The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-22 00:00:00

THE STREET ELISANCEB OP THE METRO•

POLIB.

On Monday evening lut a highly
nh respectable
public meeting of the Inhabitants of the of Padding-
ton, was held at the Prince of Wales otel, Bishop's. roA
for the purpose of taking into consideration the beat course
to pursue with a view ofyyuuiting a stop to the continuous
nuisances mused byetrafmasicians, organ grinders, bawler%
and other disturbers of the public peace. B. C Jones, Esq.,
having been called to the chair, forcibly depicted the Tariou
emission to which the neighbourhood wee subjected such
r the int:meant anneyanom aormioned by organs, German
binds. penny newspaper vendors, Mahn of news just
arrived from India, hawkers, end others too numerous
to mention—for which the laws in force afforded no adequate
remedy. He called mow any gentleman present to propose
any resolution he thought proper, adding that the meeting
being public, a fair hear.4sconti.ld. be afforded to every one
giving emprearnion to hie • Several gentlemen having
addressed the meeting, J. Vaughan, Esq., proposed, and
B. H. Jackson, Esq., seconded, the following resolution,
which was carried with one dimentient voice That in the
opinion of this meeting the mime hors itinersat muaiclaay
newspaper vendors, hawkers sad hawker, daily and nightly
throughout the streets of this pariah, are
failrlerabte ant acmes, sad demand the immediate inter-
vention of the au ties." L. H. Bayley, Esq., proposed, and
H. D. Austen, Esq., amended, the not resolution, which was
likewise canted with one dissentient voice—" That steps be
at once taken for the purpose of publicly declaring the
opinions of this meeting, and of communicating with the
parish and other authorities for the suppression if le of
these nuisances." J. Vaughan, Esq., and C.
Cole, Eel., seconded, the third resolution, which wee anted
unanimonaly—u That a omernittee be appointed to carry out
the above objects, and to mike with the inhabitants and red-
dents of other parishes in the sestremlis he the
obtaining the assistance of the legislators." The
gentlemen consented to form a tionuelltse, with power ...I;7a
to their number .—B. C. Joists, Esq., 141, Weetbourne-se-
race ; L. H. Bayley, Esti., 60, Gloucester-terrace ; and Hr.
J. J. C. Can 23, Weethounte-plane ; who will receive com-
munications from parties desirous of co-operating. A vote of
thanks to B. C. Jones, Bel., for his able oonduct in the chair.
having been serried unanimously, the meeting separated,

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST

iziliWAY.

The following is from the report of the directors
of this railway company :

"The accounts for the halt year ending the list of Decem-
ber, 1867, are subjoined, and show the following results
Carrera. doconwe—The amount of capital raised to
the 31st December, 1857 is 7,790,8161., congaing of —mod-
gage debt, 1,936,3351.; debenture stock, 1,0001. ; preference
algid, 1234,7261.; consolidated stock, 4,618,6641.; totalL
7,790,6161. The total amount placed to the debit of capital
account during the past half-year has been 3261., making the
total capital expended 7,799,2681., and leaving • balance of
7421. Notwithstanding the high rate of interest which pre-
vailed in 1867, more particularly dozing the recent crisis, the
directors were enabled to provide for the renewal.tem
of all mortgage bonds fal due, at a rate not
per cent. ; the result is that, although the average "'e Irate
Interest en the mortgage debt has thereby been increased, it
does not exceed 41. 3e. per cent.
"Bavarian hoconwr.—The gross revenue for the half-
year has been 431,3611., showing a diminution of 2,2111. es
compared with the corresponding half-year of 1856, the total
revenue for thear 1867 being, however, 780,6871., as com-
pared with 7762511. for the previous year. The failing off
during the past half-year is entirely in the goods traffic,
whilst the receipts from pamengers show a mail increase.
There is no doubt but that the traffic of the year 1866 was
temporarily augmented by the circumstances referred to in
the last report, and, looking to this fact, and to the 01:1011:411P.
dal crisis which occurred in the latter part of 1867, the
directors cannot bat feel that, although there appear. to have
been a pans, in the onward program of the the result
of the past year upon the whole is not unsatisfactory. One
item of increase during the pest half-year has been the treflio
arising from the West-end line, which was opened from the
Crystal Palace station to Wandsworth-commoa. on the Ist
December, 1868. The improvement in the local traffic car-
ried thereon has been rapid, and continuously progressive, the
average number of passengers to and from London-bridge
alone now exceeding 7,000 par week ; and the directors anti-
cipate the receipt of • considerable income as soon es that
line la completed and properly worked as a suburban line.
The expenditure has again been affected by the high prices
of materials, and by the working expenses of the West-end
line, which in the corresponding half-year of 1866 appeared
for one month only. Taking into account these items of
increase, the ordinary expenses have shown a considerable
saving. The directors perceiving the approach of a oriels
in commercial affairs, felt it en incumbent duty to effect, as
fsr as practicable, a reduction in the expenditure, without in
any way impairing the safety or efficiency of the service,
or deviating in the least degree from their policy of main-
taining the line and the rolling stock in the best possible
order. It will be observed that although only one locomo-
tive engine and one tender belonging to the working stock
have been broken op during the post year, yet that revenue
has again been debited with the cost of providing five new
and powerful engines end tenders, and of rebuilding five of
the old engine.. In this manner the number of working
engines has, elnce 1831, been Increased at the cost of
revenue from 112 to 124, and no corresponding credit has
yet been token for the value of the twelve old engines,
which are still at work. The directors thought it prudent
te anticipate the time when, in the ordinary course of things,
• greeter number of old engines will have to be disposed of.
The directors are gratified at being able to inform the pro-
prietors that the whole of the main line between London and
Brighton has now been Maid, and fish-jointed, and the
timber replaced, where necessary, by creosoted sleepers of
the best quality. The principal portion of the cost of this
work has ahead,/ been placed to the debit of revenue. In
addition to the 8,0001. charged in the first half-year of 1857,
• further sum of 4,0001. is debited in the account* of the peat
half-year, and the balance will be provided for in the same
manner hereafter."

