The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-20 00:00:00

STAR PACKET COMPANY.

The annual general meeting of the proprietors in this
company was held yesterday in the large room of the
Clarendon Hotel, Terrace-gardens, Gravesend.

Mr. CHARLES BECKET, one of the directors of the com-
pany, in taking the chair, after referring with much
feeling to the loss they sustained by the death of their
late chairman, Mr. James Harmer, said that he had
himself been twenty years one of the directors of the
Star Packet Company, and he could now truly say that
at no period during that time had their affairs been in a
more prosperous condition than in the present year, as
the reports, which would he laid before them, would
evince. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. W. DOBSON then read the auditors' report, which
was to the effect, that there was a balance in hand from
the last year of 1,4321. 17s. 9d. ; that the earnings of
the packets in the year just ended amounted to 26.5711.
lls., and that other items, including the sale of the
Vesper packet and an issue of new shares, made a total
of receipts of 29,402'. is. id. ; that the disbursements
(including 4,350'. further payment for the Mars packet
2,7501. for purchase and fitting of the Comet packet in
the present year, and 5261. 7s. expenses of a collision
with a barge, with 8111. 17s. lid, dividend and inte-
rest), amounted to 27,923'. 4s. 2d., leaving a balance,
after payment of all liabilities, in favour of the com-
pany of 1,5781. 16s. lid., to be carried to the account
•f the next year. Mr. Dobson then read the direct )rs'
report, which, after expressing deep regret at the loss of
their late chairman, Mr. Harmer, proceedel to con-
gratulate the proprietors on the increased prosperity of
the company's affairs during the year just passed, and
the still greater prosperity they had every reason to
anticipate in the future, and recommended that a divi-
dend of ss. per share of 51. or 51. per cent. be paid on
the original shares, and that 2s. 6d. per share for the
half-year be paid on the new shares.

This recommendation was adopted unanimously.
Mr. Becket having been elected chairman of the
board of directors, all the directors and other officers of
the past year were re-elected by acclamation.
On the motion of Mr. JOLLIFF; a proprietor, who
expressed his extreme satisfaction at the prosperous
state of the company's affairs, which he was perfectly
convinced was owing mainly to the admirable manage-
ment, zeal, and persevering exertions of their secretary,
Mr. Dobson, in his department, a recommendation to
the directors to add 100/. a year to that gentleman's
salary of 2001. a year, was unanimously adopted by the
proprietors.
Another PROPRIETOR said, that as it was the bounden
duty of the proprietors to testify their warm acknow.
ledgments of their secretary to their interests, they were
no less bound to mark their strong sense of the admi-
rable services of their treasurer, Mr. Coles Arnold, he
therefore moved that 1001. should be voted for the pur-
pose of presenting to that gentleman a piece of plate
that would be a perpetual testimonial of the proprietors'
high estimation of his zeal and energy in promoting the
welfare and prosperity of the company.—Carried with
acclamation.

Mr. DonsoN and Mr. ARNOLD having respectively re-
turned thanks for this spontaneous proof of the estima-
tion their services to the company were held in by the
proprietors, and a vote of thanks having been passed
to the chairman, the meeting, exulting in the prospe-
rous condition of the company's affairs, separated.

BAIL WAY INTELLIGENCE.

FENCHURCH-STREET RAILWAY STATION.

The new joint station of the Blackwall, North Lon-
don, and Eastern Counties Railways is almost completed,
and has a very neat appearance. The roof of the old
building has been removed, and the lofty and extensive
proportions of the new edifice are exposed to view. The
facade in London-street is a piece of excellent brickwork,
and consists of two storeys, having 11 arched openings
in each, ith piers to correspond. Above the cornice
there is a circular pediment, which corresponds with the
curve of the roof. Massive flights of stone steps lead to
the departure and arrival platforms. The roof is of a
light and graceful construction, and forms the segment
of a circle, the whole of it being covered with glass, with
the excertion of sme few feet on each side where the
arch of the roof springs from the walls. The span of
the roof is 120 feet, and the height from the permanent
way 45 feet. The station extends about 400 feet in
length. The main line, down as far as the Hayden-
square junction, is being widened to meet the increase
of trains. A large iron girder bridge is being erected
across the wide part of Crutched-friars, and the Minories
bridge is in course of enlargement to one-thirdits former
width. Several lines of rails are laid down in the station
with a view to afford ample accommodation for the trains.
The Blackwall traffic, as also that of the North London,
from Bow, Hackney, Islington, Camden-town, and Kew,
will remain on the south side of the station, two rails in
the centre will be devoted to the Tilbury branch (Grave-
send), and North Woolwich trains, while those on the
other side will be apportioned to the Eastern Counties
through traffic. The London and North-Western pas-
sengers will he brought up by the North London, which
is also being widened at that part of the line which
crosses Bow-common, where the increase of trains from
the Eastern Counties, Tilbury Fort, and North Wool-
nich, will be considerable.

