The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-13 00:00:00

Reported Death of Lord Palmerston,

A rumour was generally prevalent this morning,
,o the effect that Lord Palmerston bad died during
,he n'ght. We have great pleasure in announcing
,he rumour to be without foundation.

The Leeds Banking Company.

THIS DAY.

This morning Vice Chancellor Kindersley met the repre-
sentatives of the creditors of this company, at his Chambers,
in Stone buildings.
' '

An application was made by Mr Glasse for the appoint-
ment of an official liquidator. The winding up was not
opposed, and Mr Turquand was appointed the official
liquidator, subject hereafter to an application to the Court
in term.

An order was made that the affairs of the bank should be
wound up on three petitions which were presented.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

SAMBRE AND MEUSE.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes-
:erday at tho office, Moorgate-street; Mr G. Sheward in
he chair.

Mr Snellgrove, the secretary, having read the notice
convening the meeting, the report, an abstract of which has
appeared in the Still, was taken as read.
The CMAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said ho had very little to say on the working of the railway
for the last six months, as no change in it had taken place.
They had now a fixed income from the leasing companies,and
neither an addition to the traffic nor a diminution of expenses
could alter their position until after the years 1564 and 1865,
when the terms of the agreement would entitle them to a
certain proportion cf the net profirs over and above the
£40,000 a year. Under the agreement their position could
never be worse than it was at present, but it might be
greatly improved. They could not be called upon for an
increase of capital except for the completion of two or three
stations as permanent structures, and a certain portion of
the cost of the Charleroi station, whenever the Government
might determine on reconstructing it as a permanent station.
This would not require much capital, and as the company
had a certain number of shares in hand they could dispose of
them and thus raise the requisite funds without calling upon
the shareholders for any further contribution. They would
not have to pay for renewal or repairs, and their capital ac-
count might be considered as closed. He had received several
letters from shareholders. Some complained that the weekly
traffic returns of the amalgamated companies for the corres-
ponding weeks of last year were not published so as to enable
them to form a comparison with the weekly returns of this
year. The reason they were not published was the difficulty
of giving them correctly; the Antwerp and Rotterdam
week for the corresponding period ended on Thursday the
Sambre and Meuse on Saturday, and the Est-Beige was
made up once a month. Ho did not think the publication
for the weeks of last year could do much good, as they would
necessarily to some extent be erroneous• An addition had
since been made to the Antwerp and Rotterdam system,
Other shareholders complained of the low price of the shares
as compared with those of the West Flanders, but he could
not explain it, as one was as good as the other. He had also
been asked as to the amount of increase in the dividend
they might expect after January, 1866. He did not like to
venture an opinion as to what the amount of the increase
would be, but he believed they would have an increase. As
to himself, he should feel disappointed if he did not receive
ultimately 5 per cent. instead of the MilliM2l44 of 2 per cent
now guaranteed to them by the amalgamated companies ;
but he could not then give them any figures in support of
his ultimate expectation of the 5 per cent. He supposed there
would be no objection to removing the office in Belgium
from Jardinet to Brussels, as the directors would not trench
upon the dividend, but would confine their office expenses
to the amount allowed for that purpose by the amalgamated
company. There was no difficulty with the Government in
respect of the amalgamation, but they had refused to release
the Sambre and Meuse Company from ar y of its engagements
with the Government. They would have to submit the ao-
counts as usual to the Government author ties as if they had
not been leased to the other company. They would also
have to meet the shareholders every half-year to declare a
dividend. Since the amalgamated company had taken pos-
session of their line the Government had endeavoured to
make a further reduction in the tariff. The directors would
endeavour to make the dividends payable in future on the
Ist of March and Ist of September in each year, but that
would depend on obtaining an earlier settlement of accounts
with the Government. _ _ _

Mr WILLIAmsoN seconded the motion for the adoption
of the report and statement of accounts.
Mr AUSTEN, a director, explained that the company
would receive every three months £lO,OOO from the amalga-
mated companies before they paid any interest or dividend
to their bond or share holders.

In reply tolquestions it was stated that the Government
was acting most unfairly towards the English railway com-
panies in Belgium; that there were at present 160 projects
tor new railways in Belgium, and it was fully expected that
at least halt the money would be got from England, The
State lines had been made with money borrowed at 3 per
cent., they had realised 6 per cent., and a large portion or
the money having been repaid, the Government had reduced
the tariff on all the lines considerably, and now wanted to
compel the companies to make further reductions for the
benefit of the country. There was now a through line from
Antwerp to Basle, but the Government would not lot the
company's waggons go through over the State line, and they
were now fighting to attain that objecl..
• Resolutions were passed adopting the report, approving
the dividend of 4s. per £2,0 share for the past half-year, re-
electing Mr Harrison and Mr Sheward, the retiring direc-
tors, and author ising the removal of the office from Jardinet
to Brussels. The proceedings concluded with a vote of
thanks to the chairman and directors.