The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-13 00:00:00

SOUTH YORKSHIRE RAILWAY COMPANY.

Yesterday the adjourned half-yearly general meet-
ing of this company took place at the London Tavern,
Bishopsgate-street; Mr. Thompson in the chair. The
'setting having been convened for this purpose of further
adjournment, the proceedings were merely of a conversa-
tional character ; and it was stated that the suit against the
Great Northern Company was still pending, the probability
being that that company would, in punuence of the de-
clar.tion made by their chairman at the last halflearly
plotting, carry the case into a court of error, if it should
be decided against them, and, if adverse to them in that
court, into the Home of Lords. It was further stated that
et the bearing of the ease before Vico-Chancellor Stuart, in
March last, the counsel of the Great Northern Company
advised their clients to pay the South Yorkshire Company
7,0001.; bat no tayment whatever had been made in re-
spect to Use snit, and therefore the South Yorkshire Com-
pany were not in • position to pay • dividend to the an-
guaranteed shareholder.. Some discussion ensued upon
varies, poises arising oat of the dispute between the two
companies, and • strong opinion was expressed that by
again adjourning the meeting the South Yorkshire Com-
pany would afford the Great Northern an opportunity of
discharging their liability, and thus twt!, the directors of
the former to declare • dividend to their shareholders.—
The meeting was then adjourned to the 15th of June.

•
THE LEGACY DUTT.—Yesterday a return moved
for by Mr. Hume was printed respecting the
legacy duty. In the year ended the sth January
last, the stamp duties ea legacies in England
aid Wales wee 1,225,2121. ls. 6d. ; in Scotland,
92,8491. 10s. 3d.; Great Britain, 1,318,062/. Bs. • and Ire-
land, 62,2731. 16s. Ild. ; whilst 41se duty on probates, &e.,
in England and Wales in the same period, was 996,995/.
154 6d. ; Scotland, 71,4291. 10s. ; Great Britain, 1,067,4231.
6s. 6.1 ; and in Ireland, 67,8871-
NEW BILL "FURTHER" TO DIMINISH ELECTION
Exesusts.—Yesterday a bill was printed by order of the
House ofXuantoss, " for further diminishing the expenses
of elections of members to serve in parliament." The bill
is a novelty, and a clause might be added to preys nt can-
vassing, and all meddling with electors further then b
making speeebes. There are six provisions in the bill, which
was introduced by Mr. Craven Berkeley, and Hr.
Should it pus it will not only diminish the expense,
but the excitement of elections. No hod is to be engaged
to play—no Sag exhibited—or the candidates are to be dw
qualified. A person playing in such a hand, or mounting
fag, is to be liable to 101. Any agent of a candidate em-
ployed in grOtiag up a band or lien to forfeit 501. The fees
of returning officers are not to exceed 101. besides gthe
',UMW duty, and in future special constables are only to be
paid 30. 6d. a day.

ELECTION EXPOSURES.

TILE COMMITTEE OS DOCKYARD PRO-

MOTIONS AND ArI'OINTMENTS.
Yesterday Mr. Stafford was recalled and examined
at grist length on • variety of ixiints in detail, which have
ben more or less disclosed in his previous evidence. He
.leclined, from prudential motives, and from a desire et
not implicating others, to go into the subject of the all
tions he had brought forward of political influence having
been brought to bear on the dockyards under the Wrug.
station of Sir F. Baring and Mr. Parker.
Mr John Beer, solicitor, of Devonport, and Sir F. Baring
were also esamined. The latter, in answer to • question
from the Chairman, said —I have thought over the
question [that of disfranchising the dockyards) often,
and my impression is that you will not cure jobbery in
the yards by any measure of that kind, I believe it is per-
fectly possible to prevent j .bbery in the yards if you are
in earnest at headquarters. (Considerable applause.)
That is my firm conviction. My conviction is, that after
Lord Auckland's arrangement we were improving very
much in that particular, and gradually a better time was
coming round in the yards. It you can proceed in a steady
adherence to • system in which polities do not interfere
with promotions, I believe you may put an end to jobbing,
bat I do not believe you will put an end to it by disfran-
chising the voters.
The committee adjourned to 12 o'clock this day.