The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-26 00:00:00

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

This morning were issued the Board of Trade
returns for the month and eight months ended
August SI, 1880. We subjoin a statement of the
total declared value of the exports of British and
Irish produce and manufactures during the month
and eight months, including only the enumerated"
articles :
For the mouth. For eight months.
1868
1859
1800
Including the ' unenumeratod articles," the ag-
gregate exports stand thus :
For the month. For eight months.
1858
1859
1860

SMYRNA AND Awns RAILWAY.—The directoriOf
this company state in their report that at the last half-
yearly meeting of shareholders the board were empowered
to raise 2.50,000/. on debentures of five years' currency,
bearing 6 per cent interest, in lien of that proportion of
the unaubscribed share capital; but the issue of those
securities was delayed, pending an application to the
imperial government at Constantinople for a formal and
unqualified sanction to the measure. In the meantime
the contractor has proceeded with the work, taking the
temporary bonds of the company in discharge of his certifi-
cates, and, notwithstandiug the deferred payment in de-
bentures, has engaged to open the first section during
the month of November next. The Tireh traffic will be
intercepted at • point on the main line until a branch
railway shall be made, for the construetion of which
fresh capital will have to be raised, the company heels; no
power to construct a branch out of the capital subscnbed
fur the main line, to which elope the Turkish guarantee
is applicable. The contractor's proceeding with the
works, notwithstanding all the existing impediments, re-
flects credit upon him, and augurs well for • successful
termination. The difficult duties of Mr. Purser, the chief
engineer, have been discharged with great efficiency. Ap-
phiation having been urged upon the Turkish government
for an extension of time for completing the works, as pm-
Tided in clause 17 of the concession, the shareholders
will be gratified to learn that a telegram has been received
stating that a prolongation of not lean than three years has
been ggrarented, and the imperial sanction has likewise been
esoorded to the issue of the debentures. The confidence of
the board in the eventual success of the undertaking con-
tinues undiminished. The report of Mr. E. Clark, the con-
sulting ens
e neer, states that the works are !proceeding so
rapidly that in a few weeks about 27 miles of the lire will
be ready for upemn( A portion of the rolling stock has
been already shipped, and arrangements are being mode for
the appointment of • necessary staff for workiug the line.
Attention has been wholly directed to the first section of
the line, and no other has been made with the
second section beyond completion of careful surveys for
the purpose of determining the best route for avoiding the
prompt tunnel. The capital account showed that 437,8.121.
had been received and 413,4211., expended, leaving a
balsam of 24,4111.
BOOTCH RAILWAY AMALGAMATION.—The West of
FYI Railway Ocispany have just completed an arrange-
ment, about which there has brae of late wonders' le nego-
intim, whereby they acquire, at • cost we believe of
62,0001., the Charleston Railway, from the Right Hon. the
FAH of Eh.n. The Charleston Railway embraces the line
from Dunfermliae to f'hiudeetcre Harbour, and the horses,
waggons, mrriages, and entire plant have been relinquished
by Lord Elgin for the sum suited. There will, we under-
steed, be considerable alteration effected by the new pro-
prietors on the gradients of the Charleston lane, so as to
make the railway more available than hitherto for pa/mu-
ms as well as for mineral traffic. It is also contemplated to
have • wet dock at Charleston, so se to render this harbour
more wearable td vessels of great towage loading there.
Mr. Janus Robertson, the intelligent and naive manager
of the Fife sad Kinross and West of Fife lines of railway,
now becomes manager of the West of Fife and Charleston
lines, while Mr. Archibald.' Beveridge, waggon inspector,
who has been many yews a respected servant of the Edin-
bezel end Glasgow Railway Company, has been appointed
by Mr. Roberteon to take the entire charge of the West of
Fife traffic. The Wait of Fife Railway Company enter
upon pcniession of their newly-acquired eroyerty an the
Ist proximo, and we trust the change will be adventageone
in noire fully developing the niruend and proveriger train
of the turpoitant district trayenord by their unit il
lines.—
Allen Adeertlicr.