The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-28 00:00:00

TILE CATASTROPHE AT ABBROELN.

(TEM OWN OWN 00112N8PONDNN7.)
ABEROELE, Fiuuty AMIN/MOM

The inquest was roamed this morning.

Mr. Uniacke Townsend, a passenger by the train, gave
a very clear amount of the catastrophe. Ile .aid that
when the surviving passengers left the scene after the col-
lision, they were not aware that anyone MRS killed. They
hoard of the stoker being mining—that was all. The im-
pression that prevailed was that the fire proceeded from
the goods in front, and it was impossible to see a yard
ahead.

Mr. Hone, a passenger, confirmed the ltatoment of Mr.
Townsend. Both say, with a view of disproving the evi-
dence of Mrs. Dickens, that it was impossible to approach
the burning carriages and speak to the occupants.
The court, at its rising, will adjourn till Tuesday.

LONDON, CHATHAM AND DOVBR RAILWAY.
(THIS DAY.)

The half-yearly meeting of the mortgagees wan
held at noon at the Vict,)ria Station, Pimlico, Mr. POW6LL
in the chair.

The report having been taken as road,
The Cif ADMAN commenced by referring to some of the
principal items. As regarded the expenditure, no doubt,
he raid, it was very heavy, but that admitted of expla-
nation. The. expenditure of the last half-year was
207,000/. against 200,0001., showing an apparent increase
of 7,000/.; but that arose from renewals which were ab-
solutely neoemary for the public safety. The out-
lay was, too, an economical one, inasmuch as on
the extensions steel rails were being substituted
for iron ones, and heavier rails were being laid
down on the main line. As to the past legal ex-
penses, they had been incurred most usefully. In the
case of the Kent Coast Railway the course pursued had
led to a saving of 26,0004 a year, and in the ease of Sir
Morton Peto's estate there was a saving of 600,0001., and
10,000/. had been already received in dividend. (Hear,
hear.) The expense of working the metropolitan ex-
tension was 89 per cent. That was a high rate ; but
there were a certain number of miles of railway that
must be maintained and renewed, and the stair and
other considerable expenses were sufficient for a much
larger traffic. If the traffic were 600/. a week instead of
3001., the general result would be a dividend. He
could not hold out a hope that the working expenses
would diminish very much in amount. There was a net
revenue of 82,0001., out of which many charges had to be
met before any payment could be made for deben-
ture interest. These charges, amounting to 34,0001.
odd, left a balance of 47,0001.; but even that balance was
subject to various demands. He then mentioned various
items of charge, including a payment of 7,0001.
to Mr. Churehward, for sealed obligations, the
violation of which would involve a seizure of
vessels. Payments of that kind must be met either as
they had been or by the issue of fresh stock. Personally
he would rather forego debenture interest than have
any increase of stock ; but, looking at all the cir-
cumstances, he thought the board was right in
contemplating the issue of the "A ' . stock.
He then stated that he wished it to be understood that he
did not give his own consent to the issuing of the stock in
question. Adverting to the late increase of fares, he re-
marked that he thought the writers in the pre
had not treated the question in a fair spirit, wring
as they had done, as though railways were the
property. of the public, and directors its servants. Nearly
all the increase of the Great Eastern Railway revenue
was owing to the raising of the rates for goods. Eighty
per cent of the passengers on the London, Chatham, and
Dover line were third-class passengers; and the directors
had arrived at the conclusion that the revenue would be
increased by raising the fares. As to residential traffic,
the construction of suburban railways had greatly hene-
fitted landowners and houseowners, while it had
done little to benefit railway companies. (Hear, hear.)
They were carriers, and the question was simply
one of supply and demand. (Hear, hear.) Any de-
crease of receipts which had yet been seen in their own
ease did not arise from increase of fares. (Hear,
hear.) Where the farm had been raised it had been
almost impossible to find any appreciable decrease in the
amount received.

