The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-14 00:00:00

SHREWSBURY AND B
RAILWAY.

The adjourned special meeting of the shareholders
in this company was held at Wolverhampton, yesterday, to
receive the result of the scrutiny on the poll taken on the
motion for an adjournment prior to considering the terms
offered by the Great Western Company. Mr. 011.1111 BY
Gone, M.P., presided.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business, said that, as
the scrutineers were not ready, he might take the oppor-
tunity of drawing attention to a matter of importance,
although extraneous to the purpose for which this special
meeting had been convened. He therefore called upon Mr.
Clive, the deputy chairman, to lay before the meeting what
passed at the meeting of the executive committee that
morninir.
Mr. CLIVE, M.P., then read his proposition in detail. It
suggested, inter also, that without prejudice to the existing
agteament with the Great Western Company, that the
agreement with that company made on the 10th of January,
18.51, and the ono with the London and North Western
Company, should be submitted to legal decision, and that
Sir F. Kelly and Mr. Butt be instructed to settle end
arrange the best mode of obtaining such decision without
delay. That if the agreements with the Shrewsbury and
Chester and Great Western Companies should be proved to
be not binding, and the one with the London and North
Western Company securing to the shareholders a certain
dividend for twenty-one years held to be a valid contract,
that then the directors opposed to the London and North
Western agreements will place their seats at the disposal of
the shareholders. That dell agreements are proved to be
binding, that all the directors shall retire. That in the
event of the London and North Western agreement being
proved to be not binding, and those with the Great Western
and Shrewsbury and Chester companies to be good, that
the directors in the interest of the former company should
retire. That all proceeding's, et law or equity, with refer-
ence to these agreements should be suspended, except such
as were approved by Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Mr. Butt. Fur-
ther, that with the view to ascertain the exact financial
position of the company, that Messrs. Quilter end Ball
should be employed to investigate the accounts, and report
from time to time to the directors as often as they might
deem desirable.

wished the meeting to understand
that the above suggestions emanated from the executive
committee, whose acts would not bind the directors, at the
same time he thought the suggestions valuable, and that it
was important for the peace and prosperity of the company
that they should be adopted.
Mr. seorr said that he quite agreed with the substance
of what Mr. Clive had read, except that part of it which
left the conduct of the investigation of the accounts in the
hands of ono party, that party who were opposed to the
North Western agreement; but with the view to completely
carry out Mr. Clive's idea, he suggested a postponement of
this meeting.
After some further discussion,
Mr. SCOTT said that he and his friends would retire and
consider Mr. Clive's proposition ; and the scrutineers not
being ready to report, au adjournment of an hour ands half
to place.
. .

athe re-assembling of the shareholders at two o'clock,
Mr. SCOTT said that of course he had no opportunity
of consulting the London and North Western Company,
who held an agreement under seal, but, of course,
if the motion for an adjournment were negatived,
Mr. Clive's proposition would possess little value ;
if it were not, he would suggest that something
like the following be adopted :—" That a complete investi-
gation of the capital and revenue accounts, liabilities, and
affairs of the company, by Messrs. Quilter and Ball, be
forthwith made, under the directions of a committee of six,
three from each party ;" and 1 say further, " that wo will
recommend the London and North Western Company to
join in procuring an immediate decision on the validity of
the agreement of the 7th of May instant with them, and of
the agreement of the 10th of January last, with the Great
Western Company, provided this meeting be postponed
for the purpose of consulting with the company upon the
propositions now offered by Mr. Clive for the consideration
of the shareholders."

The CIIAIRNIAN then read the following report of the
scrutineers, which hedeclaredto be " most louse.

' We hive carefully emunined the votes given for and
against Mr. Chesshire's amendment on Mr. Diturnacke ori-
ginal resolution, and certify that such amendment has been
lust by • considerable majority.—lienry Wainwright, John
Nicholls, Scrutineers."
The CHAIRMAN said, The amendment is lost. I shall
now put the original resolution.
Mr. SCOTT—Befure you do so, sir, I shall hand in a pro-
test, and then my friends and myself will save you any fur-
ther trouble by retiring from the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN then read the protest, which was
founded on the allegations—
" That the meeting has not been duly convened; that
there has been a fraudulent splitting of votes fur the pur-
pose of procuring a majority, and that many votes were lic•
tit Mus. That the books of the company have been impro-
perly and fraudulently withheld from the inspection of the
thnpvhnlglosm

