The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-13 00:00:00

RAILWAY MEETINGS.

THE CALEDONIAN.

Yesterday an adjourned meeting of the proprietors
was held at Freemason's Hall, for the purpose of electing
direetors to fill up the vacancy caused by the resignation of
the existing board.
The chair wu taken at twelve o'clock by Mr. J. L. H.
iOIOIBTONIC, the chairman of the board.
The CHAIRMAN said there was one member of the ex-
isting board with regard to whose re-electien there was, he
believed, no difference of opinion—he referred to Mr.
Copilug—(cheep)—and, uniela another course were pre-
ferred by the meeting, he would eugge t that that gentle-
man's reeisinetion shout! be dispensed with. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. DEAN said be wished, on behalf of the central ecm-
mittee, to put a question to the directors which affected the
constitution of that meeting. Frem the report of the com-
mines of inv:stigation, it appeared that there were then
on the register shares representing 170,0001, upon which, in
the majority of cases, mot one shiliieg bad been paid for the
use of the company; thus skaree being registered in the
names of men of straw, who were made to stand in the same
position as the bona fide sha.eholden. He would I.kt to
know whether proxy papers in reference to that meeting had
been issued to the pulses in whose names those abates were
registered.

The CHAIRMAN said that as the shares still appeared in
the register' proxies hal been issued.
Mr. DE AN did not hesitate to ray publicl y that to create fic-
titious shares in that way, and to allow the parti s registered
to vote, was a scandalous fraud on the real shareholders.
(Cheers.) If the meeting went to a vote, and the 'novo' in
question were uszcl, the matter should not stop there. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. H. HINDE, the deputy-chairman, said the course
which Mr. Dean bad declared that be would take would be
the proper one. The parties who held the shares referred to
were shareholder independently of the sbaro.s iu question.
It would be for the ocrutineers to determine whether such
shares should he received.

Capt. PLUNK ETT then proposed, on behalf of the central
committee, the adoption of the following list of directors :
The Hon. Edward Plunkett, Captain. R.N. ; John Copling,
jun , Etq., Hackney; Jame, Baird, Esq , Garteherrie, Glu-
cose; Thomas Thoroborrow Fawcett, Efq., London;
Tetouan M'blickine. Esq., Ediabureh ; Douglas
Campbell, Esq., Edinburgh; Richard Pottrr, Esq.,
London ; Withsm Johnstone, Esq., Commercial Bank,
Glasgow ; John Duncan, Esq., Aberdeen. He commented
at some length on the claims of the candidates for the di-
rectorship. He objected is Mr. Locke on the ground that
he had hitherto been the professional adviser of the existing
directors', and was therefore responsible for their acts,
Mr. LOCKE, M.P., said he had been ttquested to offer
himself for election, and he had consented solely for
the purpose of securing harmony. (Hear, hear.) He
would be no party to dissension, and he was deter-
mined to withdraw his came if difeord was produced
by its retention. (Cheers.) With regard to the
contract for the construction of the line for 1,200,0004
he believed the directors were not blameable for entering
into it. The great compl-int with regard to railways,
namely, that the parliamentary estimates were always ex-
ceeded, was thus removed in their own case; and the line
had been constructed for 13,5004 per mile. As to the main-
tenance of the permanent way, ex:ierience had taught him
that the chief expense occurred in the first 7 years. and that
1701. per mile was not an etc- MiT4I price in the case of a new
railway. He had been of jeered to on the ground of his con-
nexion with a number of other lines. He would not
dispute the fact, and if it were considered a rea-
son why he should not sit on the Caledonian,
board, let him be rejected. (Cheerio.) He had seen enough
of the temper of the meeting to convince him that his views
with regard to the Caledonian Railway were not acceptable.
He still believed that the general policy pursued by the
directory, and forced upon them by parliament, was the
proper peliey ; but he would not retire if the directors
thought be could be of the least use.

After some e•mvenatiun
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to put the news of the
candidat. a seriatim.
Capt. P.unkett was first elected unanimously.
The retention of his seat at the board by Mr. Copliog was
saocti.ned by the meeting.
Mr.!. B.lrd was elected without oprsition.

On Mr. Fawcett being proposed, ••
Mr. COLQUHOUN proposed to substitute the name of
Mr. A. Campbell, of Inveragh, and the show of hands being
adverse, demanded a poll on behalf of that gentleman.
Copt. PLUNKETT asked the chairman how the proxies
sent to the board, after an agreement had been entered into
between the board and the central committee, would be
used in polling. It apptared to him that they ought not to
be used contrary to the intentions of the parties represented
by t..em
The CHAIRMAN said th• y had been placed at the dis-
cretion of the directors without the least restriction.