EASTERN COUNTIES.—The line is being widened be-
tween Stratford and Bow, where the Blackwall Exten-
sion forms a junction, in order to accommodate the in-
crease of traffic expected on the opening of the Tilbury
Port line. It is said that the Gravesend fares will be
on a very low scale, in order to compete with the South-
Eastern and the steamers.
SHROPSHIRE AND MONTGOMERYSHIRE.—A new line of
railway for connexion with central Wales is proposed,
and application will be made in the next session of Par-
liament for an act authorising its construction. It is
said that one-half of the capital is already subscribed.
The length of the line is to be 47 miles, and the esti-
mated cost of construction is 7,0001. per mile. The
landowners have consented to take a fair agricultural
value for their land, and to take the amount in shares.
The promoters represent themselves as totally uncon-
nected with any existing company. The line is to
commence at the terminus of the Llanidloes and
Newtown Railway at Newtown, and, following the
course of the Severn to Caer Flos, will there di-
verge via Rea Valley to Shrewsbury on the one hand,
and via Welshpool to Oswestry on the other. One di-
vergence passes through Weishpool, near Llanymynech
to Oswestry, and terminates by a junction with the
Shrewsbury and Chester Railway ; tho other, skirting
Chirbury and Marton (there entering the Rea Valley),
Worthen, near the Shelve and Snailbeach lead mining
districts, Butesbury, Harewood, &c., passing over a coal-
field ten miles in length, enters the town of Shrewsbury
by the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, which it will
join near Meole Brace, about two miles from Shrews-
bury. A loop line is proposed from a point on the
Oswestry divergence, near Munlin, to a point on the
Shrewsbury divergence, under the Hem bank, by which
means the town of Welshpool will be placed as near
Shrewsbury as by way of Westbury. The sources of
traffic on the line consist of pleasure traffic, numerous
lead and coal mines,smelting-houses, bleaching-grounds,
corntnills, limeworks, brick and tile yards, and quarries.
HEREFORD, ROSS, AND GLOUCESTER.—Mr. Brunel
has just paid a visit of inspection to this line between
Hereford and Gloucester, examining the two tunnels,
viaducts, and bridges. The permanent way between
Hereford and Hopebrook is about to be commenced,
and the headings of the Lea tunnel are " through."
The entire line is expected to be completed by the
summer.

EAST ANGLIAN.--A new line from Lynn to Hun-
stanton, in connexion with this line, is in contemplation.

DUBLIN AND WICKLOW AND DUBLIN AND BRAT.-It
appears that an arrangement has been come to between
the directors of these companies for uniting the under-
takings. The works on both lines are progressing fa-
vourably. The arrangement entered into by the direc-
tors will be submitted to special meetings of the share-
holders of both companies on the 28th and 29th inst., at
Dublin.

.....
CORK AND MACROOM.—It is proposed to make a rail-
way from Cork to Macroom, provided the landowners
are disposed to assist the undertaking, and the baronies
prepared to grant a guarantee on the outlay.
CORK AND YOUGHAL.—An influential meeting of rate-
payers was held at Midleton on Saturday to consider
the propriety of granting a baronial guarantee in aid of
the construction of the above railway project ; Mr. E.
B. Roche, M.P., in the chair. A long diseassion en".
sued, in which a resolution for granting a baronial
guarantee was rejected, and the object of the promoters
was so far defeated.
NORFOLK ESTUARY.—The opening of the inner
channel of this important work, leading to the harbour
of Lynn, took place on Monday, and proved of much
service to the vessels which availed themselves of the
passage.