The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-08 00:00:00

THE NORWEGIAN RAILWAY.

The following account of the ceremony of cutting
the first sod of this railway appears in the None papers :
This important line is to run from Christiana to Lake
Noreen. Its length is only 50 miles, but it will connect the
sea-hoard of Norway with several hundred miles of inland
navigation. The concession has been granted by the
government of Norway to a company of capitalists, con-
sisting of Mr. Peto, M.l'., Mr. Ricardo, M.P., and Mr.
Brassey. Mr. Robert Stephenson end Mr. Bidder are the
engineers ,• and the contractors for the works (which are to
be finished within two years) arc Mr. George Merritt and
Mr. Earle.
At twelve o'clock on the Bth ult. the government and
municipal authorities of Christiana, together with a large
proportion of the members of the Storthing, marched In
procession from the Bishop's Palate to the spot outside the
city where the ceremony was to be performed. Galleries
were erected fur the accon.modation of about 800 ladies.
The enclosure was decorated with English and Norwegian
flags. The scene was enlivened by several military bands.
Mr. Peto, Mr. Stephenson, end Mr. Bidder having received
his Excellency the Stadtholdcr Lovenskiold, the barrow and
silver spade required for the operation were presented to
that distinguished functionary. The first sod having been
cleverly dug and wheeled off amid the cheers of the assem-
bled multitude, the firing of a royal salute, and the per-
formance of the national airs by the military bands, his
Excellency made an eloquent speech, in which he expa-
tiated upon the advantages to be derived by his country
from the construction of this railway, and congratulated his
auditors that it was to he made by English engineers and
English contractors, and that the money was to be provided
by English capitalists. This sentiment was received with
enthusiastic bursts of applause. A patriotic song appro-
priate to the occasion, and composed expressly for it, was
then sung by the united singing clubs of the town ; and the
work commenced by the Stadtholdcr was immediately fol-
lowed up by 50 picked navvies, who, with shovel in hand,
quickly affonled a visible specimen of their handiwork
In the evening a sumptuous dinner was given by the ma-
gistrates and corporation of the city to about 2.50 persons,
amongst whom, in addition to the Stwltholder, Messrs.
Pew, Stephenson, and Bidder, were Mr. J. R. Crowe, the
British Consul General (to whose perseverance andinegotia-
Sons the Norwegians are indebted for the construction of
this railway); Sir Thomas B. Arland, Bart, M.P., and
several other English visitors. The Mayor of the city pre-
sided. The toasts of " His Mejesty the King," and of
" Queen Victoria," having been responded to amid deafen-
ing cheers, salutes of cannon, andfesurde-ioie, the "Health
of Mr. Robert Stephenson" was drunk, and most enthu-
siastically responded to ; as was also " The health of the
, English capitalists, Messrs. Ricardo, Petri, and Brassey."
The healths of Mr. Bidder and the Consul-General (Ms.
Crowe) were then given, and responded to; that of Sir
Thomas Aclaad followed.

SHREWSBURY AND CHESTER RAILWAY.—The ac-
counts of this company have just been issued, in anticipation
of the meeting to be held at Chester on Weduesday next.
The total capital authorised to be raised, including 6,000
North Wales Mineral 2611. shares, 15,000 ditto 1311. shares,
20,500 Shrewsbury and Oswestry 201. shares, 27,600 Shrews-
bury and Chester Mg, shares, 17,500 ditto Preference 101.
shares, and mortgage powers for 407,0001., is 1,538,0001.
Of this sum 1,277,8311. !Gs. has been raised, leaving
260,1681. 4s. yet to be levied. The total expenditure on
capital account, up to 30th June last, has been
1,267,1751. Ss. Thu includes 33,8311. parliamentary es-
pease., 20,3041. engineering, 157,4211. 1and,609,3331. works,
11,4351. laws and amongst other items a sum of 7071.49.8 d.
for "committee of investigation." The general balance-
sheet to the same date, shows on the credit side
132,3551. 6s. 9,1., and a similar sum on the debtors side, in-
cluding 19,5241. due to bankers, 19,4171. for acceptances,
58,233/. due to the Messrs. &army, and a small amount to
the treasurer. There are elm estimated liabilities to the
amount of 26,7771., but this comprises the sum of 10,0001.
set down under the general head of "contingencies." The
receipts of the half year have been from passengers 15,9671.,
and from goods, minerals, and live stock 23,5511. making,
with other small items, a total of 40,8701. The disburse-
ments during the same period have amounted to 22,4241.,
leaving a balance on the half year applicable to interest and
dividend, of 18,4461. Interest, however, swallows up
12,0471. of this sum, leaving actually applicable to dividend
alone 6,3981. 12s. 6d. The accounts have been examined,
and certified as correct by Messrs. Smith and Trevor the
auditors.