The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-27 00:00:00

SOUTH YORKSHIRE RAILIVAY.

The usual half-yearly meeting of the shareholders
was held in the Cutlers' Hall, yesterday. Lord WHARN-
cu pp e presided.
The statement of accounts showed a balance of revenue of
29,9231.; but toe refusal of the Great Northern Company
to pay the toll due from July, 18i2, to the 24th of
Febru try, when prepayment for every train became com-
pulsory by order of the Court of Chancery, rendered the
directors unable to pay the dividend of 4 per cent., to
which they were entitled. They could, however, pay the
usual dirk!, nd on the guaranteed stock, and 3 per cent. on
the ordinary stock. The number of tons of coal carried
for the hall-year was 201,700, which exceeded the quantity
in the corresponding half.-year of 1852. On the lit of Au-
gust, the Great Northern Company ceased to work the pus-1
senger traffic on this line from Barnsley to Doncaster, ex-
cei.ting oac train daily each way, alleging that it was not re-
munerative,
and that no agreement compelled them to carry
it on. The traffic had since been worked by the company's
own engines, with carriages borrowed from the Midland,
and the trains ran in connexion with the Midland trains
from Sheffield to Doncaster. Respecting the works of the
Sheffield and Barnsley line, Mr. Bartholomew, the engi-
neer, reported that though sufficiently ready for traffic from
the south cod to beyond Chapeltown, it could not be made
available fur the local traffic till the collieries were more
open, d out, and the works of the district had their commu-
nication with the line established. The works at the
northern end, from the summit towards Barnsley, had
ben much retarded by unfavourable weather; but he telt
every confidence that the embaultateuts would be closed,
and the permanent way laid for a single line throughout by
the end of September, when the whole length can be brought
into immediate use for traffic.

The noble CHAIILMAN moved that the report be received
and adopted. (Cheers.)
Dr. DYMOND seconded the motion.
After some conversation,

he report was unanimously adopted.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman.

DIRRCF LONDON AND PORTSMOUTH
PAIL WA Y.

The fifteenth half-yearly meeting of the share-
holders was announced to be held yesterday at the London
Tavern, at 1 o'clock. A few minutes after the time fixed
(or commencing the proceedinj.e, when there were oaly
about half-a-dexen shareholders present,
Mr. WlLotioteos, M.P., the chairman of the company,
entered the room, with some of his colleagues at the board,
and stated that he and the other directors had waited until
• quarter past 1 o'clock, in the expectation that a suffi-
cient number of persons would attend to cons'itutc a meet-
ing ; but he was disappointed is that expectation, and had
only therefore to call attention to the (acts contained is the
report, which had been prepared for presentation to the
shareholders.
The report thus referred to stated that since the last
meeting the act fur incorporating " The Portsmouth Rail-
way Company" had passed. The line began at Godalmiag,
and terminated at Havant, between which places it was
almost identically the same as that granted to this company
in 1846. An application for powers to wind up the affairs
of the company had been refused by the House of Com-
mons ; and the session had passed without relief to the
company.
The solicitors had intimated that the sum received for
arrears of calls, represented the greater portion of the
amount they thought reooverable. No new claim had been
made on the undertakinf during the last six months; and
one of the pending claims had been compromised far •
moderate sum. The two other claims in litigation had both
been proceeded with. That of Mr. Webb had been carried
to the House of Lords. Until these claims were adjudicated
on, the directors did not think it expedient that any other
course should be pursued. Two of tLe directors, namely,
Mr. 8. Laing and Sir R. W. Carden, and likewise Mr. H.
Lacy, the auditor, retired from office, but were eligible for
re-election.
From the statement of accounts annexed, it appeared
that the total receipts amounted to 149,0541. 191. 6a., and
the disbursements to 122,0551.25. 7d. ; leaving a balance of
26,9991. 16e. 10d.
The CHAIRMAN said he had nothing to add to the report.
Their only course was to wait to see what could be done for
them in a future session of parliament.
The shareholden then separated.