The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-11 00:00:00

LONDON BILIDON T 21111111773 morsz

COMPANY.

An extraordia' ary general meeting of the share-
holders was held yesterday at the London Tavern for the
purpose of considering the propriety of disposing of the site
of the proposed hotel, or of at ouce proceeding with the
building • Dr. CHALLICI presided, sad shortly explained
the proceedings of the company from its formation. It
might have appeared to the shareholders who were not ac-
quainted with the difficulties the directors had to encounter
that there had been some unnecessary delay. He, on the
contrary, claimed credit to the board for caution and pru-
dence. In November last year, when the company was
formed, it was expected that not only no difficulty
would be experienced in obtaining the site for the hotel,
Ind that every facility would be affordod for that purpose,
mid that the project had the approbation of the Thiessen
Oreopeoy. The necessity for such an hotel Was admitted, as
well as its prospects of success, and of aprefitable return. The
company was accordingly formed, but it was found necessary
to go to parliament for compulsory powers to take property
in order to avoid exorbitant demands for the property they
would r quire. They had several interviews with the
Brighton board, and Mr. Schuster led them to believe that
there would be no bortility on the part of the Brighton
Company either to the erection of the proposed hotel or to
their having seems to the platform and free egress from the
station. Aoeadiugly the notices were given, and then for
the first time the director* found they were to be opposed by
both the Brighton andtheSonthEastern RailwayOompenies.
The result of that opposition was that the bill the lost in the
committee of the House of Lords on the technical point
that them wee .no precedent existing of granting
compulsory powers to an hotel company se against
a railway company. It wee then suggested that
a place called the Broadway should be the site. This,
' however, required the closing up of the thoroughfare of the
Broadway, which was bat little used. The railway corn-
pules again opposed them, but after certain legal proceed-
ings at quarter sessions (which he detailed), they obtained
' the necessary powers for cloying the thoroughfare, on con-
dition that they should open kn. Thomar's.street. Having
complied with this condition, and arranged fur the pro-
perty with the authorities of St. Thomas's Hospital, who
were the proprietors, fresh difficulties arse—they had
been throsWood with other legal proceedings to prevent
their building on the Broadway, and appropriating it as a
site for the hotel ; and, although they had the site, they.
had not the privilege of approach to the platform of the
railway. Added to this, a change had recently occurred in
the state of affair. ID regard to the prospects of the botaL
The London, Chatham, and Dover, which it was anticipated
would divert a considerable portion of the through coati-
nental traffic from the south Elutern, had obtained an act to
carry their line to Parringclemstreet. The South
Eastern again had powers to go to Chicnie
sod the Brighton were alnady in
possession
of
the Victoria stationat Pimlico, where • large otal
Was in course of erection. These circumethisess easmed
to have weighed with mane of the shareholders, and they
had sent their proxies to the directors to be
-teed at thth
discretion, but at the MLitt time intimating that if an ar-
ras mein could be made with the Brighton Compsay.by
which the capital of the shareholders would be returned it
would in their opinion be advisable to conclude it. Nego-
tiations hail been opened with the Brighton Company with
that view, which, after much correspondence and many
cmoultations, had resulted in an offer by that company of
30,000/. for the site, but which was to include the 5,0001.
paid by the hotel company as a guarantee to the hospital
authorities. This bad been in effect accepted by the direc-
tors se the basis of a proposition to be submitted to the
shareholders, and on which he had hoped to be in a position
to take their opinion that day. But the day before
yesterday the Railway Company intimated that they
must be freed from the condition attaching to the lame
from the hospital to the Hotel Company that an hotel was
to be erected upon the site. That coalition the hospital
authorities were willing to waive, provided the Radway
Cumpaay capita te,. a mom sufficient to secure them their
gronod rent of 7501. a Yliar—a point which would be taken
into cousidention by the railway beard to-morrow. Under
these circumstances it would be osessawy that the present
meeting should be 'adjourned, and he proposed that the
adjournment should be to the tlnd of November, the day
wham they would meet in ordinary coures.uie ought to
add, that supposing the shareholders sho decide upon
of the present site to the Radii" mpeny, and
calititien thee tbsught it desirable to intheed with the
pro).* shelier We sight be obtained adjoiting at a sum
wheat wail leave • considerable balance over towards the
erection d the betel from the purchase money to be paid
by the reflemy, templed with the privilege which the rail-
way antlestithee were in that case pre to admit of free
asses to the platform. The only y now was as to
thapropositiall put forward by the hospital for capitalising
• own mdielent to pay the ground red, which he had no
deett woad be arranged when they nett met. In conclu-
sion he moved an adjournment of the meeting to the 2nd of
November.

A 811LIZROLDISI disputed the necessity of abandoning the
scheme, unless they got back the full 20s. in the pound.
There was no moon why they should not erect the hotel,
which would be certain to command a profitable return, for
there was nu part of London where hotel accommodation
Iva.. more reernired He wished to know how far the
30,0001. would go towards receiving their 20s. in the pound.
The CIIIMILIIAN stated that the total expeaditure and
halation of the company amounted to 29,659/. (Hear.)
•• • •

Mr. iiODGER suggested that a molt:lion @hook' be paned
leaving it to the director to cry out the negotiations with
the Brighton Company for the interest of the shareholder
according to their thicretion. ("Hear, hear," and "No.")