This protest having been read, Mr. Scott and all his
friends retired, and the directors and their party were left
in possession of the field.
The CHAIRMAN immediately afterwards put the ori-
ginal resolution, aa it has already appeared in the Daily
News, and declared it to be carried all but unanimously.
Mr. WALKER (the Mayor of Wolverhampton) next
moved, and Mr. Pznita seconded the following resolution :
" That the directors of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham
Railway Company, either alone or in conjunction with any
other company or companies, be and they are hereby autho-
rised to enter into an agreement with the Birkenhead,
Cheshire and Lancashire Railway Company, for the hold-
ing or use or working over the railway of the latter
company by the said Shrewsbury and Birmingham
'Company either alone or in connexion with such other
company or companies for such period and upon such
terms and conditions as may be agreed upon ; and if
necessary to apply to parliament for an act for the purposes
aforesaid, or any of them, or for including the said Birken-
head, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Company
in the amalgamation aforesaid; and that the resolutions
passed or declared or purported to be pared at a certain
meeting of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Com-
pany convened for the 12th day of February and the 4th
day of April, 1351, at Wolverhampton, or either of them, or
at any adjournment thereof, be, and the same are hereby
rescinded."—Carried. . _

By a subvequent motion a very cordial vote of thanks was
paned to Mr. Gore.
Bo ended this series of these extraordinary meetings and
proceedings ; the result is that the two sections of the share-
holders have deliberately authorised the sale, lease, or
amalgamation of the line to the two greatest railway com-
panies in the world, both of which it is understood are
fully prepared to contest in every possible way the validity
of each agreement.

WDIDINO-UP OF JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.

DIRECT BIRMINGHAM, OXFORD, AND READING
RAlLMAT.—Yesterday, after some discussion, and on the
requisition of Mr. Hutton, the official manager, his Honour
Master Brougham made a call of 12s. 6d., to meet the costs
incurred in connexion with the proceedings in winding up.
The other call of 21. per share, to discharge the outstanding
liabilities, is under appeal.
STAFFORDSHIRE AND SHROPSHIRE RAILWAY.—
, Yesterday Mr. Edwin Smith, formerly solicitor to this
1 company was examined at great length by Mr. Roxburgh
and Mr. Daniel, relative to the trustee fund and other
affairs of the company, at the close of which his Honour
Master Richards intimated that, without giving any
opinion on the merits of the case. be should not then make
any order on Mr. Archibald to pay the required money into
court. The meeting was then adjourned for further
evidence.

7ARY COMMITTEES.

BOLTON, BLACKBCRS, AND WEST YORKNDIRE
RAILWAY.—The committee on this bill have declared the
preamble proved.
MANCIIRSTRII AND SALFORD EXTINSION RAILWAY.—
The preamble of this compa_ny's bill is declared proved.
TAW VALI RAILWAY.—Mr. Bernal reports the preamble
of this bill proved, and that the estimated cost for the alte-
ratioas and deviations will be 88,0001.
Ltvaaroot. Bocce BILL.—The preamble of this bill for
alteration of management, itc., is declared Proved.
SUNDAY TRADING PRIVIINTION BILL.—The hairdressers
of Finsbury have petitioned the House of Commons against
this bill.

BT. ALBANS 81111117 COMMISSION BlLL.—This bill,
which stood fora second reading last night, is found to be
an exact counterpart or copy of the one introduced in the
celebrated Sudbury commission case, passed into an act 6
and 7 Vic. c. 97, August 1843, and for which three acts of
parliament were specially passed in order to complete to
disfranchisement

BRITISH MISSIONS.—Last evening the united an-
nual meeting of the promoters of Huse institutions, which
comprise the Home Missionary of the Irish Evangelical,
and the Colonial Societies, took place at Exeter Hall, Mr.
Pilkington, M.P., in the chair. The report of the society's'
proceedings stated that the Homo Missionary Society, in-
stituted thirty-two can ago to supply destitute towns and
districts of England with the scriptural ministrations of the
gospel had expended 176,0001. in furtherance of this praise-
worthy object. Unfortunately, however, the annual sum
required to advance the operations of the institution greatly I
exceeded the present income, and an appeal was therefore
made to the public for increased patronage and support.
The Irish Evangelical Society was established in 1814 to
promote the preaching of the gospel amongst " popish mul-
titudes," and to counteract the superstition of Romanism,
and to evangelise the country. The expenditure last
year was 2,3611. 75., besides the liquidation of
• debt of 1,3161. 10e. 2d., leaving a very small balance
in hand to sustain the operations of the next year.
The Colonial Missionary Society was formed in the year
1836, and was now conducting its operations among more
' then two million settlers of British origin. It had sent
forth from the parent land, for labour, 27 ministers; it had
I educated, for labour In the colonies, 20 young brethren ; it
had assisted to sustain more than 30 ministers, who had
entered the colonise on their own resources, or who were in
the field before the formation of the society, but could not
have maintained their ground without such aid. It had
now on its list of brethren, receiving aid, 34 ministers dili-
gently labouring, and nine young men receiving education
for the ministry. The number of members in the colonial
churches exceeded 4,000, andit appeared that 25,000 persons
were taught the truths of the Gospel from these mis-
sionaries. The report was received and adopted, and,
various resolutions having been passed in furtherance cf the
objects of the missions, the meeting separated.