The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-22 00:00:00

WEST ,FLANDERS.

The half-yearly general meeting of proprietors was
held on Saturday last, at the offices, 61, Moorgate-street,
Mr. W. P. Richards in the chair. The report, which
was taken as read, was as follows :—" The directors, in
placing before the proprietors the report of the proceed-
ings of the company since the last general meeting, con-
sider it expedient briefly to recapitulate so much of . the
preceding ones as may be necessary to convey an accurate
idea of the present position of the company. The new
convention with the Belgian Government permits the
company to diminish the length of the lines originally
contemplated, and has introduced certain other modifi-
cations in order to reduce the cost of construction of the
remainder ; It has also guaranteed to the company an
income of 16,0001. a year as the profit of the new lines
when completed, and proportional parts are to become
payable as sections are consecutively opened for traffic.
Power is also given to raise fresh capital by the creation
of new shares, the original powers being limited to rais-
ing money on debentures. The alterations in the original
statutes of the company, combined with the new convention
have limited the responsibility of the shareholders, so that
the original shares are now paid up in full, and liable to no
further calls. The directors have exercised the powers
thus granted to them by the Belgian Government, and
sanctioned by the special general meeting of the 2d of
March last, and have created above 14,000 preference
shares, bearing interest at the rate of 5/ per cent. per
annum. The new capital thus created will exceed the
sum required to complete the first two sections of the
new line, that is, from Courtrai to Werwicq, and from
thence to Poperinghe, according to the estimates fur-
nished by the engineer of the company. These esti-
mates have been fairly tested by the section between
Courtrai and Werwicq, and have proved most satisfac-
tory. This portion of the line is just completed, and
will be open for traffic in the course of December, when
the company will be entitled to claim from the Belgian
Government one fourth of, the whole guarantee of
16,000/. per annum, or so, much of it as the line itself
fails to produce: It is satisfactory to observe that this
portion of the line has been constructed at a cost consi-
derably within the engineer's estimate, and canot fail to
be a valuable feeder to the existing line. Comparing
the cost of construction with the guaranteed produce of
the line, there can be no doubt of the sufficiency
of the security on • the preference shares. Under these
circumstances, the directors have considered it expe-
dient not to attempt to raise any more capital at present,
on the conviction that when wanted it will be obtained on
terms more advantageous than heretofore. The works upon
the remainder of the line to Poperinghe will be put in hand
without loss of time, and be continued under the care-
ful and active superintendence of Mr. Chantrell—the di-
recteur-gerant. The convention with the Government
requires the arrangement of the account on the 31st De-
cember of each year. With a view to facilitate this
operation the directors propose to alter the period of
balancing their books, which will in future take place on
the 30th June and 31st December, and the half-yearly
meetings must be necessarily altered to meet this arrange-
ment. The directeur-gerant's report is affixed as usual,
and will furnish every detail of traffic. It will be found
that the increase of profit above the corresponding half-
year amounts to 6271. 19s. 7d., which will enable the
directors to declare a dividend of 2s. 6d. a share by tak-
ing 3461. 4s. sd. from the rest. A resolution for the
payment of 2s. 6d. per share will be brought forward at
the half-yearly general meeting to be held at Bruges on
the 26th inst. ; and provided a sufficient amount of stock
be then present, either personally or by proxy, to consti-
tute a meeting, the payments will be made at this office
on and after the Ist December in respect of all registered
shares, and on the presentation of shares To Bearer."'
The report was adppted, after which resolutions alter-
ing the time of balancing the books to the 30th of June
and 31st of Deceniber, and declaring a dividend of 2s. 6d.
per share, was then passed, and the meeting separated.

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY.—The directors of this
company, in a circular to the shareholders, state that,
for the protection of the interests of the company, they
have given notice of application to Parliament for cer-
tain bills. The first is to authorise the oompany to
effect the junction of the Reading, Guildford, and Rei-
gate branch with the Great Western Railway at Read-
ing. The second is for a bill to authorise the raising of
money to purchase the Canterbury and Whitstable Rail-
way, and to provide capital for the steam boats, in
accordance with the resolutions passed by the proprietors.
The next is to extend the North Kent line from Strood
to the existing line and station at Maidstone. The
directors also propose the extension of the North Kent
line from Lewisham to Croydon and Bromley, which
they expect to arrange on satisfactory terms, if not on
joint account, with the Brighton Company. They also
propose to extend the North Kent line by the Anger-
stein branch to Blackwall Point, immediately opposite
to the station on the other side of the River Thames,
where the ' northern lines of railway coverage at the
terminus of the East and West Indian Dock Junction
Railway, with which it is proposed to connect this
extension by a steam ferry ; and to ask for powers to
continue the Greenwich Railway through the north side
of Greenwich-park, which will give a direct communica-
tion between London-bridge and Blackwall Point, as
well as between Greenwich and Woolwich, which they
consider will be highly remunerative, as, at present, no
direct railway communication exists between Greenwich
and Woolwich. The directors state that the measure is
sure to be carried at no distant period, and that it will
prove as advantageous to the proprietors as desirable for
the public. In conclusion, they state that it will be their
duty to call a special meeting of the company on an
early day, to consider the course they recommend fur
adtption.
FRIGHTFUL DEATH ON THE GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY.—On Saturday, Mr. G. S. Brent, the Deputy
Coroner for Middlesex, held an inquest at the College
Arms, College-place, Camden-town, on the body of
James Carter, who was found dead on the above railway,
immediately behind the gas-works of the Imperial Com-
pany, on Tuesday last. Prom the evidence it appears
that deceased was 52 years of age, and that he had been
in the employ of the company for twelve months as a
pointsman. On the evening in question, shortly before
the arrival of a coal train, he was seen to cross over to
his proper position to shift the metals. One of the wit-
nesses offered him a lantern, but he refused to take it,
stating that he knew the position of every rail. In ten
minutes from this time the train, with eleven ton of coals
arrived, and in three minutes after the body was found
in a very mangled condition. The jury returned
a verdict of " Accidental death," and strongly recom-
mended to thebenevolent consideration of the company
the bereaved condition of the widow and children of the
unfortunate man.