SOUTH 87:

RAILWAY.

A special meeting of the shareholders in this com-
pany was held at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham, yesterday,
Mr. R. C. CHAVNEn in the chair. The purpose was to
whoa to the proprietary the terms of a proposed agreement
with the London- and North Western Company, by which
the former offer to covenant to take a lease of the line, sup-
pcsimg the same to he given up by Mr. bi'Lean prior to the
=tics of his lime, of which the unexpired term is
The London and North Weaken Company
Awed {cent. for the period guaranteed by the present
lames, also 4* for the lest six years of his term, he laving
conditioned that in the meat of his continuing it, 6 per
mat. would be paid, bat with power to get rid of the
sense on giving Mx months' notice. The North' Western
Company giving to lease the line from the expiration
&Mr. heLean's term fora period of 99 years at four per
era ; the dividend and interest on the share capital and
bonds to be, for the first part of the term, payable out of the
gross maple of the company. This was not thought by
many of the stuusholders to be • sufficient guarantee, and
the bur per cent. after 1871 was objected to as mintficient.
A long diacuesion ensued, in which Mr. Philip Williams,
Colonel Dyott, Mr. Charles Shaw, Mr. Forster, M.P., and
other gee
_t3mm took part ; as did also Mr. Moon, • director
of the London and North Western Company. Ultimately
the offer was 'anted_ the terms being solar modified thatthe
London end North Western Company is to make an absolute
lease end guarantee ; to pay the expense of the application to
parliament ; to find capital Aar making thensw branches ; and
to purchase the memo, waggons, Bcc., of the company, in
order to relieve them from some existing liabUitica.
Mr. M'Lean, who was peesent, intimated that the offer to
lease had been male with his knowledge and assent.

MUIDLItOTNI ATTACK ON GANEKEEPEKs.—On
Tuesday narenfog last, between one and two o'clock. es Mr.
Tomline's watchers, five in number, were sheltering in a
small hut in the Riby preserves, they found themselves
surrounded by a gang of poachers, who bad commenced
piercing the but with • spear or some sharp instrument,
for the purpose of discovering if the watchers were inside.
Two of the men were slightly cat by the instrument,
sad they mode aa attempt to move out, when they were
smelled lly • volley of stow. thrown into the hut. The
watchers then attempted to make their escape. The drat
man, as robs out of the hut, was immediately beached
down, ha his head severely cat, his lefft arm
and one of his legs injured, and was left et the
ineossible. The next man was similarly treated,
re dig
had several of his front teeth broken, and his
feu sad head cut and lacerated to a very serious ex-
tent.. He was also left insensible. Two young mm, the
sons of Blades the keeper, followed and tell in the same
nenam, • severely cut about their heeds ; but the other
watcher succeeded in escaping without much injury, and
went as fast aa he °mkt to the village of Riby, a little more
than half • mile distant, with same of the poachers diming
hard alter. He escaped, and as he proomded he heard some
et the gen tasking good use of their time by firing at the
pate, will& was very abundant. Ha pre an slant, and
returned with Blades, the keeper, and a force raised in the
hall, when the poachers, find Mg they were likely to be cap-
tured, made off . The parties injured were outdated home,
and Mr. J. B. Itetlity, surgeon, of Grimsby, wee Moor
Motel sent for: two of theta are considered by the melted
tto be in goad delver. The proceedings se the
poachers seem to have been deliberately planned for • vielent
Maack on the watchers and rendering them femoral* Olin
=weeded in canylog of the nos Then Is MIKIS to
jiios.....awantbst the I=tll b• detected The
begged 4.
•