The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-23 00:00:00

ROYSTON AND HITCHIN.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yes-
terday, at the office, St. Helen's-place ; Mr. William Reed
in the chair.

The report stated, that with the 1,0151. received as in-
terest on the money lent during the construction of the
railway by the directors of the company 6621. 108. of the
capital stock has been purchased at 9981. The rent of the
railway for the last half-year has been received from the
Great Northern Company, and warrants for the payment
of the dividend will be issued forthwith, deductions being
made for income tax and lid. per 61. ss. stock for expenses
of management. The capital account of the line between
Royston and Hitchin was closed in April last, and the
balance then in hand, 1,1581., was paid over to the Great
Northern Company. The capital account for the Shepreth
Extension may be said to be closed also ; a sum of 7971. re-
mains to satisfy claims for land, not yet settled.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN, the report was adopted,
and the usual dividend declared.
The retiring auditor, 3fr. G. Pryine, was re-elected, and,
after a formal resolution with regard to the capital stock
being under one title instead of two —viz., the Royston
and Hitchin and Shepreth Extension, the proceedings ter-
minated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

SHEFFIELD, BARNSLEY, AND GOOLE.
At the half-yearly meeting of this company, held at Wake-
field on Friday, Mr. Beaumont in the chair, a dividend out of
the half-year's rent (6,5001.) paid by the Lancashire and York,-
shire Railway Company, was declared of 9s. per share (181.
lls. ed.), being at the rate of nearly 5 per cent, per annum
on the capital expended, which amounted, on the 31st of
December last, to 267,3361., leaving a balance in the bank
of 1,4381.

LONDON AND BLACKWALL.
The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Tues-
day at the London Tavern ; Mr. J. N. Daniell in the chair.
The Cnemtas, in moving the adoption of the report, said,
the London and North-Western goods traffic over the line had
increased considerably, and there was every reason to sup-
pose that it would increase still more. The North London
Railway traffic had also increased, and there remained to
come upon the line the Eastern Counties, and the Tilbury
and Southend passenger traffic. Whatever amount of traffic
they had from the Eastern Counties Railway, it would be clear
profit. The Tilbury traffic would, no doubt, he remunerative,
although it would consist of part of the river traffic which now
passed over the railway. Tho Blackwall Company were ruiran"
teed the same amount of traffic as they had at present existing
on the railway; and as the Tilbury line would participate in
some of the South-Eastern Railway traffic at the other side of
the water toGravesend, it was probable that the Blackwall would
have an increase of traffic rather than a decrease. There were two
sources of traffic which were almosf ready to come upon the
railway. There were other sources of traffic which they could
have some time hence, such as the Woodbridge traffic from
the Eastern Counties Railway, and what the new docks
would produce them, so that what with the present actual
increase of traffic, and that which may fairly be expected,
their position was very satisfactory. Great praise was due
to their servants for the careful manner in which the traffic
had been conducted during the construction of the works at.
the new station in Fenchurch-street and other parts of tho
line. The working stock was kept in excellent order, and it
was always at work. (Applause.)
Mr. G. Slurs said, he hoped the directors would be par-
ticularly cautions not to let any portion of their line go out
of their power into the hands of the great companies with
whom they had to deal. He considered the report very
satisfactory.
A Paorarma alluded to the propriety of instructing their
clerks at the stations on the line, to commence issuing
period than
awasi a usual With them
thbeeforeticktheetsstartingearlier
an eaoftehre
trains. It w
dangerous prac-
tice adopted on several railways to commence issuing tickets
only a few minutes before the starting of each tram •and , ac-
cidents to passengers frequently occurred through the delay
of obtaining their tickets, and the consequent hurryto get
into the trains. He had witnessed several accidents to ,pga•