Capt. PLUNKETT would like to see the gentleman
who would get np iu that room and declare that he placel
the least degree of confi !elms in the directors dhcretoon.
(Laughter.) If there were any such person, he ought to he
sent to the Phrenological Society, in order that it might he
ascertained to what extent the organ of credulity bad been
develop. d. (Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN said that with regard to the last ob-
servation of Captain Plunkett, be thought the meeting
would scree with him that he would evince the beat t late by
not replying to it; but this he would say, that the directors
would have acted a most base and unworthy part had they
consented to place the management of that company under
the dictation of Captain Plunkett and other gentlemen with-
out consulting the shareholders. (Hear, hear.) He could
assure Captain Plunke:t that there were a great many per-
sona who were still willing to repose confidence In
(Hear, bear.)
On Mr. M•Mieking being proposed,
Mr. STIRLING prop:sed to substitute the name of Mr.
Locke. . . . . . .

The meeting having decided by a large majority in favour
of the first-mentioned candidate, Mr. Stirling demanded a
poll on behalf of Mr. L icke.
Mr. LOCKE said tha- after witnessing such a manifesta-
tion of the sense of the meeting, he felt bound, in accord-
ance with the pledge he had given, to withdraw his name.
(Cheers.)
Mr. CAMPBELL said that as he could not consent to net
without Mr Locke he should follow that gentlem,-a's
example. (Cheers.)
The only opposition car ditlates having thus withdrawn, the
remaining names on he lie; of the committee were approved.
The ClLAlallaN was then about to retire, when
Captain PLUNKE fT expressed his regret for haring
said what had wounoed his feelings. For the chairman's
private character he entertained the greatest respect. ( H
The CHAIRMAN said it gave him great plessure to hear
such an apology. Notwithstanding all that had otcurred, he
should ever feel a deep interest in the success of the Cale-
donian Railway; and he cordially hoped that the measures
about to be carried out by Captain Plunkett and his col-
leagues would prove advantageous to the company. (timers.)
The meeting then separated.

GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND.
The belt-3 eaey genreel meeting of this company
l` Flews,w „ E
ebietlyFtl itho.firm a pro
ot oifwma the
Was held in their cnd.•ts is Darlington. on Tuesday, the 12th
hoins.rt
d,
.aptrtaiwedlivneg. As
o'cE
the meeting
,
character, the attendance was not large. Thr a, ctetsry
haying ad the advents. mem convening the meetire, and
the seal of the company havin .t been allied to Ow v.dis-
tered list of proprietors,
Ttas CHAIRMAN said the next resolution he L...:
bring before them w..s, that a dividend be declare.: :t the
rate of ten per cent. prr annum upon the 1001. eh, t....
shares, 301. *gum mid 151. thares which, for the ha V( A: .
will be 51. per share on the 1001. shires, 11. 18s. pir sit Ire ~n
the 401 shores, 21. per share on inch 401. shares as hat
paid up in lull. 11. 10a t rr share on 301. shares, and 1. 4, ref
share on the 151. 'hires. Tne whole of the above div.d. tut to
be paid on and after the 19th List., subject to the (he! •
of the iseonse.taz.

The resolution, bring put to the meeting, was eat: • i
unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN thrn proposed that the Hon. Joan
Candor, who retirrd from the hoard of directors by ',lentil,
be lected ; and 'hat 'Thomas Fowler, Erq., t f L mien,
be elected a director in the place of H. dnialss, E.g . who
retired by rotivion.
The CHAIRMAN then read the account of expert... of
the company Cy tit. last half-year, frost which it ap.,t tr. d
that 'het W../ • balance due to the treasurer of /01. Sr.
He stated, however, that there were seven shafts hell in
Inlet for the romp ivy by *he directors which they heel poear
to dispose of, which would, he believed, pay all expensits in
winding up the slf,irs of the company.
A vote of siniafacidn as to the state of the accounts hay-
us beta passed, m -eine separated.

AUDIT OP RAILWAY ACCOONTO —The directors of the
London and North Wigan have called a special tncetiu y to
consider and decide on the steps to Se taker. nem es ry to
secure a more eibeient audit of railway accounts, ter the
appointment of a committee of the shareholders to oerry out
the necessary arrancti suefits for that object, and ter the
adoption of collateral proceedings.