The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-13 00:00:00

j- PAPER
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RAILWAY INTELLI:eFZIWZI.AN, v-V74
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EDINBURGH AND GL,41.5.M.,,...4:-Mt;
The half-yearly meeting of this compati*a, '' ~ i-,-,,
Tuesday in Glasgow, Mr. P. Blackburn iii-tho,Cfia ..... ~..e 4
The report of the directors having been heliNts reit S
The CHAryakfqt moved that the report, together with tha
statement of accoUnts, be received and adopted. It must be
satisfactory to the shareholders to see that the goods traffic
had increased during thepast half-year,notwithstanding that
there had been, as they all lamei2ted, so much depression in
trade; and it was also satisfactory that the passengers had
increased as compared with preceding yeafs, with the ex-
ception of last year. The working expenses we,..e very satis-
factory. There was only one portion that he did not i.hink quite
satisfactory, and that was the increase in the mainteminee of
way, At present they were relaying at an expense whicb. was
running them into debt. The report recommended a divi .
dend of 41 per cent. They were certain, unless something
very wonderful occurred, that it was better to maintain the
dividend at 41 per cent, than to go up to 41, as he did not
think it was possible to keep that up during the current
half-year. it had arpeared advisable that the Helensburgh
Company, one-third of ;Which belonged to the Edinburgh
and Glasgow, which was wholly worked by this company,
and which ran into their station and over a couple of milex
of their line, and also the other lirelenslrirgh Company,
should be incorporated with this comvany. No one could
doubt that it would be better for all parties concerned that
they should belong to one company, and be worked by ono
hand. They had made an agreement with those parties
which was satisfactory to them, and he trusted would be
satisfactory to this company. The directors were distinctly
of ()pinion: it would be profitable to them in the long run,
although there was no doubt that for the first half year or
two there mfg ht be some loss. He then adverted to the bills
before Parliament :i.O which they were interested. The direc-
tors had extended the osreement with the Caledonian to a
period of 30 years. This agreement would not come into
effect till 1866 ; the existing pgreement with the Scottish
Central and the Caledonian woulri stand till that time. The
terms agreed upon were substantially the same as the pre-
sent, with some little modifications.
Mr. DricLor seconded the motion.
Mr. MEIKLIM thought they might congratulate them-
selves on having got the agreement with the Helensturgh
Iltailway.
mr, N'CiAvIN had a very strop g conviction that the fares
generally IT on the railways for passengers were too high,
but more especially high fares upon their line for first and
second class passengers were a great mistake.
Mr. WEIR said that the fares ought to be as low only as
was consistent.witn keeping, up the dividend.
After some observations by 11r.Tennant, Mr. Pato:Wad
Mr. Cadell,
The CHAIRMAN explained that the piesent fares were not
disadvantageous to the company, and were rather less than.
on other lines.
The report was unanimously adopted, the dividend was
declared, and the retiring directors and auditor wore re-
elected,end the proceedings terminated with a vote of tha.uks
to the chairman.

EASTERN COUNTIES.

There is no doubt that the bill for the amalgamation of
this company with the Eastern Union, Norfolk, East
Anglian, Newmarket, East Suffolk, and one or two other
local companies will now be carried through, the question
being reduced to one of details and the te,rms on which the
various stocks shall be fused. This is a maiter of no ordiiir
nary difficulty, as a great number of hitherto conflicting
interests and opinions have to be reconciled, and the Com-
mittee to whom the bill has been referred have adjourned
their proceedings for a fortnight, in order to allow the pro-
moters time to make certain amendments. Terms have,
however, been already adjusted with the Norfolk, East
Anglian, and East Suffolk, and Northern and Eastern
Companies; and an understanding will no doubt be arrived
at with the Eastern Union, Waveney Valley, and other
undertakings, which it is proposed to combine in the gene-
ral system. It was intended to establish lines of steamers
from the Suffolk coast to the Continent, but the committee
has negatived this part of the hill. The amalgamated un-
dertakings will be known under the general title of the
London and East Coast Railway., and will comprise up-
wards of 650 miles of line.