Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-01 00:00:00

DEMERARA S.A.ILWAY COMPANY.

itc half-yearly m1,2=1 meeting of this company was.
• held 'yesterday an .tae West India Committee-r00m,,,
Brunswick-street; Kr. J. Orosthwaite in the chair ; and
there were also Tresent—Messrs. C. Holland, T. F.
Bennett, S:lMartin, and J. 0. Johnston.. •
The ,CHAIR3rAN—I believe that our proxies enable us,
with the nuniber of proprietors now present, to Consti-
tute a meeting in conformity with the rules of the
company.
Mr. G-ARNETT read the advertisement calling the
. , meeting.
The seal was then affixed to the list of shareholders,
which was on the table.
Mr. GARNETT then read the following
REPORT.
'lThe directors regretthat they are not'yet in a poSition to an-
nounce the removal of the obstacles which were so unexpect-'
edly raised •to the fulfilment of the arrangement entered into
by the Colonial Legislature of British Guiana with the corn-
par*, as long ago as December, 1857.
In accordance with the
,resolution pas4d. at the extraordi-
nary general meeting of the company, on the'23rd of July last,
a deputation of the directors and principal bondholders had an
interview with the Duke of Newcastle, at the Colonial-office
on the 9th of August, and on the following day, by Ws grace's
desire, submitted a statement of such modifications as were
deemed requisite to be introduced into ordinance No: 4 of
18S9, to render it. conSistent,with the terms of agreement pre-
viously concluded between the colony and the railway, com-
Pan3;'.
The representations of the directors caused the Duke of New-
castle, to with old the 'royal assent from the new ordinance,
and his Grace was pleased to intimate to the board that he had
referred the matter back to the colony, together with the
• modifications sought to be introduced-
. The Duke of Newcastle was further good enough to make a
suzgestion (of which the board have gladly availed themselves)
that, with the view of expediting a settlement of the question,
the directors and bondholders should seek the friendly offices
of a gentleman of high standing, and possessing an intimate
acquaintance with the views and requirements of the colony.
It would be premature to speculate on the. probable result
of this last appeal to the colonial legislature, whose decision
I must be knOwn here in a very few days.
110 directors have much pleasure •in reporting an improve-
ment in )he traffic since the chairman's visit to, the colony,
when third class carriages were added to the trains, which
- have conveyed 14,996 passengers, besides an increase of 6,006
in the second
The receipts for the half-year endiag 30th June last have
been £10,027 I Is. 4d., namely,' £5,921 17s. Id. for golds, and
£1,105 14s. 3d. for passengers, ttta.; being an increase of
£1,501 16.. 6d. as compared with the half-year ending 28th
August, 1858. .
In consequence of having been, prevented from raising the
money which it was agreed by the articles of guarantee should
be appropriated to the repair and improvement of the line,
rolling stOtk,"&c:, tht directors'still find it necessary to' apply
the whole nett earnings of the railway to maintain the concern
in working condition.
The new manager, Mr. W. J. Martin, arrived in the colony at
the end of August. He appears to be discharging his duties
satisfactorily. • •
The CHAIRMAN in moving the adoptionof the report,
• said he had very few remarks to make. - During the last
six months they had ordered a conserved supply of bridge
rails, and also an iron tunnel across the Lamaha canal.
The, wooden one had been done away with, and it was
thought better to substitute one,of iron, He believed that
for some time they would not be called upon to pay
any further expenses on that part of the line, where
there was a great deal of traffic with goods and pas- •
sengers.'. He concluded by moving that the report be_
printed and circulated. _
Mr. JOHNSTON moved a vote of thanks to the chair-
man for the trouble he had taken.
Mr. C. HOLLAND seconded the motion, and observed
that they were much indebted to their honorary secretary,
Mr. Garnett.
This concluded the business. •

The h: