The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-22 00:00:00

AUGUST 22 1849.

The meeting then resolved itself into an
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING.

„ 673

SUNDERLAND DOCK COMPANY.
_ An ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of_
this company was held, on Monday last, in the Ex
change Commission Room, Sunderland.
In the absence of George Hudson, EFT, the chair-
man of the board of dirtctor,, Christopher Bramwell,
Eq., the deputy chairman, presided.
The usual preliminary business having begin gone
through,
Mr. J. J. WRIGHT, the company's solicitor, read
the following report :
" At the last general meeting the directors had the
satisfaction of reporting the then advanced position of
the company's works and the entire completion of
the half-tide basin, as well as the removal of the rock
and deepening of the bed of the river in front of the en-
trance, and they have now to acquaint the shareholders
that since then they have let the formation of the tidal
harbour to Messrs. Thomson and Hunter, and the nar.k-
ing-of the dock gates to Messrs. Hawks, Crawshay, and
Co. These works are progressing with great rapidity,
the excavation of the tidal harbour being at the
present moment nearly accomplished and on both
sides already at the depth required for the foundation
walls, and the gates being likewise in a very advanced
state of construction. The main dock being also now
nearly completed, the company will open the dock at
the close of the present year, as originally pro-
jected. With this view also the directors have let the

formation of the Groynes on the south of the dock, to
form a place of deposit for the ballast to be taken from
the ships; and as this company will be enabled to offer to
the shipowners the many advantages of the dock, espe-
cially that of loading their ships afloat, instead of lying
on the ground, as they now do in the river, at a cost not
exceeding, if not less than, the aggregate amount of the
harbour dues and expenses they now incur, there can be
no doubt that extensive business and considerable reve-
nue may be early, if not immediately, anticipated. The
directors, as they have announced in previous reports,
have always regarded the making of the int ended southern'
outlet to the deck as an object of paramount importance,
not only to this undertaking but to the port of Sunder-
land at large, and in order that no time may be lost in
its accomplishment, the engineer is now engaged under
the orders of the directors in making revised plans and
estimates that its formation in the most advantageous
situations may be taken into early consideration. The
directors of the company have long felt the necessity, and
have for many months past importaned the directors of
the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway Company to
come to some definite arrangement for the shipment in
the Sunderland Dock of all the coals and ether merchan-
dise brought down their Durham and Sunderland
and their projected new branch railways, and the time
has now arrived that unless such agreement be entered
into the interests both of the dock and the railway com-
pany must necessarily suffer. The directors have, there-
fore called an extraordinary meeting to be held to-day,
at which they will submit a resolution for the considera-
tion and adoption of the shareholders, investing them
with an authority to conclude an arrangement so bene
ficial to all parties concerned. The directors who retire
from office under the provisions of the original and
amended Acts of the company are Christ. Bramwell,
John Scott, Thomas Reed, and Richard Spoor, Esquires,
the three former being eligible for re-election ; but the
latter, Hr. Spoor, having resigned that office, the direc-
tors recommend to the meeting the election of Robert
Scurfield, Esq„ as ono of the directors of this company.
The auditor who retires at this meeting is Thomas Rob-
son, Esq., who having declined re-election, the directors
recommend the election of Charles Strathmore Moon,
Esq., as one of the auditors, as a gentleman in every way
eligible to fill that office.—By order of the Board.
" Sunderland, 20th August, 1849."
The financial statement was next read. It showed
an income upon calls from the commencement of
179,2941., and from (Aber sources 2,751/. ; total
receipts, 182,0451. Total expenditure, 175,1051.
These accounts were made up to the 30th of June.
The CHAIRMAN then made some remarks on the
advanced state of the works, and the advantages that
will be secured to the district by having a better
shipping place than they at present possess. 12,000
vessels annually clear from this port, and 1,600,000
tons of coal are annually shipped in it ; and if only
half that quantity were to be shipped in the dock, he
repeated what lie had said on a former occasion, it
would yield the shareholders 5 per cent. on their in-
vestment. But with better means of shipment, and if
certain arrangements now contemplated were carried
out, the shipment would be very greatly increased.
There was one gentleman present who had, within the
last three weeks, had five American vessels on his list
for coals, and for want of accommodation those vessels
had to go to adjoining ports. With 22 feet water in
their docks they would be able to accommodate such
vessels as those referred to. The chairman concluded
by moving that the report now read, and the accounts
subjoined thereto, be received, adopted, printed, and
transmitted to the shareholders.

The motion was agreed to unanimously.
Mr. Bramwell, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Reed, retiring
directors, were then re-appointed, and Mr. Scurfield,
was elected in place of Mr. Spoor, resigned.
Mr. C. S. Moon was elected auditor in place of dr.
Robson.

