The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-08 00:00:00

NAMUR AND LIEGE RAILWAY.

The annual general meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the Low.on, Tavern, Bishopsgste street.
R. M. BATES Esq wit the chair.

The SECRETARY read the report, from which the follow-
ing are extracts.—

" The intentions of the special general meeting of May,
1852, which authorised the issue of preference shares in lieu
of thou original shares which had become forfeited, have
been carried out to an extent limited, up to the present
period, by the actual requirements of the company. The
deposit of 61 per share,* with the calls of 3/. in November
last, and of 41. in April last, Lave been punctually paid.
The number of original shares upon which an allotment of
preference shares has been made, and 21. per share back
interest has been allowed, is 8,570. The total number of
preference shares issued up to the present time is 9,115, and
1,6-50 of these are paid up in full. The half-yearly interest,
at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum, has been duly paid
upon these shares in October and April last respectively.
The directors are desirous of limiting the issue of this de-
scription of stock to 10,000 shares, having velum to believe
that they will be enabled, in accordance with the powers
already granted to them by the special meeting, to fill use
the remaining deficiency in the capital on more advantageous
terms than by • permanent G per cent. preferential stock.
'rho sources of additional revenue, referred to snore particu-
larly in the annexed report of the general manager, are
nearly all more or less in course of develop nent, and will
inevitably produce the most beneficial effects upon the
affairs of this company. l'erhape the most important of
these would be the completion of the works between St.
Quentin and F.rquelinnes, by the Great Northern Railway
Company of France. In the report rerently published by
that company, it is stated that part of the ground for the
line was already purchased, and;tbere was no doubt that
it would be finished long before the period fixed by the
concession. The commencement of other lines, both in
Belgium and France, and the progress of works on the line
from Brussels to Namur, all tending towards, or actually
joining this company's property, cannot but show that •
gnat increase of the present revenue from traffic must
ally be derived from a railway so advantageously
situated. It is not, therefore, too much to expect that in
the financial arrangements still to be made, the directors
will be able to treat upon terms more beneficial to the
company's interests than any which have hitherto been ob-
tained. Looking forward also to the more remote sources
of prosperity which will be developed by the completion of
neighbouring lines, there is full scope afforded for a com-
prehensive and final arrangement on a firm basis. Mean-
while, thepolicy of the directors will be to promote in every
possible way the resources, both local and contingent, upon
which the traffic of the ;lines must depend ; to economise
working expenses, and to meet with punctuality the various
engagements they have entered into for the company. By
these means, the directors confidently expect that the under-
taking will realize those advantages which were originally an-
ticipated. The directors went to Brussels, and again perso-
nally pressed upon the minister the claims of the company.
Being convinced, however, of the futility of any longer re-
lying upon the expressed willingness of the minister to con-
cede what was justly due to the company, the direeton
drew up, and caused to be presented, • petition to the
Chamber of Representatives, setting forth the grievances of
which they had se long vainly complained, and praying for
the interference of the legislative body. The whole ques-
tion was concisely, but fully stated in this petition, which
was favourably received by the chamber. The several
Chambers of Commerce in the chief towns on the company's
lines, as well as in towns more indirectly affected, met, and
adopted petitions to the legislature, praying for a consi-
deration of this question as deeply intereatint to the various
bodies represented, and as involving the general welfare of
trade throughout the country. The result of these repre-
sentations was that the principle contended for by the com-
pany was debated, and the committee of the Chamber of
Representatives appointed; to consider the government bill
for introducing a new tariff on the state railways, was
charged also to consider and report upon the claims of the
company. The report of this committee, which is a very
comprehensive and elaborate document, was presented to
the chamber on the 6th of April lux So far as this com-
pany's claims are concerned, it is highly favourable."
The Cumulate stated that it would be most satisfactory
for them to learn that arrangements had been made to
overcome the difficult of their debenture debt due in July,
1854. The directors had treated with • highly influential
party, by which they would not only settle their debenture
debt but also the remaining liabilities of the company, in
accordance with the powers given to the directors last year.
The preference 6 per cont. shares had not reached one-fifth
of the capital, by which there would be a greater preserva-
tion of the interests of the original proprietors. (Hear,
hear.) Hs regretted that many difficulties had arisen, one
of which was the negotiation on the subject of the through
trade, but he was happy to say that he had no doubt that
they shall tralsod to their utmost desire. The Chairman
them rood the elardea of the report.
de. Warsaw, reseled the motion.
M. dram (the manager) read the translation of the
leper of the ermiree alluded to on the through traffic,
readeasd be the serer lathe directors.
Ye. Warr's& said doe had been 8,600 preference
chores, ea within par awit. Interest had been allowed,
and adafkar MI; he wished is know ,whether this latter
alasent bad boa paid up la 1111.
IL The CILIUMN said they had been paid up in full by
parties who had :not received the back Interest.
Mr. Witioau. asked when the proposed loan would be
settled. _ _

—.—
The Cadmium( hoped it would be settled in two or three
=Oaths; it would be en better terms than the issue of pre-
ference shares. (Hear, hear.)
A Psonitirroit asked what was the expense of working
the line at present.
Mr. &noses said that the Mons and Menage wss 45 per
' cent., and the Mentor and Liege was 64 per cent. Pre-
suming they would have 1,0001 extra expenditure, the
extra receipts would amount to 1,6001. The traffic was not
yet developed, therefore the expenditure appeared large.
The Moss and Menage traffic was developed, and the
expenditure of that line was therefore only 46 per cent.
Mr. HAMMON (a director), in reply to a question, said
that the knee wee ingested to be 78,0001. or 80,0001. this
ynr,'. whit wield, sew their debentures And pre-
tenses down, sad Wove a surplus for the proprietors.
Hine oewouwation took place on the subject of Mr.
T. pmt that the directors had taken their
woo= ou Ow rviees, whilst it was understood that
would wee Nes till the proprietors could afford it.
BARINSININNI it mai made imperative on the di-
Venire to imbeds di liabilities in their account to the
Belidea goveromosoh These arrears were not taken in
wiessay, bat in dm adores of the company.
ibe CHAIRMAN wid that when the loan was concluded
tbs siorobeiden would receive their 21. of back interest,
and the dellailivo dimes would be issued. (Hear, hear.)
The report wee dim odeptad, and • vote of thaaks was
passed to the dlesseors, and to Mr. Stokes, when the
sneetiag adloonsed.

