The Express.
London, England, 1861-06-21 00:00:00

NOMPOLK RAILWAY.-(THIS DAY.)

To-day a special meeting of this companAlu erns
held at the London Tavern, in pursuance of the
cliffe order, to consider the provisions of certain bills now
before parliament, which either directly or otherwise affect
the company's interests, and also to consider the agreement
of amalgamation with the Eastern Counties Company ; Mr.
ISIDDLR occupied the chair.
The CHAIRII AN, in opening the proceedings, observed it
would be the most convenient course to commence

with the consideration of the agreement between the mace
ciated companies, an the settlement of all the other quer-
tie.= binged upon that. The first article of the agreement
was the settlement of the Chancery suit by the eseepteace
of 2,000 t. for each of the past eight years by themselves sod
likewise by the Eastern Union Company. He was aware
that that was a Bum considerably below what be
had led them to expect, but then there was the
expense of the suit, its uncertainty, notwithstanding the
strength of their claim, and above all the damaging influ-
ence which it had upon the value of their stock, and he, as
their trustee felt that as • man of business he could not
refuse arriving at what, after all, was an equitable agree-
ment. Besides, the quarrel was • public scandal,
and so long as it continued, it left their district
open to invasion from outlying companies, which could not
be the case if the associated companies formed • compact
front. The agreement revived the functions of the joint
committee, and would lead to • complete alteration of the
policy hitherto pursued by the Eastern Counties, which was
to increase their dividend by cutting down the number
of trains and raising the rate of fares. The
directors of that company had taken the novel course of
inviting deputations from all their principal centres of traffic
to meet them, and enter with them into arrangements
mutually satisfactory fcr the accommodation of the trade,
and it was not • little gratifying to find that in all
parts of the distnct there was the greatest ea-
infection felt at the cessation of hostility between
the companies. He looked forward with confidence to the
growth of traffic on the 800, especially by the establishment
of packet stations at Harwich and Lowestoft, which were
the finest on the eastern coast, inasmuch as they were not
tidal harbours. This was not to be brought about in • day,
but the time was not far distant when he expected
to see the associated companies receiving 4 per cent. per
annum out of the profits of their undertaking. By the
agreement they were to surrender the fixed charge of 46 per
cent., and their stock was at some future date to be ainal-
pmated with the Eastern Counties Company. He would,
however, remark that the onus of the proof of the rate of
the working expenses would be upon the Eastern Counties
Company, when they came to have the compensation for
the surrender settled by the Board of Trade. Mr. Bidder
concluded by moving the approval of the agreement.
The motion having been seconded,
Mr. Pbownia congratulated the directors upon having
brought about the agreement, and severely criticised the
past policy of the Eastern Counties Company.
Mr. Mauna likewise approved of the agreement, and
quoted the MI004:411 of the Brighton and -Forth Fasten
Companies as an eritirence of the hopeful condition of the
company. He counselled an intimate relationship with the
Blackwall Railway Company.
Mr. ?d'Lanami asked if the agreement might not have
been concluded su far hack as 1854, the terms then offered
being almost identical with those of the present agreement.
if that had been done, a large waste of inouey spout in liti.
ption might have been saved to all parties.
Mr. HALL thought it would be better to keep to the origi.
sal agreement, and hold by the 46 per cent., which had
worked well for the Norfolk Company.
The CIULLIAIAN said they were not going to surrender the
46 per csat. without compensation, to be adjusted by the
Board of Trade. With respect to the remarks of Mr.
M'Leuren, it was vain to look hack to 1854, as
they could not recall the past. He always ap-
proved of the policy of • more intimate rela-
tionship with the Blackwell Company, as no one could
go to Shoreditch station, and not see that they required an
improved access to London. He also stated that the legal
stepwise. would amount to about 2,0001. of the 16,00 N, they
were to receive under the agreement. It would all be
brought into the revenue account and be dealt with as the
shareholders might determine.
The motion was then agreed to and the following bills
approved of by the meeting, namely :—" A bill to enable the
Pastern Counties Railway Company to make new lines of
railway, and for other purposes ; a bill for making • rail-
way from Bishop Stortford, through Dunniow, to Brain-
tree, with a breach therefrom, and for other purposes ; •
bill to enable the Ware, Hadhain, and Huntington' Rail-
way Company to make a deviatiou in the authorised line of
their railway, and for other purposes."
The proceedings theta terminated in the usual manner.

Wrue AND BEQUERTS. —The will of Lady De
Lacy Evans was administered to in the Loudon court oa
the 11th lag. by Lieutenant-General Sir Do Ley Evans,
U.C.L., m.r., her husband. There was no exe-
crator somiasted in the will, only by inference. The will
bean date September, 1860, and her ladyship died at her
resideass, Bryanatonequare, on the Bth of April hurt. The
pentad property was sworn under 6,830 i. Her ladyship's
maiden name was Joliette Arbuthnot, daughter of Colonel
Arbuthnot, and married, Ant, P. Hughes, Esq., and in
1834 married, esoondly. Colonel Ream, 'tow Li
ow
Sir lle ImetEvans. Lady Evans, posseesing pro-
piety is her own t, ha. by her will bequeathed the
whole thereof t 3 De Lacy for hie life, and upon
hie decease it will devolve upon her ladyship's son, Philip
Alexander Hilhee, Esq., who has been in the receipt of
aa annuity, which, however, owed on hor demise, he being
amply provided for, added to which he is ultimately to re-
ceive the reversionary interest above mentioned.—/ilm-
trilled London News.