. .
Mr. Rawarsa .eoond••I the malice fue the adjournment,
which was carried unanimously.
A veto of thanks to and couAdimmei in the chairman and
tha board concluded the bulamo.

OPENING OF TEL STRATFORD RAILWAY.—In spite
of a very unfavourable seem, and of many yards of War-
wickshire clay, the Stratford Railway has been opened
within a month of the time originally announced. The con•
tractors have completed their contract., and on Tuesday the
lime was 01161111 d to the ,ontractors and their friends. Just
before twelve o'clock a train left the Snow Hill station, cue-
toning Messrs. Branson and Gwyther (the contractors), and
many others, and reached Hatton • little before one o'clock.
After waiting fur the Leamington contingent, the train pro-
nailed along the new line from Hatton to Stratford. The
stations at present arranged were elaverdon, Beasley (for
Elstotie), end Wilnecute, and after a pleasant rue among
pleasant fitlets and on a very smooth line, the t3tratisrd ter-
minus was reached. .1 small number of spectators amem-
hied, and the band of the lit Warwickshire Volunteers
played some appropriate tunes as the visitors al=
traia The journey amid pleasant
.ben sheep and hones were startled by the
nnaccustorned noise of the train, was eccom.
pgishel to the satisfaction of all. On reaching Stratford moat
of the visitors strolled to the time.honoured chord, to
money the famous Shakespeare tomb and the other
milli. place. About 5 o',:lock a *elect party 'somber:
the Red Horse to enjoy the hospitality of the contractors,
sod a few toasts were proposed. The opening of the long-
looked•for line ;aye groat interest to many of the 'ahem-
teats of the good old town. Although some local feelings
have prevailed, and local magnates hare deferred the local
celebration, the opening of the line direct from
Birmingham to Stratford has been really • gnat event.
A large party from Leamington, and a not leas large party
front our own town, showed sudicieutly she interest in the
proceedinp ; and there ran be little doubt that now the
direct line is openeal a saran logos of visitors will be secured.
A few pleasant hours, molting everyone to ese the famous
plasm in Stratford, ~..iy now easily be found. The train
will set down passengers cha by the town, and within a
how shot of Shakeepeale'd birthplace, and not far from the
famous old church where his remains repose. Late as the
opening as far as the season is cosomsed, let us hope that
many will avail themselves of this may scam le Stratford
before winter comes on. and that the MOONY of the line will
be fully assured.—Br.n.npAaai Daily Poe.

- -
Tug SCNICEN TZLASURE or THE ROYAL CHARTZZ.
Within the Int few days public attention has been drawn
to s notice inserted in the daily journals at the instance of
the Marine Department of the board of Trade, annonncing
that a quantity of jewellery, watches, and other valuable
, recovered from the wreck the Royal Charter,
proper
dPeclot of e
into their possession. The various articles were
described in order that they might be claimed by their
owners, the noteesary cpplication having to be made to the
Bccretary of the Marine Iblertment. At first this notice
gave rue to an impression that tie divers had resumed work
on the wreck, and that the jewellery in question was
the result of their labours ; but ou inquiry we ascer-
tained that the property alluded to was recovered u far
,ack as November Int, sal that since the divers were with-
drawn from the spot in January last the wreck has to all
intents been abandoned, so far aa regards the operations for
recovering the treasure. This suspension news the more
utiamountable trim the citenmstanoe that it is believed
that there is still between 40,000/. and 50,000/, in sovereigns
and gold buried in the sunken wreak, some or most of
which nu doubt could he readily recosered by the diver.
Even up to the bed day of the operations almost every
base ket sent up yielded gOld to a considerable extent. The
reason assigned for suseending the work was the great
expense of the steam tug-tighten and other atten-
dants on the diver., and eventually the underwriters
sold the wreck for 1,00(W. to Messrs. Oibbs, who were to
undertake the recover of the remainder of the truer:ire,
sled:ding the workine.• expenses, de. Togs and lighters
were brought round (rum Liverpool to the wreck, and some
operations took place with a view to getting up the iron
work, he., of the ship, but nothing has been done towards
recovering the gold. The beakers who had the largest con-
signments in the R0y7.1 Charter admit that all belonging to
them has been recovered, bat the underwriters aseert there
is from 18,000'. to 2.,i"Csl/. in soverchare, covered by policies
of insurance, to be r7zoieed, while the owners compute the
gold and money in ,• • sessiou of the passeigers to have
amounted teat lean 40,t00f., which isin the wreck.
TiH LIVIL3rtIOL AND If kiLYHILAD TTLAPORAPH.—
The steam-tog Relianct laid the et hie in connexion with
the Liverpool and Holyhead telegraph yesterday morning
amen the month of the river, the Red N.C." to the
aurth wall of the new decks at Liverpool
Rim's • ficliti:erxiint COCOA."-- Its 'delicious
aroma grateful anionessee sailinettsrithg hate ITO-
cared Ito Demerol adoption age brealdiut herrrkre- }its
Li. see 11. pinata, al la at peril... by Use prlncli..l action Lb. Amos nye IlataropoUtte Chenilst. LoiaL.:—ad
&
vertliseees