The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-14 00:00:00

BILLS OF MCNABB&

newton. Rafe, a respectably-dressed young man, of
Royal-hill. Greenwich, was charged with the illegal pee-
session of four bills of exchange belonging to Mr. Garrett,
of Heath-terrace, Lewisham.
The prosecutor said that on returning home last evening
his sister banded him four bills of exchange which bad been
drawn in his favour in China, and which had been brought
to his house. The bills should have been received on Tues-
day through the post. By appointment the person bringing
the hills was to call at his house this morning, and the pri-
soner came. He asked the prisoner how hebecanie possessed
of the bills. The prisoner replied that yesterday ho went
to the Lewisham station and started by the 11.:.a) a.m.
train for London, in • first clam carriage, in which a
Ludy and gentleman were seated; that the lady got
out at the Spa-road station, and the gentleman at
London-bridge, and that the latter, on getting out, let
fall the bills out of his pocket. He asked the pri-
soner why he had not given the bills to the
porter, and the prisoner replied that he ran after
the gentleman, but lost sight of him ; and that be then
went to the bank on which they were drawn, and was
told that they were waste paper. One of the bills had his
(prosecutor's) name forged as an endorsement.
The prisoner adhered to his statement, saying that ho
hail taken the bills to the Lost Property-office, at the
London-bridge station, but that they refused to have any-
thing to do with them ; that he learned at Lewisham
where the prosecutor lived, and delivered the bills. He
declared he Intl acted in perfect honesty.
Police-constable Hazelden, 213 B, gave evidence as to
receiving charge of the prisoner, whose father be said, was
a postman, employed in the district in which the letter
containing thebills was directed to.
Mr. Maude remanded the prisoner.

LONDON AND SOUTHWESTERN RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)

This day the ordinary general meeting of share-
holder.; wtv; held at the Waterloo-terminus; Captain
MANGLES in the chair.

The report, which has already been published, having
been token as read,
The CRAIRMAR, in moving its adoption, expressed his
regret at the reduced dividend for the part half year ; but
he was sure, when all the circumstances of the case were
taken into account, this reduction, inconvenient and disap-
pointing as it was, would he attributed to temporary causes,
and not to any depreciation in the real value of the line.
Those temporary causes were, exceptionably, bad weather,
the cholera, the monetary pressure, the cattle plague—all
of which contributed to reduce the traffic on the line.
Another cause of the reduction was the working of new
lines which had not time to develop their traffic, such as
the Netley and the Ludgate lines. No leas than 26,800/.
had been applied as new capital on linen which had only
just been brought into working order. There had been
117,64:V. added to capital. Of this they paid 26,000/. for
the shares and bonds of the North Devon line ; 20,000/.
for a goods shed ; 5,000/. for the Chertsey line ,• 7,100/. on
the Portsmouth line ; some thousands for doubling the
Salisbury line and fur land and law expenses. On the
whole there was only 42,000 f. added to the capital ac-
count. The debenture debt was in a satisfactory state.
The Chairman then proceeded to remark on the several
paragraphs of the report. The gross receipts of the line during
the half-year were 400,0001., whilst the interest on the de-
benture debt was only 90,000 f., so that, much as haul been
said and written on debenture securities, there need be no
apprehension with regard to the South Western line.
The borrowing powers extended to 338,400/. Having
referred to the negotiations going on with the Great
Western, the Devon and Cornwall, and Central Cornwall
railways, which would bring the South-Western to the
extreme west of England, the chairman concluded by
moving the adoption of the report.
After a short discussion, the motion was agreed to.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH-COAST
RAILWAY.-(THIS DAY.)

The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of the
shareholders of this company was held this afternoon at
the International Hotel, London-bridge, N.r. P. N. LAURIE
iu the chair.

The report, which has already been published, was
taken P- .4 read.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of thereport, said
the working of the line for the put six month' bad been
a-itisfactory- The receipts showed an increase, as com-
pared with the previous half-year of 40,9011., and the gross
revenue for 18611 was 73,74 W. in excess of the year be-
fore. A still larger increase would have been
manifest but for the unfavourable influence exercised
by the financial crisis. The expenditure was greater
than usual, but arising as it did from exceptional causes,
such as compeneation claims for the accident at Caterham
Junction it would not be of a permanent character. With
reference to the proposed allotment of 100,0001. in pre-
ferential stock, as sanctioned by the proprietors, only a
small portion of the amount had been accepted.
Colonel BARITELOT seconded the motion and after some
discussion the report was agreed to, and the dividend
recommended by the board ordered to be paid.

C HEIST'S HOSPITAL —At a special court of the
governors of Christ's Hospital yesterday, his Royal Highness
Prince Arthur was admitted a governor of that establish-
ment, her Majesty the Queen having graciously expressed
a wish to that effect, and presented a donation of 600 t.
to the hospital's funds. It was also resolved that a
suitable sui.kas be presented to the Queen, in acknowledg-
ment of this further mark of her Majesty's favour. The
following gentlemen were also returned as governors, viz.:
—Mr. Henry Jenkins, Cosford-bouse, Godalming, Surrey ;
Mr. Joseph Spawforth, IS, Little Rnightrider-street ; Mr.
George Stockdale, jun., 6. Throgmorton-street ; and Mr.
William Price Jones, M.D., Surbiton, Surrey.