The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-13 00:00:00

WEST FLANDERS.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on
Tuesday at the offices, Moorgate•street, Mr. W. P. Richards
in the chair.

Mr. CHUBB, the secretary, having read the report,
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
adverted to the kind and considerate way i❑ which the
company had been treated by the Belgian Government.
An extension of time for two years had been granted for
the completion of the lleynze branch, 15 miles in length,
which would be ample time to enable them to complete it
with economy. The estimated cost was 77,5001., which
would not be exceeded, and they had made an arrange-
ment with Messrs. Brugman and Sons, of Brussels, for
r wising 100,000/. to comp7e e the whole undertaking of this
company, and to supply additional working stock. The
shareholders had on a former occasion autlf rised the di-
rectors to raise 280,0001. to complete the undertaking, by
the issue of 28,000/. shares of 101. each, bearing interest at
the rate of 5i per cent., which would amount to about
16,0001. per annum. This amount was guaranteed to the
company by the Belgian Government. Only 140,0001. of
the prefernce capital had been raised at 5i per cent., in
hopes that the remainder of the money would be obtained
at a lower rate of interest, but the change in the money-
market rendered that impossible, so they had to borrow
the money on the hest terms they could. They found it
impossible to raise the money in England, but they had
succeeded, in Belgium, in raising it at the rate of about
6i per cent. per annum, including the sinking fund of
4001. or 5001. a year. The loan was for 88 years, but it
would be paid off by degrees every year, so that at the end
of 85 years it would be cleared off entirely. The nominal
amount of the bonds for the 100,0001. would be 200,0001.,
and the rate of interes: 3 per cent.
In reply to a question from Mr.HERAPATH, it was stated
that the loan of 100,0001. would enable them to complete
the whole of the railways undertaken by the company, to
find the requisite working stock, and to close the capital
accoant completely, the company, under the contract for
the loan, being bound not to enter into any new under-
taking until after the expiration of the 85 years.
Resolutions adopting the report, declaring a dividend of
2s. 3d. per ordinary share, and increasing Mr. Chantrell's
allowance to 6001. per annum, were carried unanimously.
The melting was then made special, and resolutions were
passed, sanctioning the arrangement with Messrs. Brugman
and Sons for raising the loan ; agreeing to a modification of
the statutes : and authorising the directors to take the
necessary steps to carry the whole into effect.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman and directors.

BRISTOL AND EXETER.
A judgment affecting railway companies was delivered
on Tuesday in the County Court at Exeter. A package
sent from London to Exeter was injured on its transit
upon the Great Western line; but a clerk of the Bristol
and Exeter Company went to the person to whom the
article was consigned and arranged the amount due to him.
Application was accordingly made to the Bristol and
Exeter Company for the sum named by their clerk ; but
they referred the applicant to the Great Western Com-
pany. The judge held that, as the property was injured on
the Great Western line, and as that company entered into
the contract for the carriage of the article the whole dis-
tance from Londo❑ to Exeter, they were liable, and not the
Bristol and Exeter Company.

OX FORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVERHAMPTON.
This railway, the bill for which received the Royal assent
nine years ago, may now be said to be completed, the con-
cluding line between Tipton and Wolverhampton being
now just 4.penc,l for pas,eager traffic. Only a certain num-
ber of the trains will run to and form the new station, the
remainder running over the Stour Valley Railway to Tip-
ton, as heretofore.

SEVERN VALLEY.
The works of this line are expected to be commenced in
a few months ; Mr. Peto has the contract.

LEEDS, BRADFORD, AND HALIFAX JUNCTION.
This line is progressing rapidly towards completion, and
will be inspected in
a few days. Should the inspection
prove satisfactory, it is proposed to open the line on the
Ist of August. On Tuesday last an engine acd first-class
carriage, conveying several officials, passed over the line,
and the result was satisfactory. The length of the new
line, from Leeds to Bradford, is a little over eight miles,
or more than five miles shorter than the present line. It
will also materially shorten the distance between Leeds
and Halifax, besides facilitating the traffic between the
principal towns in the district.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON RAILWAY BILLS.

