The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-28 00:00:00

LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON
RAILWAY COMPANY.

'The 9th half-yearly meeting of this Company took
place yesterday at one o'clock, at the Station, at Nine
Elms. JOHN EASTHOPE, Esq., in the Chair.
The Report stated that the Railway had opened

to Winchfield and Hartly Row on the ?4th September
last, and that since that period the majority of the
coaches to the South and %Vest of England had
travelled on this Railway—that the road between
Winchfield and Basingstoke and that between Winches-
ter and Southampton were also in progress, and that the
Directors expected they would be opened by May next,
when there would only be 18 miles of road incomplete ;
that the conduct of Mr. Brassey, the contractor, had
given them the utmost satisfaction, and that they con-
fidently expected the whole line would be opened by the
Ist of May, 1840—that they had substituted rails of
the weight of 751bs. per yard, for 63Ibs. per yard, as
had been originally the case. The cost of land and
rails had been less than had been estimated, but the es-
timates of 75,0001. for carriages, engines, anti stations,
had been found insufficient. The Directors had con-
sidered it better to erect them in an efficient manner i❑

the first instance, than to have to alter ineqicient build-
ings, after the road should nave been opened, but they
had embarked in no unnecessary expense, and they
would be able to complete the road without calling for
an extension of their capital, or applying to Parlia-
ment for assistance. They would only ask
permission of the proprietors to borrow the remainder
of the sum which they were entitled to borrow under
the Act ; they would declare no dividend at present, but
they expected to be enabled to do so in August.
The shares in the Gosport and Portsmouth Extension
Line had all been taken by the shareholders in this
line. A Bill on this subject would be presented to
Parliament, and there was every probability of its re-
ceiving the Legislature's sanction. In answer to ques-
tions from various Proprietors, the Chairman stated
that where the roads crossed the line of railroad, gates
would be erected, and police stationed at them, for the
purpose of shutting them so as to prevent accidents by
persons crossing the road during the progress of the
trains. That it was not the intention of the Company to
erect bridges ovsr certain roads in the town of Southamp-
ton, which were crossed by the Railroad, on account of
the destruction of houses which it would occasion ; but
that, as the trains approached the town, they would
throw off the steam so as to decrease the speed ; and
that the Directors considered it to be the duty of every
Railroad Company to study the convenience and com-
fort of the public in every possible manner.
A PROPRIETOR asked whether any agreement was en-
terod into by the Company with the proprietors of om•
nibuses plying front the station to London.

The CiLkiamax said the, Company had nothing to
do with any of the omnibuses ; and he thought the
fewer subjects they interfered with off the Railroad the
better. They had made it a condition with the boats
that they should attend every train, and in consequence
charged them nothing for landing the passengers for
six months of the year.—(Hear, hear.) He then
stated, in answer to a Proprietor, that the receipts of
the Railroad bad been as follows. The months Were
calculated as consisting of four weeks each, and conse-
quently there were two entries for December—one up
to the 2cl of the month, and the other up to the 31st.—
The month of June £3,085
July
Auguit 4,218

September
October
November
To the 24 of December
31st of December 4,334
January
February
A PROPRIETOR congratulated the Company upon
:his statement, because it showed that the traffic during

the winter mo►,ths had not decreased.
The CHAIRMAN said that several miles additional of
Railroad had been opened, and although the traffic
upon the shorter distances had decreased, yet the gross
receipts has increased. The road was one which he be-
lieved was called by coach proprietors a summer road,
A PROPRIETOR suggested the starting of a lower
class train of carriages.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the Directors did not
conceive it to be to the iuterest of the Company to do
so. He announced the intention of the Company to
convey coals on the completion of the Railroad, and
begged it might be understood that Railways were as
available for the carriage of heavy goods as for pas
sengers.

The Resolution that the Report be received was
moved and carried unanimously.

On the next Resolution being put, authorising the
Directors to borrow the remainder of the 110,0001. at
5 per cent.

The CHAIRMAN stated that they had borrowed at
4 per cent. till the other Lines of Railroad began to
borrow at 5, and as soon as they had borrowed
sufficient to complete the line to Basingstoke,
he thoaght they should be able to borrow the
remainder at 44. The Directors bad not borrowed
any money until the whole of the capital had
been paid up. If they had pursued a, different course,
the shares might have borne a different price to what
they did at present ; but ho considered the straight-
forward course the best, With regard to the Gosport
liae, be believed that if they were enabled to make pro-
per preparations this summer it would be opened by
May, 1841. He would ask Mr. Brassey, who was
present, if he did not think this might be done?
Mr. BRASSEY—No doubt.
The CHAIRMAN—Then we shall take care to make
that one of the terms of the contract.

