The Express.
London, England, 1850-10-29 00:00:00

GREAT INDIAN PENINSULA RAILWAY.

Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of this company
was held, at the Aka fa New Broad-street, City, and wee
numerously attended. Mr. HAIIZRTON took the chair.
T►e following report was read to the Sleeting:

"The directors hive little to report as to th; pre:wettings
of the company for the Interval between the last haltyear,y
meeting and the present. During this period the mon.
goons have prevailed, and the operations of the engineers in
the field leave unmanly been almost suspended. The
surveys of the first portion of the line bad, however, been
completed before the rains set in; and the period of the
monsoon has hem occupied with the completion of
the plans, motions, estimates, and specifications. It
' has been determined to limit the first contract to
the line between Bombay and Tannish. • distance
of 21 miles, with • branch 14 mile in length (of a single
Mae of rails), to the port of Idehim ; end, during the con-
genial* of the works on this portion of the railway, the
semlasers will be employed in a minute investigation of the
watt, beyond Taanah, with a view to obtain the best line
woes the °haute, connecting the mast line of country with
the interior. It is of the highest importance to the success
of this undertaking, that the most eligible opening through
the Western °haute should be secure—the opening which
will at once combine the gra dust facilities for constructing
and working the railway, with the acquisition of the largest
amount of traffic. This important point most he ascertained and
determined before the works beyond the Tarns& Estuary can,
with rudeness, be commenced. In the meantime, the question
el the geeeral routs of the line in connection with the resources
alba gantry is undergoing the consideration of the govern-
meet of Bombay, whoa, decision the board confidently
meet will be speedily prnounced. The directors are about
MIN the works of the line between Bombay and Tannah,
M elialble offers from responsible contracton can be obtained;
and these works will be pushed on with the utmostlvigour and
rapidity. The statement of accounts, up to the termination
of the half year ending 30th June, for both London and
Bombay, will be found appended to this report.. The parti.
Wars of this statement, as well as the books of accounts of
the company, have been t. 'emitted by the accountants of the
beetoureble East India Compthy, in addition to a minute
inweedgatien by the company's auditors."
The wenn% skewed the receipts up to the 30th of last
Almost to be 132,0681. 2s. 9d. and the expenditure
1159361. 196. 2d., leaving a balance in hand of 96,1311. 31.7 d.
Mr. ANDERTON bore testimony to the excellent manner
is which the accounts were kept, and stated that up to the
SOth June last the amount of the arrears of calls was only 2161.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
Mated the great eiffirulty which the company had hitherto
had to deal with was the entering into contracts for the con•
struction of the works. In the first place, the native con-
tractors, who were acquainted with the nature of the country
and the habits of the people, knew nothing about railways,
whilst the English contractors knew nothing about the nature
of the country sad the capabilities of the nativi s for work.
Speeifications were now prepared, and contracts were ad-
vertised both fa India and England, and would probably
be entered into by the latter end of next month. In the
meantime arrangements were entered into with the East
India Company, and the engineers were authorised to pro-
ceed with the heavy works ; the main works would also be
at once proceeded with. The chairman then concluded by
moving the edoption of the report just read to the meeting.
Mr. RICHMOND seconded the motion for the adoption
at the report, and sued that all the expenditure, up to the
present moment, had been recognised by the East India
Company. The hon. proprietor expressed his surprise that
some of the Bombay papers had held out statements that
the shares of the company were at 60 pgr cent. discount,
although guaranteed 6 per cent. by the East India Com-
pany. He believed those papers must be actuated by some
private views adverse to the company.
Mr. ANDERTON said that when money fetched 10 per
sent, in India. 6 per cent. shares must of coon. be at •
discount in that country. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. RICHMOND observed that the East India Com-
pony could easily, if they wished, raise money at 6 per cent.
in that country. He thought the PettlittiSS of this company
ought to be equally as valuable as Bast India Stock.
' Mr. FIELD inquired if the balance was all in the treasury?
The CHAIRMAN said that the greater part was in the
But India Company's treasury. (lieu.)
At er some observations from Mr. A. Moose, Mr. Aw•
DENTON, and others, as to giving the shareholders the pet'.
!doge of paying up in full,
The CHAIRMAN replied that the East India Company,
rather than suffer certain shareholders to pay up would
prefer that all the shares should be paid up by equal and
regular instalment,. (Hear, hear)
M-. FIELD asked if they now intended to go to Callion;
if they did not, would this 600,0001. be appropriated to the
present 21 miles?
The CHAIRMAN replied that the original estimate was
from Bombay to Callion, namely 600.0301., but recent in-
vestigations showed the probability of its being made for
From Bombay to Tanoatt was not quite two-thirds, or
more than half the distance, the (cost of which was taken at
200,0001. or 240,0001.
Mr. ANDERTON—There comes the 40,0001. ; you had
better my nothing on the subject. (Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN mid there would probably be an alter-
native 'suasion either to Callion or to the government of
the °haute.
A PROPRIETOR asked what were the arrears of calls in
Bomber ?
_______ . . .