NORTH METROPOLITAN.
Sir H. F. DAVIE reported from the sub-committee that
the additional capital authorised to be raised by the bill
is 700,0001., and the amount of loan 233,0J0/. The
ex-
tensions of the railway will, for the greater part of their
course, be constructed by means of a covered way, in
the same manner as the present authorised line is in-
tended to be formed, the height being 14 feet and the
width 28 feet. The steepest gradient on the proposed
extension to the General Post-office is lin 100, and on
the extension of the Great Western Railway 1 in 163.
The length of the extension to the General Post-office
is one mile three furlongs, and of the extension to the
Great Western Railway 1 mile 4'70 chains. The estimated
cost of the proposed extension lines is 650,0001. Mr. J.
Fowler, Mr. Brunel, and Mr. Hawkshaw, were the en-
gineers examined in support of the bill, and Mr. Locke
was the engineer examined in opposition to it. Eighteen
petitions were presented against this bill. The committee
are satisfied of the fitness in an engineering point of view,
of the proposed extension lines of railway.
LONDONDERRY AND COLERAINE.
Colonel BOLDER() reported from the sub-committee that
the additional capital proposed to be raised by the bill is
12,0001., and the amount of loan 4,0001. The length of the
hlagilligan branch is 4 miles, 2 furlongs, 14 chains ; and the
steepestgradient on it is lin 198. It is inten.led to cross
two roads on the level. The estimated cost of the branch
line is 11,6601., and the quantity of land required 46i acres.
The committee are satisfied of the fitness in an engineering
point of view of the proposed branch.
BALLYMENA, BALLYMONEY. COLERAINE, AND PORTRUSH,
(No. 1.)
Colonel BOLDERO reported from the sub-committee that
the additional capital authorised to be raised by the bill is
27,000/,, and the amount of loan 9,000/. The length of
line is 6 furlongs, 2 chains; and the steepest gradient on
it is 1 in 227. The estimated cost of the now works is
27,0001., and the quantity of land required 6 acres. The
committee are satisfied of the fitness in an engineering
point of view of the proposed railway. The committee
received a report from the Lords of the Admiralty to the
effect that they did not approve of the crossing of the
river Baun at the points and in the manner proposed by
the bill. After hearing evidence from several eminent
engineers, the committee resolved that the mode and
place of junction proposed by the bill ought to be sanc-
tioned.

GREAT WESTERN, SHREWSBURY AND BIR-
MINGHAM„4.ND SHREWSBURY AND CHES-
TER RAILWAY COMPANIES AMALGAMATION.

HOUSE OF LORDS COMMlTTRE.—Wednesday.
The committee re-assembled this morning ROOll after 11
o'clock. Present—The Duke of Wellington (in the chair),
the Earl of Morton, Lord Walsingham, Lord Cottenham,
and Lord Stafford.
Mr. Serjeant Wrangham having, at considerable length,
addressed the committee on the part of the Great Western
Railway Committee, in which he combatted the arguments
that had been urged by the counsel representing the Lon-
don and North-Western, Oxford and Worcester, and New-
port, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway Companies, in
opposition to the bill,
The room was ordered to be cleared, and after the lapse
of half an hour, on the parties being re-admitted,
The Duke of Wellington said the committee were of
opinion that the preamble of the bill had been proved.
Some of the clauses were then passed, after which their
lordships adjourned.
Thus has terminated the great struggle between the
Groat Western and London and North- Western Railway
Companies, which has been attended with enormous ex-
penses to 13,,th parties. The result of this decision gives
the Great Western Company a through communication
Efrom Loudon to the Mersey and all places in the north of
ngland.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.—
Traffic return for the week ending July 8,
1854 215,526 13 7
Corresponding week last year,,:" 13,958 6 10
Total of the half-year to this date, 1854 15,526 13 7
Total of the half-year to this date, 1853 13,953 610
THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for
the week ending July 9, 1854 £18,251 12 5
Corresponding week last year
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending July 9, 1854 C19,852 6 2
Corresponding week last year
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for
the week ending July 9, 1854 .................. £5,707 1
Corresponding week last year ..................... 5,610 18 7

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