The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

EASTERN UNION RAILWAY.

The adjourned half-yearly meeting of the share-
holtivrs was held yesterday, at the company's offices, Ips-
wich, Mr. J. C. COBROLD, M.P., chairman of the company,
presiding.
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report and statement
of accounts which had been presented at a former meeting
be approved and adopted.
The motion encountered some opposition, but wu carried
by 30 to 20.
. . . . .

A SIIAKEHOLDIR wielied to know what was to be done
with the Id per cent. stock ?
The CHAIRMAN replied that the question was • lc gal one,
and one which he wu not competent to answer. lie
would, however, state, with reference to the preference
shareholders, that many holders of that stock, to his know-
ledge, had agreed to accept 4 per cent. interest upon it, to
the extent of some thousands of pounds.
Some further discussions ensued, when the meeting
broke up alter the usual Tote of thanks had been pursed to
the chairman.

sunEwsßußY AND BIRSILAGRAII RAILWAY.

A meeting of the shareholders in this line resident
at Manchester, was held at the Palatine Hotel yesterday.
About twenty gentlemen were present, and the chair was
taken by Mr. Munear Scorr, of Stourbridge, a member of
t►e shareholders' committee. In giving a histcry of the
company he said—Early in 1661 toe directors had entered
into a traffic arrangement with the Great Western, without
the consent of the shareholders, in direct violation of a
pledge that they would make no such agreement without
the consent of the proprietors. This provoked so great an
opposition that at • nalf•yrarly meeting in 1851 a s►are-
holders' committee was appointed without a division. That
committee, of which he was unfortunately a member, in-
vestigated all the circumstances attending the rain-
way, and having been authorised to open negotiations
with the London and North Western, they, after
taking legal advice as to the validity of the agreement with
the Great Western, agreed to certain terms of arrange-
ment with the London and North Western, afterwards ap-
proved of by the shareholders. Instead of bowing to this
decision, however, the directors convened another meeting
on the Bth May to reconsider the agreement with the Great
Western, with some addition to its terms. In the mean-
time, a number of forfeited shares in the possession of the
director, were transferred to perms who at the same time
executed re-transfers, and signed proxies, which were issued
by the directors on the Bth May, and by means of which they
secured a majority of votes. Mr. Scott said above all
things, therefore, in future they must be prepared to elect
honest directors, as t►e present men were not to be trusted
either with the making of arrangements or the carrying out
of them. He urged them not to agree to arrangements
with any company that would not guarantee a certain fixed
dividend. He expressed his opinion that if the line was
independent it might be worked properly by honest manage-
ment.

Other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and upon the
motion of Mr. Jolts Davis and Mr. Tuox. WALKER it
was resolved : " That this meeting having heard toe pre-
sent position of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham liiilway
explained by Mr. Scott, is of opinion that no offer for lease,
amalgam►tion, or for entering into traffic arrangements
should be entertained until alter the half-yearly meeting,
when new directors en to be elected."

Iho motion was carried, though not without some ex-
pressions of diuent as to whether the London and North
Western or the Great Western would be the best allies of
the company.

CARDIGAN AND CARMARTHEN RAILWAY.

The proposal for constructing a line of railway between
Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire has been revived, and
a meeting of magistrates and landowners of the two coun-
ties was held on Monday week at Llandyseil,Captain LLOYD
in the chair, to consider the project.
Mr. FITZWILLIAM stated the object of the undertaking,
pointing out the fact that Carmarthenshire abounds in lime
and coal fields, while the hills of Cardiganshire are rich in
minerals; but there is no coal nor lime in the country,
though the pasture is rich and excellent. Re pointed out
the advantages to the country of this line of railway in fa-
cilitating the obtaining of lime and coal on the Tivyside,
and called upon the landed proprietors and farmers of the
county to support it, as a line calculated greatly to advance
their interests.
It was then resolved—" That lime and coal form by far
the largestlsortion of all the goods in this part of the
country ; that, were those articles to be obtained on the
spot, at a moderate price, the consumption would be in-
calculably increased, to the great benefit of the farmers and
landowners of the neighbourhood and of the public gene-
rally.
That this meeting hears with unmiagled satisfaction
that the proposed Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway will
have a branch conneving the Van, Capel, Crwban, and
Crsigbieca districts of limekiln, and the Gordan and Creso-
-1 lands districts of eoalpits, with this place, Newcastle Emlyn,
and Cardigan, so as to bring both lime and coal to the Tivy-
side at a moderate cost, and by its connection with the
South Wales and Vale of Neath railways to take back the
agricultural produce of this district to the works," &a.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.—The report, which
is to be presented to the half-yearly meeting on next Thurs-
day, states that the directors hay* to report that the re-
ceipt. of the South-Eutern Railway Company for tne half-
year ending on the 31st of July, 11353 have been
382,9261. Is. 7d., including 2691. Is. 6d. received of the
Brighton Company for toll; and the working expenses and
renewals 146,3601. ls. I Id. The sum of 6,2161. 16s. has
been laid said* for renewal of permanent way. The rata,
taxes, and tolls amount to 13,7391. ls. 2d. ; the govornmest
duty to 12,016/. 17$. Ild. • the rents of the Greenwich mid
Canterbury sad Whitstable Railways to 25,0061. 16e. ;
which mum, in addition to the interest en the mortgage
debt, South-Eastern Annuities, and Guaranteed Stook Of'
the company, 71,4431. 19s. 9d., make a total deduction from
lute gems earnings of 274,7721. 10s. 9. The profit and lon
servant shows a credit of 1,6201. 12e. ld. after providing
for the last dividend, also a rum of 1691. 31.44 for divi-
dend and interest on Canterbury and Whitstable securities
i in the bands of the company, and is debited with the sum
of 2,7201. 16s. Bd. for parliamentary espouses, and
7011. 18s. 10d. being one-third of the loss sustained by fire
at the company's works at Ashford, and 6,1801. 141. for
rates and taxes on the Reading Dram*, leaving a balance
available for dividend of 100,2391. 16a. 9d.