The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-28 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETING.

FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY AT STOURBRIDOIL—A
public meeting in connection with the above *misty we, held
on Monday last, when the second estate was balleAted for,
making 6.S lii*A. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. J.
Blurten, W. Akroyd, and 11. Censer. On the following day
the secretary went upsn the land to show each man his re-
epective lot, which gave great satisfaction to the members.
This society, which has been in existence about 18 months,
has purchased lend to the extent of 100 lots, thus conferring
the franchise on each of its owner. Nearly 300 shuts have
been taken, and nearly 20001. has been received.— Worcester
Chronicle.
OFFICIAL GRATIVITIES IN THE OUSTOBIS.—The
Coreptroller General of the Customs having laid before the
commissioners a communication made to him by the secre-
tary to the commissioners for auditing the public accounts,
signifying that the board bad been desired by tke Lords of
the Treasury to make known to those public accountants, in
whose accounts charges for gratuities to bankers' clerks and
to postmen and others at Christmas have heretofore ap-
peared, that no allowances of this description are to be
paid by them on behalf of the public after tke expiration of
the pr.sent year, and that noticeshould be accordingly given
to the persons who have been in the habit of receiving them.
Notification of their lordship' wishes in this matter has been
given to the principal officers of the department at the
several ports throughout the kingdom for their future go-

vern„rat.
COASTING TRADE UNDER THE NEW NAVIGATION
ACT.--TLOTO are five provisions in the new Navigation Act
(in fore, on Tuesday next) for regulating the coasting trade.
It is enacted that no goods nor passengers shall be carried
coastwise from say part of the United Kingdom to another,
or from the United Kingdom to the Isle of Man, or from
the Isle of man to the United Kingdom, excet id
inton Britihe
sh
snips. That no goods or paasengers shall be impoprte t
United Kingdom from any of the Islands of Guernsey, Jer-
sey, Alderney or Sark. nor shell any goods or passengersbe
exported from the United Kingdom to any of the said
Wands, nor shall any goods or passengers be carried from Man, any
of the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark or
from any of the said islands to another of the same island,
except in British ships. That no goods
si
nor passengers shall
be carried from one part of any British posseson in Asia,
Africa or America to another of the same possession, except
in British ships. Her Majesty in council may regulate the
coasting trade of the Colonies on their application, between
neighbouring possessiros or the couriog trade of the same.
The coasting trade of India is to be regulated by the Gover-
nor General in council. With these maritime there are no
restrictions on trade and navigation. Vessels are now
arriving at our ports from all parts of the world. " There go
the ships." From and after Monday nest they will be
admitted under the new regulations.
ACCIDENT WITH A FIRE-ENGINE.—Late on Wed-
nesday night notice was received at the Wells-street station
of Brigade that a fire had broken out in Brunswick square,
and the engineer was proceeding towards the mine of con-
flagration,wher , in turning out of GOOdge-lateet into Totten-
ham-courtroad, a manta
named George Brown, of Chenies-
street, Tottenham- court. road, was craning the road in com-
pany of his wife, when the pole of the engine knocked the
female down, and, before the driver could pull his horses up,
the near wheel of the heavy engine passed ever the unfor-
tunate creature's hod y, ISJ severely injuring her that she was
(bilged to be carried to Middlesex Hospital, where she at
present remains in a very precarious state.
ALARMING ACCIDENT ON THE RlVER.—Yester-
day forenoon, about 11 o'clock, an accident of an alarming
character, by which the lives of several persons were jeopar
dised happened on the river, nearly off Bankside, South-
wark. It appears that, at the time before stated, the Sun-
flower steamboat, whilst proceeding down the river, just at
flood tide, was met: by a coal barge belonging to Messrs.
Elmore, of Bankside' and at the same thee a Gravesend
sailing barge, which was tackiag from the City shore, ran
against the *teenier on the other side. The
both conse
coal
quence
was, that the paddles of the steamer stru the
barge and the sailing boat, sending one man who was in the
vessel into the river, and sinking the skiff which accompanied
the cosl barge. For some time the greatest confusion pre-
vsiled, the machinery of the steamboat being so much .3is-
placed that the vessel could not be moved, which naturally
impressed the piesengers with an idea that the steamer
would slat. A great number of boats put off from either
shore ; the life buoys were thrown from the Sunflower, and.
after some time, the man who was thrown from the vessel
into the water was picked up. The steamboat Forget-aie-
not came alongside the Sunflower, and took her passengers
on board, and landed them in safety. The accident was
owing entirely to the sailing beige
tacking too closely upon
the steamer.
SEIZURE 01, A SMUGGLING VESSEL.--On Friday
the Smack, John and Samuel, of Portsmouth, was boarded
whilst lying_ inside Poole harbour, by the boatmen of the
Brownsea Preventive Station, and having been brought
alongside the quay, was Harebell, and found to be filled
with a false bottom, underneath whir* was stowed upwards
of 170 tube of foreign spirit, which were landed, and placed
in the Custx.m-house. The Smack was laden with lime-
stone. Two men were found on board, who were lama
ately
examined before the magistrates on the charge, which
proved against them, they were convicted in trite of
1001. each, and in default of payment, semati to prison
for six months.

