The Express.
London, England, 1851-08-22 00:00:00

RAILWAY ratErrixas.
__-
WEST LONDON RAILWAY.
The half-yearly mcctir of this company took
eve yesterday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street.
11E1'111'7.: hi MO, EMI., took the chair.
The SECRETARY read the following report :
t. The directors have to inform the proprietors that since
the issuing of their last report, in which they announced a
verdict in favour of this company, in the action against the
London and North-Western Railway Company, subject,
however, to its being set aside by the Court et' Common
l'lraa in the then ensuing term, the London and North-
Westuni Railway Company have applied for, and obtained
a rule absolute for a new trial. The directors wish the pro-
prietor+ to fully understand the grounds on which this de-
cisitm was made, and therefore lay bsfore the proprietors
the opinions of the judges, as given in the short-hand
writer + notes, a copy of which is herewith enclosed. The
die eon- led the vast importance of this qui •tion to the
priprieoies, and arc conscious of the responsibility of their
own position, and with a full sense of that responsibility,
they decidedly recommend that the decision be at once ap-
t,' all against to a Court of Error. They cannot recom-
mend the proprietors to acquiesce in • judgment so opposed
to a common sense construction of the leasz, and so different
from what many eminent lawyers have advised is the
proper 1 gal construction. It is, however, • question for
the proprietors to determine, and the directors will readily
arauiesee in their decision. The directors have further to
report. that there ha+ been a decrease in the total traffic on
the canal during the last half year, of 5,061 tons, which
occur. aiino+t entirely in the article of coals. That in the
trans from the canal to the railway there has been a de-
crease of 1,2 t i 2 tons, and in the traffic from the railway to
the canal also a decrease of ill tons. A statement of the
reel ipt. and disbursement. of the company to the 30th of
June shows that 291443/. had been received, Melotlami
all. ited by the London and North Western Compaq,
under the lease, to be due to the West Landow C
from the :4th June, 1119, to the: Ist December, ...°,47,4-ia
toll. from Kensington canal, 4231. The exp.mditure
aniount,il to '272,5701., including 653/. expended during the'
halt ys ar, of which 600/. was for legal expenses, leaving a
balance of 2,0031., of which 1,1131. is in cash, and WO/. duo
from three parties.
The CIIAIItMAN said it would be seen by the report
that a judgment hail been given against this coinpany's
Claim+. Tee subject had been well considered by the
directors, and the best advice they could give w.is that they
should apply to a court of error to get that decision
reser-id. It was for the shareholders to agree to that, or to
remain as they were. He understood it was not • very
difficult thing fur them to get the opinion of all the judges
on the suliject ; and this course the directors recommended.
The SOLICITOIt said this company hail not taken the
opinion of any counsel that had not turned out favourable
to its claims. They had gone generally into the lease, into
the act of parliament, and especially into the coTensats ;
the lease was set forth in all its met.:rial points.
Mr. RIGBY said it was a serious thing for them to
attempt to reverse the judgment of four judges, who might
all be expected to attend the court with • determination t•
tapisirt their late decision. Tho jury were overruled b 7
the dictation of the judges, although they were almost
entirely in favour of giving this company a verdict. In the
ease of the law of libel Mr. Fox bad brought in a bill,
which passed both houses, enacting that the verdict of the
jury should not be set aside by any decision of the
Judges in eases of libel. The great companies had in-
stil:v.l them to take 60,0001., just to get hold of
their line, when they boasted of giving them such a tariff
as would realise them 15,0001. a year. How had they can
Tied out their pledge ? Instead of assisting the West
London project, which they had leased, they had spent
4110.0001. in going into another direction. They had estab-
lished themselves with the Thames in two other directions
"lumely, at the West India Docks and at Brantford.
Looking at the case very carefully, he thought there was no
hope for them in going to a court of error; but that they
should go at once to a court of equity. (Hear, hear.)
The SOLICITOR said their counsel considered that
they were bound to go on ; and that a court of error
was the proper tribunal. The proposition of Mr. Rigby
to so to a court of equity had been decided against by coun-
sel. Ile was prepared with the sanction of the proprietors
lb take immediate proceedings for bringing the case before
the Court of Error. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. IIURGE asked when a decision might be expected
ham this new tribunal.
The SOLICITOII said about March next.
After sonic discussion it was agreed that application
should be made to the Court of Error, to reverse the late
derision in the Court of Common Pleas.
Mr. BUROE suggested the appointment of a committee
to
dual with the other companies, but it was not seconded.
The report was then adopted unanimously, and after a
vote of thanks to the chairman and directors, the meeting
WY:mimed.

WIIITERAVEN JUNCTION RAILWAY.
The half yearly general meeting of the proprietors
ot thi. line was held at the Savings Bank, Lowther-etreet,
Whneharea, on Wednesday, the 20th instant, the Right
Hon. the Earl of LONIIDALZ in the chair.
The directors' report stated as follow,:
sliln the report presented to the proprietors at the last
yrarly meeting, your directors stated that the sea walls
" liahingtott and at liziwea Point had been &sad Lana-