The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-16 00:00:00

WEST SOMERSET.

The half yearly meeting of this company was held
at Taunton yesterday—Sir P. Acland in the chair.
The report stated that the traffic on the line was
steadily increasing. The receipts from Julie, 1864,
to January of this year amounted to £3,966, while
the amount received during the corresponding
period of 1863 was £3,467, showing a difference in
favour of the company of £498. The receipts from
Jan. 1 to March 5, 1864, amounted to £154, while
for the corresponding period this year they amounted
to £1,158, showing an increase of £303. A billpro-
moted by an independent company was now before
Parliament for powers for constructing a line from
the junction of the West Somerset at Watchet to
Minehead, calculated to materially increase the traf-
fic and improve the property. A payment of 2k per
cent. upon the preference shares of the company wa
recommended.

•
The report was unanimously adopted, the dividend
declared, and the retiring directors, Mr. Halliday,
Mr. Horniman, and Mr. Furness were re-elected.
Sir A. HooD, M.P., drew attention to the very
greatly increased traffic in the goods department,
which he thought exceedingly encouraging.
The thanks of the meeting were iaccorded to Sir

A. Hood for the interest he had taken in the an-
pany's affairs, and also to the chai, pan for presiding.

VALE OF NEATH.
The report of the directors states that the 6,Ceeun
ts
were made up for seven months ending Jan. 31, in-
stead of, as heretofore, for six months ending Dec'
31. The severity of the weather very materially
diminished the receipts derived from the coal traffic,
and considerably increased the working exPenses.
The charges against the locomotive department in▪ -
eluded £1,173 for hire of two engines. The lure'
tngines were returnedcin January, having
been re-
placed by two new ones. The narrow gauge havin• g
been in operation during the whole of the sever'
months, the full amount of the interest upon the ca
pital raised for laying down that gauge, as well 25
relaying the old line, had now to be borne by revenue
and was charged accordingly. The balance available
for dividend on the ordinary stock was £16,364
which would admit of a dividend at the rate
of 4 per cent. per annum, payable on the
27th instant, less income tax. Bills had bee°
introduced into Parliament for effecting tilt.°
amalgamation with the Great Western, and te eu-
tain powers for raising further money for the Pay"
went of the company's liabilities, and for other Or
poses. Mr. J. Williams, the company's manager,
reported that the Great Western Company
menced running their narrow-guage passenger tr 67,
via Middle Duffryn on the sth of October last, an
both that company and the London and North,
Western Company had now a regular service ler
the conveyance of goods traffic between Swau.sei‘
and the narrow gauge system,
satisfactorily, and had proved a great convenience'
to the traders of the district. which was working

CASTLE DOUGLAS AND DUMFRIES.
The half-yearly meeting was held on Tuescish
Mr. Maxwell in the chair.
The report stated that the traffic receipts for the
half-year amounted to £9,293, being an lucr:s6
over the corresponding half-year of £232. 'IL: ce
total revenue was £92490, and after paying £314,:‘,
to. the Glasgow and South-Western for working t"-
line, £1,296 as interest on debentures, and other
charges, there was a balance to revenue of £3,89!:
which would admit of a higher dividend than usll'o
—viz., at the rate of 5 per cent. on the prefereDfo
shares, and £3 15s. per cent. on the ordinary ih'e
stock. The directors had agreed to amalgamate
company with the Glasgow and South_Weste''
Company on terms which they regarded as fave,ifi
able to the interests of the shareholders, and the uluma
introduced into Parliament for that purpose Iv°
be laid before them at a future meeting. ort,
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the rep 4
congratulating the shareholders on their imPo'

position and the increase of traffic.
The report was adopted.

•
CENTRAL OF VENEZUELA (LIMITET:g
The first ordinary meeting of this company 0.
held yesterday, at the London Tavern ; Mr.
Seton in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the shareholaTi
that the Government of Venezuela had PreipPoor
paid the guaranteed interest of 9 per cent. The ej of
pany's staff, which left this country- on the 17.0-`OO
November last, had been well received by of
acting President of the Republic, the Bilinisters
State, and the merchants and public of Verteiti,eist
generally. The works were commenced on the 01
of December, and the first section of the line 11.1.120.
Puerto Cabello to Palito, was being rai)idll Ler
ceeded with. Shipments of plant, rails, and °-4.ors
materials had been forwarded, and the direc'or,
confidently expected the completion of that inl2l/0
taut section of the line at a very early period.
regretted the unforeseen suspension of PaYraen,t:crs
the contractor, but the reports of the engTa
showed that that circumstance would not entail
ultimate loss upon the company ; but the bold
thought it well to recommend out of capital
the
payment of the 2i per cent. interest lvhicli
.1-00
contractor had guaranteed during the construct'
of the line. Under these circumstances the 'Om
were being proceeded with by the company, and the
cost, it was believed, would certainly not exceed
amount contracted for. He also conoTatulatea
he
shareholders upon the offer by the Legislature of t:6
State of Carobobo of an additional guarantee °'•
ter cent. per annum upon the immediate consir.lo',
on of a branch from Palito to El Carnbur, e 5
in all 15 per cent. upon that length.
that the company had a prosperous future be Iva
Mr. KING, the deputy chairman, seconded IP
adoption of the report, and it was carried.
A dividend at the rate of 9 per cent. per aunt
with interest during the construction of the lin
larea
the rate of per cent. per annum, was de°
payable on April 13. for the
A shareholder opposed the proposition
'payment of 2fr per cent. out of capital. Bel °'
He belie...
The election of Messrs. King,
Kmtrea, app
Layton, and Bullen as directors of the e-
was confirmed, and Messrs. Black, tb,
k, Caint.etiv
srai
M‘Master, Seton, Spicer, and Sir W.
ling directors, were re-elected. CoePeit'
The retiring auditors, Messrs. Johnston°,
aafr'
Wintle, and Co., and Mr. R. S. Craig, were 11
„i