CAMERON'S STEAM-POLL. SWANSEA, AND
LOUGHOR RAILWAY COMPANY.
Yesterday an adjourned meeting of this company was held
at the Mlles in Moorpte street. B. (1. WurranoP,
took the 'hair when
Mr. 110 WDEN, the estwetary, read the advertisement.
The CHAIRMAN would apologies for troubling the
hem to lose together so soon after the meeting on
the lith instant. They would now have to confirm the re-
solution paned en that oemilon for raising 21. a share of the
the 41. extra stook, previously speed upon for making the
branch railway from the company's mines to the port of
Llanelly. As most of those now present wore at the former
ease ing, he needed hardly to remind them that the resolu-
ties for snaking this call was passed unanimously. By pro-
viding these funds they would enable the directors to relieve
the remaining temporary difficulties of the company, and
carry out the small branch railway so now proposed.
Captain NORCOTT, R.N., moved the first resolution for
making the *all of V. per share.
Mr. FRANCIS FISHER seconded the motion.
Mr. SMALLSONE (a director) +aid toot some misunder-
standing had got. abroad with respect to this 21. call. In all
cases where parties had alreadai would would gene re-
duetion of this 21. all. Re hoped itbe met lly
by the shareholders, as it coal not but tend to the best in-
terests of the company.
The resolution was then confirmed unanimously.
Mr. RICHARD HALLETT, jan. moved the next reeo-
lotion, which was for making the small branch railway from
I the company's property to the port 01 Usually, but in doing
eo he should like to know how the money wee to be got for

making it.
The CHAIRMAN said the railway was now contracted
for, and would be made in about three months, or less, if ac-
tually necessary for the purposes of the company. This all
of 21. would go some way towards making it. The directors
also contemplated other means of getting funds, especially
upon shares in the power of the board, by making them pre-
ferential; thus they have three modes of obtaining money.
(Hear, hear.) It was not a very large sum that would be
required for the railway, which was the very basis of the
company's prosperity. He was of opinion that they did Name of
wrong from the beginning in going to work with a prop.rty
so near to a port without first having a railway ; in fact, it
was the greatest absurdity ; but as he was one to blame in
the matter, he could say no more on the subjtct. (Hear.)
with about 4,0001. they would now get this railway. and by
the sale of shares on hand their ground would be opened to -
the bottom of the mine. He therefore hoped the share-
holders would respond to this call as soon as possible, for he
was sure it would be to their interest. e...
kn.
A PROPRIETOR asked how much would have to be brk
paid at once in respect to the railway. Clyde&
Mr. HOW DEN, the secretary, replied that 4,6001. was to Ditto Si
be expended on the railway, but parties had offered to
,taketae Glalltews
in casn peyment only 83 per cent., leaving the rest
_ .'.„.,
period of 12 to 18 =oaths after the line should be finished 0 ''",r,
and handed over to the company. It could be got ready by ley, r
the same parties, and worked by the company in about lie
three months. (Hear.)
Mr. ELBERTON, the solicitor, said that tun more
favourable terms than these had been made to the directors
within the last three months.
Mr. SMALLBONE observed that, by making • railway
for the trifling distance of two miles and three-quarters, they.
would get in connexion with the port of Llanelly. Seeing
the effect this must have on their mineral property, he
could not tell how any shareholder could raise an cijtction.
Mr. ELBERTON said he had been in communication
with Mr. Hooper, the solicitor to the Duke of Beaufort,
together with Mr. Atkinson, the company's manager, and
from Mr. Hooper he learnt that his grace would abed the
company every facility in their conveyance of coal over his
)rrbdn
Swansea. This was very Important, because the company's
report of the committee of investigation on that line, it ap-
peared that the directors did, at one time, contemplate not
carrying it beyond Swansea from Gloucester, but that sines
they bad altered their minds. This alteration, would, there-
fore,soMl
du property.t
her . . .
zw B.
LA:ut I .1:
South-Wales
a :
tiAiiMeoheNwirae.siallidtiriebetcthoarel
which wee palled unanimously. secondedb.d oluobntdtehlet
whetherh ree r
tool uw Ili ot
the
seal field was on the other side of Swansea. Now, from the
be of great importance to their mining property in
Colebrook. The company stated that it was not desirable
to proceed further than Swansea at present, but thought it
, better to go es fir as Carmarthen. Thus there was no doubt
, but they would obtain railway truth to Swansea as
I well as to LleneUy, to which latter they now proposed
to make their short railway. The advantage of
these two junctions would be, that when their
works should be in full operatics, the port of
Llanelly would not talcs all the company would require, for
he held in his hand a letter from a gentleman at Sweneea,
from whom be learnt that their hale s now very much de-
manded in that quarter. (Hear, )
Mr. HALLE4T moved a vote of than to the chairman
mid directors for their erections in bringing the company
thrsugh its difficulties. (Hear.)
Mr. STRELLY seconded the motion.
The CHAIRMAN koped the effect of this meeting would
be to put an end to all their difficulties. He, for one, never
entertained a doubt but that, with adequate lands, this
company could work at a great profit, or he would not bate
become en large a shareholder. In July there would be a
general meeting of the company, by which time he antici-
pated the end of all their difficulties for the want of this
railway, and he hoped on that occasion to be able to present
a report which would be highly ratisiactory. (Hear, hear.'
The meetit g then adjourned.

CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.
REPORT OF THE
OCOMAT lOMITTEE OF INVEST'.
N.