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 June, 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 2f 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 accorded to Sir

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

VALE OF NEATH.
The report of the directors states that the accounts
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 expense'
The charges against the locomotive department in-
cluded £1,173 for hire of two engines. The hired
engines were returned in January, having been re-
placed by two new ones. The narrow gauge having
been in operation during the whole of the seven
months, the full amount of the interest upon the Ca'
pital raised for laying down that gauge, as Well
relaying the old line, hadnow to be borne by revenue
and was charged accordingly. The balance available
for dividend on the ordinary stock was £16,3649
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 hee,utue
introduced into Parliament for effecting
amalgamation with the Great Western,
and to ob-
tain powers for raising further money for the Par
ment of the company's liabilities, and for other pa'
poses. Mr. J. Williams, the company's manager,
reported that the Great Western Company an'
menced running their narrow-guage passenger train,:
via Middle Duffryn on the sth of October last, an
both that company and the London and Nor;
Western Company had now a regular service I°r
the conveyance of goods traffic between Swanseaand the narrow gauge system, which was working
satisfactorily, and had proved a great convellie°
to the traders of the district.

CASTLE DOUGLAS AND DUMFRIES.
The half-yearly meeting was held on Tuesday'
Mr. Maxwell in the chair.
The report stated that the traffic receipts for the
half-year amounted to £9,293, being an inere,its°
over the corresponding half-year of £232. 1-I:°s
total revenue was £9,490, and after paying 13,4'„
to the Glasgow and South-Western for working t'
line, £1,296 as interest on debentures, and all
charges, there was a balance to revenue of 131891
usual
—viz., would admit of a higher dividend than 'l._
at the rate of 5 per cent. on the preferenfou
shares, and £3 15s. per cent. on the ordinal"' the
stock. The directors had agreed to amalgamate
company with the Glasgow and South-Wester°
Company on terms which they regarded as
able to the interests of the shareholders, and the "o
introduced into Parliament for that purpose W°
be laid before them at a future meeting.
nortfe,
The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the rer-:,,
congratulating the shareholders on their iatro"
position and the increase of traffic.
The report was adopted.

CENTRAL OF- VENEZUELA (LIMITED )a.
The first ordinary meeting of this company
held yesterday, at the London Tavern ;
Seton in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN congratulated the shareMicietil
that the Government of Venezuela had Pr°11113„01
paid the guaranteed interest of 9 per cent. Thei,c- 0;
pang's staff, which left this country on the 17ujel,
November last, had been well received by
acting President of the Republic, the MinisterB,,ei
-1- State, and the merchants and public of yen Ist
generally. The works were commenced on the 131
of December, and the first section of the line fro
0,
Puerto Cabello to Palito, was being rapici)Y P,,rer
ceeded with. Shipments of plant, rails, and et'ro
materials had been forwarded, and the dirtr,
confidently expected the completion of that iwrile
tant section of the line at a very early peri°d'
regretted the unforeseen suspension of parnell7,oo
13-
the contractor, but the reports of the engine
showed that that circumstance would not entail 3801
ultimate loss upon the company ; but the .000
thought it well to recommend out of capital ton
payment of the 21 per cent. interest which 4
contractor had guaranteed during the construct)
kg
of the line. Under these circumstances the 04.bre
were being proceeded with by the company, ;he
cost, it was believed, would certainly not exceed
the
amount contracted for. He also congratulated, 0
shareholders upon the offer by the Legislature 01,1-6
State of Carobobo of an additional guarantee °I
c,
per cent. per annum upon the immediate conetrti..„o.
tion of a branch from Palito to El Cambur, makil
in all 15 per cent. upon that length. He belie 7
that the company had a prosperous future before
Mr. KING, the deputy
chairman seconded the
adoption of the report, and it was carried.
A dividend at the rate of 9 per cent• per annum,a
•
with interest during the construction o
f the line
declare
the rate of 23- per cent. per annum, was
_
,

payable
A shareholder opposed the proposition for
payment of 21 per cent. out of capital.
The election of Messrs. King,
Layton, and Bullen as directors of the CO ell
was confirmed, and Messrs. Black, CalaPetir.
M'Master, Seton, Spicer, and Sir W. Smith, r-
ing directors, were re-elected. Peri
The retiring auditors, Messrs. Johnstone/ C..„°°oiii-
Wintle, and Co., and Mr. R. S. Craig, were I.'
mously re-elected. to of
Kintrea, -13anr;
On the motion of Mr. F. S. HEMMING 3 I:9A the
thanks to the chairman and directors concitta"
proceedings.

