The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-24 00:00:00

OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVER-
. HAMPTON.

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday at the London Tavern ; Captain Rush-
out, M.P., in the chair.

The report, the chief points of which have already ap-
peared in The Sun, was then read, and
The CHAIRMAN, in moving its adoption, said the traffic
revenue had not been during the hall-year so encour-
aging as had been hoped ; but it was necessary to ex-
plain that a considerable portion of the expenditure was
owing to the arrangements with the Midland Railway,
for whose traffic this company had to provide servants.
There were, however, claims against the Midland for
mileage, terminals, and other charges, which yet re-
mained to be adjusted. In August last it was decided
that they should assist the Mid-Western Bill, the main
proviso of which was in spirit the same as the Oxford
and Brentford Bill of last session. The line, if carried
out, would be connected with the South-Western at
Brentford, and with the North-Western by a branch
to Willesden. His opinion was, that the line was
really an imperial necessity. The Mid-Western was
intended to be carried out as an independent
line, the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton being
in no degree liable for the expenditure. He believed
the wish of the proprietors of the Oxford, Worcester,
and Wolverhamptom was, like that of their directors,
that they should be an independent line. They wished
not to quarrel with their neighbours, but.they would not
consent to be the helpless apanage of any other com-
pany. (Cheers.)
Mr. THOMAS seconded the adoption of the report.
Major COURT made some objection to the item in the
account for law charges which he said was occasioned
by the endeavour of this company to free itself from the
obligations it had entered into with the Great Western.
He moved as an amendment that it be an instruction to
the directors to re-open negotiations with that com-
pany.

This amendment was not seconded, and therefore fell
to the ground.

Mr. PARSONS (the solicitor), in answer to a question
as to the probable chance of the Mid-Western passing
the standing orders this session, said there were seven
instances in which it had been proved the stand-
ing orders had not been complied with ; but they
were in reference to most trivial matters, such as
mistakes in the Christian names of owners or occu-
piers, caused by misinformation, and would not, in his
opinion, affect the progress of the bill. He believed
the bill would be successful this year, if he could
demonstrate to Parliament that there was a bona fide
intention on the part of the company to carry out the
line, and to dispel an opinion which prevailed last year,
that the scheme was brought forward merely as a specu-
lation, to be sold hereafter, if successful, to the Great
Western or the North-Western. Should the Mid-
Western bill be lost, the proprietors would be imme-
diately called together.
Mr. PARSONS explained that the agreement with the
Mid-Western was one of tolls. The Oxford, Worcester,
and Wolverhampton traffic was to be charged tolls, the
Mid-Western to have the power of fixing the amount
until they obtained-6 per cent., but there was no gua-
rantee.

Mr. COHEN contended that this was practically gua-
ranteeing to the Mid-Western 6 per cent.
In answer to various questions,
Mr. PARSONS had no doubt before the bargain was
carried out the subject would be again brought under
the consideration of the proprietors of this company, for
that agreement, though extremely favourable to the
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton, was not so
favourable to the Mid-Western as to induce them to
insist upon it if there were any objection raised.
After some further conversation, the motion confirm-
ing the report was agreed to.
The retiring directors and auditors were then re-elected,
and after a vote of thanks to the chairman and his co-
directors, the meeting terminated.