The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-20 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT EASTERN.
It appears from an official document that the
directors of this company " have determined to re-
commend a dividend at the rate of 21 per cent."

SOUTH-EASTERN.
The directors of this company have resolved to
recommend the proprietors at the ensuing half-
yearly meeting, on the 26th inst., to order payment
of a dividend of 18s. on each £3O stock, being at
the rate of £6 per cent. per annum.
The report of the directors states that the gross re-
ceipts for the half-year ending 31st of January last
amounted to £659,686, including £31,904 for steam-
boat traffic, as compared with £594,646 for the cor-
responding period of 1861-2, being an increase of
£65,040. The ordinary expenses during the half-
year amounted to £251,230 ; the rates, taxes, tolls,
and Government duty to £35,754; and the working
of the steampacket service to £16,855. After pro-
viding for rents, interest, annuities, preference di-
vidends, &c., there remained a net balance of
£224,148 available for dividend on the ordinary
stock of the company. A dividend at the rate of 6
per cent. per annum would absorb £223,011, and
leave £1,117, and this rate of dividend the direc-
tors recommend to be paid on the sth of March.
The gross receipts for the half-year ending 31st of
January last amounted to £594,646, the working
expenses to £285,883, and the net receipts to
£308,763, being £44,865 more than for the
corresponding period of the preceding year.
There had been-an increase of £37,839 in the gene-
ral passenger receipts for the half-year. Part of this
(£9,895) was attributable to the increase of conti-
nental traffic arising from the late International
Exhibition ; but the greater part (£27,944) had
been derived from the steady increase of the local
traffic. When the existence of competition between
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, during the
whole of this period was taken into account, the re-
sult, as repected the continental traffic, could not
but be regarded as satisfactory, while the increase
of local traffic showed that the general resources of
the undertaking continued to rest upon a solid
foundation. With a view to the avoidance of in-
lurious competition and the economising of work-
ing expenses in the conduct of the continental
traffic via Dover and Folkestone, an arrar ge-
ment had been concluded with the London, Cha-
tham, and Dover Company, the result of which
it was believed would be found beneficial to the
proprietors. There had been an increase of
£16,986 in the receipts for merchandise during the
half-year. The parcels' traffic showed an increase
of £4,063 during the last six months. The com-
pany's ships had been well maintained during the
half-year, and performed their voyages from port
to port with their accustomed regularity. The new
steamships, the Victoria and Albert Edward, had
proved of great service in the conduct of the in-
creased continental traffic of the last season ; the
average speed maintained in the voyages made by
them in all weathers having been 17.863, or nearly
18 statute miles an hour. The company's new pier
at Folkestone, now nearly finished, had proved
highly serviceablejn the landing and disembarking
of passengers at more convenient hours than for-
merly, and in enabling the steampacket service to
be conducted with greater economy and despatch.
The outlay on capital account during the half-year
had been £74,000, less £825 realised by the sale of
surplus lands.