, after remaining mime five minutes
ea his legs, at last succeeded in making himself heard above
the noise, addressing those from whom it proceeded, said—
Do you think you can by
.your clamour prevent me from
doing that which is enjoined upon me b 7 those rules of
order which govern every public meeting. It is my ditty to
maintain order while I am in the chair, sad I am deter-
mined to do so. (Cheers, and " Oh, oh !") 1 will sit here
mail your lungs are exhausted. (Cheers, and laughter.)
A PROPRIETOR I heard a chairman so address a
public meeting before.
The CHAIRMAN—And I never kaew a meeting before so
gooduct itself. (Hear, hear.) The point is this, a remlu-
don has been submitted,e and it seems to tie the wish of one
part of this meeting that that resolution should be spoken
in, but it having been submitted, it is competent for any
gentlemen to rise to order upon it. ("Hear," cries of " No,"
and " Shame.") In this case Mr. Beattie has risen to
order, and whatever may be the opinion of the gentleman
who cries " shame," it is my intention that Mr. Beattie
should be heard.
Mr. BEATTIE, after some further but less determined
interruption, was allowed testate that his objection to their
proceeding with Mr. Henderson's resolution was that the
meeting was summoned specially for a special object,
and it was not competent for them to proceed to any other
business. Ile reminded the meeting that Mr. Snell had
himself, at on earlier period of the meeting, raised the
same obj‘ ction. He called upon the chairman to declare
whether it was competent for them to discuss the question
raised in Mr. Henderson's resolution, and if not, seeing that
the object for which they had assembled was disposed of, to
at once adjourn the meetiag.
Mr. SNELL insisted that if the resolution concluded with
a motion for adjourning the meeting, they might entertain
it. (" Hear," and a laugh.)
The CHAIUMAN ruled that it was not competent for a
special meeting to deal with any other than the special busi-
ness for which they were summoned ; and having read the
advertisement calling the prevent meeting, decided that the
resolution proposed by Mr. Henderson, had no reference to
the special business there referred to, and that therefore it
could not be put. (Cries of "It can," and "Go on.") He
now &elated that the meeting was dissolved. (" Hear,"
and cries of " Shame," " Go on," dr.)
Mr. Stott and all the directors, except Messrs. G iselee and
Mortimer, then left the room, as did the majority of those
gentlemen who approved of their policy—their retirement
being greeted by those who remained with yells of triumph,
stamping on the floor, waving of hats and handkerchiefs,
and other demoastrstione of exuberant joy.