THE LATE ACCIDENT AT RED-HILL.—Mrs. Mary
Cloves, of 18, Regency-square, Brighton, who met with
a compound fracture of the right leg at • the accident
which 'occurred on the Brighton Railway on the lst
inst., died on Saturday evening from the result of the
injuries which she then received. The fracture was re-
duced by Mr. B. Valiance, surgeon, who, in conjunction
with his partner, Mr. Seabrook, continued in attendance
on the unfortunate woman until death ensued. An in-
quest is to be held on the body this day, but some little
difficulty is expected on account of the driver and guard
of the engine, which by neglect of {rules caused the mis-
chief, having been adjudged by the Reigate 'magistrates
to suffer two months' hard labour in one of the Surrey
prisons. In the event of an inquest being held, it will
be necessary that they, as the persons likely to be in-
culpated in the verdict, should be in attendance, and
therefore a habeas corpus will be required to bring them
up from prison to the presence of the Coroner's jury.

THE BEST MEMORIAL FOR WELLINGTON.-A propo-
sal is now before the public for a memorial to Welling-
ton far more worthy than statues or paintings or any
other such complimentary devices. The intention is to
raise a subscription-which her Majesty the Queen has
commenced by giving a thousand pounds-to be used
for the establishment of " a school or college, to bear
he name of the Duke of Wellington, for the gratuitous,
or nearly gratuitous, education of orphan children of
indigent and meritorious officers of the army. Institu-
tions more or less national already exist in which the
advantages of such an education can be obtained by the
children of soldiers, of naval officers, and of the clergy ;
but no such provision has been made in favour of
officers of the army, a class of men peculiarly liable to
casualties, by which their families are often left in a
condition of the most painful pecuniary embarrassment,
and under circumstances in which the necessarily- strin-
gent regulations of the War-office preclude the possibility
of any relief from public funds." Surely such a memo-
rial is far better than any number of indifferent statues.
THE PACHA'S STEAM YACHT FAID GABOOD.-The trial
trip at the measured mile at Stokes Bay of this truly
beautiful yacht, built by Messrs. Mare, of Blackwall, for
his Highness Abbas Pacha, took place on Saturday
morning, on which occasion a large number of gentlemen
were present on the invitation of the Messrs. Zulueta,
who had provided an elegant dejeuner on board. A large
portion of the gentlemen who had received invitations
belonged to London, and arrived by special train, whO
were conveyed on board the yacht, which was lying in the
river, by a small steamer ; and as soon as they with the
other guests were on board, she started for the measured
mile at Stokes Bay, and having been put to the trial,
accomplished the distance, the tide being in her favour,
in 4 min. 13 sec., or 14+ knots ; and against the tide,
and a strong head wind, she did in 5 min. 7 sec., being
at the rate of 11. knots per hour. This was considered
highly satisfactory. 'The company then retired to the
principal saloon, where an elegant spread was laid out,
after partaking of which some capital speeches were
made, the company being presided over by Mr. Zulueta,
supported by the Mayor of Southampton. The yacht
returned to the docks in the evening, and will lay there
for about a week or ten days, when she will be conveyed
to Alexandria by Captain Calbeck, when she will be de-
livered over to the Egyptian Government.
DISTANCE. RUN BY THE GREAT BRITAIN BETWEEN LI-
VERPOOL AND ST. HELENA.-Left LiVerpool 21st Aug.,
1852. Distance run up to mid-day, 188 miles, 22d ; 222,
23d ; 234, 24th • 231, 25th ; 225, 26th ; 227, 27th ; 222,
28th ; 219, 29t1; • 223, 30th ; 232, 31st ; 216, Ist Sept. ;
209, 2d ; 212, 3d; 224, 4th ; 234, sth ; 219, 6th ; 190,
7th ; 'lB7, Bth ; 193, 9th ; 199, 10th ; 205, 11th ; 155,
12th ; 216, 13th ; 208, 14th ; 204, 15th ; 161, 16th ; 145
17th ; 18th, 119 miles, at 10 a.m. turned back for St.
Helena-at 12 noon distance run towards St Helena, 19
miles ; 242, 19th ; 233, 20th ; 210, 21st ; 244, 22d ; St.
Helena at 9.30, anchored at midnight.
ALARMING FIRE NEAR FINSBURY-SQUARE.-Yester-
day morning, shortly after two o'clock, a fire of a very
alarming character broke out in the extensive premises
of Mr. Carpenter (formerly Messrs. Clymer Dixon, and
Co.), manufacturer of the patent Columbian printing-
press, situate at No. 10, Finsbury-street, Finsbury-
square. The origin of the fire, it is supposed, was from
the heat of the furnace line. Fortunately Mr. Car-
penter was insured in the Monarch Fire-office.