The Express.
London, England, 1850-08-09 00:00:00

FirkleMN RAILWAY. Yesterday the half-yearly
mating of the proprietors of this company took pleas,
at No. 12, Now•strest Spring-gardens. The Berl of
Burlington is the chair. The report rated that the
directors regretted that the expenses daring the last half-
year bad wen very heavy, and that they could not there-
fore recommend an Increased dividend, which the sad.-
(odor, astosat of the trothe would have otherwise ambled
Ohm to have dose. The particular items of expenditure to
whisk they 'Boded, were shoes entered in the us
aeons' for the repairs of engines and steamboat.. Thi ex-
*maim of the railway from Crowd/ads to the Lindal-road
had best in progress duels" the put half-year; and there
was now no remenable doubt that they would be empleted
hr the period origiaally fixed, namely, the Ist of March,
1661. A farther sus of money had been expended by the
oometheimers daring the put half-year, in the improveinent
of Barrow Harbour. The works of the Whitebaven and
Yarnn. Beltway IMO already epproaehiog towards °people-
don, and it wee expected that the has would be opened before
the end of the present year. The capital moment showed that
the 'melon had amounted to 255,98.31, end the expenditure
to 260,1961. 7.. 2d., leaving a balance of 6,7681. 12s. 10d.
The report was adopted, and a dividend declared of 6 per
cent. on the preferential sharer, end 2 per tent. on the
original capitth

WINDING• UP OF JOINT STOCK COMPANIES.

.1.••••••• V Zig
iividendo7l Oe in thrpound was die‘7l:l7l7.".."—ayable te
these creditors whose elaiMa. to the extent of between
2,0001. and 3,0001., had tweet allowed by Mr. Goodohap, the
°Medal manager. The dividend accrues out f the amount
or two calls of 41. per slier' paid by the contributories, and
out ot the debts of the estate that have been collected. There
are other claims of meditate to be settled, which, with the
expense sonacquent on the proem of winding up, wbl, it is
expected, render another call of 41. per share necessary,
making a total of 121. per .hare payable by the shareholders
who embarked in the undertaking.
PARCEL POST COMPANY.—The Muter in Chan-
cery Senior has sprinted en official manager to investigate
cad wind up this undertaking, which was started for the
transmission sad delivery of parcels in and out of London, at
the officio formerly held by the Anti. Corn Law League, in
Fleet-street. The proposed capital as stated by the peti-
tioner, Mr. H. Hawker, of North Audley•street, iru
80,0001, in 6.000 share. of 61 each. A sum of Is. per shags
was paid on shires allotted into Rogers's, but sufficient was
not found to carry on the undertaking, which discontinued
business without meets, and debts of 4 0001. in respect of con-
trasts for carts, heroes, ann harness, and the other parapher-
nalia of parcel carrying.

END OF THE POWER•LOOM WEAVERS' STRIIEZ.
BARNSLEY. tRUOUST B.—Last evening a very numerous
public meeting was held in the Market.place, for the pur-
pose of deciding upon a proposal made by Messrs. Pigott and
Newton to the oosiwttee of weavers upon strike against
them. It was proposed that the settlement of the dispute be-
tween them should be left to the arbitration of three manu-
facturers and three weavers, whose decision should be bind-
ing; the Messrs. Pigott and Newton proposing M
Joseph Canter, E. Lee, sod Chas. Harvey ; the committee
to choose any three weavers they thought proper. The
arbitrators had two sittings this afters° which has re-
sulted in the adoption of the w eeeeee request.
RESTORATION OF THE HIGH-CROSS AT BRISTOL.
—Yesterday, the interesting ceremony of the laying of the
foundation-stone of the new civic high.cron tork piece at
Bristol. The original city cross was fir,t erected in 1373. by
the voluntary contributions of the citizens, as a memorial of
their gratitude to the reigning monarch, Edward 111 , icor a
charter and privileges granted to the city. This monument
was altered and enlarged at subsequ:nt periods, during
which alterations it was adorned with eigat statutes of She-
sovereigns. In the year 1763 it was removed from its
site in College-green to the grounds of Sir R. C. Hoare,
Bart., Stour Head, Wiltetire, and it was to replace this
structure that the proposed erection of the new cross had
been commenced. The Right Worshipful the Mayor, J. K.
Haberfield, Rig., officiated on the occasion. At noon the pro.
cession was formed at the Council-house, Corn.street ; it cm-
list, d of the mayor, the members of the town council. the ma-
gistrates, the charity trustees of the various natituticns
of the city, the members of the Society of Merchants, the
committee and subscribers to the high cross fund, &I. The
mayor had Invited the freenssons to attend the ceremony,
and accordingly a number of the members of the Provincial
Grand and other masonic lodges, attired in the insignia of
the order, were in attendance The mayor and members of
the town council were attended by the sword bearer and
customary officers. The precession arrived at the intended
site, in the centre of the Colter -green, when, after the usual
ceremonies, the foundation-stone was duly laid, amidst the
cheers and acclamations of all present. The cross, when
erected, will present a v.ry imposing appearance, standing
in the centre of the beautiful green, and adjacent to the Sue
old cathedral. In the evening tk.e freemasons dined toge-
ther, when the mayor, the offiren of the 72nd Highlanders,
and the principal gentlemen who had taken part in the
proceedings of the day, were invited guests. A gala also
took place at the Zoologicalgardens, to commemorate the
event.

