The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-17 00:00:00

LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.

A special general meeting of proprietors was held
yesterday at the Waterloo station, for subunit ing for their
approval under the Wharnaliffe order a bill now before
parliament for authorising the company to make new
works, and for authorising divers arrangenienta with other
companies, and for defining and regulating the capital and
debt of the company, and for other pawpaws; Captain
/JUNGLES in the chair.

A dhowsion was pursued for tone time. occasionally
with great animation and volubility, and in the course
of is • correspondence with Mr. Garth was read,
wherein the directors intimated a probability that the share-
holders would reject the bill. Ultimately Mr. Wright
moved, and General Johnson seconded, that that portion
of the bill which referred to the Garth lino be rejt•cted-
This motion was put and carried unanimously, amid
loud cheering. Several proprietors held that before they
affirmed the other portions of the bill the various powers
sought for ought to be closely inquired into ; awl Mr.
Hutton moved that a committee be appointed for that pur-
pose, and that the meeting be adjourned fora fortuight
and Mr. Padden moved, on the contrary, that so much of
it as referred to the London, Chatham, and Dover agree-
ment be approved. Mr. Caatlemain, on behalf of the board,
intimated their readiness to give to the shareholders the
fullest information. He admitted that the circular calling
the meeting was deficient in information as to the objects of
the various clauses of the bill, awl promised thet lb future
sues this objection should be aseidnl. He wts, however,
opposed to the appointment of a committee, which would
be regarded as an imputation on the directors.
Numerous suggestaons were offered, and eventually a
resolution was moved by Mr. PADDcw, disapproving all
the clauses relating to extensions, exclit so far as the
completion of the arrangements with the London, Chatham.
and Dom Company, but approving the other pule of the
bill. This likewise was put and carried.
Two other bills, in which the South Western are only
interested indirectly, in respect of running powerson the
Haling Railway Ball, and the other the Sidmouth Railway
and Harbour Bill, were next submitted ; the first was
affirmed, and the other, having passed the House of Lords
without the meant of the South Western shareholders, was
withdrawn.

.1,70i;0i thanks to the chairman and the board eon•
eluded the Nazism.

ITALIAN IRAIGATION COMPANY.

A general meeting of the bondholders of this
company was held at the London Tavern, Eishopegate-
street, yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of appouiting
II a erainoran nentecommitteeral maATtomwevatcelit hel
theiroilwig
interests.
lotion :
—" That this meeting having before it the mood of the
provisional committee of bondholders is of j that in
accordance with its recommendation, it is of vital import-
ance that the bondholders should combine to protect and
promote their own interests, and regrets that so obvious a
necessity was not recognised from the first."
After a very lengthened discussion the motion was with-
drawn, and
Mr. IlluGG moved " That this meeting is of opinion that
it is to the advantage of the bondholders to f.rin a com-
mittee to promote and protect their own interests."
Mr. FIRLD moved the following amendment :—" That
this meeting is of opinion that it is expedient that the
bondholders should combine with the directors in taking
such measures as will be necessary to protect their inte-
rests, and that a committee he appointed to act in conjunc-
tion with the directors accordingly."
This amendment was earned by • large majority;
whmupon Mr. RATZSON demanded a poll.
Another long and noisy discussion ensued, consequent
upon the proposal to adjourn the proceedings for • month.
In reply to a question from Mr. J4.IINM,N,
Mr. /11ORRIN said that no bondholder was bound to ex-
change his bonds at all.
After further discussion the demand for the poll was
withdrawn.

Mr. EvAsa explained that after the failure of the Sella
Convention everybody was free as air, and under no con-
tract to exchange the bonds for obligations.
The emi of the proceedings was marked by great con-
fusion, but they concluded substantially by the appoint-
ment of a committee of Ave bondholders to act with the
directors

A vote of thanks to the shairman was given, and the
meeting, which lasted over three hours and a half,
separatooL

Berner MIA 81011•112 rtocirrY.—The annual
meeting of this society wig held last night in Exeter-hall
Mr. J. Candlish, M.P., presided. It appeared from Hie
report that the society began the year with a .104 of
2,408 f 4. 7d. The deficiency of tho present year amounted
to 2,688 44. 10d., making a debt of 5,015; 11.. 51. 'The
entire income of the society for the year was 30,10.'4 5.. Id.
The report further stated that no friend of the society
would object to the cost incurred in defending the lice. E.
l'abner, pastor of Hanover-Millet Church, Kingaton, from
the unfounded charge of sedition brought against him ;
nor to the eipenses of brethren in Jamaica in seeking to
rebut before the Royal Commission the calumnious
allegations in the despatches of ex-Governor Eyre. Greet
principles affecting the rights and liberties of all classes of
Her Majesty's subjects were involved ; principles which
had been so nobly vindicated by the Lord Chief Justice of
England. (Great cheering.) The report also stated that
Sir Morton Pete, who for twenty-five years bad discharged
the duties of treasurer, bad resigned his office. "That
office," he said, in a letter to the committee, " has a
pecuniary aspect, and I feel on that account, and that only,
it is undesirable that I should, while my firm's affairs are
unsettled, continue to hold it." In accepting his resigna-
tion, the committee adopted a resolution expreeive of
their regret at the hon. baronet's re.iguation, and their
gratitude for the eminent services he had so long rendered
the institution. Several speeches mete delivered in the
course of the evening. Mr. Dist, from Jamaica, amid
great cheering, pronounced a high tulogiutu upon tho
character of the late Mr. G. W. Gordon.

THE GREAT EASTERN ANL THE CLAIMS OF THE
Cagw.—Another meeting of the crew was held in Lira.
pool yesterday afternoon, at which an of inion of Mr. Ver-
non Luuhington's was read, to the effect that the seamen
have a right to sue the ship for the wages actually earned,
and for compensation for the alleged illeva discharge.
Some of the men asked whether this claim, to compensa-
tion would be invalidated by their engaging on hard other
ships before the 30th June : a point of great in)) rtance to
many, OD account of their having wives and families. Mr.
Aloard (who represented Mr. Carr, the rob. “.•or to the
crew, at the meeting) stated that he had cent reason to
expect a definite settlement within a week r tea days,
and suggested an adjournment for a , which was
agre. d to. The aggregate claims of the u• n are about
4,500 f.