Mr. BRAMWELL, having been continued in the chair,
explained that it was necessary to invest the board of
directors with powers to enter into an arrangement
with the directors of the York, Newcastle, and Ber-
wick Railway Company, by which they shall give to
the latter a fair and full benefit for their staiths and
drops now along the river side, on condition that they
ship in the dock the coals brought along their lines,
and hitherto shipped in the river. The directors de-
sired to make such an arrangement only as would be
fair and equitable to both parties, and, unless it were
made speedily, the dock works would be retarded.
Certain preliminary arrangemeuts had been made,
but the directors could not proceed without further
powers.
Mr. Warmer, before reading the resolution about
to be submitted, would refer to certain resolutions
respecting this question in the published report eman-
ating from the committee of investigation of the
York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway Company.
He thought it proper to state that all negotiations
referred to in that report had taken place with com-
mittees from the board of directors, who were autho-
rised only to receive propositions for discussion. Such
propositions had been received, but the question had
never been fully entered into by the board. The
shareholders were consequently not called upon to
confirm any definite agreement, but simply to em-
power the directors to make an arrangement such as
would be desirable to the interests of the company.
Mr. Wright then read the following resolution, which
was proposed by the chairman :
"That, inasmuch as no arrangement has been entered
into or sanctioned by the directors of this company with
reference to all or any of the special matters authorised
to be considered and decided at this extracrdinary meet-
ing, the directors of this company at a board meeting
assembled, or the major part of them, shall have, and
are hereby invested, with full power and authority, at
any time or times hereafter, to enter into any arrange-
ment or arrangements they may think advisable for
the interests of this company, with the York, Newcastle,
and Berwick Railway Company, or the directors thereof
on behalf of such company, for or relating to the ship-
ment in the Sunderland Dock of all coal, cinders, coke,and
culm, or other articles of merchandise which, after the
said dock is ready for the reception of ships or vessels,
shall be led, brought, or conveyed down the Durham
and Sunderland branch of the York, Newcastle, and
Berwick Railway, or the intended Pensher branch, or
any other railway belonging to the said York, Newcas-
tle, and Berwick Company, or for or relating to the
landing of timber or other articles from any ship or
vessels for conveyance along the said railways, and for
the purchase and removal by the said Sunde.rla elp
Company of the staiths, drops, timber erections, s o
Darham
machi-
nery, or other materials now in use at
places on or
the said
co
and Sunderland branch railway
shippingrof the dues and
land aforesaid; and
also as to, or relating to the amount
adjoining the river Wear, at_Sande
coal,c cinders, coke, calm,
harge3 to be made for the
timber,shf shipment
n t
or
or
otherunlo articlesadin g o f o
said r
merchandise in the said dock, or in the ships or vessels
entering the said dock for the purpose of loading or
unloading the same, or in anywise connected therewith."
Mr. CHARLTON observed that the Railway Inves-
tigation Committee had repudiated the agreements
made by the railway directors.
Mr. Wadou'r replied that the committee had not
doue so; they had simply requested the directors to
postpone the consideration of the question until the
buard should be reconstructed. The directors of the
railway had power to make the contemplated arrange-
ment without going to their shareholders ; this the
directors of the dock company could not do, and
hence they required to be placed on an equal footing
with the former. If coals were to be shipped at the
dock, it was necessary to erect staiths, and the time
had now arrived for determing on the matter. There
was great reason to believe that not only the railway
company but the investigation committee would see
the necessity, if they would consult their own in-
terests, of making an arrangement such as that
proposed.
Mr. JOHNASSON made some remarks to the effect
that the arrangement would be to the mutual benefit
of both parties. The railway company had much of
their revenue curtailed for want of accommodation
sufficient to ship all the coals brought along
ortheiTelirneed
In the present position of the company, he believed
the completion of the Jarrow Dock wtoutlhdeynoewtiataaklde
place till a recent day, and in that
n
coals elsewhere. It would the
be compelled to find additional f roomtheirefor shippingitenres
ret
to agree with this company.
end to.
resolution,
the following
readth e n a
which
e.alsovresolution
was T
3,n
netto as
i-ed by the chairman .
w 1 c
"That
ing assembled, or the major part of them, shall have,
and are hereby invested with, full power to make and
with
EGa
sgn. e,
c)
fwllo
rus dtoasrno
ding
i,enßl
gaot
in
nnegr ttDo
theirat hv iet s2o,i3na
4nt
5d
nJasahmmaereses;sßa
oincfdh atarhl dsi
enter into any arrangements they may deem expedient,
son,
s
company,
any other persons respecting any share or shares of
this company now standing in their names, and of which
any call 1-hall now be in arrears and unpaid, and either
for the purchase, forfeiture, or transfer of such shares,
or any of them, to this company, or to any trustee or
trustees in trust for this company; and to release or dis•

g V 14
charge unpaid and future calls, on such shares, or any o f
them, or otherwise in the way of compromise or arrange-
ment r,specting any such shares in any 'roaLl:cr tuch
directors shall, alter a consideration of the ' tm'sta!\ces
connected therewith, deem advisable:'. I*\
A long discussion in the form of
h.'Ati,
. .