mously re-elected. note
On the motion of Mr. F. S. HEADONO dtb
thanks to the chairman and directors conclude
proceedings.

RAILWAY BILLS. afar
Yesterday, in Committees of the Ler'-'l.ll ftall
hearing Mr. Somerset, the bill for the Dineoces'
Skye Railway was passed, and that for tile Ija-nut
ton, Bodmin, and Wadebridge was thrown -.0 the
the commitee of which the Marquis a slig°,:pB
chairman. In the Commons, the bill for tw-aring
Valley Railway was rejected; and, after vii,estell
Mr. Phinn and Mr. Rodwell for the South "-ea th°
Railway, in opposition, the committee Pas: (rir
preamble of the London and South Weste„rn-
bright, Aldershot, and Farnham Junction), 7,1, att-
proceeded to consider the case of the ,are3-of 1%"14
Netley Railway. The case of the Furnes.9l(a'i 1cf,100'4,4
concluded, and that for Whitehaven and
opened and evidence taken. The bill for the 311",
West Junction Railway was thrown out/ tong 3 air
Cripps opened that for Bedford, Northaularpoel4
Weedon Railway. The Crofthead and giltaocl th!
Railway was opened in another committee/ .rza
bill.for the London, Tilbury, and Southencl,l. Q. .1
was thrown out. After hearing Mr. Redlie;taitte°
in opposition for the South-Eastern,, et), The
threw out the bill for the Hadlow
Lynn and Sutton-bridge and King's LiYl3ll
and Railway were considered and passe".
stated,
A BARONETCY FOR Mr. GUINNESS. ---1! noreits
upon authority, the correctness of which there ig. fet
no
Of
to doubt, that her Majesty, acting under the advito coe °t
Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, has resolved aviti
upon Benjamin Lee Guinness, Esq., the style aud
a baronetcy.—Dublin Express.
Births. o fl'""t.:
00WPER.—On the 11th inst., at Paris, the .fe
Colonel Cowper, Bombay Staff Corps, of a 6 the
Icl'
Du CANE.—On the 11th inst., at Putney-he of ':)c •
Richard Du Cane, Esq., of a daughter. wife
PEDLEY.—On the 12th inst., at Tenterden, the

Pedley, Esq., of a son.
sopsa. Marriages. Alllll
PEAtjearnr7aeces7ReSeagmyrresne:
r—kOn EEthe
nl,4b
aot hi s
tr
ir
iiyno st te .
r, , a
rot f ::°..1
:t 0
.tCi 0/ J• .ot er,l:
Smythies, Peachey, ” datiglit°'
Esq., Of 27, Kensington-park-P-nt 13rir 70
Ro73.rNorlotiz-RouiNsoN.—On the 15th inst., 'ilaptaiiiiiest
Yorkshire, Napier Douglas Robinson, sc'' ae re ge°
Royal Fusiliers, youngest son of the late Sir °.i,010 011,
Robinson, Bart., to Sophia Jano WeroYss, til 0° f .o'l'l3'
daughter of the Rev. W. S. Robinson, rector
aged—oN4n72.
the 40h
Ger or
Ancrisas.—On the 14thDinesat.t,hast. his residetSoll3°
R.N.,Paton, Devon, Georgo Atkinson, .5. ,
Bu.E
ARRHagaedrirsois6•
Wentworth Puller. Esq., M P of Dovira 152
13th. inst., at 109, JerrnYri-estfe- Cirv•-'"All11'
John
Jo
HARDING.—On the 13th inst., at Melina Pl3c°' St. 0
wood, 0.
II T. Harding, Esq., aged 80. 1,40. Pc
inst.,
pATRF.
prraTrrt—t,olOnaotfnethLtlehis.vetlelßlrstpehtnohgo\nalsatFiusedaailtt3iviro6Sr.usro.rbiiiitotun,lll '''
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London : Printed and Publiblied byVVILLA-11:1", , 10 , 0(
of No. 112, Strand, Painter, at Trio SUN 0 :'eouoti
Strand, in the Precinct of the SavoY, iIl tit
Middlesex.-Ihuroday, March 16, 184%.