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

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.

The half-yearly meeting of proprietors was held yes-
terday, at the Euston-square terminus of the London
and North-Western Railway—Mr. Ricardo, M.P., was
in the chair.
The report of the directors, which we gave in our
columns a few days since, was taken as read.
The CIAIRMAN said he thought that considering the
cold weather, they would not be sorry to hear he had
very few observatiens 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 (already 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 34 per cent. per annum. He bad some diffi-
culty in making any observations on the amalgamnatio❑
bill which they had before Parliament, and which they
intended to prosecute this year, 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 he was happy to say that the principal
part of the opposition would not appear against the on
this occasion. The fact was that the North Staffordshire
line was originally intended to be part and parcel of the
London and North London Railway, and was made under
the auspices of the London and Birmingham Company ;
and he did not think they (the North Staffordshire pro-
prietors) would, os 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 the last occasion which gave
him any concerti, and that was the opposition of the
Chamber of Commerce of the Staffordshire Potteries.
He bad represented that place for a considerable period,
and was very sorry to fiud 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 he thought the majority of his constituents would,
at all events, believe that in prosecuting this amalgama-
tion he was acting for their interests, and that if he had
to choose between then and the enrichment of the
North Staffordshire Company, he should not hesitate
a moment to leave the railway. He 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 cennection 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 tb,e shareholders would obtain by it. Hs'
was satisfied CeNt the members of the Potteries Chamber
of Commerce v t men whose high position and charac-
ter forbade the.nja of their lending themselves as tools
to those who thought they would advance their own in-
terests at the expense of the North Staffordshire Com-
pany. Ho made these observations because he thought
they would go forth to hi" -;snstituents, and he had no-
thing further to add, exo.l)t that he believed the direc-
tors would, at thenext meeting, ask their permission for
the passing of the Amalgamation Bill, which would then
be placed beyond danger. He concluded by moving the
adoption of the retort and accounts.
The motion was, after a short conversational discus.
sion, carried unanissously.

The dividend at the rate of 3i per cent. having bees
declared, the meeting broke up after a cordial vote of
thanks to the clairman and directors for the able
manner in which ;hey had conducted the affairs of the
company.