The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-20 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

NORTHERN AND EASTERN RAILWAY.
Yesterday, the half-yearly general meeting of pro-
rietors was held at tho Company's Ottlees, Bishopstate
Cation, ittcnAnD PATERSON, Esq., in the chair.
The following report was read :

" The direct-7ns LIT to report to the proprietors, that the
diridond on the respective slums of this company fur the
half-year ending the 31st of December last, will become
payable on and after Tuesday, the sth instant, and will be
as follows—vu.:—On shares guaranteed 5 per cent. per
annum : 501. paid, If. 6s. each; 43/. paid, 1/. Is. tid. each.
On shares guaranteed 6 per cent. per annum : 501. paid,
If. 104. each; 431. paid, IL fie. 6d. each—all less property
tax.

" The statement of accounts for the half-year, to the 31st I
of December, 18.56, showed a balance on the creditor side of
6,1411. 135., after payment of expenses, and the general
statement of receipts and expenditure to the same date
gives the amount received on shares and debentures at
367,61111. On the creditor side are included works of roads
and stations, 41i0,,e28/. Itts. 3d., and mock—viz., engines,
&c., 81,37 11. Lis. 7d., the rest being made up of law charge•,
engineering, ofllce outlay, it., and leaving the balance as
above vtatcsl."

A PROPILIETOE asked in what manner the agreement
of the Eastern Counties would affect the interests of the
Northern and Eastern Company ?
The CHAIRMAN said the resolution of the Eastern
Counties would not affect the Northern and Eastern is any
way. The security of the latter was undoubted.
Mr. K ENNARD said he quite agreed with the chairman
that their property was as secure as any could possibly be ;
but he considered it right to let the proprietors know what
he thought of the COW., which had been taken by the
Eastern Counties meeting and the appointment of a com-
mittee of shareholders to deliberate upon the question of
an amalgamation. The whole traffic of the eastern districts
was capable, under proper arrangements, of being brought
upon the Eastern Counties line ; and if that company were
in the state it was said to be in, how could it afford to lose
any traffic ? It was a question entirely of traffic. The
Eastern Union had a line running up to Norwich, and
would, in all probability, make 11, line, according to the
bill which was to he read on Thursday (this day),
from Cambridge to Shepreth. It was very evi-
dent that in such ease the Cambridge traffic, in-
stead of coming upon the Northern and Eastern line,
would be abstracted from it. Then, again, most shamefully
and wickedly, the legislature had granted another line to
Norwich, and the Eastern Union, to benefit its line, would
encourage the traffic from Norwich to Ipswich, and thence
by fast steamers to London. The Eastern Counties Rail-
way was surrounded by enemies, and was at the mercy of
parties who only purchased shares a few days before they
attended the meeting. Some of the very gentlemen who
had been appointed on the committee to inquire into the
amalgamation were not shareholders a month ago—(hear,
hear)—perhaps nut a fortnight. Ile made this remark that
the Eastern Counties shareholders might see the propriety
of bestirring themselves. If this agreement, which had
been come to after great pains had been taken, and great
anxiety undergone by the directors, were to be done away
within what position would the shareholders be ? The
committee was formed haphazard when the chair-
man (Mr. Wynn) brought forward the agreement
fur the sanction of the Eastern Counties meet-
ing, and that committee had perilled the agreement; and
would induce perhaps the rival interest to press its bill in par-
liament to-morrow. 'the whole traffic could come up to
Loudon from Norwich without touching the Eastern Coon-
ties or the Northern and Eastern. What could be a greater
proof of want of confidence in the directors of the Eastern
Counties than the appointment of a committer of share-
holders: and if the directors had not the confidence of their
constituents, in what condition is the company ? It is a
lamentable one unless the Eastern Counties sharehulden
bestir themselves. (Applause.)
After some discussion, the reports having been agreed
to, thanks were voted to the directors, and the meeting
broke up.

EAST INDIAN RAILWAY.
Yesterday the annual meeting of the proprietors in
this company war held at the odice in Old Broad-strect,
City. Ike chair war taken by, JO.SEPII BAEZ:MALE, Esq.
The SECRETARY read the directors report, an extract
of which appeared in Monday's Express. It concluded as

