The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-20 00:00:00

SOUTH-EASTEEN RAILWAY:

In the report of the directors just Maned the
revenue account says that the grim receipts during the six
months ending January 31. 1868, have amounted to
667,1041. fie. (including 24,7721. 3e. 6d receipts from steam-
boat traffic), being a demean of 26,4381. 16e. 104. as com-
pared with the half-year ending the 31st of January, 1857.
The statement of expenditure on revenue account shows
that the ordinary working expenses during the half-year
amounted to 192,2961. 10e. 11d. ; the rata, taxes, tolls and
government duty to 36,5071. 19s. 2d. ; and the working of
the steam packet service to 14,7681.105. ld. After providing
for the fixed charges in respect of rents, interest, annuities,
preference dividends, &0., there remains a net balance of
175,3811. 6.. 9d. available for dividend on the ordinary
consolidated stock of the company. A dividend of 14s. per
301. stock, or at the rate of 41. 13e. 46. per cent. per annum,
will absorb a sum of 173,4631., leering a balance to be carried
forward of 1,9281. 6s. 9d. • and this rate of dividend the di-
rectors recommend to be Paid on Thursday, March 4, next.
The analysis of receipts and expenditure, in comparison with
the corresponding period last year, shows a decrease of
28,4381., which is thus constituted:-Passenger traffic, in-
cluding mails, parcels, &c., 1,8971. 18s. Bd.; merchandise
traffic, including minerals and cattle, 19,004/. 3s. 2d.; steam-
boats, 6,2291. Is. 3d. • rents, &c., 3071. l&s. 9d. In the
working expenditure there had been a decrease in the follow-
ing items :-On locomotive power, 7,2001, 7s. 2d. • carriage
and repairs, &c., 3,8811. 6e. 10d. • minus:woe and
renewal of way and works, 1,6061. 16s. 4d. ; steam-
boats, 3,4441. 17s. 9d. ; pa.en r, goods, and mineral
expenses. 10,0091. Ih. Id. ; government duty, 1401.
9e. 24. ; and an increses of general charges, 91.
16s. 4d.; compensation, 6,6841. 4s. Id. • rates, taxes,
and tolls, 1,6511. 7s, lid.; gross receipts, 557,104/. Se.
total working espuditure' 259,4961. 16s. 9d. Net re-
ceipts for the halt year, 297,8081 Bs. 3d. The company
have carried 167,307 more pasamgen the increase being
103,924 third, 33,522 second and and ,861 first class. The re-
ceipts from first class passengers have however fallen off
6831., and second clue 3,3701. An increase of 4,3071. in the
third clue brings up the net increase of passenger re-
ceipts to 2541. On this point the directors remark:
"The increase in the number of passengers conveyed, with
the comparatively small increase in the receipts, Is accounted
for by a considerable falling off (to the extent of 3,9431.) in
the long-journey continental traffic during the half-year.
This, is attributable in some measure to the depression caused
Luatblzrthme.,thlitleanctrafarecolatertaeommerc,sailfliccgyserv::::ti:tob:frth:tfitlinthammadtotuirecchtht
theso.c.fEt!lbtitp:llol77-
of the traffic at other points has been such as to
hilly maintain the total aggregate of. the passenger receipta."
The reesipts for merchandise and mural traffic show a total
decrease on the half-yew. of 17,9171.18 e. lid. The half-
mrs= ended, however, contained one week's receipts
the corresponding period of 1856-7, thus account-
ing for 4,1851. of the deficiency. There his also been a de-
crease of 8,6361. In the hop traffic, owing to the great .falling
off in the crop in the Kent district as compared with the very
large yields of the two preceding seasons. The expenditure
incurred In working the railway during the half-year (in-
all charges on traffic) exhibits a decrease of
'14974°61. 18e. 104. The total outlay on capital ac-
count has been 47,1621. 3s. 7d., lees the sum of 3,2731.
le. 7d. meshed lin surplus Lade sold during the half-year.
Only a small amount of the debenture stock of 4 per cent., into
which the directors are authorised to convert the company's
loan, has been Issued. The approaching meeting will be
made special, to osnalder an agreement for the lease of the
Mid-Kant line (Bromley to Bt. Mary's Cray,. The directors
havenot succeeded in putting an end to the Reading competi-
tion, the chairman of the Greet Western Company having
resided the terms to which those et the South-Western end
Boath-Eastern had assented.