The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-01 00:00:00

EAST KENT.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes-
terday at the London Tavern ;.Lord Sondes in the chair.

The Secretary read the report, an abstract of which
appeared in the Sun.

-The CHAIRMAN' said that a great deal bad been done
since the directors bad last met the proprietors. The
company bad introduced two bills into Parliament, both
of which had been passed in a way which showed that the
East Kent Railway had the unanimous sanction of both
branches of the Legislature. A large proportion of the
second call remained doe on the 30th of June last, but
since that period the arrears had been paid upon 8,000
shares, and the directors were using their utmost exer-
tion to get the remaining calls paid. He concluded by
moving the adoption of the report.
Mr. J. SADLEIR, M.P. (Vice-Chairman), said he
thought the board were now justified in congratulating
the shareholders upon the success which had attended
their efforts in Parliament during the last session. The
South-Eastern Company had hold their meeting on the
previous day, and he found it stated in The San that a
topio of great interest bad been brought ender the
notice of the proprietors. The conduct of the Legisla-
ture had been complained of, but it seemed to him that
the many calamities which had descended upon rail-
way property, and which had proved a bar to its suc-
cess, were to be attributed far snore to the voluntary
policy adopted by shareholders and directors than
to any act on the part of the Legislature. As far
as the ;East Kent shareholders were concerned, they
had no ground to complain of the decisions of the Legis-
lature ; and he was glad that the South-Eastern proprie-
tors had evidenced a desire to co-operate with other
companies to protect the interests of those who bad em-
barked their property in railway undertakings. In the
late Parliamentary contests in which the East Kent
Company were engaged the board was supported, not
only by the great body of proprietors, but by the gentry
and traders of the district through which the line was to
pass. They bad also the support of both branches of the
Legislature, and yet, with all that amount of public
sympathy, they had to contend with the fierce, if not
the unmitigated hostility of the South-Eastern Company.
Nothing in the world could be more reasonable than
that the company should endeavour to get their 50,0001.
released, in order to apply it to the construction of the
bridge ; and yet the South-Eastern Company had op-
posed the project with all the influence they could bring
to bear against it. He now looked forward to the rapid
completion of the line, not only from Strood to Canter.
bury, but from Canterbury to the Admiralty pier at
Dover. (Hear, hear.)
After some discussion the report was received and
adopted,
Tee meeting was then made special for the creation of
the new capital, consisting of 20,000 preference shares
of 251. each, bearing 5 per cent. interest.
Resolutions having been carried to authorise the crea-
tion of preference stock to the above extent, a vote of
thanks"wari passed to the chairman, and the proceedings
terminated.

NORTH-WESTERN.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Thursday, at Morecambe—Mr. Henry Alcock in the
chair.
The CHAIRMAN moved that a dividend of is. 6d. per
share be paid, without any deduction for income-tax,
upon all shares on which the full amount of 20/, had been
paid up,
The motion NM seconded by Mr. KITSON, and
adopted.
A vote of, thanks to the chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

WIMBLEDON AND CROYDON.
The half-yearly-meeting of this company wac held yes-
terday at 31, Parliament-street, Mr. W. Reid in the
chair.

The report stated that the line of railway is ready for
traffic ; that notice to that effect has been given to the
Board of Trade ; and that, as soon as the necessary sanc-
tion is obtained, the railway will be opened. The direc-
tors have entered into an arrangement with Mr. George
Parker Bidder, by which that gentleman has taken a
lease of the line for 10 years, at a rental which is equal
to 41 per cent. on the capital of the company.
The CHAIRMAN then moved the adoption of the report.
Mr. ITor.N seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously carried.
The agreement mentioned in the report was then,
after some discuiision, agreed to.
A vote of thanks to the chairman wag, carried, and
the meeting separated.