The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-31 00:00:00

NORTH/ STAFFORDSHIRE.

The half-yearly ni`teting of proprietors was held yes-
terday, at the Eueton-square terminus of the London
and North-Westerußailway—Mr. Ricardo, M.P., was
in Use chair.

The report of the directors, which we gave in our
columns a few days since, was taken as read.
The CHAIRMAN said he thought that considering the
cold weather, they would not be sorry to hear he had
very few observations to add to the report before them.
The fact was, that they were in a transition state, and
the directors really had nothing to report to them, ex-
cept that the dividend was regularly paid under the
agreement (alrealy laid before them) with the Lon-
don and North-Western Company, and that it was now
proposed to pay, for the past six months, a dividend at
the rate of 31 per cent, per annum. He had some diffi-
culty in making any observations on the amalgamation
bill which they had before Parliament, and which they
intepdo to prosecute this veer, because he was per-
fectly aware that anything which fell from him would be
taken advantage of by those who were still opposing the
company, although lie was happy to say that the principal
part of the opposition would not appear against them on
this occasion. The fact was that the North Staffordshire
line wet originally intended to be part and parcel of the
London and North London Railway, and was made under
the auspices of the Lon•ion and Birmingham Company ;
and he did not think they (the North Staffordshire pro-
prietors) would, on the present occasion hear anything
against the amalgamation, except from those canal in-
terests whose promoters thought the prosecution of the
measure too good an opportunity to lose for attempting
to benefit their shareholders. He believed that there
was only one opposition on tine last occasion which gave
him any concern, and that was the opposition of the
Chamber of Commerce of the Staffordshire Potteries.
He had represented that place for a considerable period,
and was very sorry to find himself in the least degree in
opposition to his constituents. He had, since the time
alluded to, had several interviews with them, and he
must say, that if they had not altogether changed their
views on the subject, they had greatly modified them,
and lie thought the majority of his constituents would,
at all events, believe that in prosecuting this amalgama-
tion he was acting for the.r interests, and that if he had
to choose between theta and the enrichment of the
North Staffordshire Company, he should not hesitate
a moment to leave the railway. Ho would not lend
himself to anything in opposition to the welfare of his
constituents, and it was because he believed it was
to the interest of the towns in his district to be
brought in connection with the great highway to Man-
chester, and to have additional accommodation afforded
to them and to the trade of North Staffordshire, that he
was anxious to effect the amalgamation, quite indepen-
dent of any pecuniary advantage which some people
might think the shareholders would obtain by it. He
was satisfied that the members et the Potteries Chamber
of Commerce were men whose high position and charac-
ter forbade the idea of their lending themselves as tools
to those who thought they would advance their own in-
terests at the exoense of the North Staffordshire Com-
pany. He made these observations because he thought
they would go forth to his constituents, and he had no-
thing further to add, except that he believed the direc-
tors would, at the next meeting, ask their permission for
the passing of the Amalgamation Bill, which would then
be placed beyond delver. He concluded by moving the
adoption of the report and accounts.
The motion was, after a shOrt conversational discus-
sion, carried unanimously.
The dividend at tie rate of 3i per cent, having been
declared, the meeting broke up after a cordial vote of
thanks to the chairman and directors for the able
manner in which ties had couducted the affairs of the
cOmpany..

RAILWAY AND OTHER BILLS ON STANDING

ORDERS.

Yesterday the extminers of the House of Commons
declared the standing orders complied with in the fol-
lowing cases :—MaLchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire
Railway (Lincoln blanch) ; London and North-Western
and Lancashire and Yorksh.re Railways (enlargement of
station) ; South Wales Railway Consolidation ; Corn-
wall Railway ; Dundee, Pesth, and Aberdeen Railway
Junctio❑ ; Cork and Yougial Railway ; Oxford, Wor-
cester, and WolverLampton Railway (completion of nar-
row gauge) ; Wicklow Mineral Railway (no appear-
anc2) ; Commercial Road Trust ; Rotherham Gas ;
Hyde Original Gasworks ; Over Darwen Gas ; Sheffield
United Gas ; Glossop Gas ; Newport (Monmouthshire)
Corporation ; Chesterfield Waterworks and Gas ; Phoe-
nix Gas Light and Coke Company ; Metropolitan Gas
Light and Coke Company London Gas Light Com-
pany ; and Surrey Consumes' Gas
-Company.

LONDON AND SOUTH-E&STMIN RAlLWAY.—Traffici re-
turn for the week ending Jan. 27,
1355 £11,732 11 (3
Corresponding week last year... 1:3,083 11 3

Decrease in 1 • 5 1'1,350 19 9
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SMITH COAST RAILWAY.—
Traffic return for the week ending Jan. 27,
1355 £8,351 6 6
Corresponding week last year... 9,147 7 8
Total of the half-year to this (into, 1855 37,200 4 3
Total of the half-year to this date, 1854 34,921 10 10

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WES7ERN RAILWAY.—Traffio re-
turn for the week ending Jan. 27, 1855 ,t5,036 0 1
Corresponding week last year

---
Increase in 1855

RAILWAY SEIARE .MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL, JAN. 30.

STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The market this morning has been
inactive, although it is first day for the new account.
Prices generally firm. Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Che-
shire, 11i ; ditto, Chester alai Birkenhead, 17{ ; ditto,
22/. shares, G d.; Caledonian, 31 ; Chester and Holy-
head, 13 ; Eastern Counties, 11 ; Midland, 7N ; Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire, 75 ; London and N.-Western, 1014 ;
Man., Sheffield, and Lincoln, 243 ; S.-Eastern, 17g.