The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

SALISBURY M EETING. -(TH IS DA Y. )

CRAVEN PLATE. Five furlongs.
Pantaloon, Historian, Signet, Needle Gun, Tumbler,
Freemason, Cromwell, Beeewing, Ornament, Lord Para-
mount, lihnichoir, and Golden Leaf are here.

SALISBURY STAKES. Four furlongs.
Cantine c, Glenarrn, Manton, Vedette f, Tycoon,
Englishman, Lady Elizabeth, Belfast, Wild Blood, Queen
of Scots, and Roll Call are hem.

WILTSHIRE STAKR4I. Two miles.
John Davis, Witham, Red Riband, Special, Vigorous,
Duet, Douro, Calcula, Whirligig, Mile Bateman, Orna-
ment, Harpenden, and Ailesbury are here.

OLD CASTLE STAKES. One mile.

Historian, Douro, Signet, Needle Gun Whirligig, Red
Riband, Mies Bateman, Coleus°, Distaff, Lord Paramount,
Ornament, and Golden Leaf are here.
AlatlVEl).—Jack oleantern, Pintail, and Nelly.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY.-(THIS
DAY.)

A special general meeting of the proprietors wax
held at 1 o'clock at the Paddington Station, Sir D. Doom'
in the chair, for the consideration, and, if thought fit, the
approval of several bills nuw before parliament. The
attendance was extremely small compared with the crowded
gatherings which took place a few weeks ago.

The notice paper commenced with two-bills promoted
by or in connexion with the Great Western Company, viz.,
"An Act for conferring further powers on the Great
Western Railway Company in relation to their own under-
taking and the undertakings of other companies, and for
other purposes ;" and " A Bill for traffic and other ar-
rangements between the Great Western, the Bristol and
Exeter, the South Devon, and the London and South
Western Railway Companies, and other railway companies,
and for other purposes, and of which the short title is,
'South West of England Railway Arrangements Act,1867.`"
The other bills promoted by other companies, and nine in
number,were connected with the Bristol and North Somer-
set Railway (sale or lease), the Bristol Port and Railway
Pier, the Great Western and Bristol and North Somerset
Railway, the East Gloucestershire Railway, the Great
Western and Bristol and North Somersetakire Railway
(new lines), the London and South Western Railway (ad-
ditional powers), and the Rhymney Railway.
The notice of the meeting having been read by the
Secretary (Mr. Saunders), before the chairman commenced,
Mr. OxxiHa.M said he was a shareholder of the Vale of
Meath Railway, and as he did not admit the right of the
directors to convert the Vale of Neath shares into 6 per
cent. preference stock, as proposed, he should take no part
in the proceedings.
The C/LILIRMAN said although the list of bills was for-
midable, it would not be difficult to show that the result
would be economical. As regarded the first bill, he
said there was an agreement entered with the
British and North Somerset Railway Company
with respect to a line from Bristol to Radstock.
No actual responsibility was incurred under that agree-
ment except the making of certain lines in the dis-
trict. That condition had been withdrawn by the
consent of the Bristol and North Somerset Com-
pany, and it was hoped that the lines would not
now have to be made. The construction of any
portion would depend on the assistance of the landowners
who were interested. That company could not have to
expend more than 10,0001. on the line to Radstock. There
was another proposed expenditure of only 9641. for widening
bridges. In another case, through an arrangement
with the Dowlais Company the Great Western liability
had been reduced from 100,0001. to 50,0001. After men-
tioning two or three very small additional items of pro-
outlay, he observed that the general result was a
diminution of liability under the bill to the extent of
23,4441. ; adding that the liability would be altogether
about 76,0001. instead of 100,0001.
The solicitor (Mr. YOUNG) being about to read the heads
of the bill, . . .

A 811AREHOLDIR protested against any new liability
being incurred when the preference stock was unsaleable.
(Cheers.) Unless railway proprietors combined to protect
themselves their property would be all ruined. (Hear,
hear.) He would suggest that all the bills before the
meeting should be referred to the Committee of Investi-
gation.
A SHAREHOLDIR, who said he was a member of the in-
vestigation coirmittee, remarked that they approved of
the course now proposed by the directors.
[The meeting was proceeding when our report left.]

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

THURSDAY, MAY a, • A.M.