The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-08 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

Yesterday a special general meeting of shareholders was
held at the Paddington Station, in pursuance of the 52d
clause of the Amalgamation Act of 1863, to elect 17 pro-
prietors, exclusive of Sir W. W. Wynn, who by a clause in
the original act is a permanent director, to represent the
board of the three companies (Great Western, South Wales,
and West Midland) ; the Hon. F. Ponsonby in the chair.
The following is a list of the names proposed by the di-
rectors :—The Hon. Spencer Walpole, Mr. Anthony K.
Baker, Captain Bulkeley, Mr. Edward Hamilton, Mr. Ed-
ward Lemming, Mr. Richard I\litcheil, Mr, Micklewaite,
Mr. J. W. Miles, Mr. David Ogilvy, the Hon. Frederick
Ponsonby, Mr, Richard Potter, Mr. Alex. Wood, Mr. Row..
land Venables, Mr. Edward Wanklyn, Mr. Chas. Whetham,
Mr. John Williams, and Mr. Thos. Williams.
The following list was circulated as the " Shareholders"
List :"

" Sir Watkin W Wynn, Bart , Wynnstay.
" Members of the Board—Edward Leeming, Esq., Richmond, Surrey; J. W. Miles, Esq,, Bristol; Thomas Wil-
liams, Esq., London; D. Ogilvie, Esq., Sydenharn ; John
Williams, Esq., Chester. _ _ .

" Nominated by the Shareholders' Committee—Edward
Wanklyn, Fulmer -place, Slough; Richard Mitchell, Esq.,
2, Ladbroke-square ; Charles Whetham, Esq., 53, Gordon-
square ; Edward Hamilton, Ehq., 32, Upper Brook-street ;
Richard Potter, Esq., Stonehouse,Gloucestershire; Charles
Alexander Wood, Esq., 25, Chesham-place.

" Proposed for Election under the Act—Benjamin Smith,
Esq., Bron Sieont, Carnarvon ; Richard W. Johnson, Esq.,
Bricklehampton, Worcestershire; Charles Jack, Esq.,
Beech-hill Park, Barnet; Colonel James R. Weston, 12,
Albany ; Richard Fort, Esq., Read Hall, Lancashire ;
Thomas Adams, Esq., 19, Bread-street, and Lewisham,
Kent ; or any other proprietor more eligible.
"Reconstruction, not Disorganisation."

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business, said that
Walpole, who should have presided at the meeting, was
summoned to Ireland to give evidence on a trial in that
country, and he was thereby prevented from being present
that day. As this was the last meeting to be held under a
board representing exclusively Great Western interests, he
felt it to be his duty to explain t 3 them that it was held ex-
clusively for the purpose stated in the notice. There were 17
vacancies to be filled up, and 22 candidates. The chairman
then explained how he would put the question to the meeting.
Mr. MALINS asked how the proxies on each side stood ?
The CHAIRMAN said he believed there were 29,000 votes,
representing £4,500,000, in favour of the reconstruction of
the board as proposed by the directors, and 10,000 votes,
representing £1,500,000, in favour of Mr. Adams, who re-
presented the committee of shareholders. (Cheers.) He
then proposed that Mr. Walpole be elected a member of the
board.

Mr. BROWN, a member of the committee of shareholders,
seconded the nomination, on the ground that there was now
no difference in the policy pursued by the board and that
proposed by the committee.
Mr. ADAMS urged the necessity of not re-electing the
Hon. Mr, Walpole, the Hon. Frederick Ponsonby, and the
majority of the other names proposed by the directors. The
manner in which the Metropolitan line had been worked
showed that the board was not deserving of the confidence
of the shareholders, The Metropolitan line, if worked at
50 per cent. of the working expenses, would entail a loss of
28,000 a year. He contended that by repudiating their
agreement the directors had cut themselves off from the
communication with the City, and had admitted the Great
Northern into a most useful and advantageous station.
The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting was not competent
to enter into the question of the arrangements with the
Metropolitan, and it would be very improper to do so; but
he would simply say that the meeting must not take Mr.
Adams's statement as correct. (Cheers.)
Mr. ADAMS concluded by proposing the election of Mr.
Benjamin Smith, Mr. Richard W. Johnson, Mr. Chas. Jack,
and Col. Jas. B. Western, as directors of the new board.

Captain BRIGGS seconded the resolution of Mr. Adams.
The nomination of Mr. Adams was also proposed and

seconded.

After considerable discussion, the names of the gentlemen
proposed as directors by the Great Western board were put
seriatim, and for each of them a unanimous majority by
show of hands was declared. At the announcement of the
result in each case Mr. Adams, amid most derisive cheers
and laughter, demanded a poll. Several shareholders ap-
pealed to this gentleman not to put the company to the an-
noyance and expense of a poll for a useless purpose, as the
directors held more than three to one of the proxies of the
shareholders. Mr. Adams, however, would not yield,
whereupon several shareholders present said they had come
to the meeting prepared to support Mr. Adams, but after
what they had heard and seen, they would certainly give
their support to the directors.
Mr. WILKINSON said—Then you prefer a discreditable
defeat to a graceful retreat. (A laugh.)
It was finally announced that the poll would be taken at
the close of the meeting. and would be continued on Satur-
day and Monday until 12 o'clock, and the meeting was ad-
journed to three o'clock on Monday for the purpose of re-
ceiving the report of the scrutineers.
A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the protracted
meeting to a close.