The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-18 00:00:00

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

- LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN.
An adjourned meeting of the shareholders of this com-
pany, arising out of the scrutiny into the votes recorded
for Mr. Willcox and Mr. Snell at the general meeting in
August last, was held yesterday at the offices of the
company, York-road.

Mr. CHAPLIN, M. P., the chairman of the company, in
opening the proceedings, said—This meeting, I need
scarcely remind you, is an adjournment from the 3d
October; which day had been fixed for the declaration of
the poll on the contested election for a seat in the direc-
tion. On that day I was obliged to state my inability
to make any such declaration, and I briefly gave you my
reasons. They were much to the following effect :
That in consequence principally of communications made
to the meetieg by Mr. Saintsbury, and statements in
reply to Mr. Seen, which to eoentaextent confirmed what
Mr. Sainteleury had reported, a scrutiny was on the l'Oth
August, last directed by yon. That on the 19th Sept. I
sat accordingly, to go into it, with the Hon. Mr. Den-
min as my assnser, when Mr. Suer, appeared with his
solicit grand two counsel, and NlnWillcox was also repre-
sented by connsel. That Mr. Snell, after consulting with
his law advisers, who at first declined to allow him to
gie; any explanation, agreed to give evidence and expla-
natien to as, it being canditioned en his part that he
sh Auld have two days to prepare himself. That on the
211 of September we wet again to hear him, but could
not proceed- on account of Len' Dennian's death, and
aceOrdinzly adjourned to the 29th of September. That
ell the 2tk.l), Mr. Snell, to our surpriee, wholly declined
to, give any explanation, and Mr. Wilcox's counsel
thereupon withdrec.v from the scrutirv. -I then (that is
to say; at the 3d of October meeting) added that in this
state of circumstances I did not feel myeclt able to say
more than that in my mied the whole business was in
so unsettled and unsatisfactory a state that I could not
declare any results. I have new only to say that
matters remain, and that my mind remaine, in the same
state, and I can ina'se no declaration-which would be
satisfactory to me or to you. Neither can I take any
blame to myself that things are in this state. Mr. Snell,
by the mouth of Mr. Pc'etersdoriT, the last time I sat
:with my aestesor, on the 29th September, said that
although he would riot then explain he would at the
first meeting f the shareholders challenge invcetigation,
and submit hie conduct to some fair arid ju4t tribunal,
and aside th.e result. On the 3d of October, which
was such first 'meting, Mr. Snell said not a word, but
we had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Maynard in his
steal, and I wes surprised that we heard no more in re-
demption of what Mr. Petereclorff hed said. You will
recollect that an adjournment sine die was then move 1,
and that it was altered to an adjournment to this day, prin-
cipally at my suggestion, for I thought Mr. Snell might
still come forward and explain matters. I waited a fort-
night, and hearing nothing from him, I wrote to hi:n,
expressing my readiness, oc the receipt of a short notice,
to resume the business. A cerrespondence followed, with
the. details of which Ido not trouble you ; but the re-
sult was that Mr. Snell declined any further explanation
to rne, and insisted that I had nothing to do but 'to de-
clare bins elected. I should perhaps mention that in the
course of it Mr. Snell again makes allusion to some other
tribunal as the proper one to settle the pending ques-
tion ; but this I only mention, in order that I may add
that to agree upon any other tribunal is for you and for
him, and certainly not for me, and so I have told Mr.
Snell before. I must next inform you that on Saturday
last I had a further letter from Mr. Snell, stating that
if I shall not to-day declare the poll, proceedings (at law,
I suppose) will be adopted to enforce such declaration.
Now really, gentlemen, I feel in no situation to make
any declaration to you, and I believe I never can do so
whilst the grave matters in part brought under our no-
tice on the ldth of August, and which Mr. Snell then
and often since has undertaken to explain, remain in
their present state. And, having thus declared my opi-
nion and my intention, I must there leave the matter.
Mr. MAYNARD said that the chairman had either en-
tirely forgotten or mistaken the conversation which
took place at the meeting to which he had alluded.
What he (Mr. Maynard) said on that occasion was that
Mr. Such courted investigation, and that although ho (Mr.
Maynard) gave some explanation himself, he begged it
might. not be received as a full explanation. He also
said, and now repeated, that it was not right to mix up
two questions which had no connection with each other.
The declaration of the poll was a mere computation of

