The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-30 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE,

NORFOLK.
The half-yearly general meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the offices of the company, Guildhall-
buildings. Mr. Peto, M.P., presided.
The report said—" The receipts and expenditure on
revenue account, prepared by the Eastern Counties Com-
pany, shows a gross increase of receipts for this railway
in the half-year of 7,8021. 3s. ld., as compared with the
corresponding half-year of 1852 ; whilst the working ex-
penses are diminished by the sum of 8141. 13s. 6d. for
the like period. The total traffic of the year amounts to
136,9741. 38. 11d., contrasted with 121,1811. 195., the
revenue of the previous year. The directors are happy
to say that this progressive increase of traffic still con-
tinues, there being an excess of 3,423 ss. sd. in the past
seven weeks of the current half-year, over the receipts in
the correspondinr, period of last year. The dividend
declared by the Eastern Counties Company being at the
rate of ss. per share of 201., the proprietors of the Nor-
folk Company are entitled to a dividend at the rate of
11. ss. per cent. for the half-year, on their consolidated
stock, which will be paid on the 15th September next.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said the capital account consisted of the following items :
—Redemption of land tax, 1,3591. 4s. 4d. ; works of
stations, 8341. 14s. ; surveying, 521. 10s. ; miscellaneous
charges, 1091. 6s. 6d. ; parliamentary and law charges,
2,4231. ls. ; Lowestoft harbour account, 311. ss. 3d. ;
making a total sum of 4,810/. Is. The increase of re-
ceipts had gone on steadily during the whole of the half-
year. For seven weeks, ending 21st August, 1853, the
receipts amounted to 22,3691. 6s. 9d., and for the seven
weeks ending August 22d, 1853, the receipts were
18,9461. ls. 4d., showing an increase in this year for the
seven weeks of 3,423/. ss. sd. (Hear.) The large in-
crease had not been so much on passengers as on goods
and merchandise, which was mainly arising from the
developments caused by the opening of the ports, and
the consequences resulting therefrom, as mentioned in
the report. (Hear.) With regard to the Parliamentary
proceedings, they had been checked by Mr. Cardwell's
resolution, and what could be done in the next session
must depend upon the future arrangements that were
entered into between the three companies with which
they were connected. They wished to have the sanc-
tion of the proprietors for the construction of a graving
dock at Lowestoft, the cost of which would be 10,0001.
The North of Europe Company were ready to lease
it at a rental of 6 per cent., if such a course
were considered desirable ; but the directors thought
they should make such arrangements with the
North of Europe Company as would remunerate
the proprietors for the capital expended, and
leave them the choice of either selling or leasing it, as
should appear most expedient for their interest and the
convenience of the public. They endeavoured to assi-
milate as much as possible everything connected with
their arrangements with the proceedings of the Eastern
Counties Company ; and in the event of any proposition
for entering into an arrangement hereafter, by way of
amalgamation or perpetual union, there would be no-
thing, so far as they were concerned, to obstruct that
arrangement. With regard to the close or termination
of their agreement with the Eastern Counties Company
in 1855, it was only necessary for him to say that the
companies were on the most cordial footing. The direc-
tors would not in any important matter which would
affect the permanent interests of the Company take any
measures without calling together and consulting some
of the largest proprietors. Ho still felt the confidence
which he had expressed in the undertaking on assuming
the chair, and he felt assured that what he had stated
respecting it on former occasions had been more than
fully and amply realised. (Hear, hear.)
In reply to a Proprietor, the CHAIRMAN stated that
the 10,0001. which it was proposed to lay out in Lowe-
stoft would be expended on a graving-dock for the ac-
commodation of vessels, and if they got six per cent.
rental, while they could borrow money for its construc-
tion at four per cent., he thought it would be desirable
to do so. The depth of water was 19ft. 6in, at low
water, and 25ft. at high water.

The CHAIRMAN, in—reply to a proprietor, said as a
proof of the opinion he entertained of their own under-
taking, he had only to say that if the proprietors under
the terms of the act of Parliament, as they had the
power of doing at the termination of the existing lease,
would give him a lease of their line for seven years, he
would give them the greatest amount of dividend the
Eastern Counties Company had paid them, and security
for 100,0001. Although he did not desire to enter into
any arrangement of that kind, such was his opinion of
the line, that the propietors might consider his offer as a
valid one, though made for the purpose of showing his
conviction that the line would produce a good return.
A resolution was passed by which the balance sheet
was declared to be approved of, and the report confirmed.
A dividend of 11. ss. per share, as recommended by
the report, was declared ; and it was also agreed that
the interest on the guaranteed shares should be payable
in future at the same period as the dividends on the con-
solidated stock, namely, on the 15th March and 15th
September.