The resolution was then put and carried.
On the question of the re-election of the three Di-
rectors, Messrs. Easthope, Galbert, and Hibbert, who
were ballotted out that morning, agreeably to the Act,
a long conversation took place as to the necessity of
previous notice being given, and it was ultimately
agreed that the Directors should frame a bye-law upon
the subject, to be laid before the next half-yearly meet-
ing, making it incumbent that notice should be given to
the Proprietors of the going out of office of the Di-
rectors, and that any gentleman who intended to offer
himself as a candidate for the Directorship should give
sufficient notice thereof to the Secretary.
The Directors were then unanimously re-elected.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks for this sa-
tisfactory proof of continuance of the confidence re-
posed i❑ them, stated that the Directors and them-
selves were united in one common interest, and
that should there be any disagreement between
them and the body of the Proprietors at large,
t would produce necessarily inconvenience, perhaps
impair the well-being of the concern, and most
certainly render all connected with it uncomfortable.
He trusted they had done their duty to the satisfaction
of the Proprietors at large, and if any Proprietor
should fancy at any time that any of their acts were
adverse to the interests of the body at large—the Di-
rectors wished such Proprietors to express their opinions
openly.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting separated at half-past three.

A new writ has been ordered for Wigan, in the
room of Mr. Potter, who has accepted the Chiltern Hun-
dreds.

Lard Leveson, M.P., left Devonshire House last
evening, for the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Rich-
mond, in Sussex, to paviieipate in the gaieties and cele-
bration of the Earl of March's birth-day.

The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and
Mias Percy are expected at Northumberland Howe, on
the 10th of March, from Amick Castle, for the season.
Workmen are busity employed at the town mansion, and
also at Sionawse.

HARE HUNT EXTRAORDINARY.—KiIIarney,
an Friday, was the sceate of a singular occurrence. The
Grena hounds het been out hunting, and pressing with
their wonted, eagerness and speed on the object of pur-
suit, no tither place of refuge became left to the affrighted
aeimal but the street alone. Thither, followed by its foes
41 full cry, it turned, and not a little amazed were the
lieges to behold dogs, horses, red coats, and green, dashing
furiously by, the riders hallooiug onward and making the
adjoinittg dwellings re-echo to the noise and clamour of
titer career. An unsuspecting donkey, whose celerity of
movement did not suit the impatience of those whom he
retarded, formed a temporary barrier that was speedily
overleaped. Meautahile a pedestrian force had been added
to the moving group, and onward the whole rushed up the
11 street, thickening as it went, and gaining fresh admiration
from every dwelling which it passed. The market-house
had been already gained, but puss was now in the more
merciful possession of another body, who had extempo-
raneously taken up the cry, and captured after much diffi-
cnity and many an hair-breadth escape, the persecuted
creature, that only escaped one peril to become involved in
another almost as great. She was delivered up to the fore-
most horseman alive, and by him transferred to tho open
country again.
BRIGHTON, FEB. 18.—In consequence of the
redwings, field-fares, ',woodcocks, and other birds which
take refuge in our climate from the rigour of the northern
winter, having begun to leave our shores, to spend their
summer in Norway, Sweden Lapland, and other coml.
tries, from the mildness of the late winter, the electricity of
the atmosphere during the early part of last week, and
the early appearance of the primeral flora, many per..
sons infer that we shall have a forward spring. The
rookery in the palace-grove is now all in'motion, and the at.
tention of sauntering pedestrians under theCelonnade in the
New Road, is often pleasingly arrested by the operations
of the w inged architects, who are busily employed in
building and repairing nests; and highly amusing it is to
observe the tricks and artifices of this thievish tribe, some
to plunder and others to defend the materials of their new
habitations. By some persons these birds are accused of
doing much injury to the farmer, by plucking up the young
corn, but others think this mischief is fully repaid by their
diligence in picking up the grubs of various insects, which,
if suffered to grow to maturity, would occasion much
greater damage.—Sussex Advertiser.

FASHIONABLE PARTIES.—Lord Carrington
entertained the Countess of Blessington, Count D'Orsay,
and a select party at dinner last evening in Whitehall-
Place. The Earl of Harrow by had a select party to dinner
on Monday evening, at his residence in Grosvenor-square.