Mr. Duos, a director, seconded the motion. In the
course of a long address he said he did not intend to sign
away his own priority for the purpose of raising capital,
andintimated that he would advise other mortgagees not
to sign away theirs.
Mr. RICHARD Honosos (a debenture director) contended
that the report was too favourable, and alluded to certain
items in support of this view.
One or two debenture holders protested against the
course which Mr. Hodgson was taking, but the Chairman
ruled that as a debenture holder he had a right to
pursue it.
Mr. HODGSON then continued his criticisms in the
mine strain as before. The deficiency for the year
1866-7 was, he maintained, 240,0001., and, adding
to that the low for the past year, there was a total
deficiency of 532,0001., while the proposed issue of 600,0001.
of A stock would involve a further charge of 30,00 W. a
year. He believed that the moment the prospectus for
this purpose was issued there would be • fresh flood of
litigation. He quoted from the "opinion" of counsel in
support of this statement.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that Mr. Hodgson had quoted
only such parts of the "opinion" as suited his purpose,
the general tendency of the " opinion," which was that
of Mr. 11. Lloyd, being in favour of the proposed issue of
dock.

Afr. SHUN moved as an amendment that the report be
referred back to the directors, particularly as regards the
City line.
After some discussion the report and accounts were
agreed to.

IMPROVED INDCS27tIAL DWELLLV(7B C'OM-
.PANY ILINITBD).-ITHIB DAr.)

The half-yearly meeting of the members of this
company was held this davit the Cumon-street Terminus
Hotel : Sir S. H. WATERIAJW presiding.
The report, of which we have already published an ab-
stract, having been taken as read,
The CHAIIIILAN proceeded to move its adoption, and
referring to the state of the various properties possessed
by the company mentioned that at that at Wapping the
competition of other tenements at a lower rent, want of
employment for the people, and emigration from the
district had somewhat reduced the amouht of theil
rental, but rather than that the dwellings should not
be fully occupied it was contemplated to reduce the rents.
The alteration in the system of levying local taxation,
consequent upon the passing of the Reform Act, had
largely increased the rates, which the company had de-
termined to continue to pay themselves for the protection
of tenants who rather than come in contact with the col-
lector would give up their houses for inferice acoommodation
elsewhere. He hoped parliament would either go back to
the old compounding system or revise the whole basis of
local taxation which pressed unfairly upon the working
classes. Negotiations were in progress for the purchase
from the Marquis of Westminster of a site in the upper
part of Upper Ebury-street for the purpose of providing
dwellings for servants in Belgravia, who were unable to
obtain decent places to live in near to their business. The
directors bad spoken to the loan commissioners with re-
ference to the heavy charge of the government solicitor
who examined the titles before loans were granted.
After a short discussion, the report was adopted, and
the usual dividend was declared at the rate of a per cent.
per annum.

TEE SINGULAR AND FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT
AT BLACIFRIARS-BRIDGE.

An inquiry
ittha was held last evening, at the Crown
Taves rn, h h-streetpman,, Shadwell,ear& touching the death of
Mr. Sara ag 29
Mr. Chas Chapman, ed
70, Bryoad-wall, Lambeth, said
that the deceased was his wife. He was captain of a
barge. On TuesAay, the 18th inst., he was taking hie wife
and five children down to Sheeniete in a sailing barge,
As they were going through Blackfriare-bridge his wife
sat on one of the hatches with the child, aged 14 mouths,
in her arms. There was a rope lying across the hatchway,
and part of that rope was merging over the side of the
barge, and there was a hook attached to the end of it.
The hook caught in one of the chains that was
fastened to the piles of the new bridge in
course of construction . As thep went on
the rope was tightened, and it swept the deceased off the
deck into the water. As she was falling over she threw
the baby out of har arms on to the dock, and by that
means saved the child's life. Witnesse jumped into a
small boat, but his wife was carried away.
8. Manna, boatman, said that he found the body of
the deceased floating down the river near the London
Docks.

'the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

INLAND REVENUE DEFALCATIONR.-A return
was published this morning showing the number and
amount of defalcations committed by officers of the inland
revenue department during the last twenty years. It is,
however, only a continuation or republication of returns
of the came kind previously issued with any additions that
may have occurred since the lust issue. During the pre-
sent year there have been only two defaulters, for com-
paratively trifling amounts, and in nach caw the amount
was recovered.

QtrEENSTOWN, Auor sT 28. —The NationalStestun-
ship Company's steamer Pennsylvania arrived here last
night from Liverpool. She embarked her passengers and
proceeded for New York. All well.

THE NORTON-FOLOATE MrHDER.—In reply to
an appeal from the friends of the condemned convict
Mackay, the Home Secretary has intimated that he sees
no reason for interfering with the due course of law.
Mackay will be the first convict executed within the walla
of Newgate.