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 8, 1853

ELECTION EXPOSURES.

CAMBRIDOE BRIBERY COIIMISSION.—The royal
COMMiSsIOD to inquire into the prey dance of corrupt prac-
tiers at the last and previous elections for the borough of
Cambridge, comoseuced their sittings on Tuesday (yester-
day), at the Town-hall. The commission sat at eleven
Mr. Willmore, presiding, assisted by Mr. Bodes and
Mr. Tower ; Mr. Vernon °flatted as secretary. Some
witnesses having been examined, whose evidence tended to
show that bribery had taken place at the last election, the
inquiry was adjourned.

LIVERPOOL.
The evidence during the whole of yesterday was
directed to the proof of agency, and with the view of ;iden-
tifying the operations of the members of the various ward
committees with those of the election committees. There
was nothing to relieve the monotony of this mass of evi-
denee until a question was put with reference to " treat-
ing," when
Mr. Itodwell said, as this opened up a new branch of the
subject, the evidence having already extended over eight
days, he would suggest the de•irableness of an adjournment,
to enable his learned friend, Mr. James, to argue the ques-
tion of " agency," and take the opinion of the committee
upon that point before proceeding further with the case.
The committee acquiesced, and then adjourned to eleven
this day.

DURHAM.
Yesterday, the first witness was George Ran-
some, who deposed tbst Blagden instructed him to take
Holliday, a voter, away to Sunderland, and to give him 31.,
but that Holliday would not stay, and returned to Due.
ham and voted for the opposite purty.
John Holliday deposed that he was canvassed by Blag-
den, overseer of the parish, who told him if he did nut vote
for Lord Adolphus Vane he would be "doubly assessed,"
and corroborated Rinsome's statement.
Thomas Imeeek, publican, deposed that he had a debt
owing him front the Marquis of Londonderry; and when
Lord Adolphus canvassed him, witness asked him if he
would get the Marquis to pay it ; bat Lord Adolphus said
he would have nothing to do with it. Ward, however,
told him to go to Mr. Gibson, agent for the Marquis, at
the Rase and Crown, on the Marquis's rent day ; and on
his going there, agentleman paid him the 41. 16i., telling
him he must do what he could among the freemen and give
Lord Adolphus his support.
This was the chief evidence, and the committee ad-
journed to this day.

PETERBOROUGH.

W&. WHALLIT

When the committee met yesterday morning,
Mr. Serjeant Allen resumed his address from the point
at which he left off on Monday when the committee ad-
journed. The learned gentleman said thi point to which
he wished now to direct the attention of the committee
was, that referring to the dinner which took place after the
election, and at which Mr. Whalley bad paid for a consi-
derable portion of the wine, though the guests paid each
for his own dinner ticket, it could not by any possibility be
brought within the meaning of the act relative to treating,
inasmuch as the election being then over, the votes of the
electors could not be by any means influenced by that dinner
or wine. The payment for the wins was neither more nor
less than an act of hospitality, which it would be a most
unjust straining of the intentions of the Act of Parliament
to construe into treating tor a corrupt purpose.
When the learned serpent had concluded his address the
room was cleared.
On the public being again admitted,
The Chairman said the committee have come to the fol- '
lowing resolution : I
" That George Hammond Whalley, Esq. was guilty of
treating at the last election for the city of Peterborough.
Mr. Serjeant Allen said he was anxious now to take the
opinion of the committee as to what course Mr. Whalley
should pursue as to the recriminatory evidence which he
wished to bring forward against Mr. Cernewall Lewis, on
the grounds of bribery, treating, intimidation, and corrup-
tion generally, and to bring those allegations forward as a
substantive charge against Mr. C. Lewis taking the seat.
Mr. Power (for the petitioners) said himself and his
friends were sanguine that the committee would find Mr.
Whalley guilty of bribery, as well as treating, by the hiring
of the sub-committee rooms, and in that case they would
have applied to have those votes struck off; but as they had
failed to satisfy the committee on that point, they should
not now press the scrutiny.
The chairman intimated that the committee would ad-
Wrn for half an hour, in order to allow counsel for Mr.
Whalley to decide on what course they would pursue. At
the expiration of that time the committee re-asembled,
when

Mr. 'r. Be rjeant Allen said that, u the effect of the resolu-
tion, as it now stood, would be to render the last election
void, he thought, after consulting with him, he amid not
advise him to go into the reerimmstory matter. Of course,
he was in the hands of the committee, if they ,wished to
pursue the inquiry further.
The Chairman then said he would report to the hou e
who were the parties bribed.
The proceedings then terminated.

Yesterday, this iniariwas resumed by Mr.
L.
r.
vad..d.idogettasfieownesovn.emaludikintaitobseotremarti.ensolitorkethe. address
Mr. T. Atkinson then addressed me committee on Dena!
of Sir John Fitzgerald.
Mr. James occupied the remainder of the day in his
reply, and then the committee adjourned to this morning.