The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-12 00:00:00

tykeEmillaril isni

PROPOSED UNDIROJIWUND RAILIIAT PROM
ERZ ERJtilli ARCM TO CIIBAPSIDIL
On Thursday linnaday main a meeting went bald at the •
!Anshan' Hotel, far the purpose of hearing
an explanation from MA w of the eshensi
by which it is prepbsed to constructl • vailisikunder
Oxford-street, Hem the Merida Arab to area Mr.
Peter Onderia, who presided, said that save years ago
be Ina very much opposed to seetropelitan railway
schemes; hut, atter giving every consideration to the
subject, he had arrived at the conelueion that a railway
with frequent stations esisessath Oxford-street would
be of immense tomtit to them, by bringing from wait and
east • large increase of customer% and relieving them of
the majority of the omnibuses which were so great •
nuirarme. They had met for the purpose of hearing
Mr. 11fmk/haw's explanation Gls whom wiled would be
ititiodneed into parliament, sad widely Mena be had yet
been able time, would serum great Mvaalless to them at
a minimum of iniimmenience. He war net sounded with
the scheme in any way, and would mot beams so. but he
hnd formed his opinion as an inhabitant of Oxford-street.
Mr. ilawkiliew raid the line would beemutructed from
the Marble Arch along Oxford-street and Holborn to the
Post-office, there being nine stations over that distance,
each Fere:abed from the next by about re third of a mile.
Incomormee would not be run on the lines, but the traffic
would be worked by fixed engines placed at intermediate
stations, and, as in addition to this way light passenger
earilagm would be used, the vibration would be in re-
duced as to be imperceptible. In making the line the
traffic of Oxford-street would not be interfered with.
The road would not be opened except at the
stations, and the work would be carried on by tunnelling.
At the 'Jadeite where the roadway would have to be
opened it would be opened only between the hours of
HI at night and 7 in the morning. It woufil be so arranged
that by 7 every morning the roadway should be made per-
fect and ready for tamale. His professional reputation
was at stake, and he would not tell there this work could
be carried out without any great inconvenience to these
if such were not the case. A number of questions were
asked relative to the practical working of the scheme,
which were answered by Mr. Hawkahaw or by Mr.
Toogood, the parliamentary agent of the bill. Hever&
gentlemen expressed themselves favourable to the
scheme, while others urged the promoters of the bill
to go 200 or 300 feet to the rear of Oxford-street, and
ran their line parallel to it. Some were afraid that
the line would carry the passengers who live westward,
sod who would ordinarily spend their money in Oxford-
street, into the City to make their purchases, whilst others
asserted that it was impemilite for Mr. liawkshaw to
carry out his promise of not interfering with the traffic of
Oxford-street. Mr. Micholay Owed a proposition before
the meeting to adjourn, and mil an aggregate meeting of
the inhabitants of Oxford-street to consider the scheme;
but an amendment, moved by Mr. Gott" "that the
meeting has no confidence in the scheme," was carried.
There seemed to be some misunderstanding as to the two
motions, and the chairman said the opinion of the rest of
the inhlibitatata of Oxford-street would be taken.

1.(,)ON CHAUTERND SANK OP ArSTRALIA.

Tit: half-yearly general nmetiug of sharelv)l.lors
was held yixt. Play attenioon, at the City TEtMiIAIIA Huta .
Cunm.u-Ftn et :, Mr. W. FAST. DE SALIM in the chair. _

After the notOe convening the meeting had hum riad
by Mr. W. M. Young. the secretary,
'lle CIIAIRMAff mid the net profits for the half-year
amount to 4.1.7h8/. Ifhr. 3d. luese profits we pmporo
appropriating as follow:—We pmpo-ca riving yon a
divide ad at the rate of per cent. ; ONUS. will ho
eartied to the reserve fund, and there wall bo
left a Wenn of 11,10461. 8.. Cd. to be carried for-
ward to ass xt huff-year's ac,ount.
)ir. J. F. V. Frrzowashn seconded the motion. and
Fluted that having just retrain d from Melltiorne lie weer
in a potation to corroborate the statements of the chair-
wan, and to hear tastimorty to the stubility of the bank,
and the respect in whieli it is held in Au,tralia.
In re ply to a shareholder.
The Crum:Kim said it was intended to issue the loan at
• new rate. Fortner Australian loans had been issued at
li per cent., but the colonists now thought their credit
sufficiently eiTabli‘hed to enable them to come to the
Tairlish market and raise money at 6Wales
cent. Only the
other day the colony of New South Wales raised a loaned
1,000,0601., undertaken by Rothrchild. It was a 6 par
tent. limn, and they mused it almost at par.
On the motion of Mr. Portz; seconded by Mr.
Tri Loon, a cordial vote of thank. was passel to the
chairman and directors, after which the prommditurs
terminated.