RAILWAY BILLS. aft
Yesterday, in Committees of the Lox—'ii
hearing Mr. Somerset, the bill for the Dial: uacav
Skye Railway was passed, and that for the J-) out la
ton, Bodmin, and Wadebridge was thrown is 00
the commitee of which the Marquis of Sligo
chairman. In the Commons, the bill for 7earin%
Valley Railway was rejected; and, after ;stern
Mr. Phinn and Mr. Rodwell for the South x"ed the
Railway, in opposition, the committee Pass (rir
preamble of the London and South Weltered tben
bright, Aldershot, and Farnham Junction)/
an and
proceeded to consider the case of the dap
Netley Netley Railway. The case of the Furness itaP itoe°o
concluded, and that for Whitehaven and uotasell
opened and evidence taken. The bill for the- nna JO;
West Junction Railway was thrown. oat, '0 on:
Cripps opened that for Bedford, NortharaPt°4ol orfr
Weedon Railway. The Crofthead and 0310 a the,
Railway was opened in another committee, Thdlifo
bill for the London, Tilbury, and Southend .c
P-a.,
was thrown out. After hearing Mr. RodWeii;filittie!
in opposition for the South-Eastern, the CO 111"
threw out the bill for the Hadlow Railrai.vocfr"
Lynn and Sutton-bridge and King's 111111
and Railway were considered and passe'
;4 00
A BARONETCY FOR Mr. GLTINNESS.---jt.
upon authority, the correctness of which there 16,7 x, of
_a`
to doubt, that her Majesty, acting under the ad to e° of
Excellency the Lord Lieutenant, has resolvea 4 1J
upon Benjamin Lee Guinness, Esq., the style and
a baronetcy.—Dublin Express.
Births.
„i of Pe
COWEER.—On the 11th inst., at Paris, Of -gfeo.
Colonel Cowper, Bombay Staff Corps, 01 the
Du CANE.—On the 11th inst., at Putney-11°5"-' f
Richard Du Cane, Esq., of a daughter.
PEDLEY.—On the 12th inst., at Tenterdon, the "" ,

Pedley, Esq., of a son. '
AO'
'Marriages. , ttios ter
PEACHEY—SMYTIIIES.—On the 14th inst., at ,g of
l'•
James Pears° Peachey, Esq , barrister, of, 7 of "i'
terrace, Regent's-park, to Ellen, only dallgbto „ il,
Srnythies, Esq., of 27, Kensin ton- ark-gar'-ila'171;11
'ROBINSON—ROBINSON.—On theglsthP inst., 71" ptailiooot
Yorkshire, Napier Douglas Robinson, 85q.;,." bgeorgo,3g-
toy?.l Fusiliers, youngest son of the late S•L'ilie erii,
daughter
Robinson, Bart., to Sophia Jane Wernr3, " of •111-
ughter of the Rev. W. S. Robinson, rector
AT_KaI.NSON.—On the 14th
Dinesatt,hs.
.1' ignton, Devon, George Atkinson, scl''' 100.1#
R.N., aged 72. , eet, - too
BULLER.
—On the 13th inst., at 109, Jernlyti-sLr Gredi
Wentworth Buller, Esq., 3.1 f J"silleel,
.P., o fold
aged 67. St• 1
HARDniG.—On the 13th inst., at Melina place, .4
00""
wood, C. T. Harding,
Esq., aged 80. ri.nt, PI)
HARRISON —0
• n the 15th inst., at Surbiton, L'"i" arse
Harrison, late Ist Bengal Fusiliers. Cot. Ce
PARFIT.T.—On the 11th inst., at Wrexbara, Cap
t'
of Liverpool, aged 36. 0
at his resideoctoNoSooeiltdl
ic,i't '
.." ovP" sil'
London :Printed and Published by VirliAl Officcoot6"... l4°/ of
of No. 112, Strand, Plinter, at Tas Surf
~, tbe
Strand, in the Precinct of the SavoY, 'l' -
Middlesex.-7 hursday, March 16, 1885.