The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-02 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE

BIRKENHEAD, LANCASHIRE, AND CHESHIRE
JUNCTION RAILWAY COMPANY.

The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of this
company was held at the company's new offices, Cathcart
street, Birkenhead, at half-past one o'clock, on Saturday.
Mr. William Titherington, chairman of the company,
presided, and there was a numerous attendance of
shareholders.
The Secretary read the advertisement calling the meet-
ing, and the seal of the company was attached to the
register of shareholders.
The statement of accounts, as circulated among the
subscribers, was taken as read.
Mr. Beloe rose and said, that he availed himself of
that, the earliest opportunity, of protesting against the
form in which the accounts were stated. He did so, not
only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of Mr. Tyrer,
and the more especially as the accounts had obliterated
from them since they passed through the auditors' bands,
the most important of them all—that was the suspense
account. When it was agreed to refer certain accounts
to the suspense account, it was distinctly stated, and he
held in his hand the resolution to that effect, that the
suspense account should be half-year by half year printed
and circulated among the subscribers. It was his wish
that that should be done, and the accounts were sent to
the printers in that form. Why that form was altered
he could not say, but as the statement was at present, he
could not be responsible for it at all.
The Chairman observed that aPer such a declaration
an explanation was required. (Hear, bear.) The sus-
pense account was omitted from the printed statement,
but why he could give them no particular reason. It
might have been as well printed as omitted, but there was
no particular reason for it. He had the suspense account
all ready in his hand, and if it were the wish of the share-
holders it would be printed and circulated with the
dividend warrants. (Hear, hear.) They had nothing to
hide, but on the contrary they courted inquiry into the
accounts. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Beloe : The accounts cannot be understood without
the suspense account.
The Chairman : It is added to the capital.
Mr. Beloe : Yes, I understand that, but no one without
information can understand it.

The Chairman : It is an omission, and I may say at
once an error in judgment, but I do not know at wt.ose
d oor it exactly lies. The Chairman having consulted
with the Secretary, said that the Secretary informed
him that it was on his suggestion, and the omission
therefore did not lie at the door of any member of
the Board. They bad no reason to keep it out of the
accounts, and he would promise them that in future the
accounts would be made up half year by half year, accord-
ing to promise. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. Bing thought that the accounts should be always
made up in the form directed by the auditors, who were
the officers appointed for the purpose.
In answer to Mr. Salisbury,
Mr. Beloe replied that without the suspense account
it was impossible to trace the connection between the
last year's capital account and the present year's account.
The Chairman observed that he might say they had
reduced the suspense account nearly to £2,000 in the half
year ; and they should have reduced it very much more,
but they had put a stop to the sale of land in Birkenhead,
in regard to the value of which they had the best opinion.
(Hear, hear )
It was then agreed that the suspense account should
be printed and circulated with the dividend warrants.
The following report was then laid before the meeting :