Mr. NICHOLSON (a director) mold not say, but there
was a call now out in 13:mbay, and 15,6121. bac been received
in that quitter.
Camel DICKBNSON pointed out the advantages of a
good terminus.
The CHAIRMAN maid that had been a main pint of
dircusion with the board ; it ought to be as near the shore
a poesible, to get at all the heavy luggage.
The report was then adopted unanmouely.
A vote of thanks was pawed to the chairman and directors,
when the meeting adjourned.

RATING OF TIIE HUDDERSFIELD AND MANCTIESTER
RAILWAY, SADDLEWORTH —A.: the petty vernions held on
Wednesday last, at Upper Mill, Mr. Wean(' appeared on
behalf of the London and North Western Railway Company,
to resist a summons of 4601 , the amount of a poor rate for
the township of Quick, made in August hat. Mr. Berber,
of Halle:, appeared on behalf of the overseen. It appeared
on the cross examination of the overseer who was called to
support the rate, that the rate on all the property in the
township is made ou the following principle: The actual
rental or annual value of all the property is, in the first in-
stance, arbitrarily reduced one fifth, and this reduced am
is inserted in the column of the rata book headed " gross
estimated rental ;" and then to ascertain the rateable value,
this reduced amount is still further reduced five per cent., to
form the rateable value of lend, and 33 per cant. to strive at
I the ratable value of buildings. Mr. Wagstaff cited the
Parochial Assessment Ac,, and contended that, under the
provisions of this act, the rate was wholly bad, and could
not be enforced .as it appeared from the admission of the
parties that the rate was not made on the principle required
by that act; mordieg to which principle a valid and binding
rate only could be made ; and he showed to the bench that
the principle adopted by the parish reduced the rateable
value of budding. 46) per cent below the gross catmint
rental. Mr. Wagstaff complained of the mode in which the
railway company had been treated by the parish officers.
who, without any notice or vmmunication whatever, bad
raised the assessment to above four times the amount at
which it was fixed in February last, on appeal; sad now,
altbeueh the rate had not been made two month., and was
intended for the ureic* of the whole year, and although a
very trifling proportion of the rate had been collected from
the other ratepay en in the township, they had summoned the
railway company for a sum amounting to nearly one.eightle
of the total rate of the whole township ; and this, although
the parish officers were aware that the company disputed
the rate, and had entered an appeal against it at the last
quaver sessions, which appeal would be tried in January
neat. Me. Wagstaff, after animadverting on the unequal
pressure of local taxation on railway property, which bumps
no heathen on the pariah, urged the magistrate., even if
they decided against his argument as to the entire invalidity
of the rate, to make an order for payment only according to
the amount of the last effective rate, which amounted to
1031, and not for 4681.—the amount stated In the summons.
The magistrates, after consultation, made an order for pay-
ment of the whole 4681.—The magistrat.e present were
Mr. Lees, Mr Robinson, Mr. Whitehead, and another; and
it is believed that some of them are shareholders in the rail-
way, but that all are retepayen In the townelnp.—Man-
chaster Examiner.

APPLICATION OP RAILWAYS TO THE PURPOSES OF
FRIZZ FIGHTII.—On Tursday last a special train left
Loialtut-bridge, upon the South Eastern Rotlway, filled
with prisefighters, their abettors end associates, who ga.
'bend together for the purpose of enloying their pleasure.
They first selected a field near Edenbridge station, took pos.
',Won of it, Led oommeaced their brutal delight ; but were
speedily i,teriered with by the magistrates. They then »-
entered the carriages which were in waiting, and steamed
back to Rodhill, where they got out, rushed down the slopes,
I took possession ea meadow by force, and reclmmenced their
sport. As no msgistrate was near the place at which the
erowd assembled, the fight was continued till dark, amidst a
horrible tumult of yells end blasphemy, which caused much
honor and disgust in that traturil neighbourhood. The
gentlemen who hold property in the vicinity of the die-
grameel exhibition are, we understand, pur-xing measures to
prevent • repetition of inch a scene, and express their deter-
mination to indict the ringleaders; but they more severely
condemn the conduct of the railway authorities, wt.o lent
their train to such persons, and foe such purposes, thereby
enabling the crowd to evade the metropolitan police end
local magistrates, and commit offences simian law, and hu-
manity, and decency. It is reported that counsel are being
consulted on the subject of including in an indictment, for
thus abetting a pries fight, the railway directors, their ser-
vants, if not themselves, being well aware of the parpott of
the Journey.
DUTCH RIUrNIBII RAILWAY.—An address has been
promoted, by the Amsterdam Chamber of Trade, to the
Meg of Holland, praying that imvediare measures may be
taken for the junction of the Dutch Rhenish Railway to
the Rhea* chain of railway communication.

STETKE OE TOBACCO•PIPE MAKERS AT GLASGOW.
—The strangest strike that we have had for many years
(says the Glasgow Daily Mail) bra:existed for three weeks
or more in this city. Tile affair will immediately become
animas to the tobacconists. Between the dearth of the leaf
I. Virginia sad the stoppage in the supply of pipes in Glas-
gow, smoking must corns to a osoolusion. The parties at
pretest oat alo eras are tobsopo-pips taaken, who say that
they number 160 perorate, who, with their families, an de-
prived of bread by, in the first place, their own voluntary at
bat this at, they say, is caused by the determination of the
employers to take 20 per oast. from their wages, on the
ground that provisions are now cheapened by tree trade, and
wise therefore &mad be rodeo&