The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-07 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN

Mr. C. E. Stewart, the secretary of this com-
pany, has sent us the following statement :--4 With
a view of making the public aware, at the earliest
period practicable, of the dividend likely to be de-
clared by this company at the ensuing general
meeting, I am authorised to state that the accounts,
though not yet finally audited, or approved by the
board of directors, indicate a dividend, for the past
hall-year, at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum."

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE.
The report of the directors states that the depres-
sion in the iron trade alluded to in the last report
was greatly increased by the strike of the Fiddlers.
The entire suspension thereby occasioned of ore of
the staple trades of the district, combined with the
recent Parliamentary reduction of tolls on the
canal, had caused such a falling off in the revenue
that the directors were unable to recommend a divi-
dend at the rate of more than 31 per cent. per annum
for the half-year. The strike in North Stafford-
shire having now terminated, it was expected that
trade would resume its former activity. The goods
and cattle traffic for the half-year ending the 30th
of June amounted to £102,807, and the number of
tons canted to £734,361, against £103,743 for the
corresponding half of 1864, and 770,832 tons car- '
Tied, showing a decrease of £1,936 in the receipts,
and of 36,471 tons. The receipts for the convey-
ance of 947,867 passengers, &c., were £45,959,
against £45,323, for conveying 801,466 passengers
in the corresponding half of 1864, showing an in-
crease in the number of passengers of 146,212,
and in the receipts of £636. The tolls on the canal
amounted to £36,504 for 705,685 tons, against
£46,217 for 804,087 tons in the corresponding half
of 1864, showing a falling off of £9,713 in receipts
and of 98,402 tons. The increase in the number of
passengers was attributed to the running of short
trains at low fares between the towns in the Pot-
teries, consequent on the opening of the Hanley
and Biddulph lines for passenger traffic. The bill
for the loop line to connect the Pottery towns with'
the main line had passed last session with a few un-
important alterations. The works on the Chester-
ton branch were nearly completed. The Leek line
and the Burton branch were progressing satisfac-
torily, and it was expected they would be ready for
traffic towards the middle of next year. Prepara-
tions were in progress for the construction of the
Macclesfield, Bollington, and Marple Railway, to
which the company were subscribers of half the
capital. Of the £355,000 new preference 5 per
cent. stock the shareholders had accepted £213,457,
and a further sum of £79,000 was disposed of at a
premium, which would go in diminution of interest.
The account showed that £4,627,027 was expended
on the railway, and £1,170,000 on the canal, mak-
ing £5,797,027, leaving a balance of £269,086. The
total traffic receipts on the railway for the half-year
amounted to £162,301, the expenses to £75,095,
and the balance to £87,206. The canal revenue
amounted to £55,067, the expenses to £29,190, and
the balance to £25,876.