The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-24 00:00:00

GALES ON THE NORTHUMBERLAND COAST.

Though the gale from the S.W. abated upon the
coast of Northumberland during Thursday night,
the sea on Friday off that coast was stronger than
had been observed during many months past, end
it denoted that much more stormy weather had been
experienced in the North Sea than had reached the
coast. Notwithstanding the very heavy sea, so
greatly has the water been improved at the mouth
of the Tyne by the dredging operations of the River
Tyne Commissioners, that a considerable fleet of
laden vessels railed from the river on Friday morn-
ing. The latest intelligence from the stranded
Ontario leads to the impression that, with the pre.
sent weather, she will speedily break up. The crew
had left her in the ship's lifeboats. A strong desire
is felt for the official account of how the vessel was
run on Hasbro' sand at nearly midday, with the sea
comparatively calm. The vessel is stated to be worth
£200,000,

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

EAST INDIAN.

The report of the directors of this company states
that on the Bengal division the engineering staff
had been mainly occupied in the maintenance of
the line; the staff had been consfderabiy reduced,
and the chief engineer's attention was constantly
engaged in the endeavour to secure the highest
state of efficiency in the minimum of cost, in the
North-West Provinces the line between Mogulserai
and Nlirzapore, 391-, miles, was opened for public
traffic on the Ist of January; between Mirzepore
and the south bank of the Jumna at Allahabad.
571 miles, on the Ist of June; between Allyghur
and I3olundshuhur-road Station, 351 miles, on the
let of April; between the latter place and the
bank of Jumna at Delhi, 421 miles, on the Ist of
August—together 170 miles, Mr Sibley, the chief
engineer, entertained hopes of being able to open
the bridge over the Jumna at Allahabad about
March next, and stated that the entire works of con-
struction on this division of the line were being ra-
pidly brought to a conclusion. On the Jubbuipore
line the works were progressing to the satisfaction
of Mr Le Mesurier, the engineer. It had been found
desirable to substitute iron girders for the stone
arches originally designed for six of the bridges.
This alteration had been sanctioned by the Governs
ment, and the iron girders were in course of manu-
facture. A delay in the selection of the site for
Jubbulpore Station had caused considerable incon-
venience. The decision rested with the Govern-
ment, and the Board trusted that the settlement of
this important question might be no longer de-
ferred. The average length of line in work on the
Bengal division during the half-year ended the 30th
of June last was 674 miles, which included a
further portion of the line constructed by the engi-
neers of the NertheWestern Provinces division.
The average length in work during the half-year
ended the 31st of December, 1863, was 6081 miles.
The number of passengers carried during the half-
year ending the 30th of June last was 1,693,880, of
which 1,648,592 were third-class, 32,996 second-
class, and 12,292 first-class. The gross traffic re-
ceipts for the half-year ended the 30th of Juno last
had been £492,169, and the net receipts £247,671.
The net traffic receipts on the Bengal division from
the opening of the line to the 30th of June last had
been £1,461,762. The average length of line in
work on the North-Western Provinces division
during the half-year ended the 30th of June last
was 346 miles, and for the half-year ended the 31st
of December, 1863, 3281- miles, showing an increase
of 18i miles. The permanent way and works had
been maintained in efficient order at a cost of rather
less than 9d per train mile. The working expenses
had been 49 87 per cent. The number of passen-
gers carried during the past half-year was 370,212,
of whom 360,755 were third-class, 6,565 second-
class, and 2,892 first-class. The gross traffic re-
ceipts for the half-year had been £159,974, and the
net receipts £80,207. The net traffic receipts since
the opening of the line for public traffic in the
North-West Provinces division had been £428,507.
The general result of the ha'f-year's working on the
two divisions of the line, as compared with the pre-
ceding half -year, exhibited a decrease in tho work-
ing expenses, an increase of 470,317 in the number
of passengers carried, and of 69,188 tons of goods
and minerals, and of £148,671 in the net earnings.
The Board were not yet in possession of the views
of the Government in India in reference to the line
intended to connect the Kurhurballee coalfields
with the main line. The bill conferring powers
on the company to raise additional capital received
the Royal assent on the 30th of June last. The
Board were of opinion that the capital already
issued would meet all sanctioned requirements on
the line to Delhi for some time to come. The
estimates of the total cost of the Jubbulpore
line appeared to have been made with great accu-
racy. Allowing for the alterations in the bridges
and for the provision of an ample supply of rolling
stock, the cost should not exceed £3,250,000, or
about £14,500 per mile, which, as anticipated by the
Board, was considerably less than that of the main
lino. The sum of £2,000,000, originally subscribed
on account of those works was temporarily applied,
with the sanction of the shareholders and the Secree
tary of State to the main line ; and of the £2,000,000
raised subsequently to replace this amount, about
1:1,000,000 had been repaid to the Jubbulpore line,
the balance having been required for the works on
the main line, which, at the time, the estimate fur-
nished by the engineers led the Board to believe
were fully provided for. The Board proposed to
take authority from the special meeting to raise
£1,200,000, the balance of capital, which it might
be estimated would be required for the Jubbulpore
line, but they did not propose to create this athiie
tional capital during the present year. In future

the revenue statement of the whole of the opened
lines would be published in one account. The new
audit department continued to work satisfactorily,
and was now being extended over the whole line
with the most beneficial results. The revenue ac-
count for the half-year ending the 30th of June
showed that £492,169 had been received on the
Bengal division, and £244,498, or 49.68 per cent.,
expended, leaving a balance of £247,671. The re-
ceipts on the North-West Provinces division
amounted to £159,979, and the expenses to £79,772
or 49.87 per cent., leaving a balance of £80,207.
The aggregate receipts of the two divisions amounted
for the past half-year to £652,148, the expenses to
£324,270, and the balance to £327,878.