The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-01 00:00:00

BRIDPORT RAILWAY COMPANY.

The half-yearly ordinary Meeting of the Shareholders
was held at the offices of the company, on Thursday
last, at 12 o'clock.
E. G. FLIGHT, Esq., the secretary, read the following
report of the Directors :

"Although but a short time has elapsed since the share-
holders were last convened, enough has been done, even in
that period, to enable the directors to congratulate theni
on the steady and satisfactory progress of the works mad
in this interval.

" The engineer has recently reported to the directors,
that operations have been commenced, and are in progress,
along the first five miles. Upwards of two miles of fenc-
ing have been erected, and a considerable quantity is on
the ground, and will be shortly put up. Three bridges in
the parish of Loden; are being constructed, and will non
be finished. Three large culverts and many minor drains
have been completed. The earthwork is being pushed on
at all the principal cuttings, and about 30,000 cubic yards
have been excavated. The engineer concludes his report
by stating that the progress of the work has been (in*
satisfactory, and that, as affairs aro now in good working
order, much may reasonably be expected to be done be-
fore the winter.

" The, financial position of the company is also encourag-
ing. The auditors have reported on the accuracy of the
following statement of account, made up to the 20th of
September, 1855 :
Receipts £16,282 18 10 Disbursements £9,511 510
Cash balance... 6,771 13 i 0

• £16,282 13 10 I • £16,26218 10
" The promptitude with which the calls have been re-
sponded to indicates, on the part of the shareholders, an
unabated confidence in the soundness of the undertaking.
Since the last meeting a considerable portion of the s'aares
remaining in the hands of the secretary has been applied
for ; and transfers have been, or are in the course of being
made, accordingly, to the applicants.
" The directors, by perseverance in a system of watch-
fulness and careful economy, trust the result will prove
that the sanguine expectations of the promoters will have
been fully realised."
In the course of explanation by the secretary of the
different items, Mr. Flight remarked that the "exca-
vating pits" was for the purpose of enabling the engi-
neers to give their evidence before the committee with
regard to the nature of the soil.
H. TEMPLER, Esq., made a few remarks on the satis-
factory character of the report, and asked a question
with regard to the completion of purchases of land, in
reply to which, .the chairman explained that wherever it
was possible they had paid for the land at once.
J. GIINDRY, Esq., then moved, "That the report
and financial statement be adopted by the meeting."
The resolution was seconded by Mr. S. STEPHENS,
and carried unanimously. •
Mr. POPE then suggested that an explanation should
be given of the number of miles of land paid for, on which
the chairman said that about 3i miles had been agreed
and settled, for—the expense being about 3,oool.—and
that, this being the most valuable portion of the land,
the original calculation of 9,0001. for the land for the
whole line will doubtless prove correct.

. In reply to a question by Mr. S. STEPHENS, it was
stated that, since the last meeting, about 7,000/.' of
shares had been taken up, leaving 4,0001. still unap-
propriated.
J. GcrNDRT, Esq., remarked that it was very desirable
that this small amount should be at once subscribed, and
as the directors had done all they could the public must
endeavour to take the remaining shares.
J. P. STEPHENS, Esq., said that the directors at the
last meeting had pledged themselves to take 25 per cent.
additional, trusting that the other shareholders would
respond to the call. The directors had performed their
part, but they, regretted that all the shareholders had
not done the same.
J. GruNDar Esq., inquired whether the expediency
of thros,Ving tyre remaining shares on the Stock Ex-
change was under the consideration of the directors, but
Mr. Gundry considered that it would be useless to do so.
H. TEMPLER, Esq., inquired whether negotiations
had been carried on with the South-Western directors
with regard to, the extension of their line to Bridport
inittad ;

The CLIAIS3IIII considered that it would not be pm-

dent to discuss the measure at that time, but stated that !
the directors would strictly guard the interests of the
company, and that they pledged themselves not to enter
into an engagement without the consent of the share-
holders at a special meeting.
Mr. TEMPLEIt acquiesced in the propriety of not dis-
cussing the matter.
T. A.. MITCHELL, Esq., M.P., proposed that the seal
of the company be affixed to the list of shareholders, and
observed that this was the first opportunity he had had
of congratulating the shareholders on the prospect they
now had of enjoying railway communication. He was
very glad that the town had raised the money indepen-
dent of the great lines. He had seen much of both
the Great Western and South-Western, but before any
arrangement was entered into with either he should like
to see it made as plain as possible, for one of them had
committed the grossest breach of faith to the house that
was ever perpetrated, even by a railway. He might
mention, that on the Stock Exchange he had heard
great surprise expressed that Bridport had been able
unaided to secure for itself a great boon. As soon as
the line was made they might dictate to either of the
companies. In conclusion, he would thank the directors
for the great care they were taking of his interests, in
common with those of the other shareholders.

Mr. WELSH, of Poole, seconded the proposition, stat-
ing that he had done so for the purpose of making a few
remarks. For 10 or 12 years he had been interested in
Dorset, particularly with regard to its railway commu-
nication. He considered that too much comparative
regard had been paid b means of transit east and west,
while north and south were not so much considered.
He therefore thought it a wise plan making the line to
Maiden Newton, and that the traffic with Somerset
would very rapidly be developed. He believed that
the opening of lines in this direction would revolutionise
the coal trade ; the supply of coals would come from
Dorset instead of other places. The more internal com-
munication the county had, the better it would be for
its interests. He believed that this line would prove a
profitable speculation.
Mr. J. P. STEPHENS remarked that in the Somerset
Central, the Bristol and Exeter Company were large
shareholders, and able to dictate to it, in which respect
the Bridport line had the advantage.
E. NICHOLETTS, Esq., moved, and Mr. T. BEACH se-
conded, that the report be printed.

Mr. W. SMITH moved a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man and directors, to whom they were deeply indebted.
The fact that two of their number weekly surveyed the
line showed the regard they had for the interests of the
company.
T. COLEOX, Esq., seconded the resolution.
J. GIINDRY, Esq., in returning thanks for the flat-
tering manner in which the resolution had been re-
ceived, said that he trusted that the report, when
printed, would induce others to come forward and be-
come shareholders.
S. WHETHAM, Esq., mentioned Bridgwater as an in-
stance of the advantage of a railway. Flax can now be
brought to town for the same sum which was formerly
paid for turnpikes.