.\

answer ensued, the purport of the replies of eta'it
man and Mr. Wright being as follows:—(44 it ‘
of the directors had not taken up their calri-( rn4 the
shares held by them indivi.lually, and proce-it g had
been instituted against them simultaneously
with
proceedings against ordinary shareholders. Those
directors had now accounted satisfactorily for their
calls, and therefore the resolution did- not apply to
them. With respect to the 2,345 shares standing.' in
the names of Messrs. Hudson, Richardson, ,and
Davies, and which, as all present were aware,. had
been taken on behalf of the York, Newcastle,:. and
Berwick Railway Company by Mr. Hudson, and upon
which 41,000/. had been paid up, it was expedient
for the directors to be empowered to accept the
offer of a compromise from those gentlemen, by
which the directors shall take back, without re-
funding any part of the money paid up, a propor-
tion of the said shares in full discharge of all
farther liabilities on the part of the gentlemen
so transferring them—the shares so taken back to be
vested in trustees, and sold at a future period for the
advantage of the company. The directors were in-
duced to ask power to make this or any other arrange-
ment that may be desirable, and which does not in-
volve repayment of the money paid up, first, in order
to prevent litigation ; and, second, to facilitate an
arrangement with regard to the shipment of coals at
the dock. The chairman further stated that Messrs.
Hudson, Richardson, and Davies would pay over, as
part of the bargain, a sum of money—he believed out
of their own pockets—and enable the company to
borrow money on its own debentures.
The motion was finally agreed to, as were also two
other resolutions arising formally out of it.
Another resolution, empowering the directors to
borrow 50,0001. on mortgage, or bond, at a rate of
interest not exceeding Si. per cent., was next pro-
posed by the chairman and agreed to.
A vote of thanks was then given to Mr. Bramwell
for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting broke up.

• •

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

---
PonzsmouTG, AUG. 21.—The Dragon steam-
frigate, Captain W. H. Hall, came into the steam
basin to-day to have some new tubes fitted to her
boilers, and to undergo a refit in other respects prior
to proceeding to the relief of the Terrible in the iNledi•
teranean squadron.
The Pallas, an apparently very fine double•banked
frigate, mounting upwards of 50 guns, Commodore
Nordman, hove in sight off this port last night about
six, and made the anchorage near the Superb at 1.13
P.M. to day. She is from Cronstadt, en route to
Madeira, to attend upon the Grand Duke Leutchten-
burg, during his sojourn there. Up to this time (6
r.m.) she has not saluted. She was sixteen days out,
and has no news.

The Devonshire Indiaman, for the Cape and
Madras, sailed this morning full of passengers and a
company of Royal Artillery.
Wind W. by S., light breezes and cloudy weather.
'WooLwicx, AUG. 21.—The Lizard steam-vessel,
Lieutenant-Commander llollinworth, when she went
down the river en Friday last to test the condition of
her engines, previous to being paid off at, Woolwich,
was found to be in very good condition, and the report
of their state is favourable. The vessel did not pro-
ceed so far as the measured mi'e, but compete
judges expressed their belief that her speed was equal
to ten knots per hour. The Lizard is an iron vessel,
and like others of that material, requires a minute
examination into her condition after her return from
foreign service.

The Dreadnought hospital ship has a great number
of hands at work upon her in order to have her com-
pleted and returned to her former station with the
least possible delay, but it will take fully a month
from this time to render her fit to be taken to her
moorings.

The -Hermes steam-vesi.el is in one of the east
docks for repairs. An estimate has been given of the
amount required, which awaits the decision of their
Lordships.
The Radamanthus steam troop ship was taken cut
of the basin to-day, and is now in a forward state and
under the charge of a second master, waiting to be
commissioned by Master Commander flradshaw, who
is to be appointed to command her.

The Alban steam-vessel was taken out of the basin
to-day, and is now nearly ready for sea.
The Desperate steam-vessel has been taken into the
west dock to have her works completed by Maudslay,
Sons, and Field.

The Niger steam sloop has been taken into the
inner basin, where she will remain in ordinary for
some time.

The Grappler, the Styx, the Alecto, and the Un-
dine, are in the inner basin undergoing repairs, and
the Archer, in the outer basin, now nearly ready
for trial.

