The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-30 00:00:00

DANUBE ANT) BLACK SEA.

The report of the directors states that the prefe-
rence shares created at the last meeting have been
issued, bearing interest at 8 per cent. The whole
of the additional plant recommended by the engi-
neers has now been despatched. Charters from
Kustendjie now form a prominent feature in the
shipping intelligence from the Black Sea. The
revenue account for the past half-year exhibits a
loss, but this has been due to the very limited
amount of trade which it has been possible to carry
during the past winter, which has been one of ex-
treme severity and of unusual duration in the East.
Snow fell to a great depth, and its melting was
attended with unexampled floods, submerging a
small portion of the line near the centre, 3ft. 7in.,
and a considerable area to a less extent, thus ren-
dering the prosecution of the traffic difficult and ex-
pensive, and at length altogether stopping it. The
working expenses are now reduced to a scale which
leaves a fair margin of profit. No further damage
has been done to the mole since the gale of October
last. A considerable quantity of stone is now
ready to be carried on to the mole. The wharfage
accommodation is intended to be increased, so as to
afford berths for six vessels, drawing 18 feet of
water, to load at once. There will then be facilities
for the despatch of 12 per week. The efforts which
have been made to procure a complete settlement of
the company's claims against the Turkish Govern-
ment have not beon hitherto successful.

INIERCOLONIAL ROYAL MAIL STEAM.
The directors of this company state in their re-
port that £101,670 had been received up to the
31st of December in respect to the original and new
shares, and the liabilities, including the balance of
loans on mortgage, balance of profit and loss,
making a total of £142,878. This sum was repre-
sented on the credit side by property in steamships,
sailing vessels, coals, stores, in hand and by
debts duo to the company. The working account
showed receipts amounting to £78,293, and dis-
bursements to the extent of 69,697, leaving a ba-
lance of £8,596 which, with £719 from the pre-
ceding account, gives £9,315. The dividend to
the 30th of June last absorbed £3,679, the farther
sum of £l,OOO had been applied in the reduction
of preliminary expenses, &c. and out of the resi-
due it was proposed to pay a dividend for the six
months ending Dec. 31 at the previous rate of 71.
per cent. per annum clear of income tax. The
directors state that Captain V. Hall had already
introduced an economical system of working,
effected a vast improvement in the eondition,O had
fthe
vessels, had enlarged their passenger accommoda-
tion, and otherwise had given satisfaction to the
colonies.

Yesterday theRAILWAY bill
BlLLS.Birkenh Birkenhead Docks and
ofthe
West Cheshire Junction
was passed in Mr. Howes'
committee. The case
f
Flint-
shire, and HRailway
Holyhead the Birkenhead,
minating at othfor a branchof lineter-
Queensferr Y
about six miles in length, withe northahranch the
over Dee,th
the
Pee
to the Chester and llolyaead at Hawarden,
was opened by Mr. Calvert, Q.C., and evidence
taken. The company propose to cross the Dee by
a bridge, six miles below Chester, to consist of nine
spans, 50ft. each, and 10ft. headway, but the Lords
of the Admiralty report to the committee that such
bridge at the site intended would be injurious. The
company propose to raise £125,000 by shares, and
£41,600 by loan. Witnesses were examined on the
general case of the Whitchurch, Wrexham, and
Mold Railway by Mr. Somerset and Mr. Salisbury,
in Lord Stanley's committee, and Mr. Hawkshaw,
C.E., was under examination all day by Mr. Mere-
weber, in Mr. Pullen's committee on the Hull Ex-
tension project of the Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Mr. Rodewell, Q C., opened the opposition in the
committee of which Mr. Adair is chairman, on be-
half of the merchants and inhabitants of Bristol,
who object to the proposal to carry the railway
four times over the floating harbour of Bristol, it
being alleged that the proposed bridges would
prove a serious inconvenience to the trade of the