follows:- rr
" The following directors and auditor retired at
of this meeting, in accordance with the terms of
the deed fo settlement, namely :—Direetors: Joseph
Baxend,de, Esq., John Cattley, Esq., Alexander Nairne,
Esq. ; Auditor: The Baron de Gold mid. These gentle-
men, being re-eligible, offer thentselves accordingly.
Appended to this report is the balance-sheet of the com-
pany, together with statements of the receipts and pay-
ments, made up to the 31st December, 1830, in England,
and to the 31st Ortoh,r in India ; and of the assets and
liabilities of the rompane. These accounts, in addition to
the regular audit by the appointed auditors, have been
cumin, d with the honks of the company, by the accountants
of the East India Company."
From the accounts it appeared that the total motets of the
company were 52t4,119/. 75., and the liabilities 39,2171.
19s. 1011., leaving a balance of 418,9311. 7s. 6d.
The CHAIRMAN said he occupied the chair in the all-
genre of Mr. Aglionby, who was prevented from attending
by illness. He had nothing further to say than what was
contained in the report, except that they had just received
a very gratifying account from their engineer, which was
ton lengthy to he read to the meeting, unless it should be
requested by the propric:ors. Ile whited gentlemen to
take the opportunity of reading that document at the other,
for he was consinced it would afford them much in-
formation with which they would be highly gratified.
(Hear, hear.
Mr. J. A. } RANK I.IN made some observations as to the
expressions used in the hnlauerslii,t, where the assets of
the company were by mistake called current expenses.
The SECRETARY said, in reply to Mr. Franklin, that
the 12,0001. he alluded to was included iu the 24,668/. cash
balance at the hanker,.
The CHAIRMAN observed that there was no objection
to add to the words "current expenses," "rails, chairs,"
Ate.. which might be more definite. (Hear.)
The Baron DE GOLDSMID said, as an old auditor ofl
50 years standing, he could speak with confidence as to the
correctness of their balance-i&vt, and the deal of informa-
tion it afforded to the shareholders.
A PROPRIETOR asked if the East India Company
would allow interest on the 478,5391., or on the 5314,9922.
The SECRETARY said the 6 per cent. would be allowed

on the 538,982/. (Hear.)
The report was then adopted unanimously.
The CHAIRI4A X said the account, were all sanctioned
by the East India Company. Not a shilling could be spent
without their permission, which was an additional security
to the proprietors that their money would be well ex-
pended. (hear.)
The retiring directors, viz. Joseph Biaxendale, John Catt-
ky, and Alexander Nairn,Esqrs., were re-eleeted.
The Baron de Ooldsmid was also re-elected auditor

unanimously.
A resolution was then submitted for the forfeiture of
1,144 shares in arrear, which was passed unanimously.
After some observations from Mr. lIAILKISON, Colonel
and others, a rote of thanks was passed to the
chairman and directors, and to the auditors.
Mr. D. MOCATfA, Jun., said that he had heard from
the Indian accounts that their officers had not sufficient
authority given to them by the Board of Directors.
The CHAIRMAN observed that the report alluded to
the government commission, and not to the directors of this
company. 4liear, hear.)
The meeting then adjourned.

WITITIMAVEN JCNCTION RAILWAS.—The half-
yearly meeting of the shareholders in this company was
held at Whitcharen on Tuvaday last—the Earl of Lonsdale
in tbe chair. The secretary (Mr. Yeats) read the report,
which stated that the revenue for the half year amounted
to 6,1791. 19s. 04., and the expenditure to 3,089/. its. lOd.
The balance to the credit of the profit and loss account was
1,4631. 75.61., which enabled the directors to propose a'
dividend of 4u. per share, and leave a balance, after its
payment, of 465/. is. fal. to meet contingence.
It ap-
peared also that the revenue of the first half year exceeded
that of the corresponding mouths in 1819 by W.W. 88. 10d.
It was stated, however, that the sea walls had given way
daring the late gales, and that a considerable sum would be
respired for their repair. The report was unanimously
adopted, and a dividend of 4s. a share having been declared,
the proceedings terminated.

DEATH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL W. H. DAVIES, UNAT-
TACHICIL—Lieut.-Colonel Davies, who died on the 11th
inst., aged 75 years, entered the army in 1799. In 1806 he
served with the 47th regiment in South America. After-
wards be served in the Peninsula, and was present at she
sieges cdCsdis, Tarragona, and Tarifa. On the 31st Decem-
ber, 1811, he commanded three companies of his regiment, I
the 47th, on the memorable occasion when the French ini
mat force attempted to storm the town; but were driven
bark with great lota both of men and artillery. The'
late Lieut.-Colonel Davies had been in the half-pay list
since 1830.
FATAL COALPIT ACCIDEST.—On Monday last an
inquest was held at the Waterloo Inn, Bilston, before T. M.
Phillips, Esq., coroner, on the body of Francis Seager,
2S
years of age, a miner, who was killed on Friday morning
by the fall of about twenty tons of coal, whilst he was in
the act of cutting out one of the coal props or pillars in the
hollows of a pit at Broad Water Field, in Darlaston.
Charles Kendrick, who was working with the deceased,
was also killed upon the spot by the fall of the coal. It was
stated at the inquest that there was plenty of timber in the
workings for the purpose of propping. The inquiry was
adjourned until Friday, for the purpose of forwarding a re-
port of the case to the Secretary of State, in accordance
with the recent set.—Wolrerhamptott CArcisiek.