THE WEST INDIA MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY NIGHT.—The royal
mail steamer Avon, Lieutenant Philip 'rust, R.N.,
commander, arrived off this port at nine o'clock, with
the West India and Mexican mails in charge of
Lieutenant South, R.N., Admiralty agent. She
brings on freight 1,327,000 dolls., none of which are
mentioned on the manifest as being for account of the
Mexican bondholders.
The accounts from Jamaica extend to the 28d of
July. The island was entirely occupied with the
general elections. Eight members have been already
returned, six of whom declared themselves favour-
able to retrenchment. Similar results were expected
from the remainder of the elections. Business had
been a little brisker during the week prior to the
sailing of the packet Sugar was scarce, and quoted
16s. to 20s. per 100 lb. The weather throughout
the island was by no means pleasant, and although
there had been partial rains in some parishes, a
drought generally prevailed, and the heat was into-
lerable.

The Mexican intelligence received vitt New York
by the Caledonia, respecting the project for an ar-
rangement of the external debt is confirmed by cur
direct advices by this steamer. Trade at the Mexi-
can ports was very dull, owing to excessive importa-
tions at the beginning of the year.
Our accounts from Ilavannah are to the 28th
of July. Sugar was in active demand. Freights
were dull. Exchange on London, 14 to 15 per cent.
premium.
Our advices from British Guiana mention that the
Combined Court had met and proceeded with the
business of the colony, and it seemed unlikely that any
further difficulties would at present occur between the
Governor and the Legislature. The weather had been
very rainy, and little produce had been made. The
markets and shipping were inactive.
In St. Lucia the weather had been showery. The
ordinance for enabling the local Government to ob-
fain a loan to meet the expenditure of the current year
had been sanctioned by the Governor.
In Antigua the rainy season had at last set in, and
the hopes of the planters were beginning to revive.
Meetings had been held to memorialise the home Go-
vernment relative to the infraction of the slave trea-
ties by Spain and Brazil.

PRUSSIAN MUSKETS.—In the campaign of the
Grand Duchy of Baden the Prussian Foot were armed
with muskets of a newly invented construction. The
plan on which they are made, and especially the compo-
sition and arrangement of the charge, ate a secret of
the Prussian War-office. We have, however, been ena-
bled to gather the following particulars respecting, these
muskets, which are known in Prussia by the name of
" Zundnadelgewchre," from the explosion being pro-
duced by the passing of a pin through the cartridge:—
The barrels are rifled, and the bullets which are shot out
of them arc spitz I,ugeln, a kind of conical bullet. They are
conical at the point, cylindrical in the middle, and
globular at the end. The cartridges in which these
bullets are have a layer of explosive mass next to the
bullet, and the gunpowder is at the bottom of the cartridge,
which is put in at the lower end of the barrel. On the
trigger being pulled, a thin piece of steel (nuclei) enters
thr( ugh a hole in the back of the barrel, and
piercing the cartridge and the gunpowder,
_i:
proceeds to the explosive mass, which i
similar to that which is employed for usualtheint
the
percussion caps. The gunpowder is thus lighnt,edt.
charge of powder is 3.24ths of an oou4ntlicse, while
of an ounce,
front, and every grain of powder is cori2iii that
oTfilae
percussion musket is usually
eight times without lowering. h
distance. It is not a safe
yards is still a good killing ,
good shot
and silx,oooor
These muskets enable a soldieratro6di:sc-hisamr;ugfikiadent,ad
the u calb,,.
of his aim. SOO yards,
is at that distance pretty
these
is 400 yards; and thus the enemy must
musket range . _
distance for hitting, bat 800roy
advance 400 yards in thethe;
re whileomfutshkeetls:rllSia ll troops
' • double-quick time would make that distance
fore they can think of returning it. A troop of s deliet s
marching in
then, is the rang' of
in four minutes, and be exposed to from 25 to 30 shots
from each Prussian musket. The cavalry, which wants
two and a halt minutes to advance 800) ands, is exposed
to 20 shots from each man. As for the artillery, their
oaalledeffteoc
tilyards,leray m exldi
ahraeyteh bu us texsmp
tthaetpBrouos s yards. :lir d
muskssi
andar -
discharges of grape and cannister tell fearfully at 400
can be picked off as they stand by their piece s.—United
Service Gazette.

Statements having recently been circulated in the
Irish newspapers, which have;lso been copied into some
of the London journals, that
of
measuresdeart arer ineoemplaon for removing the port
mail steam packets from Liverpoolpu toe of the
the s rt ai
s cst'yo
nf
Ireland, we have been assured by one of the contractors
that no such alteration is either contemplated or will
take place.— Times.
True poetry announces itself thus, that, as a worldly
gospel, it can by internal cheerfulness and external COW-
tort, free us from the earthly burdens which press upon
us. Like an air-balloon, it lifts us, together with the
I.allast which is attached to us, into higher regions, and
lets the confined labyrinths of the earth he developed
before us in a bird's-eye view. —Eliza Cook's Journul.-