arithmetic, and the chairman was bound to report the
result. The question of Mr. Snell's conduct had no
affinity to the state of the poll, and was a matter to be
investigated by a different tribunal.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that he thought the tribunal
which had been appointed was a very proper one.
Mr. MAYNARD—Oh, dear, no.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Petersdorff, the counsel
for Mr. Snell, promised that Mr. Snell should give an
explanation at a future meeting.
Mr. MAYNARD was not aware of that fact.
A Dtaucroa said that on the 19th September Mr.
Petersdorff said that Mr. Seel! would be desirous to
submit all the documents and papers before Mr. Deni-
son, on which he relied, to the next meeting.
Mr. ROWE said that if Mr. Snell, instead of appearing
by his legal adviser, would produce the papers which
Mr. Petersdorif had pameised should be produced, he
(Mr. Rowe) should have great pleasure in at once pro-
posiug that Mr. Snell do take his seat at the board.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. MAYNARD inquired if Mr. Rove would refuse the
papers which be wished Mr. Snell to produce
Mr. Rown— The papers which Mr. Petersdorff said
Tbir. Snell was ready to produce l If these papers con-
tained a written authority to that gentleman to sign the
names of certain parties, that would be quite sufficient.
Mr. PUNCHER said the matter rested with the two
scrntineere. Mr. Saintsbury, the scrutineer appointed
on behalf of Mr. Willcox, could give a reason why he re•
jected certain proxies which had been tendered by Mr.
Snell. He (Mr. Puncher) had rejected certain votes
tendered for by Mr. Willcox, and was satisfied to give a
reason for so doing. The mischief which had arisen
arose from the circumstance of Mr. Saintsbury not hav-
ing gone through the votes.
Mr. TITS said there was no motion before the meet-
- ing, and the whole discussion woe very irregular. He
gave noticeat
gentleman who a
thought theof motion.
the last meeting ought now to be called upon to proceed
with it.
Mr. SAINTSBURT was astonished to hear an intimation
that Mr. Snell did not undertake to explain his conduct
'to a meeting of the proprietors. Every opportunity had
been afforded him of so doing. When he (Mr. Saints-
bury) gave notice of his motion at a former meeting, he
felt fully warranted in so doing by the circumstances of
the case. As a scrutineer he did not consider it his duty
to ascertain so much the number of votes which were
bad as the number of votes which were good, and he
had found it quite out of his power to ascertain what
portion of Mr. Snell's votes were bone fide votes. As
he considered the latter part of his notice of motion,
which related to the seating of Mr. Willcox at the
board, somewhat irrelevant, it was not his intention to
bring it forward on the present occasion.
A PROPRIETOR inquired whether the chairman had
merely expressed his own individual opinion, or whether
it was the opinion of the board 7
The ClitlrmlN said he had taken care to ascertain
the sentiments of his colleagues, and they had been with
hint throughout. Their decision was unanimous. He
considered that'll! had quite done with the matter. Until
the objection
enwhich had been pointed out with respect
to the fourteen or votes should be explained, no
man could
eau what was the case with regard to many
others. He had
tile
through the proxies. There were
800 or 900 votes
he
had
irregular. Without those
explanations which
not consider himself personally invited, he should
be duly elected. justified in declaring Mr. Snell to
A PROPRIETOR inquired if the chairman intended to
adjourn the meeting nine die?
The CHAIRMAN said he should do nothing at all. He
es-otird leave the matter in the hands of
and could proc,ed in it no further. the shareholders,
Mr. BEATTIE said if Mr. Snell declined to offer any
exploration, he would move that the- meeting
ad-
journed sine die. be
Mr. think the sooner we leave the room the
better. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN.—I did not like to be rude enough to
WI you so. (Laiighter.)
Mr. CASTLEMAIN said be thought the board ha
; butlexer.
exer-
cised a very wise discreti in not declaring the poll
he thought the meeting ought to express an opinion on
the matter, and would therefore move, " That this meet-
ins, request the chairman to declare that the late elec-
tion is a void election, and that if, previous to the next
general meeting, Mr. Snell does not take legal proceed-
jogs to support his election, the shareholde”rs then
proceed to fill up the vacancy at the board. (Heats)
Mr. FFOOKS seconded the motion.
'A PROPRIETOR Moved as an amendment, "That all
• matter: concerning ;NI:. Suell be left to the board of
• directors to deal with as they may think fit."
After a short LlieellaSioll, the motion and amendment
were withdrawn.
Mr. MILLPI expressed hits regret that Ur, Snell did not