- • ---
BURNING OF PARKITURST PRISON.—The fire that
threatened such a fearful loss of life at Parkhurst Proton,
and which destroyed a building called the dormitory, has
turned out, as was expected, to have been the work of some
of the irreclaimable young scoundrels who are kept there.
The di 'holies/ plot was a considerable time maturing, and
aa many as four or five are considered as principals, and
many implicated ; thirty were out into custody immediately
alter the fire, sad it is understood that the pris.n autho-
rities are in poeseseon of all the particular,.
DESTRUCTION OF MRS. GRAHAM'S BALLOON AT
EIMONTON.—Oa Wednesday evening, Mrs. G:thaut mad*
• night ascent from Crensome-gardens, under circumstance,
of great disadvantage, owing to the state of the atmosphere
and the heavy rain that had fallen during the afternoon ; and
after a somewhat hazardous trip, descended in a held near
the South-Eastern Railway, at Edmonton, but in so doing,
owing to Ike incautious conduct of some person who came
to her substance, the remainder of the gas contained in the
balloon was ignited, and the balloon totally destroyed. The
balloon, after its liberation, continued to ascend steadily for
about twenty minutes, when Mrs. Graham made prepara-
tions:for descending gredually,which sue continued to do until
the grapnel touched the ground, but, the wind increasing,
the balloon was carried over several fields, when the grapnel
fortunately took firm hold in a bank. Mrs. Graham con-
tinued for upwards of half an hour shouting as loud aa she
could for help, but to no purpose. With great presence of
mind, however, she kept the valve open to its fullest extent,
the balloon rolling about and the car at times completely
turning over, Mn,, Graham with great difficulty being
enabled to retain her hold. After the lapse of some time a
police constable came up and held the ear until further
assistance arrived, and whilst she was in the act of walking
round to see that the valve was properly open some parson
approached too near with a light, which ignited the escaping
gas, and in an instant the balloon was one mass of dame.
Mrs. Graham was much starched about the face. The
fatigue she had undergone mud the loos of her balloon so
affected Mrs. Graham that she bad to be assisted into Ed-
monton, where she received every attention, and soon after
recovering she took • post-ehatse and returned home.
NEW FACTORY ACT.— Yesterday, the new act to
amend the sets relating to labour in factories was printed.
It is now provided that no young poison or female shell be
employed before 6 o'clock in the morning. or after 6 o'clock
is the afternoon ; or on Saturdays after 2 o'clock. Meal-
times are to be taken between half-past 7in the morning
and 6in the evening. Young persons or females are not to
',e employed under the 7 & 8 Vio cap. 15, in recovering Wet
time after 7 in the evening, but during the time the
machinery is stopped by drought or flood of water on ordi-
nary occasions. Between the 30th September and the lit of
April, young persons and females may be employed from 7
in the morning to 7 in the evening. Children above 11 may
be employed as young persons." Such persons nor females
are to be employed during meal time.. The statute is in-
corporated with the other factory acts, and took effect from
Menday lest, when it received the Royal assent.
POSTPONEMENT OF OPENING RAILWAYS. —An
between 1848 and 1849 a marked difference has occurred
in the number of postponements of opening beyond
the time proposed by the different railway eompeniea. In
the year 1848 the opening was postponed in only eleven
iastaness, whereas in 1819 it was found neoeseary in forty-
two lastest:es, which, with other causes, have required that,
altogether, 166 inspections of railways should be made. The
difficulty of procuring funds, and the desire to iambus
receipts, slate show an increased mileage of railway open
for the purpose of public traffic, has evinced itself by many
lines having been reported to the commissioners by different
railway companies as ready ter opening, and for the eon-
voyages of public traffic, which, upon inspecaten by officers of
this department, have not been found in such • state that
they could matt that their opening would sot be attended
with danger to the public using the same.
STEAMBOAT DISASTERS ON THE AMERICAN Lal(3B.
—The siousalttes appointed by the &duns of Cleveland to
consider the comes of steam-boat disasters on the lake
have made their report, hem which we gather the following
feets:—Frem 1830 to 1850, there were 7 explosions on the
switlakwosee:gbiamelwomhsiactidh
804186ellliilivesIvIes;stawsredreti:lometst.;184edrenriotodugestr:Aedpeartbofstirib•-ro,od
of 10 year., there were 31 collisions by steamers, by which
82 persons were killed. The lose of life 011 the lakes dating
the last 10 you., hem explosion, fire, and eolliffons,
amounted he 371
_The committee were 11/11111lE10116 in their
adoption of a memorial to Comes* sullen: debate
in the peosent :system of lake steam na nee, and in re-
sogigissiliag the pssidng of a law en salMble
remedies.

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