The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-14 00:00:00

BY ILECTIIC Tnzsagaz MOM MINI.

The i.teantcr Haildingtan, which arrived at Sins
on the 3rd, brings letters from Bombay of the 17th,
Calcutta of the Sth January, and Hong Kong 30th
December.

Sir narks Napier has arrived at Bombay. He
was to leave in the packet of the 3rd. He Sias the
guest si the Governor-General.
a works of the Bengal Hallway were suspended,
in consequence of the incompetent powers of the
committee.
A continued system of canals is to be carried out
towards the north-west frontier and the Punjab.
Sickness contirttx' to prevail in Lahore, and cho-
lera exists among the native population of Bombay.
Some important failures have taken place among
the native merchants. Commerce was still. Money
$.4.11r(C.

The Bengal jeurnals give an account of a mutual
exchange of visits between the Governor-General
and Gholab Singh on the 27th and 2sfh of December,
near Wuxeembad.

Sir W. Gomm left Calcutta on the ith January for
the north-7e4 provir.ess..

The Hindo.titu arrived on th •ith January nt
llczghley. Commerce hcaxT. l'utehases small; and
prices on the decline. Exchange, 21.
The Chinese jcurnals announce the *uppret.sion of
the insurrection in the province of Kwangsee and the
reported death of Lin Tsih So, the Imperial Com-
missary sent to quell the insurrection.
Fever continued at Hong Kong. Commerce
dull in all its branches. Freight of tea to England
from Canton tot low as 30e.

The money continued scarce, which lamed com-
mercial transactions.
The Indus and Europa left Alexandria on the Gth
for Southampton.

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

Yesterday the thirtr-first half-)early general mea-
lag nt this eumpanswas'lvldat the Nation at l'addinatotl,
C. Russzt.t., Lon. In the chair. After the notice convening
the meeting bad leen read and the seal of the company
*Hi . .

1 CIIAMMAN maid that during the last few months '
the directors had bet n occupied in the consideration of the
relations existing between the Gnat Western Company
and the companies which were their neighbours, and
although they heel not be. n able to accomplish all which they
had desired and which they had reasonully expected, they
yet hoped that they had inside some progress end effectedarrangements calculated to improve and strengthen the
position of the Great Western !tails, ay with regard to their
neighbours. Tho arrangements which had Ina n continued
be the special meeting in November last had not been
adopted by the South Wales proprietors at their meeting
held on the same (illy. That arrangement was not hastily
adopted, but was the result of long deliberation and discus-
siou ; it was unanimously adopted by the board of the Great
Western Company, and almost unanimously by the South
Wides board, but was rejecteel by a small majority of the
South 'Wales proprietary. They (the directors) wen con-
vinced that that arrangement would meet the objects and
promote the hiterests of both companies, and that it rested
on principles of sound police and substar.tial justice. The
directors of this company., however, would not—whatever
modification might be made iu that arrangement—recom-
mend any advance of the pecuniary terms which it em-
braced. (Heat.) Turning to the internal position of their
company, he was sure the proprietors would thiul. the ac-
counts satisfactory. ("plea, hear," and cheers.) The
rocrehandise traffic was within about 20il1. of that of 1819.
An inference might be drawn from this that it was sta-
tionary. But it was not so, because there had arisen com-
petition with companie • which ran to the same large towns
as they did, and in point of fact there bad been a steady in-
crease. In the passenger traffic the receipts of the half-
year had exceeded that of the preceding half-year by
23,0001., about 10,0001. of which they owed to excursion
trains. (near, hear.) This showed that that railway traffic
had not exhausted its resources, and might even yet be
made to increase with benefit both to the public and the
companies. Considerable reduction had been made in the
expenditure by a PPM of 15,000/., though thirty miles more
of line had been worked, demonstrating that they
had fully accomplished every reduction which had
beta promised last year. (Rear, hear.) Under these
eirerunstances the directors confidently recommended to the
proprietors a maintenance of their dividend of four per
cent. (Hear, hear.) They had experienced the great in-
convenience of the limited accommodation at the station at
Paddington, but they had hitherto pustpoged all works, not
wishing to make • charge on capital. Last year, how-
ever, it was found alruo-t impossible to manage the excur-
sion trains, and the ea:eiage stock had reeeis eel lunch injury
from Mettle it nt coverin7,. In the tonne of the year they
hoped to open the South Wales and the northern lines ;
besides which the year of the Exposition would be one of
extended traffic, and they had at length reluctantly deter-
mined to extend the station at l'addington. Mr. Brunel
had so arranged as to cause the least expense, and the pre-
sent departure passenger sheds would be converted into
sheds fur arrival only, and they would have to build only
departure sheds. 'the plan was arranged that when
they came to adopt the larger scheme of build-
ing, the present erections would form part of the
permanent system. (Rear, hear.) Great inconve-
nience had been felt from the want of an hotel at the Lon-
don terminus—(hear, hear)—and the directors had nearly
arranged fur the building of one without its being any
burden on the resources of the company. The capital was
to be raised by mortgage ou the hotel, with the company's
guarantee, and they had arranged with a person so coin-
peteut to undertake its direction that there was little fear
nut only that the interest of the money would be paid, but
that in twenty years the capital would he extinguished, and
the hotel become the property of the company without cost
to themselves.
Mr. SAUNDERS then read the report, au abstract of
which hiss already appeased.
The CHAIRItrAN than moved iL adoption, which, after
some discussion, was agreed to.
Resolutions were then severally put and agreed to. First,
that a ditideud of 4 per cent. be declared. Secondly, that
the 171. shares and the Great Western Windsor 201. shares
be converted into consolidated stock. Thirdly, that certain
shares be forfeited. Fourthly, that the tlirce directors,
Captain Bulkelcy, Mr. Miles, and Mr. Simonds, who went
out by rotation, should be re-elect, d. Fifthly, a vote of
thanks to the auditors. Sixthly, an authority to the dime-
' tors to proceed with the building of the station at Padding-
ton, and to increase the stock of carriages.
A PROPRIETOR asked if the names of the directors
could nut be printed with the reports. lie never saw the
name of a director.
The CHAIRMAN said it should be done.

Mr. 111:NT then at some length _ commented on the im-
morality of Sunday excursion train', presented a memorial
Prom 1,860 inhabitant- of the city of Bath, and mored a re-
solution requesting the directors to order the discontinuance
of excursion trains on Sundaes. (No, no!)
Some di.cussimt ensued, after which

The CIIAIRMAN issiinsatcd that the directors had
already expressod their opinion in a letter on the subject,
which had been made public; and that they had conic to
the determination to ailhfre to the nwilution expressed in

that letter. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution Nro, then put and negatived, only eight
persons holding up their hand• tor it.
Mr. DE SALIS inquired if the board would be inclined
to issue season ticket•.

The CHAIRMAN sAid t7uat the subject had been attain
considered, and the director= saw no reason to alter the de-
cision they had come to, not to grant such tiekets.
The meeting was then made special, for the purpose of
confirming the arrangements entered into with the Glou-
cester and Forest of Penn Company, as stand in the report ;
and after the usual formal rotes of thanks, the meeting