The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-27 00:00:00

GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at the London Tavern ; Mr. T. Baring,
M.P., in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said the meeting was held pro
formel to adjourn the proceedings until the presi-
dent returned from Canada, and any explanations
which the proprietors might require would be
afforded at the adjourned meeting in November.
Mr. ADAMS said that several gentlemen, desig-
nated as merchant princes, were at present in Ame-
rica on railway business, and as he strongly sus-
pected there was something in hand, he thought it
would be desirable that the shareholders should see
the agreement with regard to the International-
bridge before the meeting came off.
The CHAIRMAN said they would have a report
embodying everything that came under discussion
at the meeting.
Mr. ADAMS said he would be satisfied if the agree-
ment were given with the report.
The CHAIRMAN had no doubt the subject would
be introduced in the report.
The motion for adjournment was seconded by
Mr. K. G. HODSON, M.P., and agreed to, when the
proceedings terminated.
The traffic receipts on this company's lines for the
week ending the 7th inst. amounted for local pas-
sengers to £7,692; for foreign passengers to £3,190;
for emigrants to £299 ; for mails, &c., to £829 ; for
local freight and live stock to £16,129 ; and for
foreign freight and live stock to £3,649—t0ta1,
£31,788 against £27,663 for the corresponding
week last year, showing an increase of £4,125. The
total receipts from the Ist of July to the above date
amounted to £383,532, and for the corresponding
period last year t0£327,956, showing an increase of
£55,576, or 17 per cent.

SOUTHERN AND WESTERN OF QUEENSLAND.

On the 31st of July last the first section of this line
from Ipswich to Bigges' Camp, 21 miles in length,
was formally opened by his Excellency Sir G. Bowen.
Three trains from Ipswich conveyed the Governor,
the Ministers, the members of the Legislature, and a
large number of ladies and gentlemen invited to the
opening. On the arrival of the trains at Bigges'
Camp the engineer-in-chief (Mr. Fitzgibbon) ex-
plained that the line was constructed on a gauge of
Bft. 6in., being exactly half the width of the Great
Western broad gauge line. The great object of the
engineer was to construct a railway, which should
have ample power to develope the resources of the
districts it was intended to accommodate at the
smallest possible cost. This object, it appeared, had
been most successfully attained in the construction
of the line and rolling stock. By the end of this
year they hoped to have 40 miles open for traffic,
in less than two years from that date 78 miles, and
by the end of 1867 about 130 miles to Dalby.
Upon the first division of 78 miles in length
they had two ranges to surmount of 700 feet
1,400
1 i
n feet
50 respectively,,
and Q
l the steepest gradient
being longest incline 16 miles.
i
The Governor stated that the Legislature of
Queensland, after full inquiry and discus-
sion, had decided on adopting the sys-
tem of • construction recommended by Mr. Fitz-
gibbon, and that there could be but one opinion
among all impartial observers as to the energy and
perseverance with which that decision of the Legis-
lature had been carried out by the Secretary for
Public Lands and 'Works (Mr. Macalister) ably se-
conded by the engineer (Mr. Fitzgibbon), and by
the contractors (Messrs. Peto, Brassey, and Betts),
so worthily represented by Mr. Wilcox, their agent.
He congratulated those gentlemen on the success of
their work, and the Parliament which authorised
that work and other works of a similar character.