A resolution was also passed authorising and confirm-
ing the forfeiture of 481 new 201. shares, and of 1101.
10/, shares, in consequence of the non-payment of calls,
amounting in the aggregate to 7,7201.
A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and
directors, and the meeting separated.

NORTH AND SOUTH-WESTERN JUNCTION.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held
yesterday at their offices, Parliament-street, West-
minster ; Mr. H. Tootal in the chair. The report
said :

"The directors announced in their last report that
this line of railway was being used for goods traffic.
They have now the satisfaction of stating that passenger
traffic is also being conveyed over it. The necessary
arrangements with the London and North-Western
and London and South-Western Railway Companies
for working a passenger traffic have been most anxiously
considered, and urgently pressed on these two com-
panies by the directors. Time is required to divert the
goods traffic from its accustomed route, and to perfect
the arrangements for its interchange between the two
great companies, as well as for the establishment of coal
depots, and for the conveyance of the large mineral
traffic which has been and is still confidently expected
to traverse this railway. For this reason, the revenue
from these sources of traffic has not yet amounted to
the guaranteed sum of 2,250/, per annum. On the Ist
of August the directors of the London and North-
Western Railway Company consented to the passage of
four passenger trains in each direction over their rail-
way between Camden Town and the Willesden Junction,
and equitable terms were arranged between the London
and North-Western Railway Companies and this com-
pany, for the payment of the working expenses and the
division of the receipts. It is with great regret, how-
ever, that the directors are obliged to state that the
London and South-Western Railway Company have
not yet made arrangements for the conveyance of the
passenger traffic of this line on their railway from the
north and north-east of London. This is at present
the subject of negotiation, which it is hopad will shortly
be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The directors
have seen with satisfaction that a bill has received the
Royal assent for constructing a railway from the north-
ern end of this line, by way of Kilburn and Hampstead,
to the North London Railway at Camden Town, which
will free the traffic of this line from any hindrance on
the London and North-Western Railway. and will es-
pecially tend to develope largely the passenger traffic
between the north, north-east, and east of London, and
the western and south-western environs. The directors
have also to report that the act for making a branch to
Hammersmith has been obtained, and it is proposed to
commence the works forthwith.
The accounts showed the receipts to have been
67,6121. 9s. 7d., and the expenditure 63,0641. 17s. 4d.,
leaving a balance to the credit of the company of 4,447/.
12s. 3d.

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
detailed the position of the company as described in that
document. With respect to a dividend, it was not, they
were aware, usual to declare one at the first meeting,
after commencing business. There was, however, a
small sum in hand which with the balance of the gua-
rantee would, he hoped, fructify, and be available for
dividend next meeting.
Mr. Creed seconded the motion.
In reply to the question of a shareholder.
adopted,
e
The CHAIRMAN stated that the guarantee became due
from the day on which the Government inspector had
declared the line fit for traffic. He had done so on the
27th of last November, so that three-fourths of the
2,2501. The
chairman and directors.
report was
a at present
then e sen t dued t
toedth,m and.
the proceedings ter-
minated with a vote of thanks to, and confidence in, the
op

NEWPORT AND P
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definitively fixed for th
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for traffic. The question of a site for the Hereford sta-
tion has a length been settled, and it ass been decided
and4t 4th Theoirf
to place it on the south side of the Above Eigr, between
that road and the Barton. Into this station the Shrews-
bury and Hereford line will run, and a large and hand-
some terminus, sufficient to meet the rants of both corn-
panics, will be erected. A through traffic, from the
South of Wales to the Mersey and the North will soon
be secured. Great exertions are being made tocomplete
i
the Shrewsbury and Hereford, n time for the Newport
and Hereford ; and at the Barr's Colrt-end much ac-
tivity is being displayed. The Dinrcore tunnel is the
heavy work now to be done.

HEREFORD, ROSS, AND GLOUCESTER.
We have before stated that this line is in full traffic
as far as Hopebrook, six miles from Ross, which dis-
tance is performed by omnibus. The line is a single
one, upon the broad guage, 25 miles in length, and runs
about eight miles
in course of con-
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tunnels,
, of the whole line.
The Lea tunnel is 800 yards in length ; the Fawley
tunnel 530 yards. The latter is about four miles from
Ross, and further on is the heavy one at Ballingham
of 1,200 yards. The line crosses the river Wye at Eign,
where the works are progressing. aad the bridges and
other works are in an advanced state. In a short time
three lines will thus converge at Hereford.